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Hello!

I've just begun to teach myself to play on a borrowed Yamaha keyboard (a PSR-192). Non-weighted keys, no hammer action, etc - but it does allow me to learn. I've been playing for two or three hours every day (and enjoying it - hasn't felt tedious yet).

Here's where I'm at:

I understand music theory (I sing), and I can read sheet music - it's just a matter of training my fingers. I've been playing scales since I started a couple weeks ago (no teacher), and I'm now comfortable playing with both hands simultaneously at a slow tempo. I don't have to look at the keys - which actually helped me - when I was looking, I inadvertently tried to get both hands to do the same thing. When I'm just listening to the notes, I don't get tangled up like that.

Right now, I'd like to add some confidence to my left hand - it's the slow one, and it's never sure of itself. It seems like I've been stuck at this place for three or four days.

I was wondering if anyone can recommend a practice routine for someone just getting started? Should I just stay the course, working through scales every day, or does anyone have an exercise they can suggest - something that helped you out when you first started?

Thanks a lot! I can tell already this forum is going to be an invaluable resource.

you probably want to do some LH alone exercises, plus HT coordination exercises, using some existing exercises (Hanon or whatever) or just scales/apreggios. another thing you could try is playing a passage with different rhythms on each hand, such as LH doing 1/beat while RH doing 2/beat and then change or switch rhythms with LH/RH. i did a lot of things like that at the beginning just so that i could play with better hand coordination.

Welcome to PW.

I used the two volume set from Faber - "Adult Piano Adventures" to get me going. I thought book 1 was great, book 2 got a little old about half way thru but it is still of value. When you finish these we can recommend something to follow.

I would suggest you just order book 1 for now. The CD does not give you a representation of the piece so you could skip that. I liked the Faber series, it is clean in presentation and for the most part I enjoyed the music. The series certainly got me going in the right direction.

http://www.fjhmusic.com/piano/apa.htm


Have fun,
Steve

I just want to add to my above post you can buy these from PianoatPepper and get free shipping. I like PianoatPepper, free shipping is good and the items come pretty fast.

http://www.pianoatpepper.com/catalo...x&label=Methods+for+Teens+and+Adults

Of note, the Christmas books that go with this set are really nice.

Regards,
Steve

I just posted a reply to someone that was asking about practicing and would like to share it with you as well:

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/32/470.html

Jerry, I am a new (3 weeks) student and looking to get over rough spots in pieces I am playing. I just read the post you referenced and will try what you said. I find difficulty playing a piece error free consistently. Thanks, and I visited your website also, beautiful music.
Thank you.

Thank you, Lee. If you ever have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me via my website!

Thank you for your kind comments about my music.

Best of Luck!