Calling all pianists!

[totallyyesno]

I really need your help sorting out a practice schedule. My teacher is probably not going to be teaching again until next year and, instead of getting another teacher, I want to work on my own. At the moment my practice involves a lot of faffing around and not much progress!

• I have played badly for years.
• I have Grade 7 piano but play at about grade5/6 level.
• I play mainly classical but would actually love to play other genres, especially popular music from the 30s and forties.
• I don't feel like a musician at all. I can't pick out a tune without music in front of me. I never play in front of people.
• I can't sightread unless it's incredibly basic. 😆

What do I need to do on a daily basis to actually improve? Thanks!

"Try and learn some easier pieces and take them up a notch basically."

This is good advice but I think this is where a teacher really helps; I could play easy pieces fine but when I got a teacher's input, it helped me to see how I could play them so much better. You can be lazy with the easy pieces but a teacher will remind you not to be!

I do agree AnotherEmma but then I would as I'm a piano teacher

I would encourage you to try and have some virtual lessons OP if its an option. I've been pleasantly surprised with my pupils that we have still been making good progress and that they are as engaged as they are despite the downsides of Zoom lessons.

Thank you for all the tips. It is embarrassing but I actually have a lot of the books mentioned on this thread - I guess I should actually try using them! I think I am in a bit of a rut with my teacher too and I don't want to hurt his feelings by leaving (although he'll probably be relieved!). Maybe if I switch to jazz (which he doesn't teach) that might help. Has anyone done lessons online (or Kodaly lessons online??) I wouldn't know where to start, looking for Skype lessons.

Cross-posted!

When I was playing every day I was good at sight reading, loved doing faultless scales and Hanon but never ever got to playing any piece well. I was absolutely hooked on theory and slowly realised that I was incapable of actually playing musically.
I gave up the piano and nowadays just enjoy listening to music.

My sons' teacher says scales and arpeggios give you strong fingers and good technique.

Sight reading is worth learning so you can enjoy new pieces.

Get a recording so you know how it should sound.

Practise in small chunks then build it up.

Choose a short piece to get started

Choose music you like.

Just some of my ideas.

The best advice I was given for sight-reading was to look at the key signature and play the relevant scale first. It really helped me to stop missing sharps or flats.
I would love to start piano lessons again.