Practise strategies for oldies

[dorsetpiano]

I started playing piano when doing A levels in the 60's and then virtually gave it up until a couple of years ago whenI retired, I bought a baby grand and am now trying to do 2 hours a day practise to get as good as possible before dementia or general age related decline sets in. I have never had a lesson and probably have terrible bad habits but I can play some of the chopin waltzes (eg no 7 C#minor, no 1 eflat ) and schubert impromptus so I guess I am equivalent of grade 5+(?). Does anyone have any advice of practice strategies? I only play things that I like and am currently doing an hour in the morning and then a couple of 30 mins sessions later in the afternoon/ evening.

Thanks

[gizzy]

I'm not quite sure why you call it practice. You are Playing, which is what you want to do. I would have said practice was a preparation for something - a lesson, and exam, a performance. If you're doing it for nobody but yourself, you don't relly need a strategy as such - just enjoy!

At the other end of the age range, I gave up formal lessons at the age of ten and resumed again at 15, having taken myself from sub-grade 1 to grade 6 durng that time. I was, admittedly, doing all my theory grades, taking General Musicianship and cello exams, and doing a lot of singing, but I reckon I played the piano - anything and everything I could get my hands on - for an average of an hour and a half a day during that time. I never regarded it as practice. One of the best pupils I ever had told me that she didn't practise very much "!I just play the piano a lot" - she opnly regarded it as practice when she was working towards something.

You're not having lessons, you're not, as I read it, performing for others, and most important, you're not having to play things you'd rather not play. That's one of the great things about being retired!

So may I just wish you joy in what you obviously love doing?

Gizzy in Cambridge

[Feg]

I'm not quite sure why you call it practice. You are Playing, which is what you want to do. I would have said practice was a preparation for something - a lesson, and exam, a performance. If you're doing it for nobody but yourself, you don't relly need a strategy as such - just enjoy!

At the other end of the age range, I gave up formal lessons at the age of ten and resumed again at 15, having taken myself from sub-grade 1 to grade 6 durng that time. I was, admittedly, doing all my theory grades, taking General Musicianship and cello exams, and doing a lot of singing, but I reckon I played the piano - anything and everything I could get my hands on - for an average of an hour and a half a day during that time. I never regarded it as practice. One of the best pupils I ever had told me that she didn't practise very much "!I just play the piano a lot" - she opnly regarded it as practice when she was working towards something.

You're not having lessons, you're not, as I read it, performing for others, and most important, you're not having to play things you'd rather not play. That's one of the great things about being retired!

So may I just wish you joy in what you obviously love doing?

Gizzy in Cambridge

Oh, for a 'LIKE' button as per FB for this post, Gizzy!

[gizzy]

Oh, for a 'LIKE' button as per FB for this post, Gizzy!

<curtsey>
G in C

[dorsetpiano]

Thanks for your comments which are perfectly sensible and logical, however, I may not be playing for exams or performances, I have a much more important deadline. It's called getting older! I am 64, I suppose I could set myself a goal of being able to play the Rachmaninov 3rd PC by the time I am 80 but somehow I think it will never happen.

Was it Schumann who took up playing piano in later life and built a hand excercising machine that went wrong and ruined one of his hands? Perhaps there is a message here.

Thanks Incidentally I have never studied music theory either, I was taking Chemistry, Physics and Maths A levels and my only theory lessons were from chatting to a music student who used I to walk to school with, this all stopped when I went to University.

[chrisw]

Dear Dorsetpiano,
Like yourself, I first learned piano in early teenage years and then gave up later in my school career. (I also studied Chemistry,Physics and Maths at A level). After I finished my first degree I had forgotten how to read music but I found a piece of music and an upright piano in a hostel that I resided within and taught myself how to read again. I am two years younger than yourself and now work part time.

I have been with an inspirational teacher for about 6 years now and the newest piece I am tackling is the Schubert Impromptu nos 4. The previous piece was the Warsaw Concerto. I would have no chance of playing these pieces without the help of my teacher and I take my hat off to you if you have managed to learn the Schubert .

However I would really recommend that you find a piano teacher that understands the special difficulties of an adult learner. A good teacher will help to make new pieces much easier to learn and perhaps memorise if this is what you wish to do. Strategies for practice can also be determined.

[Gill the Piano]

Yes, check that the teacher is used to teaching adults. Unless you want a jelly tot when you get a piece right, as happened to a customer of mine! And as a 25 year old I was told by my piano teacher to wash my hands before I played her piano - I don't think she was used to 'manual labourers'!
Don't try and rush the experience, enjoy it. Rach's not going anywhere - he can wait for you!