Single hen

[Tiggy]

a friend of mine is having a tough time at the moment, and is selling a few things to raise some cash, so I brought her baby grand from her, OH & children play & lots of friends everyone except me it seems. It arrived last night the poor removal lads had such a tough time assembling it - the legs came off for transport but the thing was so heavy it took 5 men including OH to hold it whilst I scrambled underneath to put the bolts in. I think it could have done with some sort of mechanical hoist, I was very glad to get out from under there the lads were sweating to say the least.

 

It does look beautifull standing in my living room, do you think that at 48 I'm too old to learn to play?

Edited March 5, 2009 by Guest

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Not at all Tiggy, go for it!

 

I bet you were all fingers & thumbs with those bolts as you knew you had to hurry.....

 

Sha x

[Paola]

Oooo would love to see a pic of it Tiggy No you are not to old

[Yorkshire Pudding]

NEVER too old!

 

Start with one of the children's beginner books and just sit down for five minutes as often as you get the chance. You'll probably be more keen to practice than the kids! Before you know it you'll be playing, and more important enjoying yourself.

 

I got a piano last year, not having played regularly since I was 12. I was never much more than grade 2 anyway, but now I have more patience and often sit for half an hour and work at a sticky bit in a piece - result, I play better than I ever did when I was having lessons.

 

Enjoy yourself!

[Guest]

I'm sooooooooooooooo Can we see a pic of it?

 

I only have a digital piano (roland f90) due to space restrictions. I say "only" but it's a very good one. However, there's nothing like the real thing

 

I don't think you're too old. I started in my mid 30s. Providing you don't have problems with your hands (arthritis etc) you should be fine.

 

Let us know how you get on

[Tiggy]

I've never had a music lesson, but learned to play a trumpet as a kid because my dad was a mad jazz fan, I even played lead trumpet in the school orchestra until the music master reaslised that I was busking, and kicked me out I could follow the music in that I knew when to turn the pages over but this one piece had a mis print and whilst the whole orchestra played the bum note I played what should have been the right one, apparently our school only had REAL musicians in their orchestra.

 

My step children and OH all had lessons from an early age lucky things so I'm sure one of them must have a beginners book stashed somewhere

[Hen Watch]

do you think that at 48 I'm too old to learn to play?

 

Not at all - you go for it - I DID and absolutely love it.

 

I have never played any instrument before (unless you count recorder aged 7) and I cannot read music at all. But I have always wanted to learn the piano. So 2 years ago (aged 38) I got a free piano from a friend and went to the bookshop and bought "The Complete Piano Player - Omnibus Edition" by Kenneth Baker. It is so easy you will have fun teaching yourself. This is it:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Omnibus-Complete-Piano-Player-Complete/dp/0711961646/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236254766&sr=1-1

 

It was so easy but after a few months I realised I needed to make sure I was learning properly. So I knocked on the door of the piano teacher who taught lots of kids at school and asked if she would be prepared to take on an adult complete novice. Luckily she did.

 

This inspired my children to want to play and they followed my lead and took lessons too. Annoyingly they both overtook me and play much more technically than I, but I suppose that's an age thing.

 

My teacher doesn't do too much scale stuff or technical bits (but she does with my kids) as she knows I never want to take any exams and I like to hear myself playing recognisable pieces (like Greensleeves, or Super Trouper by Abba etc). Don't be put off about reading sheet music. It is really easy, just learn where to put your hand on the keyboard and you "read" it by measuring the jumps to the next note ie. up two, down 1, up 3, down 1 and so on. Even now 2 years on, my teacher says put your finger on an "A" and I say wait a minute and work it out..... she really does have the patience of a saint

 

So long ramble, but hopefully I wanted to convey that you can do it at any age from scratch. It is fun (expensive at £10 per half hour) but worth it. Buy yourself a beginer book, get some confidence and go for it.

[Tiggy]

thanks guys, I think I will practice when they are all out, I could probrably do a bad Les Dawson impersonation at the moment

[Guest]

[...... Don't be put off about reading sheet music. It is really easy, just learn where to put your hand on the keyboard and you "read" it by measuring the jumps to the next note ie. up two, down 1, up 3, down 1 and so on. .....

 

that's called playing by intervals, intervals being the spaces between the notes. I couldn't read music before I started but once you realise the 88 keys are just the same 7 notes (ABCDEFG) repeated in different pitches, it's easier to get your head round it

 

I use a combination of reading by intervals and sight reading. I still often have to use the mnemonics; all cows eat grass etc but it really is easy once you get going.

 

Have fun, that's the most important thing

[Olly]

go for it- 'too old' is when you give up on things, there's no such thing as too old in my view!

 

I'd love to learn to play the piano, but don't have room for one - but I'm the same age as you, and I'm just getting ready for my first singing exam, I only started having lessons last year and I love it. You can make progress whatever age you are, and it will enrich your life even if you only play for your own pleasure.

[Hen Watch]

I still often have to use the mnemonics; all cows eat grass etc but it really is easy once you get going.

 

That's me all over. I'm a definate "playing by intervals" kind of person.

 

I really rely on "FACE" for the spaces on the Treble clef and ACEG - All, Cow, Eat, Grass for the spaces on the Bass Clef. Drives my piano teacher potty 2 years down the line but she bears with me bless her...

[chickenanne]

Definitely not too old, I started with teach-yourself-books a couple of years ago, and I no longer make people's ears bleed with my playing! (well, not often). Am not any good, but I love playing piano.

[Tiggy]

go for it- 'too old' is when you give up on things, there's no such thing as too old in my view!

 

I'd love to learn to play the piano, but don't have room for one - but I'm the same age as you, and I'm just getting ready for my first singing exam, I only started having lessons last year and I love it. You can make progress whatever age you are, and it will enrich your life even if you only play for your own pleasure.

 

singing lessons ! now there's something I can do, I've never had a lesson but paid my rent many a time as a student nurse by singing in local pubs and clubs in variety shows and with local bands, my step daughter has lessons but always says that she wishes she could sing as well as me. high praise indeed.

[Egluntyne]

Go for it! I started learning when I was over 40.

[The Dogmother]

How lucky!

 

My grandparents had one and I learned on that, but haven't played for more then 20 years.

 

Go for it Tiggy.

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Go for it, I started learning last year. I have a lovely teacher who teaches loads of adults ( a lot of them appear to be retired) I too am using the Complete Piano Player series and I am progressing quickly.

 

You could always try going on a beginners course at Benslow Music Trust..........all grown ups learning together. They also do an ex- beginner course ( I'm going on this one )

 

Go for it and enjoy!

[jlo]

Ditto all the above. It is never too late. ENJOY

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You're certainly not too old . How fantastic to get a baby grand . Good luck .

 

(I learnt as a child but very rarely play now .)

[Willow]

Definitely not too old ! I started learning a few years ago with my boys and got my grade 1 unfortunately my delightful attractive young male teacher moved on and whilst the new teacher is good with the boys he didn't seem comfortable teaching adults and I never seemed to have enough time to practice. But maybe I'll try sitting down at the piano again...

[kitbag]

Your never too old to learn to play the piano!! I am very that you have got a baby grand as i have got an electric piano! My mum said that once i got to grade 8 , i could get a baby grand, but i still havent got one!!

[AJuff]

You are definately not too old to learn to play!!!!

 

My children play beautifully but they've all had lessons from an early age. Whilst writing out music tuition cheques at the beginning of September I thought how I'd wanted to play for so many years that I would try out a term's lessons.

 

It has been the best thing ever. I use Pauline Hall's Piano Time 1 and the Piano Time Classics books which are great for the likes of me. I am slower to learn than the children but I love it!!! And I also have the pleasure of being taught by a dashingly handsome young man which my children are not yet aware of!!!!

 

I am so about your baby grand. When our building work is complete and we have a new room I'm going to buy one!!!!!!!!

[Tiggy]

I've just tracked down a local piano tuner, she's coming round at 8am 1st April £56. She sounds very nice but 8am on my day off

[Purplemaniacs]

You are NOT too old, go for it.

 

I played a bit as a child and did a few grades but when I got married no room for a piano. When we moved to our house 5 year ago, I thought about getting a piano with money left to me by my Mum. It seemed right as she used to play and had paid for me to learn as a child. Husband persuaded me to buy a baby grand, it is lovely. I don't think I will ever be a great pianist but I enjoy it

 

When I retire (I am in my forties) I am going to learn the cello. It is an insturment I have always loved and wanted to play, used to play violin at school and was in a number of orchestras but was told I was too small to play the cello, a load of rubbish I found out when my daughter took up the cello, so I am waiting for more free time so that I can finally learn to play the cello.

 

So Tiggy go for it

 

Chrissie

[Guest]

My Mum only started to learn after my Dad died, let me think, she would have been 62ish... She went on to take her Grades I to V! She went to my piano teacher who actively welcomed having an adult to teach - it made it a kind of social occasion as well as a lesson. Playing is wonderfully relaxing because you have to shut everything else out and look and listen to what you are doing.

[Willow]

Playing is wonderfully relaxing because you have to shut everything else out and look and listen to what you are doing.

 

We had our lessons at home and one day I was vaguely aware it sounded like my boys were fighting upstairs but I was doing a good job of filtering it out. It got louder and louder and eventually the teacher asked if I ought to do something so I got up and closed the door. The look on his face suggested that wasn't quite what he was thinking I should do - oops bad mother