beginner work for piano

i have recently decided to start practicing (on my own) the piano. I have theory background and im fairly proficient in another instrument (treble clef). I'm not prepared to take lessons or spend more than half an hour a day on practicing. I'm interested in suggestions on how I would go about with learning how to play piano in terms of perhaps music, pieces, what to be aware of, technical work etc. I would say my goal is to be able to play piano proficiently enough for recreation and well enough so that I can compose music with the piano/keyboard. Any other thoughts would be appreciated as from what I have seen from the forum most of you are pianists.

Well, for one thing, you should learn how to read notes. You should start with easy pieces, like the First Bach. Start off with Minuets and stuff, then move on to a relatively easy Mozart sonata, then back to Bach, on learning 2-voice inventions, and then, just start playing pieces you like, but are a bit challenging, so you can progress.

I'm not prepared to take lessons or spend more than half an hour a day on practicing.

Sorry to dissapoint you but this is an approach that simply won't work with practical issues (see instruments). It's not what your mind reads, it's what your hands say, at leayt for the large part of all beginners. you need to make your hands get used to things, otherwise you won't get far.

By practicing I, personally, mean to be in front of the piano and playing. Anything, not scales or Czerny (bloody awful composer, in my opinion, but in the end useful for early 20th century pianists :D). but to site and play whatever comes in mind. But Play!

Sorry to dissapoint you but this is an approach that simply won't work with practical issues (see instruments). It's not what your mind reads, it's what your hands say, at leayt for the large part of all beginners. you need to make your hands get used to things, otherwise you won't get far.

By practicing I, personally, mean to be in front of the piano and playing. Anything, not scales or Czerny (bloody awful composer, in my opinion, but in the end useful for early 20th century pianists :)). but to site and play whatever comes in mind. But Play!

that makes sense, any particular suggestions for some piano pieces (names) then? and are scales important at all?

reading notes are fine (i play another instrument) although the bass clef takes some getting used to

Hmmmm...

For more "modern" stuff I would suggest the "Microcosmos" by Bartok. It has some wonderful small (1 page) pieces that introduce many elements of the 20t century music.

The "Anna Magdalena" book by Bach is also a must really!

Scales, from my POV are not THAT necessary, but eventually you should learn them, as it is the thing you meet most often in a piece (believe it or not), in one form or another, so it does make sense to practice them...

After that it is the 2 voice invention of Bach and easy Mozart Sonatas (but this should take some time to get into really)

Hope it helps

ok. Just a thought, i've found some music lying around the house, like fur elise and 'el piano' (that theme song for movie) do you know what level of difficulty these pieces are? and will learning difficult pieces at early stage do anything bad to me

Without having seeing you play the piano it is rather difficult to make any kind of estimation on what you can or can't play. Fur elise is not really that difficult but it has some tricky staff that could create problems.

Nothing will harm you really, except that you may dissapoint your self when you don't get the result you would like...

somehow in the end you will need to find someone to listen to you. Not that it's impossible to learn for yourself but... it is very difficult...