TSR Piano Society

That happened to me since I use a keyboard at uni and have a upright piano at home, but after a few times on the proper piano I was fine.

Urgh, played on a keyboard piano for a while (don't ask why) and now I've moved back to the grand piano - keys feel so weird. I can't seem to apply the appropriate weight to each key. The keyboard has messed everything up. :/

How long did you play the keyboard for?

Urgh, played on a keyboard piano for a while (don't ask why) and now I've moved back to the grand piano - keys feel so weird. I can't seem to apply the appropriate weight to each key. The keyboard has messed everything up. :/

Passed my Grde 8 the other day with a score of 100. Didn't half cut it close did i? Chuffed i got the grade 8 though

I started learning on a keyboard and went to Grade 3 with it. After screwing up my exam (109, and I'd worked really hard for a better pass) because of the weighted keys I got myself a proper weighted digital piano and feel much more comfortable after a couple of months on it. I was worried I'd have to go backwards a bit to reacquaint, but it wasn't too bad. Glad I switched now though. Don't think I could do my Grade 4 without weighted key practice.

Just after the exams (start of June-ish) till last week.

Relying on muscle memory comes with its vices and having difficulty adjusting to heavier piano actions is one of them I guess, though I think arm strength overcomes it. My upright has a pretty heavy touch but I can't transfer fast passages to my school grand, whereas my bigger friends who practice on a keyboard have no problem. Small hands suck

Lots to choose from Chopin: some of his nocturnes (and maybe mazurkas) should be post-grade-eight-appropriate, along with a couple of his waltzes. E.g. this and this - there are many more gems from his nocturnes and waltzes you may prefer, have a listen through them.

I think these two etudes are a good way to step up after grade 8 (op10/12 sounds harder than it is):



Though it's commonly played, I'll suggest Pathetique 1st movt just because it's Beethoven

Mrr. My piano's been moved into my new house. I'm stuck for 2 weeks without one... I can feel my skills atrophy! Noo!

I've been playing piano since I was 8, I'm completely addicted to it! Uni starts soon though and I can't bring my piano with me, so it will be hard to play regularly ;/

Most unis will have music rooms you can use, or if you're lazy like me you could buy an electronic keyboard (while it hasn't got the same feel it still helps to keep up with it).

i've been playing the piano casually for about 3 years now, although alot moreso recently, i had lessons from when i was around 7 but i quit them when i failed my grade 6
i'm actually a lot better now and i'm doing about 30 mins - 1 hour of practice every day, just playing various different things.

would it be a silly idea to take grade 6 again on my own without lessons? and then maybe move on to further grades after that. i reckon i could do it with a few more months of working on the pieces which i've already started on. i just don't really have masses time for tuition, and i tend to become extremely bad at practicing as soon as somebody starts telling me to do it

i've been playing the piano casually for about 3 years now, although alot moreso recently, i had lessons from when i was around 7 but i quit them when i failed my grade 6
i'm actually a lot better now and i'm doing about 30 mins - 1 hour of practice every day, just playing various different things.
would it be a silly idea to take grade 6 again on my own without lessons? and then maybe move on to further grades after that. i reckon i could do it with a few more months of working on the pieces which i've already started on. i just don't really have masses time for tuition, and i tend to become extremely bad at practicing as soon as somebody starts telling me to do it

has anybody else here taken grades independently and would i be better off just finding a teacher so they can help with technique and suchlike?

thanks if anybody sees this/responds

I don't think it's at all a silly idea to try, but it might be worth just getting a couple of lessons or so before the exam. I've always had a teacher, and feel like I'd be much worse off without being given constructive criticism on my playing, and I do think it could be quite tricky to do preparation for the aural tests yourself, and to a certain extent it might be difficult to judge your own ability to sight-read too. Good luck, whatever you decide to do