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Hi all,

I learnt a bit of piano as a child (2 years or so) but stopped and haven't touched it since for 10 years.
Started with an Acoustic, Just bought a DP yesterday. Not quite a beginner (remember most things) not quite intermediate, yet >_>

I'm hoping to "learn" again.

I'm in a slight delimma?
I've looked at the music books recommended on at this forum... however.. Alfred's looks... simple? too basic? Although the later songs might prove to be a challenge for me. Torn 50/50 of buying and not buying =/

Anyway, the books seem too simple, yet the songs I want to play are too complex.. and I've forgotten most of my theory (being 10 years now).

I was wondering how I should go about... learning again? Enough for playing what I want (Sight and playing by ear is the ultimate goal). Would be adequate to just play what I like and read up on it afterwards?

Hi and welcome to the forums,

Here is a thought. You might download some pieces from this site which has music catorgized by different levels and perhaps get a feel for where you are. Free Sheet Music
Then you can make a more educated decision about what book, if any, you want to actually purchase and learn from. If you have a grasp of what you can play easily and where the drop off begins it may help you decide which path you want to follow.

My situation is similar, two years of childhood lessons, then <gasp> a 40 year gap. I still had my childhood John Thompson series. I currently work out of Faber & Faber all-in-one book two. There are lead sheet pieces in each section. However I did purchase the Alfred's all-in-one also. It does not offer the lead sheet feature but I had to quit my formal lessons. Knew the US economy was tanking but never thought the job loss thing would reach up and grab us. Armed with this collection of learning options, I hope to be able to go-it alone. Like you, I ultimately want to play well, the sheet music I have collected and like.

Debbie

Hello Xing,
Welcome to the forum. I still consider myself a beginner, I'm 49 and I have been playing for 9 months, but with that said.. I can play almost anything that I want to play. I give all the credit to my piano teacher. She is so wonderful.

Have you considered taking lessons again? Adult lessons are SOOOO... different from childrens lessons. If you find the right teacher, (one that understands your goals and wants to help you reach those goals) you will probably be amazed at the rate you will advance and chatch up to where you want to be.

A few weeks or months with a teacher might be better than a long struggle with self instruction to re-gain and further your skills. (I tried to teach myself and it was wasted time).

Hello!

Are ALL the Alfred books too basic for you? Perhaps you can purchase Book 2 or Book 3 for review, depending on where you stand. In this way, you could "brush up" on playing and theory without having to go through the entire series.

You could also consider purchasing some of the easier "real" classical music as a starting point. The notebooks for the young from Bach, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, etc. Some of those pieces truly sound beautiful!

Thanks for the advice~
I think the more appropriate word would be tedious.

Hmm.. I think I might start struggling at the end of level 2..
Where would that put me? xD I'll go have a look at the volume 2 one, I didn't consider it because I hate skipping the first book, and I think I could play to pg. 70 or so... without much trouble.

When you said notebooks for the young, what would an example be?

The teacher option would be nice, but I don't know where or how I'd go looking for a good one. Since none of the people I know use one, they're self teaching too (way better at it as well).

At the moment I'm kind of loss~ xD
But I'll see what happens.

Hi Xing,

There are a couple of options if you are interested in classical music: As pianoluvr suggests, you can look for books with easier pieces by many of the main composers. IMO, it does get harder to make sure that you are working pieces in order from easy to hard.

If that is an approach that interests you, here are some of my suggestions:
JS Bach: Anna Magdelena Notebook then 18 Little Preludes.
Clementi: Sonatinas Opus 36
Mozart: An Introduction to his Keyboard Works.
Beethoven: An Introduction to his Piano Works.
Burgmuller: 25 Easy & Progressive Studies Opus 100
Gurlitt: Album for the Young Opus 140
Schumann: Album for the Young Opus 68 then Scenes from Childhood Opus 15
Streabbog: 12 Melodious Pieces Opus 63
Tchaikovsky: Album for the Young Opus 39
Bartok: Album for the Young
Kabelevsky: 30 Children's Pieces opus 27 & 24 Little Pieces Opus 39
Prokofieff: Music for Children Opus 65

Alternately, you can work out of books that are graded by level. Keith Snell is the series I am working out of. I'm not sure how much of a challenge it would be to get his series in Austrialia. Here's a link to a guide for his series: http://www.kjos.com/pdf/brochures/snell_reper_index.pdf

There are lots of other series set up in levels like Keith Snell's.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Rich

Hmm...
About Classical, I haven't heard a wide range.

But I selectively like certain pieces. It seems I prefer the complicated ones -_-

But, I'll see what the music stores have.

Hi Xing.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation, as an adult trying to relearn the piano.

I tried a lot of things, but the graded series I like the best is Bartok's Mikrokosmos. The first 20 or so pieces in book 1 should offer you no challenge, but after that it gets really challenging really fast. The material is diverse and you learn a lot of excellent skills right from the beginning.

I, too, found myself stuck between too simple pieces and too complicated. Mikrokosmos offers a nice middle-ground: the pieces are short and can be mastered pretty quickly, they increase in difficulty as you go on, they are musically challenging and complex, even close to the beginning. This series is perfect for even advanced players who want to work on strengthening the left hand, counter-point, and playing in alternative modes and keys.

I sound like an advertisement. I can't praise it enough.

Lol, neat, I'll definitely have a look at that, sounds like what I need~

i would recommend the Piano Handbook, which is comprehesive and covers virtually everything you need to know, and is especially good for someone who's returning to piano. check it at amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Handboo...mp;s=books&qid=1229098691&sr=1-1

you may also get some sheet music books and technique books to use together.