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Old 21-09-2010, 14:23
Carmen Queasy
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I'm learning how to play and I'm enjoying it a lot.

I knew which key was which from my school days, but I could only play simple, one finger press songs.

However, I have just mastered using both hands and separate fingers. It may sound simple but it was very hard getting into it! Finger 4 and 5 (the ring finger and the little finger) didn't like working separately! That was my biggest challenge. If the little finger pressed G, then F was also pressed! I touch type on a computer keyboard and I have picked up a lot of bad habits from that because it's not "proper" touch typing (i.e. I don't use F and J as a start), so I am not going to do the same thing with a piano!

I don't actually know if this chord sequence has a name, but I learned:

top staff - middle octave: G, C, E, change to A, C, E, then to A C, D and back to G, C, E (the hardest change for me)

bottom staff - one octave lower: Just C (in line with G, C, E) and F (for the others).

It's taken me 3 days to master just that, mainly because of the 4, and 5 finger thing. I actually played Do-a-deer over and over again with all 5 fingers just to get into the habit of switching them constantly

One sad thing, though, is I only have an electronic keyboard with 69 keys, and I know the feel of a proper piano is completely different, and this keyboard doesn't alter the volume when you press it harder, which can make things sound dull.

So, yeah, I'm enjoying it! Anyone else play? How long did it take you to learn?
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:29
Tombstone
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Learnt piano from the age of 5 as music lessons were mandatory at my school. Got to grade 4, but had no interest in it so I switched to violin which I detested even more. Somewhat belatedly I discovered that guitar counted as an instrument so switched to that until I left.

When I write music I find the piano experience invaluable as I still think of notation as being on a keyboard.

Keep it up!
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:33
Carmen Queasy
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One thing which is proving to be difficult is reading music. I can read it when it's there right in front of me "in my head" (i.e. I know which note on the staff relates to which key press... most of the time) but when I have to link two staffs with two hands, two octaves, two speeds and remember which chords to actually play, it all becomes a bit of a mess.

I know I'm not going to be able to play straight from sheet music instantly, but I want to get into a good habit. I'm taking it slowly, of course.
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:34
technology_love
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Just bought a digital piano from ukpianos.co.uk on a rent to own basis.Haven't played since I was 9 after a horrible teacher reduced me to tears and put me off it. I'm going to find a tutor and learn it properly. I know where the A-G keys are but thats about it

Good luck
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:37
Tombstone
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As the old joke goes 'Practise ma'am, practise'. It will come to you in a somewhat relevatory moment when you suddenly realise you have played something from sheet music without having to think.

Believe me, it feels damn good.
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:42
KBBJ
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One thing which is proving to be difficult is reading music. I can read it when it's there right in front of me "in my head" (i.e. I know which note on the staff relates to which key press... most of the time) but when I have to link two staffs with two hands, two octaves, two speeds and remember which chords to actually play, it all becomes a bit of a mess.

I know I'm not going to be able to play straight from sheet music instantly, but I want to get into a good habit. I'm taking it slowly, of course.
It'll come with time, really. The toughest sight-reading I had to do was off four clefs - they included the two 'K' ones, which threw me hugely.
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:43
Carmen Queasy
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I didn't even know there could be more than 2 clefs and I have never heard of a "K" one!

I have so much to learn

It seems that it's important to learn chords on the piano, rather than just single key presses.
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:44
Tombstone
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Macca can't read music and he didn't do too bad, so don't worry too much.
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:49
alan29
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Been playing all my life - still learning.
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:52
KBBJ
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I didn't even know there could be more than 2 clefs and I have never heard of a "K" one!

I have so much to learn

It seems that it's important to learn chords on the piano, rather than just single key presses.
There are only two clefs for the piano, so don't worry about it. My music teachers were just being sods when they threw me stuff like that.

Yep, the chords are your friends. At some point you might want to pick up a basic theory book, which will teach you more about stuff like that.

Just enjoy it, though. Great that you've taken it up.
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:55
BBTweets
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My niece is learning how to play. I tried getting her 'piano hands' for her Christmas last year but they were out of stock so I ended up getting her a roll-up keyboard which she absolutely loves and can now take her portable piano anywhere

I can only play On Top Of Old Smokey and Doh a Deer
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Old 21-09-2010, 14:59
boxx
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Take small bites and chew thoroughly. Worked for me and my guitar
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:14
labelsandlove
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I have always wanted to play the piano, but I can never seem to manage to co-ordinate my hands properly. I might try again when I have more money to spend on lessons.
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:15
Carmen Queasy
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There are only two clefs for the piano, so don't worry about it. My music teachers were just being sods when they threw me stuff like that.

Yep, the chords are your friends. At some point you might want to pick up a basic theory book, which will teach you more about stuff like that.

Just enjoy it, though. Great that you've taken it up.
Good good! I started to get worried then. I don't think I could use my foot to play chords! (although I'm going to eventually have to learn pedals... I just don't have any!)

My niece is learning how to play. I tried getting her 'piano hands' for her Christmas last year but they were out of stock so I ended up getting her a roll-up keyboard which she absolutely loves and can now take her portable piano anywhere

I can only play On Top Of Old Smokey and Doh a Deer
I wish I learned when I was younger. We had to do an hours music lesson every week up until year 9 (so only 3 years) and most of that has fallen out of my brain now.

Take small bites and chew thoroughly. Worked for me and my guitar
Indeed. That's how I am learning. The only thing I am going to need help with is timing, because I'm teaching myself which means my sense of time might be different from what it's meant to be. I think I'll have to get one of those... ticky thingies which ticks the 8 beats so you can keep time.

A friend of mine gave me a copy of a DVD and work book to learn from. It's been great so far.

I've been looking for sheet music online of simple songs, just to mess around with. I love Bat For Lashes and her piano is very simple, which is really good for me!
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:18
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Had a kawai MP8 shipped from the US, it is in my opinion is one of the best stage pianos out there. Matt bellamy uses one on stage. However mine has been gathering dust for some time.
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:19
Carmen Queasy
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Had a kawai MP8 shipped from the US, it is in my opinion is one of the best stage pianos out there. Matt bellamy uses one on stage. However mine has been gathering dust for some time.
If it needs a new home...
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:21
boxx
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Indeed. That's how I am learning. The only thing I am going to need help with is timing, because I'm teaching myself which means my sense of time might be different from what it's meant to be. I think I'll have to get one of those... ticky thingies which ticks the 8 beats so you can keep time.
Metronome online is a basic one but works fine. Good if you're near your PC when you play, not so much if you're not
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:24
Carmen Queasy
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Metronome online is a basic one but works fine. Good if you're near your PC when you play, not so much if you're not
Cheers!

I use my laptop to watch the DVD lessons, so this will be useful!
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:26
WombatDeath
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I suggest getting a music teacher if you can afford it. A teacher will stop you getting into bad habits, help keep you motivated, make sure that you improve steadily and generally make things easier all round. Yes, you can find great pianists who've never had a day's instruction in their life but I suspect they're heavily outnumbered.

Don't worry too much about following the music. I was never anything more than crap at sight reading but you eventually play pieces mostly from memory and use the sheet music as a guide to remind you what's next now and again.
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:26
boxx
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Cheers!

I use my laptop to watch the DVD lessons, so this will be useful!
No worries, hope you stick with it, and don't forget the boring stuff. It helps
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:29
Carmen Queasy
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I suggest getting a music teacher if you can afford it. A teacher will stop you getting into bad habits, help keep you motivated, make sure that you improve steadily and generally make things easier all round. Yes, you can find great pianists who've never had a day's instruction in their life but I suspect they're heavily outnumbered.

Don't worry too much about following the music. I was never anything more than crap at sight reading but you eventually play pieces mostly from memory and use the sheet music as a guide to remind you what's next now and again.
I'll eventually get a teacher, I just can't spend much money at the moment. I have a friend at grade 8 on piano - or I believe so - he studied it for a degree anyway, who said he would help.

No worries, hope you stick with it, and don't forget the boring stuff. It helps
Definitely! I read up on the theory of it before I go into it. Its always tempting to rush in and start learning popular songs, but you don't learn that way. You just learn how to memorise a sequence.
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:32
whitecliffe
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My gran (RIP) was a piano teacher so really I had no choice other than to learn. When you are young you dont appreciate things so much and I did kind of hate it.

Wish I had kept it up although still can play a tune or two!!
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:38
talentedmonkey
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Started to learn when I was 4 had proper lessons from age 5. Got up to grade 8 standard, although nerves totally destroyed my exam. I now have a USB keyboard linked up to computer and use FLStudio to compose with.
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:43
Carmen Queasy
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Incidentally, can you only get "grades" by taking exams?

A friend of mine said he made grade 4 without being able to play properly. He said he just memorised everything his teacher done on the piano!

You wouldn't think my main friend group consists of mainly music graduates, would you
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Old 21-09-2010, 15:50
KBBJ
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Incidentally, can you only get "grades" by taking exams?
Yep, but you don't have to go 1 through 8. You can describe yourself as grade 8 level without having it. Some people go straight to grade whatever, especially if it's a second instrument.

A friend of mine said he made grade 4 without being able to play properly. He said he just memorised everything his teacher done on the piano!
Hm, your pal would have had to have done scales and sight-reading and whatnot to pass that exam. Good way to learn, mind.
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