ranjit It ensures parity with the other forum, and given that most of us are from there, we know what it means pretty well and there's an associated culture there.
I'm going to be really frank here. One of the reasons I left the other forum is partly because of the associated culture there, and I'm hoping very hard that some of those attitudes don't make it into this forum. So to me, that would actually be a reason to make a distiction in the forum name - even if only slightly 🙂
ranjit The way I've always seen it: I've used the adult beginners forum to gripe about how certain aspects of learning piano are difficult, ask around regarding teachers, and so on. I don't think about grade levels but the place where the question is coming from.
Exactly! I agree with that 100%. That's why I'm hoping that the rift between those two forum sections won't make its way into this forum. Beginners are not necessarily musical nitwits. Even someone who never touched a piano yet might actually have some knowledge to share in the pianist forum, and it would be nice if they were made to feel welcome there. In the other forum I only felt "safe" in the few true noobie threads such as the Alfred and Faber discussions, but I have a feeling that this forum will be a lot more welcoming. Once newer people than myself sign up, I hope it's my turn to do my share in making them feel welcome.
At this point I think perhaps a poll of some sorts would be best? Assuming that the forum owner is open to making changes, of course. If the name is set in stone, than this entire conversation becomes moot 🙂