Learn to play the piano

Got a new keyboard with nice sounds, so I’m ready to start the basics and some confidence-building! :-)

I haven’t posted in a while, but I’m continuing with my piano lessons. Things are going well and my teacher is fantastic. I plan to take the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Level 5 test this spring, with the ultimate goal of Level 6 by the following spring.

I’ve now had three piano lessons and things are going really well. I love playing and practicing and my teacher has been very helpful in directing me. I keep my practice schedule offline in a notebook for my teacher so it’s not available here on 43things, but I’ve been trying to practice as much as possible. I probably have been averaging 5 hours per week. I wish I had time to do more, but I have at least been able to see steady improvement so that’s gratifying.

Wed: F major, d minor scales and arpeggios. sight reading.
Thurs: Bb major, g minor scales and arpeggios. sight reading.
Fri: Eb major, c minor scales and arpeggios. sight reading.
Sat: Ab major, f minor scales and arpeggios. sight reading.
Sun: no practice
Monday: Db major scales and arpeggios. sight reading.

Monday was great b/c I actually noticed some improvement in my sight reading skills. I was able to make it through a Clementi sonatina pretty well, which was awesome!

So, my plan is this: practice at least 1 hrs/day, 5 days/wk. 20 min of scales (similar and contrary motion) and arpeggios (1 major, 1 minor), 20 min of sight reading, 20 min of work on pieces. Until I start lessons though, I’ll mostly just be doing scales/arpeggios and sight reading. I may also need to add in some sight singing and ear training, but if I do that will be a separate goal.

I met with the teacher and we’re starting lessons August 4th. It’s pretty expensive, so I’m a bit hesitant, but maybe the massive amount of money I’m putting out will inspire me to even more practice. Between now and the first lesson I do want to practice a bunch.

So, I’m meeting a teacher on Saturday. It’s kind of expensive though. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do, but we’ll see.

I need to be more specific about exactly what I want to be able to do. My goals for learning to play the piano are:

1. To be able to sight read intermediate-level pieces respectably (i.e. with reasonable accuracy and speed)
2. Have the technical ability to play things like Bach 2 and 3 part inventions, French and English Suites, and WTC at correct tempo and w/o making many mistakes
3. Learn the technical things I never really learned like tremolo, grace notes, and pedaling
4. Work on musicianship (dynamics, legato/staccato, phrasing, etc.). These are things I usually ignore since I’m just trying to get the right notes out.

I think I’m going to start contacting some teachers. I’m emailing one right now.

I’ve been sightreading at least a song or two most days. I may need to get a few more lesson-oriented books. I’ve just been using a hymnal and an intermediate keyboard repetoire book. I’m enjoying it though!

I’ve found that when I’m in a bad mood practicing the piano helps me b/c sightreading involves so much concentration, I can’t think about being unhappy. I’m not sure that I’m getting a whole lot better but it’s good therapy/distraction and I can see a little improvement. Really, though, I should get a teacher to see real improvement.