At the suggestion of a member, I am posting this thread in this section in addition to the adult beginner section. Here is that thread for reference and for what was already discussed:
thread in beginner forum Here is what I posted, and my question.
I am a former pianist, looking to return to playing. I played and studied from second grade through senior year in high school and got to be pretty ok. (though not special or professional in any way). As can be typical, as I entered adulthood, I left piano behind besides plunking here or there on old pieces I remembered. I am firmly convinced the main reason I left is that despite my repeated requests, my instructor did not help me learn improvisation, honky tonk, rock and blues piano as I wanted, but just kept shoving more Russian composers at me. And I did not effectively seek out a different avenue for learning, which is on me.
Years later, I took up guitar, which I greatly enjoy. (I would call myself at this point topped out at intermediate. Family life and responsibility prevent me from taking it to a more fully advanced level). My approach to learning guitar, via instructors and otherwise, was completely different from how I was taught piano in the late 60's through early 80's. There, I learned and memorized music note for note. With guitar, I learned about chord structure, how to make the chords in several different ways, how scales relate to the chords, how to use chord tones within the scales and modes, and along the way, learned songs using the above, and how to play songs in my own way, not necessarily note for note as performed by the original artist.
Now that we have a nice piano, I want to return to playing, as an adjunct to guitar, so as to learn the notes on the fretboard better rather than relying on scale shapes and intervals as much, and also just because I like piano, and would like to try again, with more of an approach similar to my adult approach to guitar, so that I can improvise and create more.
Hopefully, work on one instrument will inform and spur the other.
So, the first thing I thought I would do is re-visit music I used to know, with the old sheet music I used to use, but look at how it is constructed. The other thing would be to look at the chords being played, and the melody, and how the melody relates to the chords. And maybe from there, get into some blues oriented and etc. chord progressions, and play with some scales and modes along with that.
Is this a decent idea? Any suggestions for books, DVD's/online vid or other material to get me started again?
Thanks!
Also, @moderators, is it ok if I cross-post this in the non-beginner section as I am not sure where will be the best place?