Thinking of learning the piano....
Discussion
Weighted and graded keys are nice when you can play, but aren't really necessary for a beginner.
It also means you can play the upgrade game in a few years when you have improved enough to be able to play some reasonable tunes.
I learned electronic organ (the proper 3 keyboard type) and piano up until my early 20's. Then I took an 18 year break to follow my career. Got back into the piano a couple of years ago, I can tell you it's a lot harder to learn in my 40's than it was in my late teens.
I bought a Yamaha P105, which is a light weight stage piano, with a built in stand. Tonally it is very nice, and is reasonably ok to play, but is a little lacking in precision as I have de-rusted my playing skills.
I recently invested in a Yamaha U3, a 30 year old real piano, it's night and day to the digital one, I can't keep my hands off it.
Obviously it's mostly wasted on me, and would be massively overkill for a beginner, but personally I adore playing a proper piano.
It also means you can play the upgrade game in a few years when you have improved enough to be able to play some reasonable tunes.
I learned electronic organ (the proper 3 keyboard type) and piano up until my early 20's. Then I took an 18 year break to follow my career. Got back into the piano a couple of years ago, I can tell you it's a lot harder to learn in my 40's than it was in my late teens.
I bought a Yamaha P105, which is a light weight stage piano, with a built in stand. Tonally it is very nice, and is reasonably ok to play, but is a little lacking in precision as I have de-rusted my playing skills.
I recently invested in a Yamaha U3, a 30 year old real piano, it's night and day to the digital one, I can't keep my hands off it.
Obviously it's mostly wasted on me, and would be massively overkill for a beginner, but personally I adore playing a proper piano.
Having just spent the last 4 hours talking to a French guy in Valencia whilst he played a grand I'm following this thread with interest.
Hes self taught, 8 years in from having never picked up an instrument and is utterly awesome. I have a few vids of him playing ( and a few of his rather stunning GF dancing!) just came in to our hotel bar to practice on a grand as he'd never played a grand before.
Hes self taught, 8 years in from having never picked up an instrument and is utterly awesome. I have a few vids of him playing ( and a few of his rather stunning GF dancing!) just came in to our hotel bar to practice on a grand as he'd never played a grand before.
An acoustic piano, even a budget one, has a presence to the tone that no electronic piano captures (even the ones that model sympathetic string resonances). If you have the space and you don't mind forcing the neighbours to eavesdrop on your progress, it's the #1 choice, IMHO.
That said, it's a one-trick pony, and I prefer to have more sounds available, especially more piano sounds. The Kronos I used to have had several multisampled grands, and each was slightly different. Nowadays I make do with the dozens in the Integra 7.
I'm self taught (having had recorder lessons at school decades ago, then self-taught guitaring since). My aim, though, is not to play classical music, but to write my own stuff, so I'm happy to improve at my own pace.
That said, it's a one-trick pony, and I prefer to have more sounds available, especially more piano sounds. The Kronos I used to have had several multisampled grands, and each was slightly different. Nowadays I make do with the dozens in the Integra 7.
I'm self taught (having had recorder lessons at school decades ago, then self-taught guitaring since). My aim, though, is not to play classical music, but to write my own stuff, so I'm happy to improve at my own pace.
I'm booked to take the grade 8 practical exam in a few weeks time.
Long story but essentially it's 20 years overdue... I'm started learning as a 9-year old and rapidly progressed to grade 7 within about 4 years, but after my school years I let it dwindle whilst pursuing a technical career and having a young family. I bought a pristine 1994 Yamaha U3 on eBay 10 years ago but hardly touched it.
Last year facing difficult personal circumstances I decided to get back into it as a form of therapy and for the inspiration I know it provides, found an excellent local teacher and got back into regular practise. It hasn't taken long at all to surpass my original standard by some margin. With grade 8 hopefully under my belt this month I intend to go on and take the new ARSM post grade 8 performing diploma next year.
The U3 is a fantastic instrument and I echo the preference for a reasonable quality acoustic instrument over any digital if possible. I'd very much like to swap it for a German grand when funds allow.
I'm also studying classical organ albeit at a slower pace because getting practise time on an instrument is not quite as easy.
Long story but essentially it's 20 years overdue... I'm started learning as a 9-year old and rapidly progressed to grade 7 within about 4 years, but after my school years I let it dwindle whilst pursuing a technical career and having a young family. I bought a pristine 1994 Yamaha U3 on eBay 10 years ago but hardly touched it.
Last year facing difficult personal circumstances I decided to get back into it as a form of therapy and for the inspiration I know it provides, found an excellent local teacher and got back into regular practise. It hasn't taken long at all to surpass my original standard by some margin. With grade 8 hopefully under my belt this month I intend to go on and take the new ARSM post grade 8 performing diploma next year.
The U3 is a fantastic instrument and I echo the preference for a reasonable quality acoustic instrument over any digital if possible. I'd very much like to swap it for a German grand when funds allow.
I'm also studying classical organ albeit at a slower pace because getting practise time on an instrument is not quite as easy.
I'll second the above comment. Congratulations on getting this far.
I did grade 8 electronic organ back in 1993, although I think it's an easier exam than piano. I've so far managed to avoid doing any exams since I took piano up again, I doubt I'm really good enough now anyway. I tend to just improvise anyway nowadays.
I love my U3, I can't get enough of it. It's like a living thing somehow, I don't know how to explain that, but it is just vibrant and precise. Way better than I am.
I did grade 8 electronic organ back in 1993, although I think it's an easier exam than piano. I've so far managed to avoid doing any exams since I took piano up again, I doubt I'm really good enough now anyway. I tend to just improvise anyway nowadays.
I love my U3, I can't get enough of it. It's like a living thing somehow, I don't know how to explain that, but it is just vibrant and precise. Way better than I am.
I've been learning piano for just over a year now. I used to practice on an heirloom Victorian piano, but soon realised - despite many re-tunes - it was knackered. We got a Casio 130 electric piano, which is very good. My wife ( who plays to a very high standard) was skeptical at first, but won't play the other one now.
I have to say that IMO, for a complete beginner, it's not the instrument or the teacher (assuming they're not dire) that's the most important, it's practice. If you don't practice you simply won't get better. If you use your lesson for practice as well as learning, it will a) take forever, and b) cost you a lot of money.
You've said at least a couple of times that you have all the time in the world, but no time. This honestly doesn't bode well - you're already making excuses. Wait until you need to practice scales and chords over and over again - it's boring, but necessary. If you can't find time now, you never will, faced with the choice between scales or some more interesting distraction. I'd save your money until you're sure.
I have to say that IMO, for a complete beginner, it's not the instrument or the teacher (assuming they're not dire) that's the most important, it's practice. If you don't practice you simply won't get better. If you use your lesson for practice as well as learning, it will a) take forever, and b) cost you a lot of money.
You've said at least a couple of times that you have all the time in the world, but no time. This honestly doesn't bode well - you're already making excuses. Wait until you need to practice scales and chords over and over again - it's boring, but necessary. If you can't find time now, you never will, faced with the choice between scales or some more interesting distraction. I'd save your money until you're sure.
dr_gn said:
I've been learning piano for just over a year now. I used to practice on an heirloom Victorian piano, but soon realised - despite many re-tunes - it was knackered. We got a Casio 130 electric piano, which is very good. My wife ( who plays to a very high standard) was skeptical at first, but won't play the other one now.
I have to say that IMO, for a complete beginner, it's not the instrument or the teacher (assuming they're not dire) that's the most important, it's practice. If you don't practice you simply won't get better. If you use your lesson for practice as well as learning, it will a) take forever, and b) cost you a lot of money.
You've said at least a couple of times that you have all the time in the world, but no time. This honestly doesn't bode well - you're already making excuses. Wait until you need to practice scales and chords over and over again - it's boring, but necessary. If you can't find time now, you never will, faced with the choice between scales or some more interesting distraction. I'd save your money until you're sure.
Cheers, (and to all others who've taken the time to post in this thread). I'm going to be travelling a lot now between now and at least november (in fact I'll only be in london for 5 weeks between now and then) so I've decided to shelve the idea for now.I have to say that IMO, for a complete beginner, it's not the instrument or the teacher (assuming they're not dire) that's the most important, it's practice. If you don't practice you simply won't get better. If you use your lesson for practice as well as learning, it will a) take forever, and b) cost you a lot of money.
You've said at least a couple of times that you have all the time in the world, but no time. This honestly doesn't bode well - you're already making excuses. Wait until you need to practice scales and chords over and over again - it's boring, but necessary. If you can't find time now, you never will, faced with the choice between scales or some more interesting distraction. I'd save your money until you're sure.
Playing with what I could potentially learn and travel with at the same time, there doesn't seem to be much choice, unless I look at the harmonica..... well, at least its cheap to buy one.
HotJambalaya said:
Playing with what I could potentially learn and travel with at the same time, there doesn't seem to be much choice, unless I look at the harmonica..... well, at least its cheap to buy one.
Assuming you're not just joking about the Harmonica......You could get yourself one of these in standard tuning, key of C, and check out:
Adam Gussow
Mitch Grainger
Also, if you're based in Central London (after returning from travelling abroad), it's worth checking out the London Harmonica School run by Greg Miller, video of him here playing with Pierre Lacocque from Mississippi Heat, at last year's LHS Summer Camp. (Pierre's the guy in the hat and white jacket, Greg in black).
Greg's lessons are open to anyone, and complete beginners are welcome. There are also more advanced groups. I first went along there about 18 months ago, having never even had a play around with a harmonica. The classes are pretty informal - once a week for 90 minutes as a group of around 10 people in a pub basement in Soho. You then get homework with a song/exercises and an accompanying mp3 so you know what it should sound like. A "term" is 10 weeks long, and at the end of the term is a "school concert" where you all get to play a track with Greg's band, and a friendly/supportive audience (other students and families/friends). There's also the annual Summer School available - 4 days of pretty full on workshops with highly regarded harmonica players, and a gig every evening. Last year included Adam Gussow, Pierre Lacocque, Rollo Markee, and Will Wilde.
Edited by C&C on Wednesday 28th June 16:13
telford_mike said:
theboss said:
I'm booked to take the grade 8 practical exam in a few weeks time.
Hats off to you sir.Been playing 2 years and so far avoided exams despite my teacher's efforts to persuade me to take some.
Glad it's working out for you, and very best of luck!
Now wondering what to learn next. Am currently attempting Rachmaninoff's solo transcription of his short song "Lilacs" and contemplating various Beethoven sonatas - am seriously thinking of cracking the Moonlight third movement once and for all.
theboss said:
telford_mike said:
theboss said:
I'm booked to take the grade 8 practical exam in a few weeks time.
Hats off to you sir.Been playing 2 years and so far avoided exams despite my teacher's efforts to persuade me to take some.
Glad it's working out for you, and very best of luck!
Now wondering what to learn next. Am currently attempting Rachmaninoff's solo transcription of his short song "Lilacs" and contemplating various Beethoven sonatas - am seriously thinking of cracking the Moonlight third movement once and for all.
Rachmaninov had huge hands, consequently you'll need the same to play his music!
Have a go at the Chopin preludes, Debussy or Bachs Prelude and Fugues.
theboss said:
telford_mike said:
theboss said:
I'm booked to take the grade 8 practical exam in a few weeks time.
Hats off to you sir.Been playing 2 years and so far avoided exams despite my teacher's efforts to persuade me to take some.
Glad it's working out for you, and very best of luck!
Now wondering what to learn next. Am currently attempting Rachmaninoff's solo transcription of his short song "Lilacs" and contemplating various Beethoven sonatas - am seriously thinking of cracking the Moonlight third movement once and for all.
theboss said:
I passed with a score of 128, just short of a distinction but happy nonetheless.
Now wondering what to learn next. Am currently attempting Rachmaninoff's solo transcription of his short song "Lilacs" and contemplating various Beethoven sonatas - am seriously thinking of cracking the Moonlight third movement once and for all.
Excellent result that is. Well done. Now wondering what to learn next. Am currently attempting Rachmaninoff's solo transcription of his short song "Lilacs" and contemplating various Beethoven sonatas - am seriously thinking of cracking the Moonlight third movement once and for all.
theboss said:
I passed with a score of 128, just short of a distinction but happy nonetheless.
Well done 
.I've never heard of anybody getting 129 marks - it might be too dispiriting for many (youngsters) to feel that they've missed out on a distinction by just mark and my GUESS is that the adjudicators might make that little adjustment downwards.
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