> Grrr. I had conveniently forgotten about that. Is it > really worth it? How much progress can I make, and > what will it give me?
I would say it's worth it, and I also have taught the adult beginner. The most important thing is your own willingness to persevere. Let's address some of your questions though: Yes you CAN make progress and quite a bit of it, and if you couldn't, I wouldn't write this email! You probably know what it would give you - the ability to play a melody line yes, but also the ability to play some left hand harmonies at least, to your songs, the ability perhaps to play the intros/interludes to your lieder (I find this particularly helpful) and the ability to play through other people's lines in an operatic rectiative/dialogue kind of situation. The advantages to all of this in the end are: less money spent on coaches/accompanists to help you do these things, you will be better prepared once you go into rehearsal w/ the orchestra/pianist/other singers, and better speed and accuracy in learning your music. Also - if you ever want to teach, piano skills will serve you well, even if you still hire a pianist for most work. Most teachers play a little, and can accompany the lessons of the beginner student.
If I > practiced every day and took piano lessons twice a > week, how long would it take me to be good enough to > be able to play through a score and teach myself a > role?
That depends on the score. :). And it also depends on the person b/c some people play some things better than others. I find Handel easier than Menotti; that is b/c I listen to lots and lots of Handel, but other pianists I know would disagree. Probably a couple of years. You probably will never be able to play fluenly the ENTIRE score - but you will be able to play more than enough to learn your role, unless it's a particularly difficult role. This year I took a choral conducting class, made up of pianists as well as some voice majors. The #1 thing the instructor stressed was PIANO skills, and the need to just start practising, even if it's hard and especially if it's hard. You will get better. I wouldn't say you need LOTS of piano lessons (I dont' know if you've ever had any and I'm assuming if you were in a conservatory/university you have at least taken 2 years of class piano or the equivalent) persey, but you need to do it every day. Play a variety of material. If you take lessons, you will probably be started on some beginner series (if you haven't taken any lessons before) like Bastien/Alfred, etc. there are many that are available and most of them are quite good. You should progress through these quite quickly being an adult (adults DO learn faster than children). However, also have a look at easy song accompaniments for variety. For example... the introduction to Wolf's Gebet is slow and chordal. Read out of a hymnal, even if it's difficult at first. Try easy Mozart. Also - ask your teacher if he/she will teach you the basics of keyboard harmony (sorry, I'm assuming you have had no training in this area, correct me if i'm wrong) - in terms of tonic, dominant, subdominat, etc. chords in each key, and if you can be given drills for these. I'm not talking about advanced reading of figured bass or anything - just enough skills so you can reconize a dominant chord in a song you're playing through. If you get into jazz piano, or any popular music, some basic skills in this area are used, and I always personally believe that improv at the piano is GOOD. Along the same lines, playing jazz and popular music will help you hear/recognize these things. Practise scales daily. I know, it's no fun. :). However, it seems that those who know their scales and play 'em well sightread better. This goes for other technical stuff too - those chords and arpeggios. Of course, the other plus to thi is it's nice if you ever want to teach voice, if you can play along smoothly w/ your students as they vocalize, w/o much thought. I HAVE had a teacher who could not go progressively from C major to Db to D, etc. It was annoying!!!!!
> However, I'm willing to be talked to sternly about it. > Are there pluses (plusses?) that I'm missing? Why is > it recommended for an adult to take up piano lessons?
Talked to sternly, hey?!!? I'd say it's worth your time. Start by taking a half hour/45 min lesson every week, and practising half an hour a day and see what you come up with after a few months. The key is - you have to start somewhere and do it. And adults learn a LOT faster than children, especially if they practise daily. I've been very very surprised. No, you wont' be a concert pianist, but you will be able to play for your own enjoyment. I can also list many stories of friends who had maybe a year of lessons when they were kids and then played daily by themselves and after a couple of years can play well enough to do carol sing-alongs and the such. Feel free to ask away if you have more questions. Hope this was a stern enough talking to!!!! :). (if you met me you would see I'm very unintimidating and not all stern-like)
Fiona
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