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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask my piano teacher for more interesting / advanced music?

6 replies

AliceNotInChains · 24/06/2026 18:50

I’ve been doing piano lessons since new year. I had absolutely no knowledge beforehand so the tutor started me off on a very basic children’s book. It was great as it taught me the basics of note reading, timing, accents etc etc and I found it really helped ease me into it.
Once I’d finished that book we moved into book 2 in the series. Again, learnt a lot and felt like I was making progress. He said after book 2 we could move onto adult books but we ended up on book 3.

I totally understand why he’s doing this as I’m still struggling with some things in the kids books but I’m starting to get really bored. The songs are basic nursery rhymes and childhood songs like Yankee Doodle dande, twinkle little star etc and the way they’re written they don’t even sound like the songs they’re meant to be with huge pauses, simplified tunes etc

I know it sounds like I want to run before I can walk but I’m thinking couldn’t I still learn the basic stuff on adult songs that I actually recognise and like?

For example - Beatles Yesterday. Couldn’t we learn that line by line and still learn as we go along?

Im thinking of asking him if we can move onto proper music now but I feel a bit hesitant as I still can’t play some of the songs in the kids books… but I think some of that is that I just can’t be arsed to practice them. They’re boring. I was practicing an hour a day at the start and now I’ve not practiced in two weeks. Well … I have … but I’ve been learning a song off YouTube 🤦‍♀️

voting - YABU (you can’t ask to move onto more advanced stuff if you still can’t demonstrate that you can do the easy stuff)
YANBU - (you could still learn whilst playing songs you enjoy).

OP posts:
Featherhorn · 24/06/2026 18:56

You can certainly ask!

4Lightz · 24/06/2026 18:59

Your tutor probably just has a set menu he provides to all students. Providing tailored lessons is harder work. I would continue with the tutor if you think you are learning useful skills, but get yourself on musescore for some arrangements of pieces you like and learn them yourself. Or your tutor may be willing to provide tailored lessons, you can always ask.

Pinkywoo · 24/06/2026 19:03

You don't need his permission for what you play at home, just get some sheet music of songs you'd like to play (there are normally simplified versions for beginners. It's good to practice different styles, and start working on sight reading now you've got the basics. This one has a nice mix, and includes Yesterday!

amzn.eu/d/0h5AG8Pk

Jopo12 · 24/06/2026 19:11

I'm a piano teacher. I'm very happy to be guided by my adult students in what they want to play. I dont use kids books for adults, there are many adult method books where the tunes are more interesting, there are teacher duets and backing tracks so you feel very musical playing along.

By method book 2 I'm usually supplementing with other things and I never use book 3 as it's time to move onto all repertoire and technique then.

If you like film and theatre music try Faber adult piano adventures Popular book 1. Songs include: My Heart Will Go On Let It Be Thinking Out Loud Edelweiss Canon in D Beauty and the Beast Yesterday Unchained Melody Climb Ev’ry Mountain Jurassic Park Theme and more. My older adult students s typically love it. It's available on Amazon, eBay, world of books, Ackerman, and more.

By the way, I'm in awe of all adults who learn piano without prior experience, it's about the hardest thing you will ever do if you're post about 50 years old . It takes a huge amount of hard work and perseverance to learn to play, so I think you're brilliant even getting as far as you have! Keep going and if your teacher doesn't like the new book then find a new teacher!

ColdAsAWitches · 24/06/2026 19:13

This is one of those posts that makes me go FFS. You're an adult and you're paying, so ask him! What's the worst that could happen? It's ridiculous that a grown woman can't have a conversation with another adult about something so basic.

JimJonesLivesInMyHead · 24/06/2026 19:15

Firstly OP well done you on starting to learn the piano as an adult, how lovely to hear! Sounds like you're doing really well 😊

I don't think it would hurt to remind your tutor he said you could move on to adult music books. Explain how your motivation to practice has decreased and if he can suggest some easy non-kiddie tunes to start.

I had the best piano teacher in the world at senior school. She had infinite patience with me (I was pretty crap) and was unfailing in her encouragement. She let me bring music I chose to the lessons and if it was clearly beyond me she would gently and diplomatically say "maybe you're not quite ready for that yet" LOL bless her.

Hope you enjoy your lessons as much as I did. Good luck!!

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