Q. I've been having the incredible urge to learn to play music. Either guitar or piano...more so the piano. My roommate has this large keyboard and NEVER uses it. I look at everyday and fantasize about playing some Bach or Chopin. What is the fastest way to learn without paying for lessons? Or is that a better idea? Musicians,please let me know.
A. Like earning money and losing weight, there is no "fast" way to learn piano or any other instrument. Unlike singing karaoke, playing an instrument requires correct and repetitive practice of intricate hand/finger movements. There is no substitute for this. As the other answerer, Tesla, mentions, unless you want to be the person at parties that can play 3 chords on a piano over and over again in various positions and wow your non-musician friends, then maybe you can look on some free on-line service and watch youtube videos. But if you hope to become a serious classical musician, then you should really find a GOOD piano teacher. My reasons for choosing a teacher over self-teaching:
-a good, classically trained teacher will be able to identify and help correct all your bad habits, like poor technique.
-you'll have someone to keep you disciplined. If you're paying $$ for lessons...trust me, you'll want to practice regularly and get your money's worth
-Your teacher will have other students as well and hopefully organize recitals. Performing in front of others and being around other pianists is a sure way to get better
-You'll have someone who will be on hand to answer all your questions and advise you.
My criteria for selecting a piano teacher:
-Are they accomplished musicians themselves (have they recorded, performed, where do they perform, etc.)?
-Are they a good teacher? You'll know this from interviewing them and asking them questions. But even if they are a good teacher, if they themselves are not good pianists (see first criteria) then its pointless
-How many students do they have and how much time can they devote to you outside of lessons? For instance, do they make themselves available for questions via e-mail?
-Do they organize recitals?
-What sorts of things do they emphasize in proper classical training (i.e., exercises, theory and music history, developing a repertoire, performing, etc.)?
-Do they teach music theory and appreciation or are they just going to help you develope technical competence?
-Last but not least, if, on the first lesson, they do not ask if you have or do not ask you to buy a metronome....leave and find another teacher. Even if you choose to self-teach, you should still buy a metronome.
Be ready to make sacrifices, whether with a teacher or self-teaching, you're going to spend 25 to 30% of the time in each practice session (hopefully you'll practice at least an hour every day) working on scales, exercises, etc. The absolute worse thing you can do in practicing is taking out a song and playing it over and over again and hoping each time is better than the one before. Any song, be it a Beethoven Concerto or a 3 minute pop song, requires breaking the pieces up, using a metronome and working on passages at a substantially slower speed, hands separate, until you are comfortable with increasing spead with minimal or no mistakes, and the putting hands together, etc.
What does it feel like to be able to play any song on the piano you want to not making any mistakes?
Q. I wanna know from all people who are professional pianists what it feels like to be able to play any song you want on the piano without making any mistakes,
I feel like I just wanna throw myself down the stairs because my brain doesn't have enough information to make me a professional pianist,what should I do.
I can play any song by ear.
A. I doubt any one in the world can play any song in the world instantly perfect. Practise is a must, and i agree with powerful...
Although i think she means scales (chromatics, arpeggios etc)...starting slowish then build up speed, accuracy and correct timing. Though you can practise chord progressions too.
Try making up exercises that work both the left and right hands, strength in both hands can be important if you want to play different styles rather than simply playing melody with the right and simple bass lines or chords with the left..
Im not a professional pianist, im still learning. I'm only 19, and have only been playing for 14 years. I still love it, i just want to keep getting better and better, I'm only playing in a band with friends doing gigs every now and then and its great, being on stage and expressing yourself through something you have dedicated alot of time and energy to, people who are listening feel it too. I dont want to be a professional pianist but piano is something i adore and when i play whether its alone or in front of a crowd im happy. That's what it should be about.
Anyway lol, im so lame haha..Good luck..
Why is playing the piano such a hard thing to do for beginners?
Q. I play the piano by ear,and I didn't have to want to rely on written music,now I want to learn to read music,I don't understand how a professional pianist can operate the pianos pedals,not look at their hands yet they know exacly where to go, and look at sheet music all at the same time.
I can type really fast without looking at my hands.
A. Playing a piano is an exercise in multitasking. Reading music is not all that hard but like playing the piano it takes practice. If I understand your question you are asking how you can learn to read music and maybe in there is learn how to operate all the systems in a piano.
Playing by ear is okay but the intricacies of chords and key signatures has to be practiced regularly to be learned properly.
Reading music can be learned by purchasing a basic piano book. Here are some on-line sources, http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnersguide/tp/pbooksadults.htm, http://www.tutorials.com/09/0917/0917.asp, http://www.notationmachine.com/how_to_read_sheetmusic/readingmusic.htm, and http://datadragon.com/education/reading/, Learning to play the piano is easier still, there is one on-line site, http://www.lofthouse.com/music/piano/tips.html, http://www.gopiano.com/, that would give you a good start.
The next thing is to begin to practice and do so regularly. You will learn the right hand first and then the left hand, for bass cleft. Learn your chords and then you will learn your foot pedals. If there is a good music repair center or a piano center near you they will usually offer lessons at a discount. If you do not already own an instrument you may want to purchase one ... a lot of times there are a number of lessons that come with the purchase, gratis.
Hope this helps ...
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Title : What is the best way to learn to play the piano?
Description : Q. I've been having the incredible urge to learn to play music. Either guitar or piano...more so the piano. My roommate has this large ...