While I can't compare myself to those awesome performers, compared to those who have also taken practical exams until grade 8 with the ABRSM syllabus (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, the British grading system), I only barely passed with the minimum marks. I'm not as passionate about playing the piano as I am about dancing and visual art, though I'm eternally grateful to at least know I can actually play classics if I tried hard enough, due to the fact that it was more imposed on me as a kid (my dad's side has got a number of excellent musical talents) and my teacher wasn't that great, despite the fact that she was a nice lady who did try her best with each student. I get told off all the time during the summer holidays because the teachers always say my techniques are wrong and there are so many corrections to make whenever I go abroad and signed up for extra lessons. LOL I never really understood much of the music theory, no matter how much it has been explained to me.
But I can still coach beginners until grade 5-ish! I think...it's been a while, like, a lifetime ago, and might still be able to cough up Fur Elise or Love Story or Who Will Buy? (Oliver! soundtrack), hahaha.
Don't ask me to play anything by Liszt though, his pieces probably require 5 extra hands for me!
Now it's been mind boggling, how did you teach yourself? Obviously, anything self-taught doesn't have the benefits of having a proper teacher, but being able to learn by yourself is still impressive.
- Amantis
