A friend of mine (pensioner, like me) has been learning the piano for 10 years now. She says she's not a "natural" but she wants to keep at it, even though she's finding it increasingly difficult. I'm the only person she knows who has learned any instrument, so we talk about it even though I know nothing about piano. Any "advice" I can give her (when she asks) can only be based on my experiences with the drums.
Her current problem is speed and consistency. I recently listened to her play some exam pieces. She admits they are too fast for her: her timing is all over the place, she hesitates, and stops. She failed the exam for this very reason.
I have told her that I was taught to start SLOW and build up the speed; starting slowly builds up body memory; use a metronome (she has never used one):increase the speed a little at a time etc.etc. However, her teacher has never suggested any of this. She had learned and practiced the exam pieces at the "examination tempo" from the start.
Does our drum training hold good, in this respect, for other instruments? It's not for me to contradict a piano teacher, and I don't want to push the point with my friend if I'm way off the mark.
I'd appreciate any thoughts. Like I said, I don't like to interfere, but she DOES ask for my opinions.
Her current problem is speed and consistency. I recently listened to her play some exam pieces. She admits they are too fast for her: her timing is all over the place, she hesitates, and stops. She failed the exam for this very reason.
I have told her that I was taught to start SLOW and build up the speed; starting slowly builds up body memory; use a metronome (she has never used one):increase the speed a little at a time etc.etc. However, her teacher has never suggested any of this. She had learned and practiced the exam pieces at the "examination tempo" from the start.
Does our drum training hold good, in this respect, for other instruments? It's not for me to contradict a piano teacher, and I don't want to push the point with my friend if I'm way off the mark.
I'd appreciate any thoughts. Like I said, I don't like to interfere, but she DOES ask for my opinions.