CALLING ALL EXPERIENCED PIANO PLAYERS - Advice needed

[DayDreamer511]

When I was younger I played the piano. I did very well in some festivals I competed in but never sat an exam (through choice). I rarely practiced and as a result my sight reading was always awful. My piano teacher could teach me to play music rather than me having to do much in terms of sight reading. I played piano for my higher music (Mozart, Bach etc) and the pieces I played were probably to the highest standard in my year group. My sister was always more hard working than me but our teacher told me that I have something that you can’t teach which is that I know how to play the piano. She said I know how to play a piece of music with feeling. Although I never practiced (through laziness when I was younger), playing the piano is something I’ve always had a love for. Having lived away from home for 10 years and not having a piano, I’m now incredibly rusty and since I can’t sight read well, I feel like such a novice. I’ve bought a piano and am enquiring about getting lessons as I really regret not practicing when I was younger.

Anyway, it would be an absolute dream come true for me if I could do lessons for a few years, sit exams and at some point in the future, maybe even become a piano teacher. I’m just wondering, does this idea sound too far fetched? Is it unlikely I’ll ever get to that level? I’m 28 and a stay at home Mum with young children and I’ve been trying to find my “thing”, my hobby or passion and it turns out the piano is that thing. I just don’t want to set my sights too high and fail.

I really appreciate any help/ advice.

Thank you.

Daydreamer I found a teacher (after a break of over 20 years) by phoning the local piano shop. I go to her house but she's only about 10 minutes' walk away and I take a half-day off about once a month or so to see her. Are your DC in nursery?

OP the Fantasia in D minor you mentioned (I assume by Mozart?) is about Grade 5 level.
Are you looking to teach piano in private schools? The competition for these jobs is quite fierce these days. There's nothing to stop you from teaching privately at home though. You can advertise yourself on musicteachers.co.uk
It sounds as though your enthusiasm and hard work will get you to be the best player you can be. Often adults progress faster than children because of their dedication (and sometimes children just treat instrumental lessons as yet another activity and aren't prepared to put in the required practice). I think you should just go for it and see where it leads to! Good luck!

sylvester that sums me up as a child. I got to that level with minimal practice, although lots of lessons. I just feel as though I’ll be able to achieve so much more now. Not only do I want to become a very competent pianist, I want to make a career out of it, so that gives me a lot of incentive. I thought I’d reached around grade 6 level so possibly a little less experienced than I thought but never mind ☺️

NeverEver one DC does 15 hours but the other is with me 24/7. I’m sure the nursery would take her for a half day but unfortunately, paying for lessons will be a struggle, let alone paying for her to be in nursery on top. Evenings are really my only option for lessons and it needs to be in my house which may make things difficult.

This is such a beautiful post. I have no experience of this but it sounds like you’ve reignited your passion and will absolutely go far, hopefully achieving your long term goal of becoming a piano teacher. Really inspiring.

If you can get back to your previous about grade 5 level, learn the pieces and put yourself in for the ABRSM exam that might be a good start. Also start taking theory exams or learning theory as you need that for ABRSM for over grade 5 and of course to teach the children the piano music theory comes up all the time or should.

I’ve found a teacher! Yay! Just over a week until my first lesson. I can’t wait