Thursday, August 18, 2011

Piano Basics

By Andy Penbram


If you have been looking on the web for how to learn the piano then you are probably one of the people who would like to learn using a multi-media home study guide that can be downloaded to your computer. There are others who would feel better to go to private one-on-one piano classes with a professional piano teacher. What ever your case the fact is that the basics remain the same.

Here are some tips to help the beginner piano student when just starting out learning the piano or keyboards:

Start at the beginning

Covering the fundamentals is very important. Get to know the instrument, how the keys work, where the pedals are, where the notes are. You might benefit from learning how to read a little music and possibly even some music theory too. Learn some basic chords, get a decent piano course or teacher and make some time for your daily practice sessions which will be imperative if you are to succeed.

Choose the correct pieces to play

Having good quality piano pieces to practice is extremely important. If you pick pieces that are above your level you will find yourself struggling to learn them which will not help your playing and might demoralize you as well. You need to choose relatively easy, short pieces that you could memorize if required, this will make it far simpler for you to perfect them It might also be a good idea to learn one or two of pieces by ear, this is to say that you hear a song and try to copy it . You could manage just the melody or you might just go for the chords. Listening to a song again and again and trying to copy it will be a huge help to your piano playing and will aid you to develop a musician's ear.

Things will become tricky

There will come a time when playing could seem to become tricky. The learning curve can become very steep somewhere between beginner and intermediate level. This could be somewhat disconcerting. When this occurs just stick with it and keep on with the practice as this is where most folks will give up. Although from time to time it may seem as if you are not making any progress rest assured that subconsciously your brain is slowly learning how to play the piano and one day when least expected you will suddenly realize that it is no longer so difficult and your playing has in fact improved noticeably.

Put your own style on it

Sometimes you can hear two artists who play the same song but each one will sound completely different, you too can do this with the pieces you are learning. Try and put your own expression into a piece and be adventurous by trying new things. This will not always be possible especially if you have a strict piano teacher but having a little fun whilst finding out how to learn the piano can be a good thing.

To really dominate the piano you will have to get down to basics a lot, you will find you have to play uninspiring music occasionally and boring exercises. Try not to get disheartened and give up. Getting through the downtimes sometimes has to be done but you will come out the other side a much better player.




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