Q. Is it possible to learn how to play piano and read piano sheet notes without a teacher. I heard I should find someone who will show me how to read sheet music correct my mistakes. Were you able to learn to play musical instrument(s) without a teacher? If so, what did you do and how long did it take you to learn it? Thank you!
A. Teachers are expensive! You can learn all the basics of sightreading, fingering, handpositioning, and some chord theory in about 4-6 months.
But playing the piano is a skill, like pole vaulting, and the only way to get better is to practice, a lot. you'd be a fool to try pole vaulting without instruction, but after you know what you're supposed to do, you have to just practice.
In the book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua describes making her children practice for 6 hours a night after school. Every Day. If there was a passage where the notes weren't exactly right she would make them play it over and over until the whole thing was perfect. Every time.
I took lessons as a kid and got pretty good after three years. By that I mean I could play certain hard pieces very well. Then I stopped practicing and lessons were embarrassing and a waste of money.
It almost never happens that you can sit down and play by ear. that's a separate talent and I don't know if they can teach that. I always had to have music in front of me, and I had to 'work up" a piece.
I took Cello lessons in High School, I already knew how to read music and had some theory behind me. After 3 months I knew all the fingering positions and it was just a matter of practicing until I got good at it...
How is watching someone play the piano good for people who are beginners?
Q. How is watching professional pianists play the piano good for people who are beginners & want to learn to read music & play the piano?
A. A lot of what a professional pianist does will be far too fast for the human eye to catch. Far better to sit at a piano and find out what works and what doesn't. Piano lesson number one. A "C" chord contains C, E & G in any order with a C bass (playing a G or E bass under the C chord creates well known combinations you're ear will recognise). An "F" chord contains F, A & C with an F bass and A and C basses played underneath having similar effects to those described above. A "G" chord has G, B & D and again, having a G bass is normal but using a B and a D as a bass note is very common to achieve certain effects.
Learn those three chords, play around with adding other notes until your ear recognises how the combinations can fit together and practise like mad.
If you learn 6 or 7 chords, you'll have the basics to play enough songs to sing along to in the keys of C, F and G (once you add B flat chord and so on).
A C chord with an A bass is an A minor 7th and it's used LOTS. An F chord with a D bass is a D minor 7th and THAT is used lots too.
What type of piano lessons should I take?
Q. I am 16 and I have been given the choice of taking traditional or suzuki lessons for piano. Which should I take. I have heard suzikie is for young children, is that correct?
I have had piano lessons in the past but they were so-so; i am finaly getting a real teacher.
A. Traditional lesson from an accomplished piano player. Either a jazz musician or a classical musician. For the first few years you will get by fine with a "basics" piano teacher who will teach you chords, scales, etc. After that, though, you need someone who can show you technique. At this point you need to find a very talented musician who is also able to teach you and show you. Not all can do that. And like anything else in life, you have to be willing to make great sacrifices in other things that you may want to do. You have to be willing to put your all into it. Nothing less. That's what discipline is all about. How much talent you have also plays a role. How you end up playing, your style, will depend greatly on who you select to teach you. There are fair piano players, mediocre piano players, good piano players, very good piano players, great piano players and phenomenal piano players. Which one you will be depends on how much effort you put into it and how much talent you have. Not everyone will end up being an "Art Tatum". hint hint
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Title : Is it necessary to get a piano teacher if I want to start to play piano?
Description : Q. Is it possible to learn how to play piano and read piano sheet notes without a teacher. I heard I should find someone who will show me h...