Q. I want to learn how to play the office theme, yet I know nothing about the piano. I can read music pretty well (I play Trumpet in 7th-8th grade band) Is there a site or video on Youtube that can teach me super slow and easy. I have tried some videos but I cannot tell because I have no clue where the keys are. Please help>
A. I think thereâs two options for you:
- Learn the chords for piano. Hereâs a good web sites for that: http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/
http://www.8notes.com/piano_chord_chart/
- The other way itâs to use the MIDIs. MIDI itâs like a digital score. Hereâs the steps for that:
1- Search the WEB for the song you like to learn in http://www.midisite.co.uk/
2- Open the file in this software: âSweet Sixteen MIDI Sequencer 3.3.2â that you can download free in http://www.ronimusic.com/download.htm#DL_SWEET_16
3- After that, go to the âGridâ section and youâll see all the notes you need to play for that song displayed in a keyboard inside of the software. All you have to do its repeat the notes displayed.
I learn to play piano like this on my on. You should try it.
What are some good activities for an experienced piano player to learn to sight-read better?
Q. I've played piano for several years now and I'm in the process of learning some pretty advanced pieces, such as Frank Liszt's Etude III, La Campanella. However; I never learned how to properly sight-read. Although I can read music, it sometimes takes me several months or more to learn a 2-3 page piece, depending on the difficulty. My question is, are there any activities or exercises that would help me augment my ability to sight-read.
A. While notating your own music is an excellent suggestion (it gets the notion of notation 'inside' you,) the best way to better your sight reading is to practice sight-reading - that is a blazing flash of the obvious. Now, here is what you will need to do....
Assemble a stack of piano music, I estimate for you this should be at near beginner's level, since by your description your sight-reading is painfully at beginning level.
Choose music you can sight read at least at 50%, better 75% or higher, the tempo marked. I emphasize again,, this will be much simpler fare than the pieces you are working on.
Library access is essential - you need stacks of individual pieces or collections. I suggest the Bartok Microkosmos books I - III, the Schumann Op 68 "Album für die Jugend," and similar materials.
The process:
Read through, once only, a given piece. Keep proper time. Do not stop for mistakes - antithetical to traditional music performance practice -- but essential for forcing yourself to look ahead, which helps you develop a grasp on pattern recognition and spatial cognition of intervals, chords and their inversions.
Once read, there is an already established memory of what the music is, therefore, reading it through a second time is NOT 'cold sight-reading,' which is your goal. You Can Only Sight-read A Piece Once - after which it is not sight-reading!
This work is not meant to be 'comfortable.' You are forcing yourself to read, at sight, pushing through rather than stopping, naming, calculating, making marks on your score. You will find that your mental stamina, at first, will flag after only a brief time. It gets better, like all practice, the more you do.
Never repeat a read-through. Do go progressively through the stack of material, marking where you stopped so you can begin with the next piece.
I cannot enough emphasize your accepting that as a sight-reader you are (in my estimate as a professional and professional teacher) a raw beginner, and that you accept, without embarrassment, that you are a beginner ~ and then be a good beginner.
There are also basic note-speller exercise books, and flash cards. I suggest you look at those too, and see if you feel 'beyond' them or if they might also be a good exercise for you.
All of this tells me you are very likely working without a teacher. This also makes me think you are working on pieces far beyond your 'true' ability at present, and it is also entirely possible you are not reflexively familiar with all key signatures, which you must be.
Music, and playing of an instrument are a cumulative studies (there is a progression of difficulty on which to build.) No teacher would assign you any piece which takes several months knowing it takes you months to learn only two or three pages; this is antithetic to real progress, the path to which is well-understood and taught in piano pedagogy.
Please consider a truly qualified and reputable teacher: they are generally worth every penny you pay them.
Best regards.
What are some of the most important things to learn on piano if I hope to be good at playing?
Q. I've recently started teaching myself how to play piano and I am curious as to what I should learn first. I'd also be interested in any good piano solos? Who are some of your favorite pianists to look into and do you have any good song suggestions? Please don't just send me a link to some sheet music site, I'd like a litte more direct advice. Thanks.
A. First off, if at all possible, get yourself a good piano teacher. If not...
Start with drills. Block chords, arpeggios, scales, octave scales, in every key. Perfect these, as they are the building blocks on which all music (At least all of the music utilizing the 12-tone system) is made. With these perfected, playing pieces becomes immensely easier. As for beginning repertoire, your best bet will be to purchase a song book, as it will give you a number of acceptable pieces with which to practice. I have always suggested beginners purchase "Progressive Class Piano" by Elmer Heerema (Link below). It is a very comprehensive book designed to be a tool for older beginning pianists.
As I said, if it is at all possible, and you are serious about playing piano; you need to get a qualified instructor. No book, no practicing on your own will get you to the point private instruction will.
Good luck!
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Title : Easy way to learn to play the piano for absolute beginners?
Description : Q. I want to learn how to play the office theme, yet I know nothing about the piano. I can read music pretty well (I play Trumpet in 7th-8t...