learning the piano

Gaz

For years this is something i have wanted to learn, Im 23 now and really regret not taking it up when i was younger.

Can anyone offer any advice ? Is it harder to learn when that bit older ? How long should it take to become reasonably proficient.
How those the grading system work ? whats the best way to learn , one on one ? Class ???


All advice appreciated

Oeneus

First, I reckon you should get some books and read about music theory and teach yourself that part.

Then I think you should get lessons. Do you play any other instruments? If so, this will make progress much faster. Piano should be easier if you have studied any form of music before.

And thirdly, do you have a piano? If so, play around with it as you study your theory. Attempting to teach yourself aswell as lessons can really speed things up. And it would help the teacher.

Also, you must keep it up. I talked to a piano teacher of my cousin's and he said he was pissed off with him because he was quite a natural on the keys, but decided he wanted to do guitar instead. Bad, BAD move. Guitar is too easy and too popular.

banquo

I say don't learn all the thoery first, just learn to read music. It is a bit harder when you're older, but just pratic playing the same tune over and over, and try and pick out songs you hear on the radio or whatever. ALso try learning the guitar at the same time. It's a real bitch at first, but you wake up one morning after about a month and you're just able to do it. Learning two instruments at the same time is actually easier, and theory will be easier for you if you do.
And don't play amything you don't want to. If the Moonlight Sonatabores you, then don't play it. I found it easier to play nothing but Paul McCartney for years. Naturally, no-one wants to listen to me, but i can do It!!

Scon

Originally posted by Oeneus
Guitar is too easy

Guitar is as difficult as you want it to be.

SomeFink

Originally posted by Scon


Guitar is as difficult as you want it to be.

what if you dont want it to be difficult,

Giblet

Originally posted by SomeFink


what if you dont want it to be difficult,

Practice your ass off:)

Paulj

I played a bit of piano when i was younger (and got to grade 2) and gave it up cos i had no interest in the music.

Then i took up the guitar and loved it because i was actually playing the music that i liked to listen to and was making more progress too. You really have to love the music that you are playing IMO.

Jim

its a bit frustrating tryin to learn the pieces but when u learn them its geeerrrrreat! dont do grades, there a pain in the ass and there boring

NeMiSiS

if you have any experience with other instruments..like guitar and you have knowledge of scales it aint to hard to get started you can feel out the notes..i play everything by ear..and can just figure out most instruments..piontless post..i suppose..

Get a few books dont take it to seriously and dontgetworked up when you seem to be getting nowhere,practise simple..

phobos

My mother is actually a teacher (piano). Now that I notice you are from D5, and the fact that she's in Galway, that's probably no help to you. But it is in fact an excellent instrument to pick up, and something I highly recommend you do. I was taught it as a child, and got to grade 2 or 3 (when I was 13), but gave it up due to lacking interest at the time. But now I wish I had kept it up. I plan on learning again someday, but I couldn't expect mom to take time out of her already busy schedule to take on someone she would't be taking money from.

Also we have a brand new piano in the gaff

If you don't have a piano in your house, I highly recommend getting lessons before you even fork out to get a keyboard. You might not like it. I find people like yourself tend not to want to have the whole exam pressure, and would just like to provide some entertainment at parties etc. That's all well and good, and most music teachers do accomodate that kind of student. But by going the other direction, you have to play what you're told, often pieces that you wouldn't play in the company of others, but just because London College of Music (or whatever) have chosen it as an examination piece. This is probably what dettered me, but then again I probably wouldnt' have gone the other way either, because nothing pianowise attracted my attention. I was completely into dance/electronic music. Also by doing exams you will be obliged to pay fees as well as your standard tuition fees. FYI the grades are as follows
Step 1, Step 2, Grade 1 - Grade 8.

If you want any advice (from my mom) post here, and I will ask her for you, and get back ASAP.

;-phobos-)

Gaz

A little update ....

I bought a piano and it is being delivered on thursday, i know that probably seems a little impulsive but i dont fancy doing a 30 min lesson once a week and having no way of practicing and i didnt really fancy getting a keyboard besides i got it in a second hand furniture store , free tuning and all the keys where replaced also got a gaurantee ..all for €850.

I bought a book which seems very good, takes you from absolute beginner onwards using songs you know.

I plan on using the book for the next few months and learning the basics then i september i am thinking of getting the lessons.

Thanks for the advice everyone !!! I'll let you know how it goes

SOL

Well done,
To tell about the grade system 1 is absouloute beginner, give yourself a while like a few weeks and you'll be about that standard, if you practice, then grade 8 is the highest grade before iploma etc, it is fairly bloody good, i hav ebeen playing the violin for about 12 years n i hope to do grade 8(ab) next christmas,
but, there is two standards, royal irish acadamy and associated board
Associated board is harder but better recognised
Royal Irish academy is easier and less well recognised

But i wouldn't bother doing grades, the last one i did in violin was grade 2 and that was ages ago if you want to learn grades aren;t the way to go, because the music for grades is for the most part wench, I'd suggest you get some music you like because the more you practice the better you get although you will have to start with basic music,

Btw, the guitar is a very simple instrument, i can play most songs going on it given half an hour to learn, it also is one of the most widely played as a result, it is one of the onley instruments you can self teach and it has little room for makin mistakes, there ar fretts right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Q.E.D.

Paladin

I wouldnt say guitar is "easy". Well, not relative to instruments like triangle .

I would say moderately difficult. Easier that violin, more difficult than base, on a par with piano really . I mean good lead guitar is as hard to master as good piano. I guess the basics of guitar are easier to learn (chords) than piano, but then I think piano is easier to understand from a theory point of view (chromatic keys like).

Maybe everyone has their own opinion on what instruments they find harder. Others might master guitar but fail piano or vice versa.

SOL

Go triangle, it is a very challenging instrument to play, can you imagine the patience required to sit there for so long just to bang a piece of metal

Oeneus

Metal? Are Piano keys actually made out of metal now? I know back in the day they were made out of ivory but obviously now it's illegal.

Paladin

Did anyone ever see that instrument on Monty Python. Well, its not so much an instrument. A guy trained mice to squeek at a certain note, and then he hit them with a mallet to play music :):)

SOL

no no the triangle is metal, the piano = teh win,
the keys are now made of some odd plastic, i presume it depends on how much you pay as to what you get

Bowlardo

same as as original poster. got a new keyboard for christmas and would like to play tunes.

Could someone recommend a good book to begin with?

martinedwards

Ed Balls, the British Shadow Chancellor took up piano at 45. he's currently working on his grade 3.

get a teacher and put in the hours practicing.

Gregor Samsa

It would be interesting to see how far the OP got in the 12 years since this thread was first posted!!!