u/mcsangel2

I'm a 54F returning student after a very brief period of lessons in my childhood (6 months at 10 y.o.) and lots of unstructured playing for fun in my preteens-teens-early 20s. Very poor sight reading skills (though have picked up several more 'landmark' notes in the last 2 months).

My teacher is my *mother-in-law*!! Who is actually a very skilled pianist and experienced piano teacher, though until now, she hasn't taught since 1990. She offered to give me lessons when I said I had started practicing consistently again and really wanted to give it another try.

We've had 2 lessons, 2 weeks apart. We both think every 2 weeks is what we should try for, but might be difficult that often since she lives in a town 45 minutes away. I am realizing that any less often might really make it difficult to progress. The plus side of using her is, she has a gorgeous baby grand, our lessons can go as long as feels right (1st lesson was 2 hours, 2nd was 90 mins), and she's doing it for free as she's retired and she likes having something fun to do.

So right now, I/we are trying to figure out where to pick up in a method book that matches my current level. I have a John Thompson Adult Piano Course 1 (her previous preferred course - the regular, not adult, she's never taught an adult beginner), but also a Faber Adult PA Book 2, which looks just about right for where I am.

At the beginning of the first lesson, I brought everything I use for her to look at, both these method books, my Dozen a Day book 1, my sight reading exercise book, the Faber supplementary books, and the other books that I play easy pieces out of. We did the first 4 exercises in A Dozen a Day, I showed her my C major scales, we worked on a couple songs I'd already been playing, and we picked out a new song to start working on.

I left my Faber and JT method books for her to have time to look through before the next lesson, she doesn't have her own copies (question one - should she??)

Second lesson, we didn't do ANY Dozen A Day warmups, even though I've got through the first 12 at home - should she be watching me do them to see if my technique is right?, though we did do more C major scales, on which she said my technique was better this week. Introduced G major scales (need to catch up to where Faber 2 is) and 2 octave C major scales. Introduced pedaling, as part of the songs I'm already working on. Played my songs, one just needs work on dynamics (and now pedaling), and picked one more new song to work on before next time (which will be ??)

I took my method books home with me, of course. She put post its in a few places in the JT book for me to look at, but not the Faber. We didn't exactly pin down how we are going to use both books, I guess we'll play it by ear. I really like how the Faber has theory and technique as part of the unit.

Is this going to work without her having copies of the books I'm using? It's not that I'm expecting to progress super fast, I understand what it means long term to study piano. But I AM wanting to be as smart and efficient as possible in my habits, practices, and lessons.

Also, I find the prospect of having to transpose pieces as given in the Faber book slightly terrifying...

Alma School & Warner. Immediately got a text from SRP saying they are aware. Est time of restoration is 9pm. Super nervous about how hot the house might get. Had a bad experience with our animals when our a/c died in August 2013.

Faber vs John Thompson for returning adult, plus what other books?

54F returning to piano after 6 months of lessons at age 10 (!), I spent a lot of my preteen and teen years playing for fun with very inadequate sight reading skills.

I’ve been brushing up on my own for a month and incorporated flash cards, and have gotten back to where I was surprisingly quickly. I’m about a level 1/beginning elementary.

I’m at the point that I really need a teacher to progress the way I want. For a variety of reasons, I will be getting lessons on an informal basis (every 4-6 weeks probably) from my MIL, 80F. Despite her age, she is perfectly cognitively healthy. She is also an extremely talented pianist and qualified teacher, it’s just that it’s been about 30-35 years since she taught. She taught for close to 20 years.

I had been looking at Faber adult PA, but she suggested John Thompson because that was what she used to use when she taught. I’m sure I don’t want Alfred. My goal will be playing about half classical and half show tunes/pop. Would getting both at the same time even work? The pace of each sound very different.

I need method/theory/technique, not just pieces to learn. Additionally, are there other books to supplement you recommend? I like the looks of the Faber Xmas/classical/pop books. I was recommended Hannah Smith’s 300 sight reading exercises, and should I also get something like a Dozen A Day? Does John Thompson have separate method/theory/technique books for each level or are they all in one like Faber?

54F returning to piano after 6 months of lessons at age 10 (!), I spent a lot of my preteen and teen years playing for fun with very inadequate sight reading skills.

I’ve been brushing up on my own for a month and incorporated flash cards, and have gotten back to where I was surprisingly quickly. I’m about a level 1/beginning elementary.

I’m at the point that I really need a teacher to progress the way I want. For a variety of reasons, I will be getting lessons on an informal basis (every 4-6 weeks probably) from my MIL, 80F. Despite her age, she is perfectly cognitively healthy. She is also an extremely talented pianist and qualified teacher, it’s just that it’s been about 30-35 years since she taught. She taught for close to 20 years.

I had been looking at Faber adult PA, but she suggested John Thompson because that was what she used to use. I’m sure I don’t want Alfred. My goal will be playing about half classical and half show tunes/pop. Would getting both at the same time even work? The pace of each sound very different.

I need method/theory/technique, not just pieces to learn. Additionally, are there other books to supplement you recommend? I like the looks of the Faber Xmas/classical/pop books. I was recommended Hannah Smith’s 300 sight reading exercises, and should I also get something like a Dozen A Day? Does John Thompson have separate method/theory/technique books for each level or are they all in one like Faber?

I’m a 54F returning to piano after stopping 6 months of lessons 44 years ago (!!!), but spent my teen years playing for fun, slowly picking out notes until I could play by memory (only could sight read middle C, treble G, and bass F). I estimate my level to be at about the end of book 1/Grade 1.

I’ve found so much great advice here and on YouTube. I practice about an hour a day, doing a good 10 mins on scales and warm ups. My current goal is to greatly improve my sight reading skills/connect to correct keys on the piano. It’s getting better but have a ways to go yet. Once I memorize a piece, I can play it well enough to make it sound I’m at a level higher than I am.

Advice I’ve read about structuring practices includes 10 mins of warm ups, followed by 20 mins of practicing sight reading, followed by 40 mins of practicing repertoire.

I don’t have a repertoire really. I’ve been practicing for a month, first ten days were pretty scattered then for the last 2.5 weeks I just practice 3 classical pieces then sometimes easier arrangements of a couple of pop songs. All are out of easy arrangements books though the classical pieces are a bit harder.

What is the difference between sight reading and repertoire in terms of practicing?? I just read in another post that for practicing sight reading, you should be using songs that are a little lower than your level. I have been feeling a little that the classical songs I’ve been playing, I’ve been relying on recognizing intervals and that trying to actually read the notes is too challenging.

Opinions wanted here.

Regarding Jamie’s ghost watching Claire before she travels through the stones…..does *anyone* remember reading way back during season one or two that there was a meeting with Diana, Ron, Sam and Cait, the subject of which was secret but had something to do with the someday ending that they needed to know, at that time.

I cannot be the only person who remembers this. Because I have always assumed that it meant the series would end with the completion of the scene of Jamie’s ghost, presumably turning away to be reunited with Claire in death. And the scene had to be filmed then, way in advance, so the actors were the same age as when the show started.

If that’s what happened, it means they’ve been sitting on a scene for twelve years.