I am into the 10th month into my piano studies now...
Beginner (6 months)
For the first 4 to 5 months, my teacher used "Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Level 1" and completed it in the beginning of the 5th month. Mainly focused on note reading, playing with different dynamics (p to f), chords, five fingers movements.
On the 5th and 6th month, I learnt to play simple duet (with my teacher), scales, Christmas Carols and some other folk songs. I used some of the pieces from "Let Us Have Music for Piano, Volume One, Seventy-Four Famous Melodies", "The World of Master Composers Series 1", "50 Golden Christmas Sings" and 1 or 2 duets pieces which my teacher shared with me. I also learnt a few pop songs on my own, though I play it with my own style.
Grade 1 (4th months into Grade 1 now)
In the 7th month, I officially move on to Grade 1. Where I started using the following books "Grade 1 Scales & Broken Chords", "A Dozen A Day Book One", "Improve your sight-reading Grade 1", "Music Theory in Practice Grade 1", "Keys to Stylistic Mastery Book 1" and doing note namers exercise every week.
As of now, I have completed the Baroque pieces of the "Keys to Stylistic Mastery Book 1", and have moved on to the Classical Period, focusing on some problems I have:-
1. Pedalling (keep having coordination problems with when to change pedal and when the depress)
2. Trills (using right hand 2, 3, 2, 3 finger position are fine, any other fingering will give me lots of problems, the beats are simply not correct)
3. Dynamics (the range is not big enough, need to expand the range, and my left hand is always too loud for classical pieces)
4. Learn the different style of the music in the different periods (relatively more academic)
I have completed the Grade 1 Theory, and my teacher will be buying some theory exam papers for me to try (under exam condition), but I will not be taking Grade 1 theory exams. My teacher will move me on to Grade 2 Theory. And I am finishing my "Grade 1 Scales and Broken Chords" soon. I am still in the first set of dozen for the "A Dozen A Day". And moving very slowly with the "Improve your sight-reading".
My teacher will be working on my aural soon, and she says she will need to take 6 months worth of lessons to prepare me for my practical exams (3 pieces) to be of performance standard. So if I count backwards, I will need to start preparing for my Grade 2 practical exams starting from Aug 2009, for the Mar 2010 exams.
For some reasons, I suddenly feel very stress now. And I feel I have a huge gap in my technical skills. Theories are still ok for me, maybe coz I am an adult and have already gotten used to study and taking exams. But practical, oh no, I feel I play so badly! =(
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18 comments:
Wow, you seem to be learning lots for a Grade 1 candidate. I don't think I learnt ornaments so early in my study.
If your LH is too loud, keep your hand closer to the keyboard, and that will reduce the momentum from your LH. I have the opposite problem: My RH is too loud compared to my LH, though it works well in most classical pieces, I don't play contrapuntal music very well. Hence I am asked to drop my left arm more.
Here is a Grade 1 playlist of pieces in the latest syllabus. I think I heard some really nice pieces:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=604E316DF8909700
Don't be too stressed. Many of the pieces sound excellent because they are played by professionals. You don't have to sound as good as they are, because there is a list of criteria that the examiners mark against, and the list is not that stringent yet for Grade 1.
I find it really very difficult. Say, if the repertoire range from pp to ff, and my LH needs to be 2 dynamic levels softer than my RH in classical pieces, my LH cannot get any softer when when I am playing p, what more to say pp. And when I go to ff, my teacher will say that I am banging on her piano, while I am trying so hard to make it real LOUD :P
Are the playlist suppose to be the kind of standard which i should be able to play? Some of the Grade 1 and 2 pieces sounds very nice. Is he considered a "professional"?
The pianist in the videos is a teacher. I would say he plays very well. So you won't need to be playing like him if you want to pass.
Hello Pooh,
Nice to come across your blog, actually, am an adult yoo and have just started My music classes recently, I am in the 3rd month,so I am quite very much behind you. You provided some insight about your experience, which has given me some sort of idea.. I don't have a paino myself..SO am unable to practise that much and I have my classes twice in a well.
Sometimes I feel that I should have started earlier, but anyways, am happy that I ve managed to start. Are the music exams easy??.. I already feel nervous about it !!!
Hi Ramkumar,
Welcome to my blog! Great to know another adult learner! You have lessons twice a week? Do you have enough time to prepare for each lesson? I have my lessons once a week for 45 mins. I am already finding hard to find time to practice and perfect a piece before my lesson.
And what are you currently using to learn on? A keyboard or digital piano? Having a piano or at least a digital piano really helps me to learn the techniques. But of coz, at first, my fingers are very tired. Now is much better.
No, I have yet taken any exams, but as of now, I find theory, scales, broken chords ok. But my teacher always has a lot of comments on my pieces, which is the area that I spend most of my time on. And sight-reading is something that I am working on slowly. I have yet started on aural, but I hope it is not difficult. Are you taking exams too?
Hi Pooh,
Warm Welcome indeed !!Thanks ! Yup, twice in aweek, each class is 1 hour long. The teacher teaches me for half an hour, and then I practise what I have been taught for the next 30 mins.
I do no have time to practise as am working, so everytime I go to class, I am always making some mistake or the other. I am thinking of buying a used piano first before I buy the one that really suits me. I am learning on a big digital Piano.
I have not started theory, I am currently practising on John Thompson's Music series 1, in part 3 now.My teacher is good, I am getting a hang of things but am not conversant enough, sometimes I get confused between notes and have an indefinite pause before my teacher can give me a hint !!
That's am looking around for a piano, so that atleast I will get some time to practise. Honestly, I hope to grab the basics soon, as I aspire to become a music composer. I mean, atleast, its a goal that I am hoping to accomplish, something where I can release all my creativity into.
Hi Ramkumar,
No worries, it is normal to make mistakes here and there. As for me, in terms of playing out the notes, I am ok. But my teacher has a lot of comments on my expressions, dynamics and feeling. She keeps saying you can pass by playing out the notes, but you can't go far, coz music is about expression!
Theory is very important in helping you to compose music. Do share with me some of the music which you compose if any. And I will share mine too. But so far, I have not yet succeed. Haha. At least to share and see how else we can improve :)
Learning on a digital piano is fine as a start. Don't worry. It should be able to last you 2 to 3 grades. And I love digital piano coz I can practice even late into the night with earphones, and they comes with metronome, and some can even record what I played. So that I can play back and listen.
Yes, definitely you will grasp the basics. Keep practising and share with me your progress. Haha, likely to be more motivated when you have someone to share your "accomplishments"!
Hello Pooh,
Well, My teacher too has stressed on all that dynamics and epressions but has not yet commented on the dialogue which she stated to you !! May be I would be receiveing that dialogue from my teacher soon !! ha ha..
Well, I suppose I should introduce myself in a more detailed manner, I am from India, however, I was brought up in Bahrain as my Parents are here. I studied my primary uptil Grade 6 in Bahrain and then I went to India to complete the rest of my studies and I recently graduated in May 2005 with a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology.
Though I am intersted into the Biotechnological field, I am not of research material similar to you. I am right now working in Bahrain, as my Mum asked me to be here for a few years before I can go abroad for my higher studies. So, I am here in Bahrain working as an Immigration Consultant. Ya, I know that it has nothing to with my studies, but am doing it to be with my parents here, as such am very young and was advised that it's better to work before I do an MBA. Am just 20.
So after 2 years of work experience, I plan to do my M.Sc in Environmental Management in UK and then follow it up with an MBA.
Apart from Academics, actually am not that great in Studies, I enjoy my extra curricular activities alot. I love to do creative stuff. I was bonded with music, but never got a chance to learn it, now that I have started, it's given me a boost.
Before, I even learnt to play the piano, I was composing music with computer softwares on my laptop. That is where I have made some of my compositions. But I felt that I could do better if I learnt all the basics, and probably earn a few grades in Music.
So.. What piano do you use?.. You own a piano?Thant's cool, am still deciding about what to buy. Preferably, I'd buy something which would aid in composition as well.
Hi Ramkumar,
Wow! You are only 20 and you have all that accomplishment! Very good! Is normal to work on things that has nothing to do with what you studied. Oh, u read my other blog? Haha, I seldom update that blog though.
Good that you have plans to further study. But why would you still want to do M.Sc in Environmental Management? Ya, do have a few years of experience first before you do your MBA. It will help you to understand and appreciate more, and get the most out of it. I haven't do my MBA yet, finding it too expensive. So, haha, waiting for someone to offer me a scholarship! :P
Oh, you were already composing music! Any pieces to share?
Ya, I own an acoustic piano. Hailun HL125. It is made in China. An upright piano which is 125cm tall. I like the tone very much. The keys are much heavier than the other Asian brands though, coz they were made for the European market. But it really trains up my fingers. Now I can play on my teacher's piano easily, coz her actions are much lighter.
But of coz my teacher's piano's dynamic range is much bigger, and I find it so much easier to play on her piano and control the range of dynamics. But she keeps telling me that my range can be wider, and more contrast. I love her piano a lot. But her piano is more than 4 times more expensive than mine. Haha, so I cannot complain about my dear Hailun, which is good enough for my purpose at my humble budget.
Hi Pooh,
Well, am back in office now, just after my music class and my fingers and wrists are aching
:( ..Well I heard that one has to practise alot to not realise the pain!!!
Well, am very much concerned about the environment and I like the challenges that we are facing day to day and there are alot of global issues that we face every day, I hope to do my M.Sc environmental amangement and have a better understanding and to try to work to provide better solutions.. Lets see how it turns out to be.. If you do an MBA now, it will be really beneficial to your career, since you are already working, it will be a boost to your profile !! You must try to do it !!
Yes, I will share what I have composed so far, probably aint dat good :) .. Will let you know when I upload it.
It's nice that you have your own piano, I hope to get one soon.
Hi Ramkumar,
The aching is normal, just like when you don't jog for a long time, you will ache all over atter jogging. But if you jog often enough, you build more muscles and hence not painful anymore. In fact, you enjoy playing and exercising. :)
As for the MBA, I am looking from a "Return of Investment" perspective. If you do some maths, the return might not be as much as you think. And the effect of boosting profile might not be as BIG either, since anyone can do an MBA and effectively many people already holds one. But it still costs tens of thousands.
Anyway, do share with me when you compose some music. Haha, would like to listen to it!
Haha, ya, it is very nice to have my own piano. It is like my toy! :)
Hi Pooh !!
It's been a while huh ! How are you doing?? Well, I have been carried away with alot of stuff at work, and I have been going for my classes regularly and before I even knew, It is September!
I havent got a piano yet ! :( and also I have registered for the exam !!! It will be in November If am not wrong. I have almost completed my Grade 1 stuff, just practicing the Exam pieces, sight reading, Aural and Chords.
I really find sight reading hard, given the fact that am not fully fluent with the piano as yet, my only times of playing the piano is in the classes !!!
Hi Ramkumar,
I have been great. I have recently been promoted to Grade 2 by my teacher. So, I am not taking the Grade 1 exams. Instead, I will be preparing for the Grade 2 exams in 2010.
Good luck for your piano exams! Are you taking the ABRSM exams? Please share with me your exam experience! Are you doing music theory exams as well?
Ya, it is good if you can get a piano soon. Coz it will really help you to progress much faster in your piano learning. And sight-reading is a skill that you need to keep practising. I am also training up my sight-reading skills. According to my teacher, I am much better than when I first started. So keep going!
Hi Pooh,
Yea, it is ABRSM. But am just doing the practical ones, not the theory ones. But am confused. If it's all practical, why are there 2 difeerent tests? Practical and theory? It should be together as they are part of one entity !
Exam is in November, yea for sure I will let you know about how it went!!
Looks like you are going to ace the grade 2 exam if you are doing it by next year, since you will have a lot of time to practice.
Sight reading is hard,I agree, for not being able to practice everyday, sight-reading is where i fear I will loose marks!! There are so many factors to keep in mind, the tempo, notes, time signature, pace..!!! Aarghh !!!
At the moment I am just preparing for the Grade 1 exam, the pieces and the scales. Apart from that I haven't started Grade 2 material because I am learning to play a piece which I love a lot ! It's actually a background score from the anime series Naruto, it's a real brilliant piece on the Piano. I will send you the link from where you can download the piece, if you want to.
Hi Ramkumar,
Practical exams are only pertaining to the instrument which you are learning, which in this case is piano. And theory exams are the same regardless which instruments you choose. The 2 exams focus on 2 different areas.
Practical exams test on your ability to play the chosen instrument with expression, ability to play out from the unprepared scores on the instrument, and ability to interpret the scores based on your musical knowledge.
Theory exams test on your ability to write music in a set of defined musical standards and musical terminology. It also test on your understanding of the different scales, which will eventually be useful when you want to compose music.
Anyway, good luck for your exams! =)
I have yet started on my Grade 2 exam pieces. Instead my teacher is focusing on my general musical development, so I have been playing different repertoires from Baroque period to Contemporary period to understand how each piece should be played differently because of the different styles and history. But all the pieces I play now are around Grade 2 standards. So, by the time I feel comfortable with repertoires of that level of difficulty, I can then easily be able to play the Grade 2 exams pieces if I decide to take the exams. But as of now, I am still working hard to bring my level of playing up to a Grade 2 level, as more techniques, expressions and dynamics are needed. So, haha, not very hopeful that I can ace my Grade 2 even if I am taking it next year.
Sight-reading skills need a lot of practice. My teacher says I should be able to "hear" the notes when I read them, like the way we read story books, we can "hear" the words in our brain. So, we need to practice until that comes to us naturally. So, keep going. Hopefully we can "hear" the notes soon.
Yes! I want to hear that piece. Do send me the link!
Hi Pooh !
Ok..I now seem to get the reason for the 2 different exams. For sight - reading - we have to hear the notes eh? that's like on a totally another level ! Cool, you have gained so much of knowledge into music already !! Nice !
Ya, here is the link - http://ichigos.com/sheets/n (enter this into your URL bar), once the page loads -
- Under the 2nd section "Naruto" - the 2nd last sentence - [Sorrow and Sadness (Transcribed by tenshinokage)
for Piano] - Download the PDF link.
Once downloaded, open PDF and play on your keys !! I am sure you are going to enjoy it !! I am currently mastering it by heart, should be able to finish it soon !
This is nice! But it doesn't look easy. Haha, I will need some time to learn it. Thanks for sharing! =)
Yea..It's Kinda hard at first..I just couldn't synchronize my left hand and right hand at same time...So I had to master each hand individually..And then practiced simultaneously..whew!!!
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