Review? Renew? or Start New?

Nancy, there are many of the greats which will take the rest of your life to come back to them time and time again and you will always discover something new.  I had been away for 25 years once and started again. Hence I think it will be good to balance your lessons or activities with something you have already played before so you don't have to struggle  so much with the notes and something new - a new piece to challenge the brain.  It is always good to have a reputable teacher to listen to you, someone who teaches at the conservatory level. 

It's always good to be positive and do whatever  we have on our heart. Meaning we should not leave this world with regrets. If one is free and have time, one should never avoid one's passion. It's great to continue learning, whatever the age...

I would suggest doing both to start. When I restarted after decades, I focused on a few old pieces, Hanon and etudes to get myself into some shape to audition for a great teacher. I also got a chance to start performing using this old repertoire right away. But after that, learning new repertoire became so much more interesting that now I pass on what I had once played. 

It depends on how much time you have. I would learn any piece that I really like regardless of whether I have done that before. I hope this helps! 

Nancy, that's great that you are returning to the piano! I recommend finding a first-rate teacher who can help you get your skills back faster, and also introduce you to enjoyable repertoire that would smooth the transition. Most piano teachers enjoy the enthusiasm of adults who are returning to the instrument, and won't care that your playing might be temporarily rusty.  You' may also learn new techniques and end up playing much better than you did in the past!

An interesting question, and already some good points in reply.

I am in a fairly similar position, having had to pick up and put down serious music practice as life and work dictated, but now being retired and having some time, hopefully more wisdom, but certainly less energy, I am trying to study music properly and consistently at last. I don’t myself generally find it either quicker or easier to revive an old piece than to start from scratch with new ones. But that is mainly because in earlier life I was badly taught, didn’t know how to learn a piece properly and didn’t know how to practise. So when I relearn a piece from decades ago, I have to clear away all the rubbish of the past, some of which is very sticky, as well as doing all the normal learning and practising. No doubt it would be very different for someone who was well taught from an early age: I certainly find it much easier to revise pieces from a few years ago (by which time I had found good teachers and learnt proper methods) than pieces from my childhood and youth. But inevitably, there are some pieces that we love too much to abandon, and the work of relearning just has to be done.

So I would say that the answer, almost inevitably, is to work on a mixture of old and new learning. I expect most of us would agree that it’s best to have about three pieces of different kinds and levels on the go at once.

I completely agree that a really good teacher is a most important factor; and the idea of not leaving regrets behind is certainly one I share. I am now in my seventies, still learning, and more than anything now wanting to conquer the pieces that have been important to me for years and decades, but which I never learnt properly in the past.

I remain in awe of all of the musicians who are on Tonebase!  And yes, I can finally say ‘musician’ instead of imposter (where I had been for so many years).  When I returned after 35 years, I felt so lost.   Many students my age had been playing their whole lives and I had no background.  But hearing from all of you, has given me so much confidence even though I just play at home.  I always have a mix of old and new.  Although now, after 10 years back, it is starting to be more new than old…I also go in spurts — and I like that Tonebase gives us so many ideas to try pieces I had never heard of, nor would have even thought of playing.  Each fall and spring - I get together a list.  I almost never finish all of them.  So I do go back.  Fall brings more pensive pieces and it is already way into fall here in Alaska. Spring comes late - and by then I’m tired of the ‘sadder’ pieces.  And - Christmas always provides a break where I play old and new favorites - nostalgic for my youth and for the grandkids (Charlie Brown Christmas) - Vince Guaraldi is a great break from my steady diet of classical music.  Enjoy!  

For what it's worth: Last month, we had a wonderful "Unfinished Business Challenge" in which a group of people picked up again a piece they loved but had never quite gotten around to finishing and polishing. For me personally, and I think for many others, it was an incredibly rewarding experience, and we got to present our work at a Community Concert at the end of the month. All three approaches you mention have their own merit, of course, but there is something particularly satisfying about focusing hard on a beautiful piece of music that had been a work in progress for too long, pushing it to the home stretch, carrying it over the finish line, wrapping it up, and putting a bow on it (forgive the mixed metaphors!).  

So glad to see so many in the same boat.  I have dabbled in the piano for over 75 years with a large break until starting back 5 years ago.  I typically spend two to four hours a day or more and then a few marathon days where I don't do anything else but do take a lot of mini-breaks.  I am encouraged by other octogenarians who have prevailed and I'm sure deal with the specific challenges of our age, like a little arthritus and less sharp minds that we once had.   I rarely play for anyone but I get great pleasure for myself playing the things I love.  It has also been a motivator for continuing to exercise, stretch and care for my body in general with the goal of doing everything I can to aid piano playing.  I recently saw a presentation from the local university where the subject was of what good medicine playing the piano is to help prevent aging.  So, my playing is not so great but the all the reasons to do it are.

I started playing again in November 2021 after not playing for decades too! At first, my approach was only to start on new pieces because I didn't want to be disappointed with how I couldn't play pieces that I had learnt a long time ago and that I recall were easy for me at that time. As it turned out, I slowly regained the skills and I think I got back to where I left off after 6 to 8 months, (and hopefully still progressing), with lessons, as well as support from Tonebase, its wonderful team and inspiring community-centric activities! 

I am now fine with revisiting old pieces, though there is hardly any time for this between all the other commitments and so much other beautiful repertoire to work on :)