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Emma, glad you found a teacher. I'm sure if you keep practising the improvement will come... I'm currently trying to learn Debussy Clair de Lune by heart. I'm trying to learn everything by heart these days to keep the memory cells ticking over, but all too frequently it disappears overnight... Also ...

Hi Emma, Don't be down-hearted! I had a gap of twelve years when I didn't own a piano. When I started again I was pretty rusty but now, several years on, I think I'm a grade or two better than I was when I stopped playing - possibly because I'm now more inclined to work at the things I find difficul...

Dave, there's a version of "I'm forever blowing bubbles" in the songbook Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay published by A and C Black. (Lots of old music hall songs etc, the piano accompaniment's probably about grade 2 to 3ish) Don't know if it's still in print but libraries might have it.

Markymark's story on another thread, about having to play a synthesiser at a church meeting, reminding me of my own worst ever piano playing experience. I was asked to accompany some hymn singing at an old people's home; so I dutifully practised the hymns at home, turned up there on the day, thumped...

Most people would consider themselves doing pretty well to get to grade 2 or 3 after two years, so you obviously have considerable natural talent as well as impressive motivation. I would think you can keep improving as long as you keep practising - no reason why you shouldn't get to grade 8 standar...

I would have thought Chopin is one composer that you certainly don't need to thump. Beethoven, maybe (didn't he break a few pianos in his time?)

My daughter had lessons for several years with Sheila Brammer of the Cheadle Hulme Music Academy, who re-enthused her when she was losing interest with a previous teacher. She always enjoyed her lessons with Sheila and progressed very well (up to grade 7/8). Phone number is 0161 439 0091. (Sorry abo...

There is a piano album for the left hand advertised on the following website, but I have no knowledge of the standard of the pieces.

http://www.fandmusic.com/lefthand.htm

Unfortunately not - all the ones I've listened to sound pretty good. I presume they're by semi-pro musicians who want to share their work.

Just found a really useful free website of piano recordings (numerous composers) at:

http://www.pianosociety.com/cms/index.php?section=6

Apologies to all those who already know about it.

Hi DaveBrum, in answer to your query I was fine when I did grade 1 (a very long time ago: I was too young to care) but got more and more averse to the exams as I got older. Grade 4 was the worst - my fingers were sweating so much they kept sliding off the keys. Amazingly I didn't quite fail it. I di...

I sympathise because I hate playing for an audience - as soon as I know someone is listening my fingers turn into sausages and I instantly forget all the notes I was playing perfectly five minutes earlier. I used to dread piano exams for that reason. Suspect the only answer may be to practise playin...

In "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank" by T.E.Carhart (excellent book) the author describes his visit to the Fazioli workshop. Paolo Fazioli demonstrates the fourth pedal which brings the hammers closer to the strings. He explains that: "This makes for a pianissimo that is amazingly com...

Funny, my piano plays the wrong notes without any help at all

This may be a function of her age and all the changes going on in her life. After several years working in a primary school I'm well aware of how much kids can change in their final year there and how hard it can be to motivate them in the second half of the year - especially after SATS are over and...

Someone who isn't always pushing you to do the next grade exam if exams aren't your thing, but who tries to make sure pupils gain enjoyment from playing. (Having said that, I'm eternally grateful to my piano teacher for dinning the Importance of Fingering into me, though I didn't appreciate it at th...

Try http://www.piano-lessons-master-teachers.com/ There are a set of videos of famous pianists on this website under "Directory of Music performances". Mostly v. difficult pieces of course (lots of Chopin), and all the ones I've looked at are from You-tube, but it might be a useful compend...

Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't thought of trying Haydn: I've never played any of his work (!) but will dig some out and have a go.

Please can anyone suggest any easy(ish) Beethoven sonatas for me to try? I'm about grade 6 and am currently mangling the Pathetique. I'm trying to sight-read my way through others to see if i can cope with them but it could take me forever... Has anyone got any suggestions for which sonata I could m...

yup, I could do with a few of those. I've never liked Rachmaninov as much since learning he could span an octave and a half - no wonder I can't play his damn preludes (though small hands are possibly not the only reason)

I'm not a teacher, but when my daughter was learning piano as a teenager she enjoyed being introduced to jazz and blues pieces as well as the more traditional repertoire - eg Pamela Wedgwood's "Jazzing about" series for the younger end; and Chistopher Norton's "Concert Collection"...

Thanks very much for your reply. There's definitely an "e" on Steele both on the front of the piano and inside on the iron frame. Maybe it was made for Steel Higgins to sell, by another manufacturer who didn't know how to spell the name! (or thought it looked better with an "e") ...

Has anyone heard of the piano-makers J. Steele Higgins of Green Street, Manchester? Our upright piano is serial no 2975. It was evidently a cheap model, with some unconvincing wood-effect graining, and there are marks where I presume candle-holders were once fixed. Any idea how old it might be? Than...

I like the advice - I've been trying to learn the Pathetique for about 6 months and am just about getting there. But I don't think I'll ever manage to play the first movement at the right speed - at least, the only recording I've got is considerably faster than I can manage. Does this matter? How fa...