Does anyone fancy a piano chat thread?

[LemonViolet]

I’m awaiting delivery of a new piano, squeee!!! I haven’t played regularly for 20 years. I got to grade 6 as a teen, failed grade 7, carried on tinkering for a bit but have not really lived anywhere with a piano since age 18 so am well out of practice.

Whilst I hope/plan to put a baby grand in our front room, once it is done up - which may be some time - at the weekend I just realised, what am I waiting for, I want a digital anyways for playing at less sociable hours, so went ahead and ordered myself a nice Kawai digital and it arrives on Friday!!!

There’s a music chat thread on the extracurricular board but that’s more parents discussing their offsprings’ exploits, I have seen on the music board it’s quite pianissimo but there clearly are other grown up women around here playing/learning/relearning piano for our own pleasure, entertainment, therapy etc! So thought I’d post to see if anyone else is interested in hanging out on a piano thread to chat about our piano journeys, successes and failures, pieces we like, what we’re practicing etc?

It could be called the piano bar or the pianist beaker, seeing as this is MN

If there is one I’ve just failed to find, please point me in that direction.

I had been hoping we might have a piano chat thread and here it is!

I started playing as a beginner when I was about 28 and had lessons for around 2 years. I then stopped for almost 10 years and then restarted again about 3 years ago. I passed my grade 4 a couple of years ago and would have taken my grade 5 last year if covid hadn’t got in the way! Now I’m preparing for grade 6 and will hopefully take it in the Autumn. Right now I can’t imagine getting beyond that as I find grade 6 very hard. I definitely feel like I’ve reached a glass ceiling.

My new digital piano, a Yamaha, very much cheaper end of the range, arrived today. I'm pleased to have it, but feel weirdly inadequate and pessimistic about my prospects of really improving (am pretty much a beginner, not even grade 1 standard). Nearly everyone on the thread seems to have achieved some competence as a child . . I am such a slow learner now. But I will keep reading the thread and hope it encourages me to keep trying!

@LilaGrace – sorry for delay, time flies by! Also apologies for the long reply but hope this answers your questions.

Yes when I restarted I did sit Grade 4 exam. Thinking back I started with grade 2 level book, but pretty much flew through it and the Grade 3 one – I made rapid progress as things came back to me. It was totally my decision to sit Grade 4 (not my teacher – he had asked if I wanted to start G5) as I think I couldn’t quite believe what he was saying that I was playing well and I remember thinking he was just being nice to me. I got distinction to which I got a “told you so”! I then just worked through them but pretty relaxed and interspersed with me turning up with random music I’d decided I wanted to learn and we’d put all exam stuff aside and do what I wanted. Particularly memorable one was when I wanted to play three lions (I guess for World Cup?) – he was unamused. He walks a fine line between not pushing me to do exams (he really isn’t bothered if I do or not) vs not just letting me give up because I’ve had a bad week. I’ve needed a lot of encouragement with G8 so far – I think because psychologically it is beyond where I got previously.

I have found the same things easy/same things hard. I was, and am, good at scales. I was always fine with sightreading and I definitely am not as good as I was but I think I’ll manage. Aural was always terrible and is several degrees worse now. My singing is even more painful than it was. I think I have more musical appreciation now so I think I can play more musically.

I have not done any theory since restarting – I am completely uninterested, I just want to play. My teacher sneaks it in to general discussion (like hiding vegetables in pasta sauce for a toddler) but it goes in one ear and out the other. My historic grade 5 (which I think I scraped through then) has been sufficient. I’d probably benefit from doing more but there are only so many hours in the day, and only so much motivation!

I am very unstructured with practice. The idea that little but often is better is no doubt true, but I do the opposite, because – well, life happens! Mine gets crammed into the weekend (though now I’m doing the 100 day challenge inspired by another poster) so aiming to at least play through all my pieces each day. I make no progress for weeks and then suddenly for no apparent reason something works. I sometimes wonder if I could actually be a reasonable player if I committed more!

My teacher focuses on different things – no different to when I was younger really. So if I’m learning a piece we focus on getting the notes right and nailing the fingering, then getting up to speed, then musical approach. For his children pupils he does a notebook with what to do but not for me – he trusts me to remember (or knows I’ll ignore it anyway) and there is inevitably more discussion rather than ‘telling’. He does really well with balancing my ‘life’ excuses – so if work is busy he’s like “TOUGH” but when my DH was unwell he took all pressure off and just suggested we play some duets for fun.

Has having lessons given me a push to keep going with exams: 100% yes. I simply could not do an exam without him. I think I am not a natural ‘musician’ – in fact I don’t think I’m at all musical. I think I would find it all too difficult and just give up without lessons.

I definitely play for fun, but I enjoy seeing the progress through the exams, feel it gives me some structure and definitely feel grade 8 will be completing something I started when I was younger. I don’t think it is exams or nothing – I think it can be mixed up. I usually have something else on the go whilst working on exam stuff – so a few weeks ago whilst I’m battling Bach and Mozart I went to my lesson asking for help with a bit I was stuck on with downtown abbey theme tune. Sometimes he has a pained look when I start pulling something new out. He hasn’t found the love for Adele yet that I have though.

Hope this helps (and hope it encourages you!).

Loving reading about everyone else's enthusiasm and ideas!

@LemonViolet you mention the dangers of amazon ordering in the middle of the night. Don't let anyone tell you that you can buy sheet music online for immediate download. Nope, not something you need to hear

For the digital/acoustic debate (and @Buggerthebotox in particular for your diploma question) - there are dreadful acoustics, I just see it all as a range and I'd put a bad acoustic as worse than a reasonable digital (personally). Given ABRSM give specific guidance about using digital piano it clearly is not a deal breaker. Go for it!

@fluffytrees for example says a digital piano must have two pedals for the later grades. Well I am doing Grade 8 and I have never ever, at any level, used the other pedal. Maybe some of the other pieces would have needed it, but not any that I freely chose. Does that mean a sostenuto pedal is never needed, or that you can get to concert pianist standard without it - of course not, but I don't think that is where most of us are heading.

@LilaGrace ABRSM (and Trinity I think but I'm not sure) did bring in performance exams during COVID-19 but the blurb says it just meant it happened quicker, they had always intended to do it and they are here to stay. They revised the syllabuses overall recently too - so a big change to scale requirements in the practical exams. I guess they are trying to modernise. I'm definitely not brave enough to upload anything I play though I would if I thought it would help you hear what mine is like. However, I think part of the problem is if I record on my phone the issue is the quality of the microphone on the phone - not the piano. It sounds tinny which it doesn't in real life .

@buggerthebotox I believe a diploma is not required to teach (it is unregulated) though I guess if you were teaching in a school they might have their own requirements. But anyone can advertise and teach. I'm not saying it isn't beneficial, and that a certain standard perhaps should be achieved, just that it isn't a requirement. I think PGCE/any teaching experience would help - being a concert pianist doesn't necessarily make a good teacher - they might not be very good at understanding how to explain something to someone not as gifted and know how to explain something several different ways to help someone understand.

@DiminishedSevenths you are doing brilliantly. I felt I reached a glass ceiling each time, and then suddenly I'll have a break through. It gets harder to make progress and the step up at grades from 5 upwards are bigger - it wouldn't be an achievement otherwise so keep persevering! I think if you can get to grade 6 as an adult you can clearly do it. I am full of admiration for you learning as an adult.

@Bloodybridget how funny (in a nice way) your post was after diminishedseventh's. I hope you take heart! Keep going!

@Bloodybridget I started learning age 40 and never learned as a kid.
I was inspired at my daughter's music school recital because there were lots of mature students.

Agree with OP about Einaudi, my husband bought me a book of his for Christmas.
I find Bach and Lully much more interesting to play, though I think Einaudi is very pleasant to listen to.
My favourite stuff is all Baroque.

@Bloodybridget I also didn’t play as a child* and it has taken me probably 5-6 years of lessons spread over 15 years to get close to grade 6 (I’m not quite there yet). I remember taking my grade 2 exam when I was heavily pregnant and everyone else at the exam centre was about 8 . It’s definitely worth sticking with as it’s a wonderful hobby to have.

*One minor caveat: I didn’t play piano as a child but could read treble clef music. I think it makes a difference as I learned bass clef as an adult and definitely don’t read it quite as well as treble clef.

I’d be interested to hear if anyone feels they read bass clef as well as treble clef (unless perhaps they are a cellist)! I always felt it was like majority right handed people, and the fact that the right hand is usually doing more work, meant that treble is favoured my most. But then I also played violin as a child, and then had a spell playing clarinet in my 20s, so maybe that’s it. I did try to branch out into viola, but as beautiful an instrument as it is the alto clef was a real sticking point for me.

I read the F clef as well as the G clef. I didn't read either 6 years ago, but played a lot of new music and note reading in music theory class since then.

"the fact that the right hand is usually doing more work"

That is just not true in my repertoire, which is 100% Baroque music (Bach, Handel, Rameau...). The contrapuntal and polyphonic nature of this music means that there is as much melody in the left hand as in the right, and in many cases even 3, 4, or 5 "voices". Playing a 4-part Fugue is like playing a choir with your two hands

@MartyHart - "I find Bach and Lully much more interesting to play... My favourite stuff is all Baroque."

Mine, too Have you ever played Rameau? His keyboard music is second only to Bach imho.

Another reason why I want to steadily work through Bach inventions, kind of as my syllabus! I naturally gravitate towards Romantic era though. I do have the Baroque Keyboard Anthology on order as well though to explore more widely.

Well I played the cello as a child and I also find the treble clef easier, so don’t worry that learning it as an adult disadvantages you!

I find playing Bach so soothing. I love once you a piece well and can just get lost in playing it - it’s like meditation. I loved Haydn as a child too but less so now. As an adult I am learning more about romantic music and enjoy it much more than I used to.

Cote have you ever had a go on an organ? I’m quite tempted but hands and feet and stopper things is probably a step too far for my brain! Bach’s Toccata and Fuge is one of my favourite things to listen to.

I started on recorder, then piano, then bassoon. Despite playing the bassoon, at the moment I’m finding treble clef easier.

I've also always found the treble clef much easier. For me, I think it's because I'd practise with separate hands as a child and the right hand usually had the melody (though not always) so was the hand that made the most difference to the piece. Playing the left hand never sounded as satisfying on its own so I favoured the right hand....
My younger daughter is about to start playing the viola. I didn't realise until recently that the viola was played on the alto clef, I came across it recently in a grade 4 theory book. I think I'd struggle with that too- I keep reading middle C as a D as though it were a bass clef......
I understand why people don't want to post themselves playing- I certainly don't feel confident enough to do that yet. But I'd like to hear not only the sound of other instruments but also other peoples music choices- for inspiration!

Weirdly I find playing treble clef music with my left hand quite tricky. It’s as if my brain doesn’t know quite what to do about it!

@How2Help the syllabus changes do seem to have reduced eg scale requirements, don't they? My teacher thought i needed to play 3 octaves for grade 5, but the syllabus says only 2 etc.
@DiminishedSevenths @Bloodybridget @MartyHart amazing that you learned as an adult with no prior knowledge. I know how hard it is to fit in with adult life and starting from scratch would be a big challenge. I considered taking up the cello as I love hearing it but concluded that a new instrument would be a step too far!

@CoteDAzur I don't know Rameau but now I want to! Thank you

@How2Help that is exactly how I feel about Bach.
His keyboard pieces are logical, beautiful and you can lose yourself in the perfect sense. He must have had a very mathematical brain.
They really are meditation. He was a genius, even his short instruction pieces from the well tempered clavier are perfect.
My teacher was so happy to have a Baroque loving pupil as it's his favourite too but not as popular among students.
Loving comparing notes with everyone.

@How2Help @DiminishedSevenths @MartyHart @LilaGrace thanks for your kind and encouraging comments. Having said I'm a beginner, I should add that I have "begun" several times in my fairly long life, and have been more proficient than I am now, but I've lacked patience and perseverance. I'm hoping having a teacher will keep me working at it.

What a lovely, informative and supportive thread this is turning into! Thanks OP for starting it.

If any of you are teachers, are you members of Curious Piano Teacher?

I played keyboard (from books) as a child so I could read treble clef quite well (although the above/below the clef notes were a bit of a mystery to me) and I did know a lot of the main chords, which has helped me loads as I know that’s something people often struggle with, but I have complete muscle memory for them.

It was wanting to learn bass clef that inspired me to get on the keyboard during lockdown and doggedly work through the Usborne First Book of the Keyboard and Easy Piano Tunes I’d bought for the kids. Getting on to the The Grand Old Duke of York with both hands was a massive turning point when it all clicked and I wanted to do more! I ploughed through the book then bought an out of date ABRSM Grade 2 spec book for a couple of quid on Amazon to see what the pieces were like. I did ok but that was when I realised I couldn’t do them properly on a keyboard and took the piano plunge!

@CoteDAzur

I read the F clef as well as the G clef. I didn't read either 6 years ago, but played a lot of new music and note reading in music theory class since then.

"the fact that the right hand is usually doing more work"

That is just not true in my repertoire, which is 100% Baroque music (Bach, Handel, Rameau...). The contrapuntal and polyphonic nature of this music means that there is as much melody in the left hand as in the right, and in many cases even 3, 4, or 5 "voices". Playing a 4-part Fugue is like playing a choir with your two hands

Heartily agree with this, especially playing a choir! I played a gorgeous Bach choral piece at Christmas called Ich Steh an deiner krippe hier. Heavenly! The best thing is flipping my piano to organ (it has a full on church organ mode). I really really would love to get my hands on an organ in a big church. How long he has to pause because the sound just goes on!

Phew managed to play for a bit this morning :) bit more Clementi and Kuhlau and some fantastic beasts. Eventually interrupted by my 3yo wanting to join in 🤣

@SingToTheSky I know the feeling, trying to tell myself it's good she is taking an interest! On closer inspection I have noticed some crayon marks on the keyboard...

Well I played the cello as a child and I also find the treble clef easier
Me too! I had actually forgotten that the cello didn't use the treble clef until last year when dd had a trial cello lesson!

So I had my afternoon off today.

I practiced my Bach and Chopin pieces, and played with a few things from the Romantic Sketchbook, Contemporary Masters and the Adele books

It is difficult to stay focused on actually practicing a piece to get it properly right, rather than just about play through it and then mess around with something else.

@Serenissima21 another Pianote fan here, I really like Lisa!