Advice for a self-teaching piano player - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Slartibartfast View Drop Down

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Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam

Joined: April 29 2006
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Posted: August 03 2010 at 17:41

Well, first of all become a doctor and discover a marvelous cure for something, and then, when the medical world really starts to take notice of you, you can jolly well tell them what to do and make sure they get everything right so there'll never be diseases any more. Oh wait that's how to rid the world of all known diseases. From the Monty Python How To Do It Sketch. They also tell you how to play the flute: Well you blow in one end and move your fingers up and down the outside. LOL

Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

Meddle71

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Joined: July 27 2009
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Posted: August 25 2010 at 02:51

Yeah, as mentioned before theory is ESSENTIAL. Even getting the basics down is great. Learn a few scales, and chords that go with them, and that's an awesome start.

Also, never underestimate classical piano, it is a fantastic way to learn a huge mix of techniques and styles. As long as you know how to read music, classical is the way to go (for starters).

If you want to start improvising your own stuff, playing a basic chord progression in the left hand with a melody (using notes from the scale the chords are based on... see, theory's important) in the right can sound surprisingly good.

Most of all, don't get frustrated if things don't sound exactly how you want them to. I've been playing piano for 14 years (although some of that I was really young and not learning a lot) and my improvisations get exponentially better every year. Piano takes a TON of practice and hard work to get really good at, so just keep it up, and don't be worried if it feels like you're moving slowly, it'll come.

Good luck, keep with it, it's totally worth it! Great instrument.

And everything under the sun is in tune

But the sun is eclipsed by the moon

StrengthandWisdom View Drop Down

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Joined: August 19 2009
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Posted: January 06 2011 at 18:15

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm still trying to learn, any material I should try learning on my own? I've been spending the last few days playing and learning all the major scales.

StrengthandWisdom View Drop Down

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Posted: January 06 2011 at 18:21

Mike_Zed wrote:

From my experience I can tell you:

1) Find a teacher, but first find out what you want to play (otherwise it would be fogwalking at the beginning). They will help you with harder parts of the music and with exercises.

2) Repeat, repeat, repeat and gradually increase the tempo. I've learned to play Firth of Fifth that way (my technique still needs improvements, but I was amazed by my progression).

3) Don't strain. It's better to learn small portions slowly, than a great piece of material and then having to take a break for a few days (each day without practicing makes you forget what you have learned during two days of practicing).

4) Get a metronome - it's a great way to keep the rhythm, also you can play the 'No Son of Mine" intro with it ;)

5) Don't forget about your left hand! It's not only for accenting the rhythm. Also don't forget about your ring and little finger, you'll need them for playing Tony Banks later on.

6) You need a piano! Or a keyboard with weighed keys (am I naming it right?). There will be no progress without proper key weight.

7) Learn a few scales and chords that go with them, jamming in one scale is amazingly easy and fun.

I kind of have to disagree with some of this points. My friend is the keyboardist for The Breathing Process, and he's studied classic for 4-5 years and has been playing for 10 years total. Hes a really good piano player. He told me that a teacher is really only necessary for kids, and anyone with a good amount of maturity can learn as much on their own.

I am 19 years old, and will be 20 next month. I started learning when I got a keyboard after high school ( when I was 18) and I'm still a beginner, I just feel like I should have come a lot further.

I have a keyboard with semi-weighted keys, which isn't much of a difference from a fully weighted Piano. The keyboard I have is the Roland Juno D, Its a nice instrument and I got it specifically for learning and I can also have some fun with it because of how nice it sounds and its variety.

zakske

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Posted: January 17 2011 at 09:57

Maybe you don't need a teacher, but I'm convinced that a teacher is not only necessary for kids; I have been playing the piano for 10 years as well (8 years with a rather "loose" teacher, I didn't learn a lot, last 2 years with a great teacher), and I must say that having a good teacher truly improves your playing rapidly. Nobody without experience is able to figure out the most ideal fingerings in a specific situation. It isn't just a matter of playing the right notes, it's a matter of knowing how to play them and the why you play them in that specific manner. Sure, you'll be able to learn some scales and chords on your own, but you'll never be able to apply them as efficiently as you would if you had a teacher, and eventually you'll get stuck in one way of playing while it is preferable to build your musical vocabulary.

Please, do continue to play, even if it is on your own, but remember that you'll learn more in less time if you decide to take lessons. Also be aware that your motivation is the major key, even if you take lessons.