Ways you can participate in the tonebase Piano Community

Dominic Cheli About one year

Dominic Cheli I’m not sure if I am doing this correctly. I have a question to ask so I will go ahead with my question and see what happens:

I am 67 years old. At the beginning of Covid I decided to get back to playing the piano. I hadn’t played for quite a while. I started out learning pieces which were way too ambitious, so I’ve decided to embark on much shorter works. My problem is that I cannot seem to get a piece up to an acceptable level of playing. I can play but not to the required speed or even slightly slower, without inaccuracies creeping in, so I just move on the the next piece. I know I should be able to play these because I progressed just beyond grade 8 when I was young and learnt some advanced music eg chopin ballade g minor, rachmaninoff prelude g minor etc, so I’m baffled that I can’t seem to bring say a Bach prelude and fugue (2 and 6 book one), Chopin etudes (op 25 number one and two,) or a Beethoven sonata (Pathetique first movement) to performance level. My learning process appears to have slowed down and my patience is challenged. Presently I’m trying my luck with a Chopin nocturne (op 27.2). Such a beautiful work and I thought I would seek your advice before this work meets a similar demise as so many others. 
many thanks for taking the time to read all of this. 

Alherne cupido  

 Hi Alherne,

  I might not be qualified to give this advice.   But I thought I'd share mine thoughts in case it maybe helpful.

 In my amateur piano group, we have many people in the similar position.   I think the key part is patience, and go easy on yourself!!! 

Instead of going thru all your past repertoire that are technically challenging, perhaps try to approach this with new pieces instead. Start with something at the intermediate level that you could easily read. Eg. Mendelssohn songs without words, Venetian boat song are a lovely piece a few adults has been starting back with.   You'll feel much better on all the songs you could easily read, and play,. At this stage, it's important to feel positive about sitting down to play and going thru lovely music (instead of getting discouraged that you can't easily accomplished your previous level). 

Every so often,  you could taking on smaller sections of your old repertoire to work on, instead of tackling a whole piece.  It will take a while to regain the agility and techniques that you once had. And consistency in practice will help.  Remember when you were younger, you probably work on it regularly, and built up strength/agility over YEARS! (not months). 

Also, a teacher recommended Fingerpower series for short exercises for restarters. 

Good luck!

Lc thank you so much for your advice. Since I wrote the above question I have done exactly what you have suggested. I have since completed the Chopin nocturne and a Brahms intermezzo (118/2). I a reasonably satisfied with the end result. I realise these pieces take years to develop fully so I’m not expecting them to be at concert level yet. I’ve “parked” the technically more challenging pieces but hope to get back to them at some stage. In the meantime I’m concentrating on building up my repertoire with some intermediate level pieces. I miss having an audience to play to though. I feel that I can be more motivated if I had someone to play to. 
once more, thank you for taking to time to read through my question and offer advice. 

Alherne cupido  So happy to hear of your progress.
I agree it's easier to be motivated when there're audiences.  I took lessons for that reason.  That aside, are there piano groups near where you live? If not, maybe form one?  I was ever so glad to find a group of adults player locally. It's fun to play four-hands or two pianos together too.

That aside, the tonebase community is a great set of audience.  If you haven't started a practice diary, perhaps start one (and do let me know).  Many people share their videos.  I'll be sure to follow your diary and cheer on your progress.   Or if you don't want to do it so widely, private message me.  :D

Alherne cupido Also, both the nocturnes and the Brahms intermezzo wasn't easy to learn.  So congrats on learning it in such a short time!  

Alherne cupido That sounds like my story, Alherne cupido. Will be interesting to see how many of us there are in this or a similar same situation. Since I have joined Tonebase,  I made a plan for myself through putting together various elements from Dominic and Ben. Unfortunately, I am not at a time in my life when I can practice as consistently as I should. But 2 weeks ago, I logged in 6 days of practice and every day, I played/practiced a little longer and left the piano satisfied. That said, I did not set high standards -- small steps.  I am also getting to the piano more frequently these days.

-- Thanks Dominic and Ben! I've learned a lot from you as well as from all the events and courses I have viewed. 

David Soyez le bienvenu, David!  N'hesitez pas de nous poser des questions.Ca fait 2+ ans que je fais parti de Tonebase, et je suis d'Orlando, Florida.