Hammond Music

Posts Tagged ‘learning to play piano’

If you have ever thought about trying to learn how to play the piano, I would recommend that you give it more thought. My own experience, learning how to play, was that it was not as easy as I was thinking it would be. There are many more things that you need to learn in order to play the piano that most novices don't recognize. It’s not a matter of just learning the right keys is to play but you also have to learn to read music.

So if you’re thinking about learning how to play the piano, I have some helpful tips that I think will make a difference. First go online and see what resources you have available on the Internet. Recently piano playing has become more convenient with the Roll Up Electric Piano keyboards. There are a lot of free information items that will help you both to read sheet music, and also learn what keys to be used when playing the piano. There an unlimited amount of free resources online that will assist you to get started learning how to play.

If you are still interested in learning how to play piano, I recommend that you either buy a piano or rent one. I would recommend the latter choice. When you’re just beginning to learn to play the piano, I think it’s best to rent your equipment because you never know how long you will stick with it. If the rental becomes more expensive than buying it, then go ahead and buy the equipment that you need. It would also be a good idea to look into getting the more convenient version like buying or renting a electronic piano keyboards. They are simple to setup, move around and don’t take up too much room.

These days, as I said above, there are a lot of resources available to you for free that will help you learn to play the piano. If you don’t find what you need online you can also go down to your public library and find plenty of information available to you that will help you learn to play. Finding a good instructor is also very critical to your enjoyment of playing and to the speed at which you will learn. A good teacher would be someone who enjoys playing the piano themselves and has a long history of teaching other people to play. You can usually get recommendations from other people on who is the best teacher or teachers available in your area.

As you can see there are a lot of things to consider before you start your journey forward on learning how to play the piano. The best news is that there is a lot of free information online that can help you and there are some great instructors out there that love to play the piano and will show you how. Really consider getting a roll up piano first for the lower cost and convenience. I really didn’t find it so simple and I’m still trying to learn to play to this day. So go find some good resources on learning to play the piano, rent an inexpensive piano, and find a good instructor. You’ll be well on your way to mastering and learning this beautiful art.

It is a fact that at some point in all of our lives we strongly consider learning to play the piano. Do you have an idol that you admire because of their piano-playing talent? Do you have a passion for listening to well-played piano music?

You should know that you are not alone – so many of us have had that very same urge, but never taken it up. Do you think you need a little push in the right direction? Before you begin, think about the two ways of learning the piano:

1)    Chords
2)    Note reading

Before you rush headlong into either of these methods, you need first of all to understand what you want to achieve. If you are quite content to read other people’s music, then all you really need to learn is how to read the notes. On the other hand, if you are feeling more creative and want to go down the route of composing your own music, then you will also need to have a good understanding of the chords.

What is also dependent here is the time-frame you are currently looking at. The note reading can always come a little later. The mastering of the chords will give you a much better understanding of the sounds that they make, both when played alone and together. For the player who wants to learn more quickly, then the chord-based approach is probably best-suited to you.

There really are a lot of ways to learn to play the piano properly – and if you are just starting out then you should be considering the pros and cons of getting a good piano teacher. It’s quite easy to find an experienced teacher, and there are also a lot of benefits that come with this – for example you can often learn either at their studio or at your own home.

Before you begin looking for an instructor, then it’s a good idea to have a goal in mind. Remember the two approaches to learning – if you want to play for a bit of fun (and it is good fun!), then you should be looking for a piano teacher who will teach you the note side of things. Conversely, if you are looking to expose your more creative side and want to compose yourself, then a chord-based teacher is going to be more productive.

It is vital to get this right, as otherwise you will find that you are wasting quite a bit of money on something that will not give you the benefits of achieving your goals. Piano teachers are often not too expensive, but if you are only learning something that you could learn from a book, it is still an unnecessary expense.

You might also want to take a look at some of the online programs that are currently available. Many of them are far cheaper than one-on-one piano lessons, and they can be just as good. There are many benefits to learning online – you can learn at your own pace, and no-one stands behind you with a big stick as you practice!

It may seem like learning online is the only real option in these circumstances, but you must also bear in mind that by learning online and at your own pace, there is no-one breathing down your neck as you practice!! Also, if you are learning online, and there is something that you don’t understand, there is no-one there to ask for help. Quite often, this can lead to a drop in your motivation levels – if you are only doing it for yourself then sometimes it can be difficult to continue!

The end of the lesson is quite simple: the piano should be something you enjoy playing, and enjoy learning to play. When you get frustrated and fed up with it, then you need to look at the approach you are taking to it. That’s not what playing the piano is all about!!

Copyright 2009 Lauren Paltrow (Stage Pianist)

In this article, we have compiled twelve of the very best reasons to start learning as soon as possible. You really should start to learn to play the piano straight away, whatever your motivation for doing so. Whatever your reasons are for not doing so, I guarantee that there are more reasons to start than not.

You can probably think of a million other reasons, but we think these are the best ones. If you are currently thinking about learning to play the piano, then after reading these you should be well on your way to starting.

1)    It’s great for bringing the family together – many is the time when myself and my family have gathered around the piano as I play.
2)    Playing the piano is a great way to alleviate boredom. Just think of all those times when you had literally nothing to do and were scratching around for something to occupy your time. What better than playing the piano?
3)    It’s great for the brain! The brain is the largest muscle in the human body, and like all muscles, it needs exercise to help it grow and develop. Music is a fantastic way of doing just that.
4)    There is a great deal of sophistication involved in playing the piano – you can feel and look amazing whilst doing so. It doesn’t matter what you look like, or how wonderful your self-esteem is, if you sit at the piano and are able to play properly, you look like a movie star!
5)    Music is a wonderful thing, and everyone should be able to play at least one instrument. And the piano is one of the most versatile to learn.
6)    “Learn to Play the Piano” actually tops all the charts for the most stated New Year’s Resolution! By this, we can only assume that the majority of people wish that they could play the piano. Why not make yourself one of those who can?
7)    It’s really good fun! It’s so diverse, there are so many ways you can learn, so many ways you can play, the list is really neverending – you can relax and enjoy it, or even challenge yourself to take it to new levels.
8)    Not only is it fun, but it’s also tremendously rewarding. People who play the piano get a strong sense of satisfaction from it.
9)    There are a few people who are fantastic at playing the piano – concert pianists and those with a very special aptitude for playing the piano. If you never start to learn, how do you know that you are not one of those elite people?
10)    There is a great deal of reverence associated with playing the piano. People genuinely admire those who can play any instrument, and the piano seems to be revered above most.
11)    If you have ever looked at someone’s hands and thought to yourself how long and slender the fingers looked, then it’s more than likely that they were a piano player. Playing the piano is great for the hands; it builds up the muscles and is also fantastic for developing your hand/eye coordination.
12)    There is absolutely no limit as to what you can learn when you play the piano. The well of music can never be exhausted, and you could never memorize every song ever to be played on the piano. You could, theoretically, learn a whopping ten songs a day for the rest of your life, and you still would have barely scratched the surface of the vast amount of songs that it is possible to learn.

Whatever your reason is, however personal it is to you, then there is nothing stopping you – I have no doubt that you can think of many more yourself. Whatever your reason is, however personal it is to you, then there is nothing stopping you – learn to play the piano today!

Copyright 2009 Lauren Paltrow (Stage Pianist)

there is more than a few advantages in learning to play an instrument.  The piano is a definite favorite, but why is it so popular?  Mastering the piano requires a lot of patience and dedication, and you’ll find that within most of musical styles, there are massively talented musicians that take what seems to be such an ordinary instrument, and create audio masterpieces.

Jazz enthusiasts may have heard of a few of the greats, namely Duke Ellington and Count Basie, as well as many modern jazz artists topping the charts today including Jim Brickman, who’s original piano compositions not only take the air on smooth jazz stations world wide, but also pop, new age, and inspirational stations as well.  And of course, don’t forget the famous rock pianists worldwide, including Paul McCartney, Carole King, Carly Simon, Elton John and Billy Joel. 

And as you know, many mainstream classic and modern rock or pop bands of today seem to naturally include a keyboard player.  The front man for the band “Styx”, Dennis DeYoung has to be one of the more popular keyboardists.  Other exceptional artists include Tony Banks from Genesis, Rick Wakeman from Yes, and David Sancious, who has famously played alongside Carlos Santana, Sting and Bruce Springsteen.

Learning to play the piano can certainly increase your knowledge of music to encompass different styles of music, including classical.  It may not currently be your desire to learn this style of music, but you’ll probably end up enjoying it as you begin to expand your piano playing to pieces by greats like Schubert, Mandelssohn, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart.  The more you hear the individual works from the previously mentioned artists, the more temptation there is to try and emulate them.  This will certainly impress your family and friends, and even yourself after your hard work rewards you.  Once you get better at the piano, you could land a job in a band or as a solo act.  Achieving professional status as a performer can offer you excellent personal and financial benefits.  Naturally, not every piano player ends up in a high paying job, but if it’s something you love to do, it’s certainly worth striving for.

There are even other hidden benefits that Learning to Play the Piano Today can provide.

It can be the ultimate stress reliever, calming your nerves after a heavy day or clearing your mind after over-thinking.  The piano even offers an emotional uplift, heightening your mood as you concentrate on the music distracting from your problems.  Also, playing the piano can teach anyone discipline.  It is an activity that requires daily concentration, and the rewards can be tremendous.  This keeps you motivated to work harder toward goals in all aspects of your life. 

Still not convinced? Well, there are a few more benefits as follows:. In some ways, it is easier to learn than becoming a vocalist because you don’t have to worry about being off pitch. Unless of course the piano isn’t in tune! Just make one call to a piano tuner and that problem is solved.  Learning the guitar requires string replacements and daily tuning, whereas wind instruments may need new mouthpieces or reeds.  But the piano only requires two things – you and your fingers!  Finally, the most important reason why you should play the piano is your own personal fulfillment.  The amazing feeling can be awesome after playing a composition to the best of your ability.  Bringing music into your life will surely make you a stronger, more energetic person in your mind, body, and soul.

To get a jump start on learning to play the piano, you can probably use a few extra tips.  Some of them are obvious, but they need to be said anyway.  As for the rest, you may learn a thing or two.  Try to memorize these tips to keep you in good stead during the learning process. 

(… and above all, remember that learning to play piano today is quite possible on your own, as there are a number of good training packages available in bookstores or online …)

1.  If you are really not interested in the piano, do yourself and everyone else a favor.  Do not try.  You may see advantages of being able to play the piano, but your enthusiasm isn’t too strong.  In that case, you could listen to lots of piano music and see if you develop an interest.  Do not start trying to play until you are happy at the thought of learning. 

2.  Play what you like.  In the old days, and often even today, piano teachers spent months with their students before they were allowed to play anything they enjoyed playing.  You will get more gratification if you find ways to play at least simple or improvised versions of songs you know and like. That will keep you going. 

3.  Dive right in.  Do not wait for the sun to turn purple or even to learn all the scales. Begin playing as soon as possible.  The more you play, the more you will learn.  And the better you become, the more you will enjoy playing.  It creates an upward spiral that will increase your abilities. 

4.  Play on the best piano you have available.  Although don’t be too put off if all you can find is an electric keyboard.  It’s definitely an advantage if you get to use a Clavinova, as it has all of the 88 keys.  Others may argue that an upright piano is even better.  But obviously, if you are able to practice on a grand piano, by all means go for it!. 

5.  Do your best not to disturb others in the household.  The sound will invariably echo through the walls.  In most households, this is unavoidable.  Although, try to make sure that you ask permission before you begin to practice, as those who need some quiet time, or need to study will find the noise very distracting.  Maybe they have had a hard day and just need a little peace. If you ignore their feelings, friction between you will make your practice unpleasant. 

6.  Be self disciplined, but not overly so.  Do not be harsh with yourself.  There are times where it is simply not practical to continue playing. Try not to force yourself to continue, as you may come to dislike each session.  Allow yourself a little leeway.  Don’t relax too much though – if you start to become too laxed, you may give up all together.  Only constant practice can aid you to develop your senses and coordination, in order to eventually achieve mastery. 

7.  Start yourself a journal in order to monitor progress.  If anything is new to you, or confusing, take 5 minutes to check the internet or reference manual .  Write it in a notebook or make a document on your computer to type in all the things you have learned.  You can also write in the notebook what has worked for you and what has seemed to make things harder.  Record accomplishments while fresh on the mind, as you may soon forget. 

As a beginning piano player, you have all the time in the world to learn new things abut your instrument.  Each time you find something that makes your life easier; remember it so that you can use it again.  When you do that, you can build on each lesson and advance to higher and higher levels.

p.s. If you are considering piano lessons for a child, check out the article Tips for Teaching Piano to Children.

It is nice when you are able to set the formal music practising aside and play any music that you like.  However, it’s not always so easy to get hold of the sheet music for your favorite songs.  There are two ways to overcome this predicament, and they are related in a way.  The first idea is the use of a Fake Book, and the second is to learn how to improvise. 

You can get Fake Books at music stores or by ordering them online.  You can also get a version of the same concept when you come across a simple notation of a song.  Be aware that when using a Fake Book, it only contains two ways to help you. First, you will get a melody line in the treble clef.  This will usually only show one note at a time – no chords – and it will be a simplified version of the song. 

Along with the melody line, you will also be presented with a letter above the staff.  The letter signifies the chord you are to play in the bass clef and could possibly add to the treble clef if you are skilled enough.  There will be a letter above the staff each time the chord changes. 

By learning the chords, you are preparing yourself nicely to be able to use a Fake Book with ease.  You can use the straight chords or invert them.  You can play them as running chords where you play each note separately in succession.  Any rhythm can be chosen for the bass clef. 

The Fake Book may require that you put your creative skills to work.  You have to use what you know to fill in the blanks that are left by an incomplete score.  Because of this, it is almost your job to create the music from scratch.  One good thing is that new, up-to-date Fake Books are produced regularly, and include many modern songs. 

Yet, if you want to really come up with your own original song or instrumental piece, you can do it better by learning to improvise.  You can learn very complex theory about improvisation, but you can begin with the information you already have.  You need to know mainly about scales and chords. 

Choose a scale to work from; a C scale may be the easiest for you since it is all on the white keys.  Next, choose some chords within that scale.  If you have chosen the C major scale, the  use of the G major and F major chords are the best combination.  The benefit of using these is the lack of sharps or flats. 

Create your own chord progression.  A nice order would be C-F-G-C.  Practice playing these chords with your left hand.  Usually the chords are played lower than middle C, however this is not set in concrete.  Play them wherever you see fit.  Play them as simple triads or invert them.  Play them in any sequence.  Then keep practicing until it becomes second nature. 

When you are comfortable with your chord progression, you can begin to improvise a melody.  Take one note at a  time, and play these with your right hand, eventually forming a melody line.  At first it may sound a little rough, but persistence is key here — keep on practicing, and eventually a nice melody line will be created. 

Also, try improvising with a melody you’re already fond of.  Say you want to play Jingle Bells, but you do not have the music.  The melody can be easily picked out.  after you have chosen the melody this way, chords can be fit to the melody, simply based on the melodies scale of key.  So as you can see, even though you may not have the sheet music, there are ways you can still play the music without.

Learning to play the piano is easy, even for a beginner. One possible starting point is the no-obligation course at Learning To Play Piano Today. Check them out today, and enjoy your new found skill.