How To Play The Piano
Information and Resources To Help You Learn The Piano
Should You Hire A Piano Teacher? Or Learn On Your Own…The Pros and Cons.
Author: How to Play the Piano4 Jun
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The piano has often been hailed by many as the instrument that knows no boundaries and time. Unlike many other instruments, the piano can be used to play any kind of musical genre. With its sweet and resounding sound and melody, it is no wonder that many people secretly or openly want to learn how to play the instrument.
When you want to learn how to play the piano, you come up with the first decision to make: learn it with a piano teacher or learn it on your own. Which is which? As you know, each of these two has its own pros and cons. What you need to do is know the advantages and disadvantages of the two, consider them, weigh them, think it over, and make your decision.
photo credit: Andrew Stawarz
Option 1: Learn with a Piano Teacher
Learning with a piano teacher is usually the method for children. However, you, as an adult, might want or not want to take it with a teacher because of several reasons. To help you think things really through, here are the pros and cons of learning how to play the piano with a teacher.
Pros
When you learn your piano lessons with a teacher’s help you are able to: get formal instructions of piano playing, completely understand reading notes, have somebody correct whatever it is that you are doing wrong, have somebody encourage you, have positive and negative feedbacks on the way you play, really study piano seriously, and have somebody to challenge you.
Cons
However, learning with a teacher also poses some disadvantages such as; you need to make time for the piano lessons according to the teacher’s schedule, it is expensive, you might end up with a difficult teacher such as a perfectionist, and you end up taking directions from somebody else- a negative if you don’t like being told what to do.
Option 2: Learn on Your Own
Learning without a teacher’s guidance and help has often been a favorite by many of those who want to learn how to play the piano. Why? Here are the reasons.
Pros
It is cheap in that all you have to do is buy an instructional manual, book, or CD and it does not require you to take instructions from somebody else. Also, you need not adjust to anybody’s teaching style, you get to study piano playing according to your own schedule and nobody else’s, and you need not go to anybody’s house or anywhere else but your own home.
Cons
Learning on your own may seem too good to be true, but it also has its own set of cons. First, you get too lax making you end up taking a great deal of time in learning how to play the piano. Second, you have a great tendency of not learning anything especially if you are not that serious in learning how to play the piano. Third, you end up discouraged especially if you frequently end up with lessons that are hard to understand. Lastly, you never know if you are playing something right or wrong.
Think about each of the pros and cons of each of the options. What you should choose should fit your lifestyle, fancy, and mood.
Which Of These Three Types Of Pianos Is Right For You?
Author: How to Play the Piano4 Jun
It’s been months since you’ve started having piano lessons and now you feel like you are ready to take the next step. And what might that be? Buy a piano, of course.
photo credit: doll damned
Before you go out to buy yourself a piano, you should bear in mind that there are three different types of pianos. Each of these has its own characteristics that can be compatible with the pianist in you.
Grand
One of the very popular piano types, the grand is usually seen accompanying recording artists such as Alicia Keys, Sir Elton John, and Vanessa Carlton. This piano is also called as the horizontal piano due to its length and placement of the strings inside making it great for use of expert piano players.
There are six sub types of the grand piano and these are:
Petite grand- the main reason for its name lies on the fact that this piano only measures about 4 feet and 10 inches. Despite this, the petite grand still gives a powerful sound.
Baby grand- measuring at about 4 feet and 10 inches to a few inches above 5 feet, the baby grand is one of the most popular pianos around. There are three reasons for its popularity and these are great sound quality, nice to look at, and affordable price.
Medium grand- simply put, this piano type is just one inch bigger than the baby grand. In fact, it is mistaken for the baby grand most of the time.
Parlor grand- also known as the living room piano, the parlor grand measures at about 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet and an inch. Because of its size, it is often seen in living rooms and parlors, hence, the name.
Semiconcert grand- suffice it to say, this piano is approximately 7 feet long.
Concert grand- this is the biggest subtype of the grand pianos. It measures at 9 feet making it the number 1 choice in concerts, hence, the name.
Upright
Classified as a vertical piano because of the position of its strings, the upright piano stands at around 50 to 60 inches and with a width of around 58 inches. With these measurements, this type of piano is the tallest.
Considered as a rival of the grand piano, the upright is usually seen as inferior by some who do not know a lot about it. This piano is made of the same great quality wood as the grand piano, costs less compared to the grand, and produces a high quality sound that can be compared to the grand piano. Another good thing about this is that it can be played by experts and beginners alike.
Electric
If you are a beginner or a performer, the electric piano is the one for you. It is the cheapest type and can produce sound of other instruments such as oboe and guitar. You can also record what you have played and play it back later.
Taking all these into consideration, which of the three piano types do you think is for you?
What is a good scale to play for piano improvising?
Author: How to Play the Piano10 Mar
I play piano, and i am fairly advanced. Been playing for 9 years. I know the blues scale, but i want to know how to do rock solos like Jon Lord, Ray Manzarek, and others. What scale do i use?
You could listen to Erroll Garner on you tube .Fantastic Jazz/Blues improviser on the piano .You could get some ideas from him
Online Sites that teach you how to play piano?
Author: How to Play the Piano3 Mar
Please list as many free sites that teach you how to play piano without downloading the program.
Best answer Get Best Answer and 10 points .
A Crap Answer Gets a Crap Answer and get 2 points.
i’ve been playing the piano for a pretty long time. i wouldn’t go with online sites. try to find a piano teacher in your area.
but if not http://www.pianotricks.com/ seems okay.
How long does it take to get good at piano with the best piano learning software?
Author: How to Play the Piano3 Mar
I asked another question that involved which piano learning software I should go for, and I just remembered that I have another question. Lets say I go out and actually find the best piano learning software out there, (if they actually work). How long would it take me to get pretty decent at piano if I practiced using the lessons for 1-2 hours a day? Can it be done within 6 months?
Hi there. I am pretty sure there is a edit button so you can change your question in the other thread, but no worries, I will just answer you here, I have all the time in the world today:)
Its really hard to predict what your results will be like, even with the "best piano learning software". In my opinion if you were to practice 1-2 hours a day you will get decent pretty fast. Now I put punctiation on decent, cause you definitely wont get world class, but you will be able to turn a couple of heads in amazement whenever there is a piano around.
As I told you I can definitely recommend the site that helped me back in the day, http://bestpianolearningsoftware.com/
Check it out and I think you will find the answers to alot of your questions there.
Keyboard lessons online?
Author: How to Play the Piano3 Mar
Can you recommend any website for lessons on the keyboard.
I need a new hobby since my bf of three years broke up w me over him transferring 1500 miles away and since I devoted all my time to him I’ve realized I have no hobby.
I’ma a slow learner and don’t have any musical experience but Ive had the keyboard for a long while now. Thank you.
And lessons for free
need a new hobby… contact me 
lol i know … it’s cheese! someone is gonna do it. lol
How do you get your hands in tune together to play piano?
Author: How to Play the Piano3 Mar
Im just starting playing piano and Im having some trouble getting my hands to play the different parts. What are some good exercises to get my hands used to playing? Any tips are helpful. Thanks!
I think it really just takes practice! =)
I played for several years when I was young, and quit for a few years and forgot everything! What helped most was doing the exercises (some lesson books have them in the beginning or end).
Same thing when I try to learn a new song, I just play slowly at first so that I get used to the feel, then it gets easier as I go.
Top Info on How to Play the Piano from Feb.
Author: How to Play the Piano1 Mar
- Where can I go to find music keyboard lessons?
Posted on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Keyboard Lessons - Comments: (3)Lessons for beginners.I have tried the net.But I can not find any.Can someone help me find some lessons.There is a cool site called Clickforlessons.com that may help you find a keyboard/piano lessons. I used them to find a piano teacher in LA, but depending on where you live it may be more difficult to find someone. You should check them out and see if they can help you. Good luck!
- Computer software that allows me to play the piano on my computer?
Posted on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 in Piano Software - Comments: (3)Is there a good computer software that would allow me to play the piano/keyboard on my computer? I heard about one a while back but I can not remember the name.
- How many keys on a piano?How can i learn to play the keyboard by myself?
Posted on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in How To Play The Piano - Comments: (4)Ok so im getting a keyboard anybody know how i can learn how to play it myself with out getting a teacher for it?And how does this 50 keyed keyboard differ from a piano?apart from the obvious please!Pianos have 88 keys. Most keyboards however will have an octave function on them, which allows you to move the range down and up different octaves. You can also get an 88 key keyboard. The cheapest I’ve seen is $300 if I recall.As for teaching yourself, it will be moderately hard, atleast in my opinion. My advice is to learn the notes, learn to read music, and practice hard. Knowing the notes on the piano isn’t all that difficult, but reading could take some time. The notes on the piano are chromatic, so knowing them should be easy as I said. Just remember the black keys are always the accidentals (Sharps (#) and Flats (b)).
- Where can i get piano/keyboard lessons online?
Posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 in Keyboard Lessons - Comments: (3)I want a site where i can get free software that can help me learn piano or keyboard by ear! I own a keyboard but i dnt know where to start! Please help!Do yourself a favor and get a real, breathing, sitting-beside-you teacher. It will give major benefits in the long run. You get to respect somebody who in some cases (mine), plays a bazillion times better than you, and piano teachers give advice on more than just piano. Something a computer or somebody on YouTube can’t give you.Good luck in the search!
- Is there any software for songwriting on the piano?
Posted on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Piano Software - Comments: (7)I used to have this amazing software but I no longer have it. I’m searching for a software that helps me compose songs on the piano. Does anybody know anything like that?
i always wanted to learn how to play piano…where can i get piano lessons online (for free)?
Author: How to Play the Piano24 Feb
and can anyone recomend a book that teaches piano?
go on you tube and type in piano lessons, the first video that comes up is the best one by far its a great step by step tutorial that covers everything and hes really good at explaining. heres the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vphWgqbF-AM
Computer software that allows me to play the piano on my computer?
Author: How to Play the Piano24 Feb
Is there a good computer software that would allow me to play the piano/keyboard on my computer? I heard about one a while back but I can not remember the name.
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/index.htm ESE ES ONLINE
OR U CAN DONWLOAD THIS ONES
http://www.softonic.com/s/programa-musica-piano
http://www.programas-gratis.net/b/piano
