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Hey Everyone! This is my first post on here, I just joined and thought I’d share my piano progress as an adult beginner 😊

I started learning piano in December 2018 as a complete beginner. I made a video of my progress for a bit of fun and to show some realistic piano progress after a year of learning. I’d love to hear everyone else’s experiences from their first year of learning piano. I’ve still got so much more to learn but I’m really enjoying the journey!

-Ben

I enjoyed that, welcome to the forums.

Thank you

Very nice!!! It's amazing how much everything changed once you started using the pedal!

Very nice! I was playing way easier stuff in my first year and only started on more serious pieces in my second year. What's the deal with that left hand pinky of yours? Haha... Do you play another instrument? Could that be the reason?

Thanks! I actually had to rewatch the video to see what you meant haha but now I see. My LH pinky doesn’t have much natural curvature, I have no idea why 😂

Thanks for sharing that Ben, it was fun. Looks a bit like you might be using your pinky to rest your hand when it's not doing anything.

You must read well for a total beginner or are you playing by ear?

Thanks! Yeah I’ll definitely have to keep an eye on that pinky. I can’t play by ear so it’s just a lot of practicing sight reading!

I also have a pinky problem but on my right hand. I think it's what is called double jointed. When I bend it, the two joints of the finger bend in opposite directions forming a "Z". But I still play it - as if it's normal. Ha ha.. I just don't look at it.

Welcome to PW, chalky97-. Just a small comment. I believe you mean "reading" here and not "sight reading." Sight reading is only the very first time you see a musical score and try to play it. After that very first time, every time you are trying to play from the score, it is just "reading."

Your pinky doesn't have to have a lot or even any curvature. If you watch great pianists you will see that their pinky is often very straight or curved only in the slightest. But most would say curving to the wrong way, where the first joint collapses is usually bad.

Sorry I worded that badly. I meant I practice sight reading a lot so that I can read pieces quicker!:)

Nice! Curious - on average, how many hours a week would you guess you practice?

Thank you! In my first year it ranged from about 30-90 mins per day. Maybe 6-7 hours a week average

Ben, I think you made huge progress for a total beginner! I made good progress too (nothing compared to what you are able to play) in my first year but that was only because I could already read music, has been playing the violin, been in a choir and could sightsing. But my piano teacher had me on scales, Bach, Czerny, Mozart only, for the first 2+ years. I am starting 2020 now with my first Beethoven... Uh oh... Wish me luck!

Thank you Sounds like you are making great progress too! Good luck with Beethoven!!