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 hard is it for children age 5-8 to play classical piano?
Q. Ive been checking out some YouTube videos of small children playing the piano, and some people call it child abuse. I disagree. If you have experience with this, can you tell me about how long it takes for them to learn the song well and how difficult is it?
A. I think it's only child abuse when parents slap a "prodigy" label on a little kid the minute the child picks out a simple tune on the piano. Most of these kids are even particularly good when compared to other children, but a lot of unearned and over-lavish praise is heaped on them. When they lose their cuteness--and their playing ability doesn't noticeably improve--then what?
Most children really love music, so giving them piano lessons to help nurture that love of music isn't a bad thing.
That's different from THIS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAbJO6FmbQ8&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz-5HHaMWwg&feature=relmfu
I especially love the PBS special. There are times he is just playing some basic chords while an orchestra, singers, and other musicians are backing him up.
This is his Wikipedia article that lists his credits--and he's just 11.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Bortnick
He's still going strong and has many fans among people you would think would know better. The Emperor is naked, but no one wants to say.
Many famous composers and musicians did start playing and even composing music at a very early age. Of course, there are stories that Beethoven's father used to beat him regularly, but this may just be folklore--I've found sources that both confirm this story or shoot it down as false. However, it is true that Ludwig's Dad was extremely harsh with the young boy if he made mistakes and forced him to practice many hours, often into the night. On the other hand, Beethoven--as an adult--was recognized as a true piano virtuoso.
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=7250
http://www.sjsu.edu/beethoven/about_beethoven/faq.html
For the average kid, I think playing the piano is fine. It might be easier for a 7 or 8 year old to play than a 5 year simply based on the typical attention span at those ages, as well as physical dexterity, but I myself gave my 2 year old a small keyboard of her own to play with when she showed interest in her grandparent's piano. (Notice I said "play with"--but even a very young child can teach herself or be shown how to play simple tunes---it doesn't make them a musical genius)
If you play the piano, how did you develop a love for it?
Q. How have you developed a love for music?
If you play the piano, how have you discovered your love for it, what has it taught you?
A. I have had a love-hate relationship with the piano since childhood. Love music & love to play for my own therapy/pleasure; hate to practice & hate recitals!
Over the years, I have gradually gotten less nervous about playing in public (for worship, etc.), but it stills gets to me at times.
When I was a kid, the only time Mom could get me to practice was when it was a choice between that and helping clear the table/wash the dishes after supper!
My favorite thing about the piano now is the therapy and stress-relief it provides. When I am angry, I can bang out a loud piece and relieve tension. When I am sad, I can play some uplifting hymns or a melancholy classical piece and work through it. When I am happy, I can play praise and worship music or peppy little tunes to embrace this mood.
Piano fingering helped me be better at typing and keyboarding. Music theory probably helped me be better at math and fractions, and learning chords helped me be able to teach myself guitar later. Playing piano helped me to be able to hear and sing harmony, and to be able to sight read choral music.
I have more appreciation for all different types of music. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to take lessons, and to be able to serve the Lord by sharing this gift with others.
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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...