1. Schedule it in your calendar. Impress upon your partner and/or children that this is important to you.
2. Go and hear a professional play, at least once a month. It really helps to keep the inspiration topped up. 
3. Collect and organize your equipment: Books, metronome, pencils, Youtube, and recorder. Put the pets outside or locked up in another room.
4. Warm Up next. Stretch, do some slow breathing exercises. Imagine the beautiful music you are about to play. Play an old favourite to remind yourself of the work you've done previously and the hard work it might have took to learn it. 
5. Play your technical exercises: Scales, chords, arpeggios. Whatever your teacher assigned. Play slowly, with the metronome. Savour the sound, like chocolate melting in the  mouth. Really!
6. Pick a part in your new work to practice. Listen to the recording so that you have a fresh impression in your mind. Resist the urge to play from the beginning to the end, stumbling as you go, and think you are practicing. You won't live long enough to reach your goals with this approach. 
7. Take a break, scan the internet for articles on how to practice the piano. Then...
8. Get back to work.

Cheers,

​David

Yes, yes, and yes, followed by a why not?
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30+ Fingers will resume where you left off in short order. With some time and effective work, they will be better than ever. Welcome back. 

40+ see 30+

50+ and more. The bucket list crowd. I say this with affection and experience. I started drums at fifty. Still at it. 
Assuming arthritis and other physical ailments aren't going to get in the way, you can work your way back. Slowing, patiently, and with faith, day by day your skills will return. Will they return to their former glory? Maybe. Will they eventually surpass what they were when you were 12? They might. It's been done. 
With a good attitude will the joy return? Bet on it! With a more seasoned and mature attitude than you had as an adolescence, will you have fun? Ditto. Can I help? Yes. 

Call me. 

David Story, B.M., ARCT, Pianist, Music Educator, and Drumming Enthusiast 
p: 905-330-1349



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