Posts Tagged ‘Piano lessons’

Piano Lessons: What Should They Include?

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

 

Piano lessons: what subjects should be included

There are a zillion piano teachers available, but by far the majority of them do

not cover all the basics of piano playing. They might teach you how to read music -

play the written music on a score or sheet music — but many of them leave out the

study of music theory, proper fingering, technique, chord studies, and so on.

Here is a list of subjects that should be included in piano lessons:

1. How to read music. It goes without saying that the ability to read music is one

of the top skills in piano playing, but often it is the only one covered.

2. Proper fingering of piano scale passages and chords.

3. Proper positioning at the keyboard for arms and fingers.

4. Development of a repetoire of piano songs in a variety of styles: classical,

pop, folk, etc.

5. The study of music theory including intervals, scales, chords, cadences, chord

progressions and etc.

6. At least a touch of arranging and improvisation so the student is not afraid to

venture away from the written music.

There are other subjects, but these six make a solid basis for long term piano

lessons.

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How To Start Playing Piano Again as an Adult

Monday, September 29th, 2008

- Many, many adults today learned to play the piano when they were young, but gave it up at some point. Although some of these people don’t miss it, there are others that secretly desire to play piano again.

Some have no interest, but many have a hidden goal to someday start playing the piano again. And when they do start taking up lessons again, they’d prefer it to be with a modern teacher who knows the difference between Bach and the Beatles. Also, it’s difficult to add regular lessons to their schedules which are already full.

How do you do this, then?

There are two linked circumstances present in today’s world that give adults a new chance to learn to play piano in a way that was never possible before. Today, we have the Internet, a continually growing treasure trove of information. Until around year 2000, aspiring pianists usually took lessons from teachers who were of practical distance from their residences. That’s no longer the case. Many piano teachers even give online lessons using the cyber world. There are also DVDs and CDs that have been produced to assist the learner during all stages of piano playing, from the beginner to the advanced. Also, they are simple to find. Searching for such phrases as “piano lessons for adults” or “piano playing for adults” on a site such as Google will bring forth many possibilities for those looking to learn. (Give it a try and find out for yourself)

The other step has always been around, but often hasn’t been described well enough for people to understand. To put it simply, there are three ways to learn how to play the piano, and adults may choose to use one, two, or all three in any combination, and will learn far better than if they used only one method.

The three ways are:
First) Reading music from the score which is printed. The majority of piano lessons require the ability to read sheet music and make your fingers do what your mind tells them to do. The customary way to teach piano was with repeated technical exercises and drills, and reading music pieces starting from the very simplest piece engaging only the thumbs, gradually working one’s way up to complex classical works like the “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven or the challenging “Prelude in C# minor” by Rachmaninoff. You can find an online instructor to teach you how to read musical scores. Some search terms you can try to find these people include “learn to read music” and “classical piano lessons online.”

Second) Playing something by only hearing it first. Not many people could play the piano entirely through auditory perception and these people no longer need piano lessons because they can play any piece of any style they want. Playing by ear can be taught to some extent, but anyone who thinks they can end up playing like Ray Charles is kidding himself or herself. But in reality, most people can acquire the skills of recognizing a tune by ear, and by adding a couple of chords to the melody, can have a lot of fun entertaining their family and friends.

Third) Using chord symbols to play with. “Fake books” are popular with professional pianists, especially those who specialize in jazz. Fake books are song collections in a format known as “lead sheet”, meaning that the melody is written in addition to the chord symbols needed to harmonize with the melody. This method requires merely learning some simple chords found in the songs you intend to learn; and reading the melody in the treble clef, which is considerably easier than learning to read dense clusters of musical notes in both clefs.

Most people have no idea that this kind of playing exists, or if they do, they mistakenly believe it is only for the professionals. Not true. The process is simple and will produce results fairly quickly. You might be amazing your friends in weeks instead of years with these quick results.

Any of these ways will work and are available online. Incorporating aspects of all three methods brings the best results; the combination of reading sheet music, playing by ear, and learning chords and their proper progression can help a person learn the most efficiently.

It doesn’t matter which method you pick, just pick one and start. You’ll find its great fun and boosts your self confidence.

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“I Took Piano Lessons As a Kid, But I’ve Forgotten Almost Everything…”

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

Adults can take up the piano
There are literally millions of adults today who took piano lessons when they were growing up, but at some point along the way gave them up. Some couldn’t care less, but many have an urge down deep to take up piano playing again someday.

Over the years I have never heard anyone say “I’m glad I never learned to play the piano”, but I have heard hundreds say something like “I sure wish I had paid attention when I was a kid”, or “My piano teacher was too strict (or too boring), but I would love to get back to the piano some day.”

And most people that feel that way have the “round-tuit” problem that we all have; they mean well, but the busyness of life distracts them from starting to play again. And they really don’t want to take lessons again from the little old lady down the street who can’t tell the Beatles from Beethoven. Plus it’s hard to work regular lessons into their already-packed schedule.

So what’s the solution?

There are two inter-related factors that when combined create an opportunity for adults such as this unlike any in history.

1. For the first time ever there is the world-wide web and all its endless and growing sources of information. Up to nearly 2000AD an individual was limited to the piano teachers of the region in which he or she lived. But it’s not so anymore. Many piano teachers have moved their teaching into the cyber world of the internet in the form of online lessons. Others have DVDs and CDs available in all aspects of piano playing, from the basics of a beginner to the improvisations of an advanced player. And they are easy to find, too. Simply type in phrases such as “piano lessons for adults” or “how to play the piano” or “I want to learn piano chords” into any search engine such as Google, and up pops a vast array of intriguing possibilities. (Try it — you’ll see!)

2. The second factor is one that has always existed, but until recent times has not been articulated well so that the average person could understand the concept. And that is simply that there are 3 different ways to learn to play the piano, and adults can pick one of the three, two of the three, or all three in any combination, and come out with a synergy far better than any one method alone.

The 3 methods are:

1. Reading music from the printed score. Well over 95% of all piano lessons revolve around the ability to read a piece of sheet music, and the technical facility to make your fingers do what your mind tells them to do. This is the traditional method of piano lessons; scales, drills, finger exercises, and practice reading endless pieces from the very first “Left thumb, right thumb” piece to the most advanced classical piece such as Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” or Rachmaninoff’s “Prelude in C# minor”. And there are teachers online who can teach music reading. Search for them by typing in such phrases as “learn to read music” or “classical piano lessons online”.

2. Playing by ear. There are a very few individuals who can really play by ear, but they don’t need our help — they can play what they want any way they want. Playing by ear can be taught to some degree, but anyone who thinks they can end up playing like Ray Charles is kidding himself or herself. Still, normal individuals can learn to pick out a tune by ear and then match a chord to that melody, and eventually entertain themselves and others while having a ball.

3. Playing from chord symbols. Many professional pianists — especially jazz pianists — use “fake books”. Fake books are collections of songs in a “lead sheet” format, which means the melody of the song plus the chord symbols that go with the melody. To learn this form of playing you will need to learn chords — at least enough to play the songs you want to play — and you will need to learn to read the tune of the song in the treble clef — a skill much easier than learning to read masses of notes in both the treble and bass clefs.

Most people don’t even know that this form of playing exists, or if they do, they thing it is limited to pros. Not so. It is a straightforward process and produces good results after a relatively short period of time. In other words, you’ll be playing enough to enjoy yourself and maybe amaze your friends in a matter of weeks instead of years.

All of these methods are viable, and all can be learned from piano teachers online. But probably the best way of all is a synergy of the 3 ways: learn to read sheet music, develop your ear, and learn chords and how to use chord symbols to create your own styles of music.

Which ever method you pick is fine — just pick one and get going. A world of fun and satisfaction await!

For more information on the 3 methods adults can learn how to play the piano, watch my free short 5-minute video titled “I want to get back to piano playing!”

To get started come on over to the Play Piano Catalog

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Have You Ever Had “Piano Lessons from Hell”?

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Piano lessons from Hell...

Does the idea of taking piano lessons make you cringe? Does it make you remember some old lady beating you over the knuckles with a ruler when you were eight years old for not practicing your scales enough? Do you think back to the old woman with thirty-three cats that stunk of urine and cheap perfume that your mother made you learn scales from when you were a child?

Now that you are an adult you don’t have to be traumatized any more. Simply dissociate your bad experiences and learn how to play piano online. That way, you’ll never have to smell a smelly piano teacher again.

Know that you are not alone out there. I remember taking the piano lessons from Hell when I was in elementary school — about the 2nd grade or so. My instructor, we’ll call her Wilma (mainly because that was her name) was in her eighties — at least it seemed that way to me — she might have been much younger than that. She reminded me of the wicked witch of the West, with her long crooked fingers and a sharp nose. Looking back, I’m fairly certain that she ended up teaching piano lessons to children because she needed the money.

My piano lessons took place in a music shop that seemed ordinary enough from the selling floor. Once you entered the back room for lessons, however, you were overwhelmed by the stench of urine and cigarette smoke. Apparently, Wilma wasn’t so hot at keeping her area neat and tidy. If she only knew that a little bit of Lysol goes a long way, my nose would have been so grateful!

After a few minutes, I would get used to the smell. At least, I would become less horrified by it the more I was forced to breathe it in. What I simply couldn’t get over, however, was the giant growth on Wilmas’ hand. Yes, a huge tumor-like growth joined me and Wilma every Tuesday afternoon for lessons. It was about the size of a quarter, and since she was my piano teacher, I was forced to stare at it for a hour every week. There was simply no avoiding the sight of that awful, purplish thing that seemed to be getting larger every time I visited. How any 7-year-old can be expected to concentrate on music lessons while being forced to stare at an anomaly straight out of a medical textbook - or perhaps even a science-fiction show, considering the size of it - I have no idea. And she used that hand to slap my fingers when they didn’t play the correct note, or I didn’t have them in the shape she wanted.

But, I really wanted to learn to play piano. So, I suffered through the piano lessons from Hell for a little under a year before my folks switched me to another teacher. What do I remember from my lessons from Wilma? I most remember the trauma of being forced to play music that seemed old and boring to me at the side of an old crotchety lady whose goal in life seemed to be to make the lives of little boys miserable

Perhaps your piano lessons from Hell were a bit less traumatizing. But still, who wants to make the effort to leave the house when you can teach yourself by studying online? Such a luxury would have made my 7-year old musical life immeasurably more pleasant, and perhaps I’d even be a better piano player for it. (Presuming, of course, that I had the discipline to take advantage of it!)

So, if you’ve had bad experiences with piano lessons in the past, you can still learn to play without that weekly feeling of dread. With the advent of the Internet, you no longer need to hunt down an expensive instructor. Simply look for a great course online, and start plunking your way toward your true destiny as a piano virtuoso. Even if you only end up a virtuoso in your own home, you’ll be amazed by how quickly and easily you can learn to play piano online at your own pace.

Enjoy the comforts of your own home as you learn, and trust me, your knuckles will thank you for the absence of piano teachers slapping them around if you miss a few practice sessions.

PS Having been a piano teacher for many years, I am well aware that there are many wonderful teachers who lovingly teach kids. But I also have heard a few horror stories over the years…

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Piano Study Is for Adults Too!

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Adults can learn to play the piano too!

If music in general and piano in particular interests you, then now is the time to begin. When it comes to learning the piano, age is no barrier. If you truly desire to learn the instrument, you will apply yourself accordingly no matter what your age.

While we do absorb information like sponges in our formative years, we do not necessarily have the deep interest and sense of commitment that we do as we mature. That’s why adulthood is a great time to learn a new activity, such as the piano. Think of it, you are making a conscious, independent decision to develop a new skill. No one is telling you, or making you, take lessons. You are studying the piano because you want to study the piano.

We tend to throw ourselves with verve into activities that interest us. That’s why, if you have the interest, you can learn the piano from scratch in adulthood. Music is a great avenue for creative expression. In our fast-paced lives, learning to create music may be exactly what you need as a break from your daily routine.

The approach you take to learning the piano is important when you’re an adult. In our jobs, we tend to work at a harried pace and often expect immediate results. This attitude can spill over into our music study. If you desire to learn the piano, you have to take a systematic approach and set reasonable goals.

Decide whether you want to take private lessons or self-teach. You might want to take a few lessons to get the basics down and then continue study on your own. You may choose to do web-based studies. Whatever learning method you choose will only take you as far as your attitude does.
To succeed at learning the piano from scratch, as an adult, consider these suggestions:

* Have fun. You didn’t decide to take piano to add extra stress to your life. If you miss a day of practice, big deal; it means you missed a day of practice. Besides, you don’t want to practice seven days a week. Piano is an interest, not your career.

* Take the first step; don’t try to take five steps at once. Learn a concept or element, practice it, and then move to the next step. Trying to leapfrog steps because you’re in a hurry to get to Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven will only get you frustrated. Frustration leads to giving up your dream.

* Set reasonable goals. Remember, you’re new to this and you may feel overwhelmed with all that piano playing entails. Set a daily goal and focus on that alone. Do the same the next day.

* Get tips and ideas from other adults who successfully undertook piano studies. Ask them what worked best for them and what pitfalls to avoid. You will gain valuable insight into proper study methods. You will have someone you can bounce ideas off who can relate to what you’re doing.

* As you progress beyond the basics, make sure you gravitate to music you enjoy, not just music the lessons tell you to play. You will continue with a lifelong study of the piano if you learn to play your favorite music.

Learning to play the piano is not just for children and teens. It is a creative pursuit for all ages. Decide today to begin your study of the piano – it will be music to your ears for tomorrow and beyond.

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