Many, if not most of us who had been to school would have had music as a part of our curriculum. We have all studied do-re-mi and the different notes like the whole, note, half note etc. We have also been taught about the Treble Clef or the G-clef and the Bass or F-clef. If you had music as a subject, as a second grader you should been taught the basic theories of music and are most probably acquainted with FACE and the Every Good Boy Does Fine notes on the staff. If not, let me refresh your memory.
The black notes on the line or spaces of the grand staff (g-clef and F-clef) represent the tones on your piano. The letter F, A, C and E falls on the four spaces of the G clef of the grand staff (the upper 5 lines) and in that order. F occupies the first space at the bottom and E occupies the last space at the top. So we have F for the fa note, A for the La note, C for do and E for mi. Now the phrase "every good boy does fine" falls on the lines. The first line is E or as was said earlier the note mi, G is sol, B is ti; D is re and F is again fa. So your basic do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti notes are the tones C-D-E-F-G-A-B in order.
A piano keyboard has 88 notes or keys, with seven sets or octaves beginning with the A tone on the left or the lowest octave and a C tone at the right or the highest octave. The "middle C" as the name implies is at the very middle of the whole keyboard it is the 40th tone if you count all the keys on the piano both black and white beginning at the lowest end or at the left end of the keyboard. So all the notes on the G-clef or Treble clef of the music piece falls on the right side e of the middle C in your piano; while all the notes on the F-clef of the Bass-Clef falls on the left side of the middle C.
You should also remember that all the natural notes are played on the white keys of your piano while sharps (#) and flats (b) in your music piece are played on the black keys. If it's a sharp you go the black key on the right. If it's a flat you play the black key on the left. These are the basics you should know before even exercises on the piano itself.
Want to learn more? Visit http://www.teachyourselfpiano.info For more tips and resources to improve your piano playing.
Below we have put together just 10 of the many reasons to learn to play. The piano is a marvelous musical instrument Also, it's one of the best things that you can do for yourself- it can make you feel great, and it's not as difficult as you might think! There's no-one who doesn't appreciate the incredible sound that can come from those ivories! If you have even the slightest inclination towards learning, then there's no reason not to.
1) Right now, learning to play the piano is incredibly easy! There really are no obstacles in your way. Consider professional teachers, online tutorials, or you can even learn now by watching a DVD! All of the advancements in multi-media and communication simply add to this.
2) The vast majority of the good standard course books are these days accompanied with their own audio cd, which is always a help. The cost of learning to play has gone down considerably over recent years. For the cost of a good meal in a restaurant, you can buy a really good standard instruction DVD or a tutorial book. Personally, I prefer the DVD route, (think of the DVD as your own private teacher at your beck and call 24 hours a day) as you can learn to play at your own leisure - you can pause to make a cup of tea whenever you want, and you can learn at your own pace.
3) It's a real treat to be able to share your musical talent. It's a wonderful gift to give someone, whether that person is a child or a grandchild, or even that special someone.
4) Everyone has a favorite song, and how many times have you thought to yourself how wonderful it would be to be able to play it and listen to it whenever you want? There really is nothing stopping you from doing so! If you visit your local library you will find loads of sheet music for every level - if you go online you can find even more variations. On some websites you can even print off sheet music, giving you an almost endless supply of new things to play.
5) Initiating a sing-sing with the family is great, but you can also take it a step further and get them to join in! It's a great way of bringing the family together - the bonding that can be associated with such a family experience as playing the piano is fantastic. There is so much music available that can be played by two or more people on the piano.
6) The more you play, the longer you will learn - you get a lifetime guarantee with playing the piano. Your expertise will grow with age. It's a bit like riding a bike - you never forget, but unlike riding a bike it doesn't get more challenging the older you get!
7) The versatility of the piano is a wonderful thing - it's like having your own orchestra in that you play simultaneous notes on it together. This is why it is so often the instrument of choice for composers.
8) When you listen to a piece of music, you will appreciate it a lot more - you may even surprise yourself by thinking up better ways to play, or even to improve it! Your understanding of music in general will improve greatly when you play an instrument such as the piano, and you will know what it is the composer was trying to get across.
9) Its physically easy! Other instruments (such as the violin or the guitar) take a degree of flexibility and exertion. The piano, however, requires none of these. Like we mentioned earlier, people play the piano expertly well into their nineties - they can because the physical toll on the body is absolutely minimal.
10) The tradition! Since it first appeared on the musical scene over 250 years ago, the piano has influenced just about every genre and style of music, and has even prompted the rise of many. Any musical concert you go to, of practically any genre, has a keyboard somewhere on the stage.
You won't regret it! I promise you that learning the piano will be one of the best things you ever do for yourself. We could go on forever, and I'm sure you can think of some that we haven't mentioned. These, of course, are just a few of the reasons to learn the piano. I urge you to do it, even if you have only the slightest inclination somewhere in the back of your mind.
Lauren Paltrow of ReviewsMetro.com/LearnPiano, specializes in helping aspiring pianists get the info that they need to make the right choices. Lauren leads her team of piano experts in constantly reviewing new courses and products in the market to make sure you get the best value products that work for you. Check out her honest and unbiased independent reviews of the best piano courses and products at ReviewsMetro.com/LearnPiano. You can also get her free piano lessons online there too.
What does a person need to become a pianist? A piano and a desire to play? Or is there more to it than that?
Definitely a keyboard instrument is a necessity. Having an instrument on which to develop your skills and share your music is a must if a person is to become a pianist.
Having a method to study and a teacher to guide you are also important.
However, most everything else that allows a person to become a pianist is intrinsic. These are values that come from inside a person.
We will say that the first intrinsic value, the innate desire is there to become a pianist, but what else is necessary?
• Ability
• Attention to detail
• Drive
• Effort
• Goal Orientation
• Passion
• Patience
• Perseverance
• Time
• Understanding
The definition of ability is the capacity to do something or perform successfully. Everyone has the ability to play the piano. The question is whether playing the piano is a particular talent or acquired skill that you are ready to pursue.
Becoming a pianist requires great attention to detail. Developing eye hand coordination, learning the language of music, and translating that language into sound involved details too numerous to count. The person who can give their attention to a myriad of details simultaneously will be the successful pianist.
Drive or the energy and determination that will help a person achieve the goal of playing the piano is necessary. The more powerful the drive or need to fulfill the dream the more quickly one is successful in learning to play the piano.
Mental or physical energy that is exerted in order to achieve the purpose of playing the piano is described as effort. Without the concentrated use of this energy achieving the goal of becoming a pianist will be for naught.
In describing the first three values on the list, the word goal was used in each. Setting a goal to do something you want to do necessitates nearly everything else on the list. Without the goal of becoming a pianist, drive, effort, and attention to detail are but frivolous exercises.
Beyond setting the goal of becoming a pianist is having the passion or the keen interest in the piano and in piano study. Passion pushes the goal forward. Passion allows you to become what you want to be. Passion allows you to play the piano.
Once the goals are set, the desire is there, the passion is flamed, and the effort has been exerted, patience must kick in. The ability to endure hours of practice of seemingly simple concepts to achieve the hoped for result of playing a song on the piano without becoming annoyed or upset is what patience is all about. And becoming a pianist requires large amounts of patience.
And then there is perseverance. The steady and continued practice with the belief that over a long period of time and especially despite difficulties or setbacks you will persevere and become the pianist you have dreamed of.
Just how much time does it take to become a pianist? What is your dream? What is your desire? How patient are you? Will you persevere? How much time can you devote to your passion? Only you can answer that question.
To understand what it takes to become a pianist a person must take the journey in his or her own way, using his or her own abilities, fulfilling his or her own dreams, passions and desires with effort, patience and perseverance in his or her own time.
Dr. Jeannine Jordan is a professional piano teacher and performer, who wants to open the world of music through creative enjoyable online lessons.
"Want to play songs on the piano today? Want to wow your friends and family at the next get-together? Want to play the piano for your own enjoyment? Visit http://playpianosongstoday.com/ for your first free lesson and start playing songs on the piano today!"
Adults often come to the point in their lives when they want to explore new hobbies. One of the most common hobbies adults pursue is learning to play the piano. It may be the first time they play or a return to a childhood pleasure. Whether you're an adult sitting down to learn the instrument for the first time or you want to brush up on your skills, keep in mind some basic rules of piano practice.
Posture is very important. Make sure that the piano bench is high enough. Your shoulders should hang freely, while your forearms are parallel to the floor. This allows the greatest freedom of movement and keeps your body from feeling constricted.
While your hands are directly in front of you on the keyboard, your elbows should be just slightly forward of the center of your body. Sit forward on the bench so that your body is relaxed.
Create a regular piano practice schedule. Start with short sessions of 15 minutes. Increase the time as your skill progresses and your hands start to feel more limber. You may not have time for piano practices longer than half an hour, but that's enough to increase your skill and flexibility. Just try not to miss too many days in a row. Time of day is important. Pick a time when you'll be least distracted by the worries of life.
Practice books are extremely helpful for both beginners and experienced players. These contain exercises and tips that improve your technique. Many also teach musical theory, providing detailed explanations of scales, chords, modes and relative tonality. This is great for expanding your musical palette and understanding how melodies and harmonies work in the context of a piece.
Piano practice books also contain musical pieces adjusted to your skill level. At the end of each chapter you'll often find a piece that demonstrates techniques that you learned in the preceding pages. It may take a while to coordinate both of your hands, so don't expect to play at full speed right away. Practice each hand separately, at a moderate speed, before combining the two parts. You'll be less discouraged and find that your playing is more accurate.
Remember, piano practice isn't a competition. Even if you are a highly driven individual, take your time and be patient when learning the piano. You'll avoid frustration and possible injury if you avoid pushing yourself too hard. It's supposed to be enjoyable.
A metronome is an invaluable tool for piano practice. A metronome is a device that keeps perfect time, providing an audible beat set to an exacting tempo. Metronomes are adjustable from very slow to very fast, well within the limits of pieces you'll be practicing. Even if you feel that you have a great sense of timing, invest in this handy little tool for your piano practice sessions. You'll be amazed how often you change tempos slightly while running through exercises.
Whatever amount of time and dedication you are able to invest in the piano, it's a great instrument for adults to learn. The piano is a few hundred years old, and people are still exploring its musical possibilities. Join their ranks and make music that you'll love for the rest of your life.
Duane Shinn is the author of a free newsletter on piano chords & chord progressions available at Piano Practice
If you have ever been to a wedding or another social gathering where the piano was being played, and you wished that you could play it, then you may want to learn how to play piano. Popular songs like the wedding march can get you a lot of work if you know how to play it well. Learning any new skill can benefit and enrich your life. Whether you want to play professionally as a hobby, learning to play piano can be very relaxing once you learn to play it well.
If you want to learn how to play the piano or keyboard, the first thing you need to do is find some good lessons. Instrumentmaster.com includes lessons for almost any instrument imaginable. By using this site, you can save a lot of money on a professional trainer or classes. Instead, you can simply watch the videos and learn at your own pace. If you are on a budget and cannot afford a personal tutor, online lessons may be the ideal option for you.
When learning to play piano, popular songs will come naturally to you as you progress through the learning process. Soon you will be able to play all of your favorites to perfection. An entire world of music is out there just waiting for you to play it. With a piano, you can learn all of the classics or you can learn some of the newer songs. If you want to, you can even create your own music and your own songs.
Playing an instrument is great for anybody. It helps to keep the mind sharp and you can enjoy music any time you want to. The piano is a great instrument and you can learn to play a lot of different styles of music on it.
Sam Landeck isn't Michael Buble but he could give the crooner a run for his money... on the piano, that is! Sam teaches piano and runs popular website LearnTheKeyboardOnline.Com as an online resource for those looking for info on piano popular songs and the like. Check out his site now!
Reading notes just to play the piano can in a sense cause headaches for some, regarding the fact that not all can read and create notes to play the music or make one. But in the modern type of era, one easy way to play piano without studying the notes can be done by learning the piano tab.
A piano tab consisted of letters and numbers that determine the tones of the keys and the sound of each. Every key has a significant letter and numbers. The numbers stands for the octaves in the piano which is the start of the music. The small letters are the ones that stand for the white keys or the natural sound while the big letters stands for the sharp notes or the black keys.
The - stands for the timing of the music. The more dashes they are, the longer the time of the notes. Letters on the top of each line indicate the chord while the RH and LH stand for the right and the left hand that will play the said tab. A > indicates the sustaining of the note while the | separates the sections and measure of the notes.
This form was created for guitars to understand the notes easily but it can also be applied to pianos to be able to create songs out of it. A piano tab can also give an easier way to learn how to play pianos thus, being valuable in music lessons or for those who had a hard time learning notes. Piano tabs are much more easier to read but in detail they are not profound as traditional ones, yet, everybody can learn from tabs whether it will be a newbie or an expert in the name of music, this is a perfect choice to expand the talent each one brings.
Gerard Hentschel loves playing the piano and giving instructions on how to play the piano. Make sure to visit his blog Piano How To Play for helpful tips and advice on all issues regarding piano playing such as How To Play The Piano and so much more!
Even though some of us may have been lucky enough to be born with some natural gifts and talents, a true artist is made not born. One thing that you will begin to notice while you learn how to play the piano, is that there is so much more to it then simply reading notes and banging keys.
Every time that you practice playing the piano you will change slightly. You will become one step closer to becoming the polished and sophisticated player that you dream of becoming. Below are some traits that you will need in order to successfully learn how to play the piano.
Attitude
Having the right mindset towards your lessons can go a long way. When you are in the middle of your practice there will be times that it just seems to tough, this is all just part of the learning process.
You will need to learn how to keep positive about the lessons so that you can push yourself forward through them, even when you feel like giving up. With the right mindset in place, you will be able to conquer any challenge that comes your way during the lessons.
Completely ignore anyone who chooses to criticize the fact that you are learning how to play the piano. Tune out the negative remarks and just get on with pursing your goals.
Determination
Once you make the jump, commit to the landing. If you are going to learn how to play the piano then make sure that you stick it out to the end, do not give up on yourself. Learning piano will take a lot of determination so once you have set your goal, stick to it. With each difficulty you conquer you will be one step closer to mastering this instrument.
Discipline
You must have the discipline to follow through with your lessons. Practice makes perfect so it is critical that you have the discipline to practice when ever you get the chance to. Discipline will make you more dedicated to learning about the skills of piano playing.
Perseverance
You may have times when you just feel too tired to practice, or you may just be making excuses for your laziness. Either way, you will need to use perseverance to get through these times. Watch videos of famous pianists to help inspire you and uplift you to push forward.
Passion
Passion is that fire that you feel in your heart that keeps you focused and moving forward no matter what. Having passion in your life is truly a great gift. When you have the passion to learn how to play the piano then all the rest of it will come easy.
If you have some or all of these personality traits then learning how to play the piano should be no problem for you.
Michelle Edward has reviewed all of the top ways to learn piano online and she shares her findings at her website. To read her online piano course reviews, please visit her website now:
Learning how to read piano notes involves several different concepts and requires much practice. Reading piano sheet music entails understanding the time and key signature, both bass and treble clefs, and being able to read the actual notes. In this article, I will teach you a quick and easy memorization trick to read piano notes.
There are two clefs in piano sheet music. The notes in the lines and spaces read differently for each clef. These notes start at A, continue down the alphabet to G, and then repeat. For example, if you start on C, the next white key would be D, followed by E. Since this pattern repeats, A will come after G. Reading the piano notes from actually sheet music is a little trickier. The easiest way to go about this is to create acronyms as a memorization tactic.
The treble clef is usually played with the right hand. The lines on the sheet music represent the notes of E-G-B-D-F. I have always remembered this with the acronym Every Good Boy Does Fine. The spaces on the treble clef represent F-A-C-E. I doubt anyone has used anything other than "FACE" to memorize this one.
The bass clef is played with the left hand. This clef also contains some fun-filled acronyms to remember the piano notes. The lines stand for G-B-D-F-A. An easy saying for this is "Great Big Dogs Fight Animals." The spaces of the bass clef are A-C-E-G, or as I like to say, "All Cows Eat Grass."
If you do not want to use these acronyms, you can create your own that you will remember best. Don't underestimate this tactic; it is actually an immense help when trying to learn how to read piano notes. With some practice and experience, you will eventually be able to read music from the page without having to think back to the memorization trick.
For more information on how to read piano notes and learning to play the piano, visit http://audiblescene.com
If you have ever been to a wedding or another social gathering where the piano was being played, and you wished that you could play it, then you may want to learn how to play piano. Popular songs like the wedding march can get you a lot of work if you know how to play it well. Learning any new skill can benefit and enrich your life. Whether you want to play professionally as a hobby, learning to play piano can be very relaxing once you learn to play it well.
If you want to learn how to play the piano or keyboard, the first thing you need to do is find some good lessons. Instrumentmaster.com includes lessons for almost any instrument imaginable. By using this site, you can save a lot of money on a professional trainer or classes. Instead, you can simply watch the videos and learn at your own pace. If you are on a budget and cannot afford a personal tutor, online lessons may be the ideal option for you.
When learning to play piano, popular songs will come naturally to you as you progress through the learning process. Soon you will be able to play all of your favorites to perfection. An entire world of music is out there just waiting for you to play it. With a piano, you can learn all of the classics or you can learn some of the newer songs. If you want to, you can even create your own music and your own songs.
Playing an instrument is great for anybody. It helps to keep the mind sharp and you can enjoy music any time you want to. The piano is a great instrument and you can learn to play a lot of different styles of music on it.
Sam Landeck isn't Michael Buble but he could give the crooner a run for his money... on the piano, that is! Sam teaches piano and runs popular website LearnTheKeyboardOnline.Com as an online resource for those looking for info on piano popular songs and the like. Check out his site now!
You are no longer restricted to the four walls of the music classroom if you want to learn how to play the piano. Nor will you have to have an instructor by your side at all times. You can now get online piano courses that will allow you to learn in your own home.
Online Piano Lessons For Children
Learning to play the piano at home can be a great option for children since there will be less tension for them in their own home environment. Your child will feel much happier with you guiding them through their lessons instead of sitting in a classroom setting for hours on end. Your bond with your child will also be strengthened as the two of you partake in the lessons together.
Another great thing about your child learning to play the piano at home is the fact that they can learn in their own time. After school and between other sports and activities is no problem. When the two of you have time, you just fire up your online lessons and continue right where you left off.
Online Piano Lessons For Adults
Learning to play the piano at home is also a great option for adults as well. Oftentimes, adults can feel reluctant to join a music class because of their hectic schedules and the lack of time that they often have.
When you learn at home, you can learn at your own time and at your own pace. You can fit your lessons into any busy schedule. It does not matter if it is the last thing you do at night, in fact, this can be a great way to wind down before bed.
When you learn to play piano at home it is fun, simple and convenient. As long as you have the right attitude and passion for music you will soon be playing the piano competently in a very short period of time.
Michelle Edward has reviewed all of the top ways to learn how to play piano online and she shares her findings at her website. To read her online piano course reviews, please visit her website now:
Go to: http://www.learningtoplaypiano.net/
Learning to play piano is not as difficult as it sounds. If you focus on the three main steps of piano tutorials, piano learning would become even easier. You can become a master of this art in no time by consistent practice. To accomplish your dream, you will have to follow three easy steps.
The three main steps that will help you to learn piano are:
1. Learning the notes.
2. The scales.
3. The chords.
To learn to play piano, the first thing you should learn is the right way to play the notes. There are two steps to learn to play the notes on the piano. To learn to play piano, you will have to become familiar with the keys of the piano and what each keys are called and where they are placed. It means that you need to know the position of each key.
So in order to learn to play piano, first of all you need a good piano tutorial or instructor who will help you learn what all the keys are called and the location of each key. When you become familiar with the keys, the second thing which you will need to learn to play piano is the method of learning the music sheet. A piano tutorial will teach you to read the notes properly. When you become conversant with all these notes in the sheet and their means, only then will you be able to learn to play piano on your own. The more you become an expert in recognizing the keys and the notes with the direction of a good piano tutorial, the more quickly you will be able to learn to play piano. It is not at all a difficult task because there is a definite pattern and once you understand this pattern no one can stop you from becoming a piano genius.
While the piano tutorial will help you to learn and understand the music sheet, you will also be able to start practicing a few scales on your own on the piano.
The next important step in learning to play piano is the process of making a chord. Chords involve playing a number of notes at the same time in order to produce a distinctive sound. These three steps will help you learn to play piano and produce great music. Once you learn these three basic steps, everything else will become quite simple.
Author: Barry Mcgee
PianoTutorial.org provides informative tips and expert advice which will help you choose the best piano tutorial for your training.
Have you ever felt as if your piano playing has become stagnant and is not improving no matter how much you practice? The answer may not be the amount of time you put in, nor the amount of piano music sheet your use to practice, but rather the strategy you use to practice properly.
I still remember when I was learning piano in my early years and the practice session seemed to be so boring and unproductive.
I never went beyond what my piano teacher assigned. Each session would always be in the same order: scales, arpeggios, classical piano music sheet and pieces etc. It soon became tedious and uninteresting.
When one practices piano, one needs to get a balanced practice (I liken this to a balanced food diet). You have probably heard of the food pyramid if you live in the US or any other westernized country. Basically, we are told by FDA that there are a few groups of foods that we need to take in on a daily
basis to be healthy, such as grains, fruits and veggies, protein, dairy, etc.
Similarly, in the piano playing world, there are three main "ingredients" that we all need to consume in our practice sessions to become "healthier" pianists.
Here are the Three Vital Ingredients:
Ingredient 1. Technical skills (scales, arpeggios,etc) -
This is what I call the carbohydrate or "grains" of piano practice. Often these techniques can be used as fillers or runs on melodies that have long hold measures as well as modulation, transposition and etc. It can be uninteresting or even boring if you do not know how to practice and how to apply them. The truth is that few piano players know how to make use of the techniques and how to practice them without getting bored. A suggested
session of 5 to 10 minutes daily technical exercises is often helpful.
Ingredient 2. Repertoire--This is the collection of musical pieces one knows how to play well. I like to call this the fruits and veggies of piano practice. A good piano player can easily play anywhere from 25 to 75 pieces comfortably.
Repertoire can range from classical pieces to hymns , or contemporary songs and other pieces. By the way, repertoire is often performed without the player reading from sheet music.
A good sight reading is essential to develop
broad repertoire. Piano player is suggested to learn a new piece every 2-4 weeks in order to broaden the repertoire collection.
Ingredient 3. Improvisational abilities -This is what I commonly refer to as the protein of piano practice. A player that possesses excellent sight reading and technical skill but has limited ability to improvise is lopsided.
For many years I was able to play piano well, but knew deep in my heart that if I didn't memorize the pieces there would be no way that I could play any song without constantly referring to the sheet music. This is similar to a public speaker who must constantly refer to their notes during a speech.
One should spend at least 15-30 on improvisational practice exercises on a daily basis.
In addition to the Three Vital Ingredients mentioned above, I also suggest a minimum of 60 minutes of active listening and 60 minutes of passive listening to recorded music on a weekly basis. This can easily be done when one is driving in their car or exercising.
The main difference between active listening and passive listening is that with active listening you are trying to hear what is going on in the recording where as in passive listening you are relaxing and not paying much attention. I often check out recordings of famous performers and composers from my local library. There are hundreds of great recordings you can borrow
from your library for free.
Should you ever need help with any of the Vital Ingredients, we have great tools to help you:
Piano Improvisation DVD Course, http://www.playpianotips.com is one of them. This course helps you to master the interesting skills of improvisation and helps you become a competent piano player.
Sign up for your free piano tutorials at http://www.playpianotips.com/pianochord.html to learn more about piano techniques that can help your piano playing.