Q. I just learned my school does them, and im a beginner, but would I be much better off with finding a personal teacher, or are these classes at the schools worth it? they are group piano lessons
A. Hi Jason,
Here's my experience with community college piano ...
I'll never forget the time I took my first piano class. It was at the Community College of Philadelphia 1984. It was a group class with 20 or so electronic keyboards arranged around the room. We each received a class text book titled "Class Piano." No shocker there.
I opened up the book and saw that I would be learning how to read music and play triads. I also saw that I would be playing very simple classical pieces. Now, while I enjoyed this and learned how to play these easy pieces, it just didn't do it for me. It was because as I soon as I put the book down, I was dumbfounded! I didn't know what to do on the piano without the book!
I soon realized that I didn't want to become a professional note reader. No. I wanted to be able to sit down at the piano, place my fingers on a chord that called to me, and just play. I wanted to express myself at the piano in the same way visual artists are able to take pen and paper and artfully color their inner worlds. Why was this so difficult to do?
It was at this time that I started to look for new ways to play. I came upon a book that taught a modern chord position which could be used right away to make music with. Amazing! No note reading. Just chords. And once I learned a few chords, I was able to create my own music. This open position chord structure allowed me to improvise music quite easily.
Another book influenced me as well. This one showed how to play chord progressions using 4, 8 and 16 bar phrases. With this chord charting technique, I could see that I could create my own pieces. It taught me the principles of repetition and contrast - the cornerstones to musical composition.
A few chords arranged for 8-bars is repeated 2 or more times giving you what is called an "A" section of music. Another few bars of different chord changes and the "B" section is produced. And all of this was taught within a very slim volume. Maybe 46 pages or so.
After a few years of working with this material, I synthesized both methods so beginning piano players can take a modern sounding chord and work with it within a set framework. The result is a method where students are able to improvise their own music right away!
what is a good book/dvd to learn jazz piano?
Q. I can play the Entertainer by Joplin, and I can construct chords and figure out inversions, but I'm a poor sight reader. I familiar with some theory and I've played the guitar for about 7 years, but chording and playing a melody at thesame time is so much different. For thisreason I feel that the piano is the master of all instruments, and I want to learn how to compose also. I just need a good starting point.
A. check out the jazz Piano book by ray santisi--from berklee
How to improve my piano skills? ?
Q. I have been playing for about a year and a half. I have no idea what grade I am playing at, but have played pieces like Chopin's valse op 69 no 2, nocturne in c sharp minor. Tchaikovsky season, Beethoven's moonlight and pathetique sonatas (first part only) and many more.
The thing is, I am a horrible site reader, and have trouble with theory. Things such as scales, arpegios, etc i never really play that much. I mostly play a piece once through with the notes then never look back at them.
I feel like I lack a strong foundation and don't know where to start? (which is hard because I have been playing for over a year now) I'm thinking about starting from grade 1. What can I start with (exercises, books, drills) and what can I do to improve site reading and get a good general foundation of piano playing?
Sorry, forgot to say I am taking lessons, once a week.
Looks like I didn't provide enough info. My fault. I have played Clarinet for 5 years and can read notes and site read very well. But piano is a different story. I guess I do not have a feel for the keys as well. Also how many hours a day should I be practicing?
A. Alfred Publishing has a very complete book of scales, chords, and arpeggios. It is very critical that you becoming extremely comfortable with these in order to be a good sight reader. Most music is formed from various arrangements of scales and arpeggios. When your mind and your fingers automatically know what notes to play, and with which fingers, sight reading becomes very easy. This book also goes over how scales and chords are formed and how inversion work, etc.
I also recommend making Dozen A Day and Hanon exercises a part of your daily practice routine.
The other things that helps with sight reading is regularly pulling out music you've never seen before..... that is written slightly easier than what you usually work on.... and play straight through without stopping (with your metronome).
Honestly, though, it sounds to me like all you ever do is sight read. Here's a good method of practicing toward mastery on any piece you're working on (after warming up well): Play straight throught the piece, without stopping or correcting any notes. While doing this, though, make a mental note of where mistakes in notes, rhythm, dynamics, etc. happened. After finishing the piece, go back to those sections and go over and over it with your metronome until it's perfect at least 3 times in a row. Then, play it straight through again to see how you do... and start the cycle over.
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Title : Are beginner piano courses at community colleges a joke?
Description : Q. I just learned my school does them, and im a beginner, but would I be much better off with finding a personal teacher, or are these clas...