Is this a crisis?
I’ve started playing the piano again. Just picked up from where I left off aged 17 when I moved out of home to go away and start my adult life. Claire de Lune is the exact place I stopped and it was only half-learnt at that. What kind of person decides to just stop before they even finished learning their last piece? Well me as it turns out. It was a really hard piece! And STILL to this day people are more impressed when I play Hello by Lionel Richie (it’s sooooo easy).
But I’m trying to finish Debussy now. Every night at around 6/7pm some very slow progress is made. I always had a good ear, so I understand how it should sound – or, more appropriately, how it should not sound – but sight reading remains a bit more of a chore. What’s amazing is that there’s an element of muscle memory to piano playing, the fingers seem to recall where they should be trying to go and can feel when they’re in the wrong place.
Sadly that’s not my piano, that’s from Emma’s Blog. Mine is a rented number for which I don’t have a collection of hands to put on top. I can see why they might appeal though, when you look up from your music it’d be like seeing a big cheer.
Tempted as I was to turn this post into a tour of stylish pianos (I might return to that), all I really want to know is this: I’m 38 now, is this a crisis? Will I be training for a marathon soon? Is anyone else around this age going through similar and if so, what is your form of it?
I’m keen to know I’m not the only one going back in time to revisit old hobbies and to find out if it actually has a positive impact on life or whether I should just stick to binge-watching 30 Rock at night instead.
Update: Just realised I’ve been in this territory before.
Crisis or no crisis, you can just decide to stop playing again if 30 Rock beckons. It all sounds heavenly and much more preferable to the piano playing that goes on in our house which is preceded by much nagging.
You are not alone! Keep going, it’s got to be better than facebook gorging in the evening. xx
(I think the marathon thing happens once you cross the threshold into 40’s)
Ha! Thank you. I will keep trying, but just to assure you Debra the only reason we have a piano is I’m trying to get my very reluctant 7 y/0 to learn so we have the whole nagging thing too.
Haha that makes me feel a whole lot better – I wish I could play.
I totally know where you’re coming from. After a trip down memory lane (Design Junction at the old Central St Martin’s building) I promptly signed up for 2 art courses….hoping to return to the happy days of making. You never know I might be able to fashion you your own clapping hand to display atop your old Joanna.
This is brilliant. Bravo Poppy and please do make me a show of hands. I bet you’ll absolutely love making again. It’s funny, I think that building stirred up a lot of people who’d been there.
of course I do still have fond memories of you playing Claire De Lune on the piano at a Liberty do….
x
THAT’S ENOUGH NOW (good lord was it the night we met the French fashion dudes?)
I forgot about that bit…..your piano muscle memory seems to be pretty good!
Taking up the piano again is not a crisis. Taking up with the piano teacher is a crisis. I think you’re ok. 🙂
I did the EXACT same thing! Picked up the piano right where I left off at age 17 (in my case Bach’s Invention #8). I actually started lessons again, too and I love it more than I ever did when I was a kid. You are not alone!
No WAY I’m running a marathon though 🙂
Oh that gives me hope! I agree about the marathon, I just can’t believe I’d make it. Caitlin, yikes to that idea, based on my small experience of piano teachers.
That struck a chord (sorry) with me. I went back home this w’end and resumed playing my Beethoven piece where I left it 20 years ago. I can still thud the notes out but rely on my old piano teachers notes! Would love to find space for a piano.. I’ll come round for a duet!
You’re on (though you sound more advanced!). We can be the Morecame and Wise of S E London. Or something like that, we just need an Andre Previn and a Penelope Keith to do high kicks next to us.
Vanessa could happily high kick in the background!
Ha ha, I actually thought of her!
It’s not too late for everything you love to do. You can still fuel that fire within you. I’ve only tried organ but haven’t yet laid a hand to a piano. I would love to hear your masterpieces. 🙂