In short, I've been playing the piano for about 15 years, started when I was 6. I always either learned by hearing, seeing how other people play and generally just doing my own thing and learning at my own pace. My repertoire isn't all that extensive; so far it's Pachelbel Canon in D [yah yah everybody seems to hate it but it's still my favorite] (
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store...1587476&page=00 ) fairly advanced version. I also know a lot of the staples like Fur Elise, 1st movement to the moonlight sonata, a lot of the Turkish March and some various songs like Titanic and whatever else I wanted to learn to play. I also improvise a lot, make up my own melodies and generally just have fun when I bang on the keys.
Problem is right now there are a LOT of songs I want to play, the most ambitious one is the Heroic Polonaise Opus 53. That song is way above my current skill level and trying to learn it note by note would take me probably ten years if I practiced every day for three hours. I can read music to an extent but once a lot of flats and sharps are thrown in there I get thrown off. Keep in mind, I've never had lessons and while I have a very good sense of rhythm and tone, I don't necessarily have a good fundamental knowledge of things I should.
So whats the next step do you guys think? I want to get better, a lot better, and I'm willing to put in the time (and money if necessary) to improve. I'd like to think I have potential getting this far without lessons. Obviously I'd want to start with an instructor but I wouldn't even no where to start...and the last thing I want to be doing is scales for hours on end when my fingers are already quite nimble. I would like to keep to classical but some pop songs wouldn't be bad to know
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
