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’m in, lovely thread! I bought a second hand Roland keyboard last Feb which turned out to be brilliant timing. I did Grade 5 30 odd years ago, hadn’t touched it since. I bought the SimplyPiano app which is addictive. Slightly annoying in that you have to pass each piece of music to progress and some of the pieces are truly terrible pop. Finished the course and have kept up my subscription as I really like the choice of sheet music and it scrolls as you play (and tells you the wrong notes) Plus rest of the family have profiles and they enjoy it. Got a great book recently, will find the link.

www.amazon.co.uk/Classical-Chillout-Solo-Piano-Music/dp/0711992371/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=intermediate+piano+music+books+for+adults&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1627554561&sr=8-15
Some lovely pieces in this.

Oooh I’d like to join in please! I got as far as grade 3 as a child/teenager and then stopped playing. We inherited a keyboard a few years ago and I started learning again during the winter lockdown as something to do. The keyboard isn’t full length and sounds a bit rubbish but I really like playing with the headphones on. I bought a second hand book of various classical pieces from eBay and I’ve relearnt Fur Elise and moonlight sonata and I’ve learnt from scratch Mozart’s sonata in C which is fun to play. I am currently trying to learn Clair de lune but it’s really really difficult so it’s taking me ages! Think perhaps I’m aiming too high with that one. Really want to get a digital piano but not sure which to go for.

I've been having lessons for just under three years. I'm not doing exams so I'm not technically graded but I think I'm somewhere between 2 and 3. My piano is a Yamaha Arius digital with fully weighted keys. It has a very authentic-sounding harpsichord voice, as well as acoustic and electric piano.

My teacher is an ex-primary school teacher so good tuition is a given. We're a similar age and with some shared tastes in music, which helps hugely.

I’m the same with Clair De Lune, the key is so hard! I would keep an eye on Gumtree for a digital board, you can always try it before you buy and if you get a good brand they are long lasting.

Ooh how exciting welcome everybody!!! I posted speculatively last night and just checked in so happy people want to talk piano! Going to read through now and join in properly.

We’ll have to move out of chat eventually if we keep going but I think here for now is good for traffic :-)

I can really recommend this series of books: Grade 4 Piano Solos www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1783059753/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_E4VYPC061GCAF24J25V5?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21 - they have them for all grades. Recognisable, fun pieces, a mix of classical, pop and jazz, easy enough to start tackling straight away but with enough variation to work on. There’s a Clair de Lune arrangement in the grade 4 book which is very simple to play and sounds great. I think these are probably the books I’ve learned most from if I’m honest and the ones I’d get out if someone said “play me something!”. Even the Grade 2 book has stuff that’s suitable for an ‘audience’ (Let it Go is a crowd pleaser if kids are listening in!)

Going to be contacting a few local tutors soon. Piano tuner has tuned my Kawai upright so time to get back to it. Like several others, it's been years since I have played. Have mastered Auld Lang Syne. Sorted for Hogmanay now👌

Thank you @GravityFalls. Those look exactly what I’m looking for

Ooh! Can I join? Played a lot (got up to grade 7) until I left home. Then 25 years later got a piano of my own, but am a bit stuck in a rut. I have been playing lots of chopin really badly! Planning to branch out into some more fun stuff. @GravityFalls those books look good.

@GravityFalls right am buying that, looks great!

@GravityFalls I’ve just browsed the series , the ridiculously hard Rondo alla turca is in the grade 5 book! I got to grade 7 50 years ago but certainly couldn’t play that.
Might have to go down to grade 3 to start with
Do any of you recall using a book of ( boring and tedious) exercises by Hanon? I hated them

Written over 150 years ago but still for sale republished on Amazon!

I think some of the pieces are arranged to be easier to fit in better with the grade levels - that’s why I like them! But some are very fast (like Rondo alla Turca) and they recommend you start slowly. It’s great to be able to play a “hard” piece when you’re at a lower grade level which is why I like the books.

I’ve never done Hanon but I like the Burgmuller exercises - really enjoyable fun pieces to play that start around Grade 2 level and they’re nice to listen to. My kids like me playing them.

Do any of you recall using a book of ( boring and tedious) exercises by Hanon? I hated them

I love Hanon! Although definitely one to plug the earphones in if you can. Burgmuller more interesting but Hanon was so effective for strength in the knuckles and fingers.

Hi can I join please. I'm another kawai digital player, bought my piano about 5 years ago having not played since school. I nearly mastered Claire de Lune but missed my self imposed target date with a page to go and went back to Fur Elize! Must cut my fingernails and get playing again.

I love Hanon too! As a child I hated A Dozen a Day.

@LemonViolet Thank you so much for your thread. It has spurred me to action. Grade 8 when I was 17, although I didn’t actually sit it for lots of dull reasons. Still have all of my sheet music tucked away, including the Hanon studies.

Sadly, I haven’t played for around 15-20 years. I also now have some issues with anxiety and would find it hard to play “out loud” and don’t have easy access to an acoustic piano any more.

Your thread today reminded me of the positive effect playing piano had on my well-being. I had totally forgotten what that felt like.

So…I’ve decided to treat myself to a digital piano. Can I please ask how you decided on the Kawai model? Or any other recommendations for as close to an acoustic experience as possible. I’m more than happy to rent a piano if need be….I just want a really natural rich sound.

@DreamingofBrie yes I still have my Hanon! Hated it. No idea why I kept it at all. I haven’t got any of my exam books for example.

I have a hybrid piano - so it has hammers which give the heft to the touch, but the sound is created digitally, so headphones can be used. I love it, though it is pricey.

Mine is a casio (developed with bechstein) and it has the most authentic touch of all digitals I have tried. But I really rate digitals - some people are snobby but I think different people want different things and I would never have restarted if I couldn’t practice with headphones. I once had an argument with one such snob and asked him if he thought it would be better for me to stop altogether or do what I could with a digital. I think he honestly thinks it should be acoustic or nothing and I think that is really sad.

I think others do hybrids too. This is the current model of mine: www.casio.co.uk/gp-310bk

I was pleased I didn’t have an acoustic when I replaced carpets and also when I moved house. Also during lockdown for practising at 3am with headphones when I was too stressed to sleep!

My aim is to get a yamaha silent piano - a lottery win would help!

@Eelpie21 I originally had a Yamaha CLP635 but wanted to upgrade from the plastic keys. I was absolutely certain I’d have another Yamaha because I’ve always done well with their instruments (I played the flute to grade 8 in my teens on a Yamaha). I went to the Yamaha shop in London and liked the 675 but wanted to double check I was right by playing it next to competitor instruments. I ended up going to Bonners in Reigate and had the Kawai recommended. It turned out I liked the action a lot more than the Yamaha. I think some of the sounds/resonances that are built in are a bit OTT but they can be turned off, but that’s the only real negative (aside from the ugly case, the newer x9 series are prettier). I love the touch screen and the richness of sound from the sound board rather than speakers.

I appreciate you didn’t ask me this question but I had my head turned by playing it and can’t recommend my CA98 enough. And I tried almost every digital in the shop when I went, so compared them all side by side.

I’m veering towards Kawai if I do get a digital piano simply because my son has already done the research, gone from shop to shop and tried them all out. He was very anti digital but has come round and is delighted with his Kawai ( cn37 I think he said the model is)
There don’t seem to be many stockists near where I live ( central south coast) so not sure if I will be able to try any out. Unless I turn it into a day trip out somewhere.
Saw my friend today who has a piano still, although not digital) and am going round next week to see if my fingers still work. She still has loads of music I can borrow and pointed out that new sheet music etc could be useful Christmas and birthday presents!
Just been measuring up space in my little small bedroom which is currently my sewing room.

Agree with @broccolibush that non-plastic keys make a significant difference to the touch too!

Also agree bonners are great - think they have product videos which are clear and they were great with a friend buying remotely during lockdown - spent loads of time discussing options and answering her questions on the phone (no I don’t work for casio or bonners!).

Yes their videos are fantastic. Really informative and they pick such lovely pieces to compare different pianos with.