How long to learn piano / keyboard
Discussion
are you at all musical already? Can you sing/whistle/hum in tune? Can you play anything else? If not you may find it immensely frustrating and very slow progress. On the other hand, as mentioned, you may find you have a real knack and be playing Grieg's Concerto by February. (or The Way It Is/Ain't No Pleasin' You)
I started piano lessons last April. My tutor is aiming to get me through the grade 1 exam this summer. I have a great ear for music but struggle with the technical bits - reading sheet music, etc. I've been making my own music electronically (keyboards, sequencers, computers, etc.) for over 20 years, having used trial-and-error (no formal training whatsoever) to learn everything I know.
I'm interested in this too. If anyone can point me in the direction of some decent on-line tutorials, I'd be grateful. Bought my daughter a mini keyboard for Christmas - has 44 keys, and they're not quite big enough for my sausage fingers - and I'd like to help her learn to play. I can read music OK, and know when something sounds right, but have no idea of technique.
I have managed to teach myself the right hand part to "The Entertainer" - took about an hour with the help of a YouTube clip - and a few other melodies, but the technique for using both hands eludes me!
I have managed to teach myself the right hand part to "The Entertainer" - took about an hour with the help of a YouTube clip - and a few other melodies, but the technique for using both hands eludes me!
Personally I don't think you can beat a proper tutor, but everyone is different, and some of the greats managed without any formal tuition.
I had my first lesson for 20 years this week. Back in the mid 90's I was working towards grade 8 standard, then gave it up due to Uni commitments and later work commitments. I've finally got enough spare time and money to get back into it.
I'm unbelievably rusty though, probably only the equivalent of Grade 1 or 2 I reckon at the moment, so have a lot of work to do.
For me, the online stuff doesn't really work very well, I find it far better to sit with someone who's there to show you how to do it properly. They also give you a huge list of complicated and painful exercises designed to strengthen and loosen your fingers, and develop the ability to play the majority of phrases that pop up in most tunes.
As said though, everyone is different, if you're motivated enough, you may well be fine with the online tutorials, the only thing to be aware of is that you may not know if you're picking up bad habits, and it's not beyond the possibility that you could give yourself an RSI type injury, although with an unweighted keyboard this probably isn't a huge risk.
Good luck.
I had my first lesson for 20 years this week. Back in the mid 90's I was working towards grade 8 standard, then gave it up due to Uni commitments and later work commitments. I've finally got enough spare time and money to get back into it.
I'm unbelievably rusty though, probably only the equivalent of Grade 1 or 2 I reckon at the moment, so have a lot of work to do.
For me, the online stuff doesn't really work very well, I find it far better to sit with someone who's there to show you how to do it properly. They also give you a huge list of complicated and painful exercises designed to strengthen and loosen your fingers, and develop the ability to play the majority of phrases that pop up in most tunes.
As said though, everyone is different, if you're motivated enough, you may well be fine with the online tutorials, the only thing to be aware of is that you may not know if you're picking up bad habits, and it's not beyond the possibility that you could give yourself an RSI type injury, although with an unweighted keyboard this probably isn't a huge risk.
Good luck.
I had lessons and got to grade 5, wish I'd continued with them, I still play but work hours made it too difficult.
The advantage of lessons is that you're pushed each time and are given a deadline to learn something.
If you just want to play a tune then you'll probably be able to learn one of these without paying for lessons. It depends upon your motivation and what sort of music you're wanting to do.
Don't attempt jazz, it will melt your mind
The advantage of lessons is that you're pushed each time and are given a deadline to learn something.
If you just want to play a tune then you'll probably be able to learn one of these without paying for lessons. It depends upon your motivation and what sort of music you're wanting to do.
Don't attempt jazz, it will melt your mind
Piece of string works.
Out of interest...
I teach music very differently from others. I know people with grade 8 piano that can't play an E min 9 chord. I don't promote 'copy typing', but understanding. This is easy to demonstrate but hard to put into writing. Stick with me.
Play a 'C'. (it's the white note directly below the two blacks anywhere on the keyboard)
You'll notice if you play that and the next 7 notes up (white notes only), you play a major scale. (D,R,M,F,S,L,T,D - like the film The Sound of Music). Play the first three keys with (right hand) thumb, index, second finger then change back to the thumb for the fourth, index for the fifth etc.
If you count the keys, you'll notice you are moving up (amount of keys) 2,2,1,2,2,2,1 (the black keys make up the numbers).
Remember 2,2,1,2,2,2,1. It's the door to understanding.
Start on any note and play intervals of 2,2,1,2,2,2,1 and you will play a major scale in that key.
Spend an hour or two doing that with C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, G, G#, A, Bb, B, (just move one key up from middle C each time - this time including the black keys). Do it up and down using the fingers as described.
In two hours you will be able to play a major scale in every key.
This is the first and most important building block.
Then practice - a s
t load.... then, when you are bored to death, check out the internet for guides on how to play major and minor triads... away you go.
HTH
Out of interest...
I teach music very differently from others. I know people with grade 8 piano that can't play an E min 9 chord. I don't promote 'copy typing', but understanding. This is easy to demonstrate but hard to put into writing. Stick with me.
Play a 'C'. (it's the white note directly below the two blacks anywhere on the keyboard)
You'll notice if you play that and the next 7 notes up (white notes only), you play a major scale. (D,R,M,F,S,L,T,D - like the film The Sound of Music). Play the first three keys with (right hand) thumb, index, second finger then change back to the thumb for the fourth, index for the fifth etc.
If you count the keys, you'll notice you are moving up (amount of keys) 2,2,1,2,2,2,1 (the black keys make up the numbers).
Remember 2,2,1,2,2,2,1. It's the door to understanding.
Start on any note and play intervals of 2,2,1,2,2,2,1 and you will play a major scale in that key.
Spend an hour or two doing that with C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, G, G#, A, Bb, B, (just move one key up from middle C each time - this time including the black keys). Do it up and down using the fingers as described.
In two hours you will be able to play a major scale in every key.
This is the first and most important building block.
Then practice - a s
t load.... then, when you are bored to death, check out the internet for guides on how to play major and minor triads... away you go.HTH
GetCarter said:
I know people with grade 8 piano that can't play an E min 9 chord.
I have to say that surprises me, although I don't actually remember being taught it myself. It's bloody obvious though, isn't it, surely? I'd kind of expect anyone getting to the Gd8 level to have learned to ad-lib and improvise, and perhaps listen to a variety of musical genres and musicians to get ideas from? After all, if you're going to put in the amount of work required to achieve this standard, you'd be expected to have a bit of enthusiasm for music?
Super Slo Mo said:
GetCarter said:
I know people with grade 8 piano that can't play an E min 9 chord.
I have to say that surprises me, although I don't actually remember being taught it myself. It's bloody obvious though, isn't it, surely? I'd kind of expect anyone getting to the Gd8 level to have learned to ad-lib and improvise, and perhaps listen to a variety of musical genres and musicians to get ideas from? After all, if you're going to put in the amount of work required to achieve this standard, you'd be expected to have a bit of enthusiasm for music?
As I say... copy typist!
ETA I have no idea how they teach grades these days, maybe it's changed. But I watched a kid getting a lesson recently, doing grade 3, and it was all read & rote!
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 28th January 13:12
I think it's just practice. I used to be poor at being able to improvise, and in fact have regressed to the point where I'm fairly useless again anyway as I said above, but I spent a few years playing in various bands/groups, and you very quickly pick up the ability to improvise and play by ear by doing that.
Playing live with other people also massively improves your timing and ability to keep the tune going no matter what, even if you can't properly hear what you're doing cause of the racket!
Playing live with other people also massively improves your timing and ability to keep the tune going no matter what, even if you can't properly hear what you're doing cause of the racket!
telford_mike said:
Thanks for all the input. I'm lucky enough to be finishing work at the end of Feb, so I'll pay a visit to my local piano shop and pick up something that fits the bill (and our spare room).
I assume the £3-400 quid Yamahas are ok to begin with?
I'm no expert on the digital stuff, but ideally you need 88 keys and weighting. Graded weighting to the keys is better (lighter at the top end, heavier at the bottom), but I doubt it makes that much difference to a beginner. I think it's much easier to control a weighted keyboard than non-weighted (do they even exist anymore?), as it strengthens your fingers leading to better control and expression.I assume the £3-400 quid Yamahas are ok to begin with?
PomBstard said:
GetCarter said:
Lots of good stuff about learning scales
Ta for that - have been practicing, and driving the kids nuts!Should this be just going up, and using right hand only, or practice with both, and in both directions??
telford_mike said:
Ta. Learned clarinet when I was a teenager, was ok with music theory etc, so hopefully have a bit of aptitude. Should be able to give it an hour a day at least I think.
Thats a start... you'll probably find you pick it up quite quickly as you can read music. You'll need to get your head around which fingers to use and where. (again as GC mentions... scales)Start slowly and don't rush through the first bits of learning as those are the basics that will stay with you no matter how good you get.
Edited by rich83 on Sunday 1st February 11:19
[quote=GetCarter]
Quite... but I've given a bit of Bach to a lady I know, who can sight read it almost flawlessly first time, but when I asked her to play me a 12 bar, she looked blank - needing the dots - it's not that she doesn't like modern music either.
Aah, the dreaded dots - reminds me of the French & Saunders sketch where Raw Sex put Ralph McTell on trial
Quite... but I've given a bit of Bach to a lady I know, who can sight read it almost flawlessly first time, but when I asked her to play me a 12 bar, she looked blank - needing the dots - it's not that she doesn't like modern music either.
Aah, the dreaded dots - reminds me of the French & Saunders sketch where Raw Sex put Ralph McTell on trial
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