How To Play More Notes On The Piano Without Reading More Notes!

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Most professional musicians play from a book called a "Fake Book". I bought my first fake book containing only about 200 songs when I was a teenager -- they were illegal then, but most musicians owned them -- for $50. That would be equal to $500. or more now. But fortunately, they have since become legal, so you can buy a real good one with 1000 songs now for $50. or less. A fake book contains just the melody (tune) and the chord symbols of a song, so you have to know chords to use one. But when you do, your playing comes alive -- you're only reading a few notes, but playing lots of notes.

Most people learn to play the piano by playing just the written music. Playing by written music is exactly what the phrase says it is -- playing the exact notation on a piece of sheet music. But playing by chord symbol is very different. Instead of following the harmony note by note, you follow the chord symbols (i.e. C7 or F) written above the harmonies, filling in the gaps with...well, whatever you want as long as it sticks to those chords. Of course, you'll still read the melody (it is, after all, often what makes the song recognizable) but even that is completely open to interpretation. Playing by chord symbol allows you a freedom that playing by written music simply doesn't. The freedom to create. The freedom to invent. The freedom to arrange chord patterns in the way you want.

Does that mean playing by written music is less important than playing by chord symbol? No. The ability to play by written music is an extremely valuable skill, one that even some of the most famous musicians don't possess. And while you don't necessarily need to know the skill backwards and forwards to create great arrangements, it's a great help.

Chord symbols -- sometimes referred to as "chord tabs" (for example, Cmaj7 or G6 or Fm7) are a type of notation used frequently in jazz and other areas of modern music to notate chord progressions and changes. This type of notation differs from that of classical music in that chord symbols don't show the function of a chord the way the Roman numeral notation does. Chord symbols, for modern music with lots of changes, are much easier to read. They function as a sort of shorthand for change-heavy music and are written with four chord parts in mind: the root, the quality, the extension, and the alterations.

The first part in chord symbols, the root, tells the musician which note is the root of the chord. In an E6 chord, for instance, the E serves as the root. In a C7 chord, C is the root. Easy enough.

Quality, the second part in chord symbols, denotes whether the chord is major, minor, diminished, or augmented. In a Cmaj7, the maj tells us that the C chord is major. The abbreviations for this area in chord symbols are maj, min, dim, and aug respectively. So Cm means the chord is a C minor chord. Caug means that the chord is a C augmented chord.

The extension in chord symbols, written after the quality, shows the musician if the chord differs from a triad, such as an 11th or 6th or 9th or 7th or 13th. So a C9 would mean that the C chord includes the 9th note above C, which is D. A C6 chord would mean that the C chord includes the 6th scale note above C, which is A. This part of chord symbols is not always shown; if there is no indication of an extension, the musician is to assume that the chord is a triad.

The last part in chord symbols, the alteration, is usually but not always expressed. Think of this part as the "notes" section in chord symbols; it gives the musician any specific (and sometimes irregular) instructions for playing the chord and is always written in parentheses after the extension (or the quality, if no extension exists). For instance, (no fifth) would tell the musician that the chord is to be played with the fifth tone left out. Sus - short for "suspension", would mean to play the 4th scale note instead of the 3rd. A minus sign would mean to lower (flat) a chord tone, such as C-9 which would mean to flat the 9th of the chord. Conversely, a plus sign would mean to raise (sharp) a particular chord tone.

Reading music using chord symbols allows a person to use written music as a map, rather than a note-for-note approach -- being tied to the written sheet music. By just reading the melody note and the chord symbols, musicians can improvise to their hearts content and create their own sounds on the keyboard. So you can use sheet music as a map instead of a ball & chain that ties you down.

Did you know that many pianists wouldn't have a clue what to do if a gust of wind blew their sheet music off the music rack? I've actually seen it happen, and it is very embarrassing to the pianist. And it's so un-necessary! And there's a true story about a famous concert pianist who could play most any piece of written music, but when asked to play "Happy Birthday" at a party, she couldn't do it because she didn't have any written music! Almost unbelievable, but true.

Once you learn this skill you'll be reading only a few notes per measure, but playing handfuls of notes -- arpeggios, chords, runs, riffs, fills, etc. You can then "do your own thing" on the piano, instead of playing a song the same way everyone else is playing it.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 71,400 current subscribers.

Play Piano - Preparing to Practice

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

When the practicing "blahs" strike, you just need an attitude adjustment. You don't have to sweat blood to practice well. You don't even have to think of it as work, or duty, or even something that you ought to do.

Stop a minute and think about it. You like music, and you want to play some special piece that really means something to you. You want it to sound through you - right through your fingertips.

Okay? Well, you practice it to fulfill that desire, not to frustrate it.

Pause here and ask yourself some questions:

What if you could look at a piece of music for the first time, and play it correctly straight off, just as fine as you please?

How would you feel about practicing then?

Or, what if you were practicing for the Olympic swim meet next year, and felt deep down that you had a chance? How would you feel then about the training? Would you plunge into it each morning?

What if you were interrupted at a good point in yesterday's practicing? What if you had just about broken through a tough spot when you had to stop? Would you want to get back to it today as soon as possible?

You answer those questions, honestly, for yourself. There are ways to say "YES!" every day.

But, first, you've got to stop blaming yourself. You don't have to be perfect every time. You don't have to be the best player, today. And you don't have to listen to what other people say about your playing - people who are only half listening, and don't care the way you do.

Put all that out of your mind. What matters is your desire to play as well as possible.

Just start with playing - one note after another, and keep going. As the Chinese say, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first, step." And, if the very first step leads to the first slip, be glad for it. You can't, repeat, cannot learn without mistakes!

Now, start to think more personally about your instrument.

The piano, like the guitar, is a "touchy" instrument. Touch it, and you both produce and color its tones, like a potter molding clay. Think of the keys, all gleaming white, as the "skin" of the piano; you can either please them or hurt them. Stroke them, and the sound will come out mellow and purring. Poke them, and the sound will either "bark" sharply or woodenly "thud."

Stop thinking of yourself as playing "on" or "at" the piano. Rather, think of the instrument as an extension of your own body. When an artificial leg is fitted to an amputee, he is then taught to walk with it. Gradually, it feels more natural - more like his own leg walking. The French call the keys "les touches," or "touch-points" - as if the keys, not you, were doing the feeling.

Every musician wants to personalize this instrument. Take a look at the vocalist who hugs his guitar, or without a guitar, woos his microphone, or, without a microphone, simply woos the audience?

Every musician seeks to make his instrument an extension of his own body, the tool he or she needs to put across the strong feelings he as for the music.

Nadia Boulanger, one of the greatest teachers, put it best: "Don't speak to me of talent; speak to me of desire."

Go to the piano or keyboard not to reproduce a piece, but to experiment with your best way to bring out what is there. There is no one right way to play a piece - no matter how loudly some people protest that there is.

Artists in fact, vary greatly, and audiences return again and again to hear the same piece, as played by pianist X or pianist Y. You simply cannot play a piece twice the same way. Try it!

Here's how to practice an exercise or a song:

Six quietly, upright and relaxed Hear the music in your head: hear it better than life. Sense its movement and pulse rolling through you, turning and adjusting your own pulse, you are the prime "instrument" of this music - sitting there alert, tuned by silence, vibrating to is rhythm, lending it your own life entirely.

As you feel the music filling you, heart and soul, you will know that it is getting ready to be born.

When it has stirred you, lift your hands to the keyboard. This is the reason you wanted to play in the first place: to bring alive what has already moved you. And, suddenly, by centering your focus, you've turned practicing from a duty into an attraction.

Ron Worthy is a Music Educator, Pianist and Songwriter. He offers online instruction that focuses on Rock, Pop, Blues, Cocktail, R&B and "Smooth Jazz" piano styles. To Download Your FREE Piano Lesson Video, go to: http://www.playpianotonight.com/VC.html

I Can Play Piano: I Look Forward To Be Able To Say IT

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Have you encounter people that tell you: " My wife and I plan one day to have a piano in our home that the whole family can enjoy. Perhaps our children can learn to play also.... I will practice and practice until I become good at it. If I can't practice in the morning then I will do it when I come home at night after work, and on weekends I can play the piano for hours on end."

I do not think you had that experienced too often, maybe never, but my guess is that there are many of you that have friends in other parts of the country or less fortunate countries where they know of people in this situation.

The point I am trying to make is that there are people out there that can not wait the moment in which they can have access to a piano or another 'proper' like instrument where they can practice and practice, because it is a joy and a dream for them.

On the other hand, I ask myself if there are many people that buy pianos, very expensive pianos just for show, to be used just as furniture display items, that gather dust in a corner of a mansion, while in a different neighborhood we have somebody that would love to get his/her hands on it for just few minutes. How can we develop this same feeling of love for an instrument? I believe some ways would be:

1) By being aware that an instrument, expensive or not needs to be used and care for. 2) By seeking out like-minded individuals with whom you can learn how to play this beautiful instrument.

It should be a rewarding experience to meet a bunch of different people with access to a piano, and you can go to it and improvise and laugh with your friends about the funky noises that you make and start to take some shape. For sure that would be therapeutic, playing in groups, not only the piano, but also music games, piano learning video games and the like.

Another option would be to take your own I Can Play Piano Camp instruction somewhere that is available in your city or at your own home. You can even take advantage of it while on vacation. Take a few moments and head for the entertainment room at the hotel, restaurant, conference area where you can find a free piano and play by ear whatever tune you desire.

You will see how music inspiration thoughts come to mind. Remember, your audience either does not know much as you do now, or has gone through the same challenges that you are experiencing and they will be happy for your accomplishments.

My best wishes to you in your new musical adventure. I know it will be rewarding and fun. Awake those hidden talents!

Jesse Fisher enjoys writing about interesting new developments in the music instruction world. To learn more about milestones in educational music products, visit PianoWizard's I Can Play Piano informational page.

Learn To Play Piano: A Digital Or An Acoustic Piano?

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

If I have to choose between buying an acoustic piano or a digital piano what is the best choice? let's take a look at the different choices if you want to learn to play piano.

Personally I haven't been forced to make the decision between buying a normal upright piano and a digital piano as I have both in my home. I can see advantages in both types of pianos when practicing the art of learning to play piano.

A normal upright piano produces sounds with hammers that strikes the strings. A digital piano on the other hand tries to duplicate the feeling of playing an acoustic piano.

Most people are familiar with the normal upright piano but what advantages has a digital piano?

First let us describe a digital piano.

A digital piano consists of a keyboard with weighted key action, sensors that detect the velocity when you play the keys and a set of sounds you can choose from. To make it possible to listen to the piano when you play you have an amplifier and loudspeakers and headphone jacks.

Here are some advantages with a digital piano:

1. A digital piano doesn't need to be tuned. A normal acoustic piano you should tune once or twice a year. If you can't tune a piano yourself you have to turn to a piano tuner. It can be quite expensive of course. Even a piano tuner has to pay his bills.

2. You can practice silently. A digital piano usually has a headphone jack so by using headphones you can practise as much as you want without disturbing neighbours or family members.

3. Midi interface. A digital piano usually has a midi interface which makes it possible to connect your piano to a computer and use music software like notation programs or a sequenser program or a software synthesizer.

What then are the disadvantages of having a digital piano?

1. The sounds in an acoustic piano are produced by strings vibrating and the different pitches interact in ways that you cannot copy on a digital piano. The sound quality of the sounds produced by digital pianos are becoming better and better but it is still a completely different way of producing sounds.

2. A digital piano is limited when it comes to producing different tone colors by different ways of playing. An accomplished pianist might feel limited by the sampled sounds.

There are many more things to say about choosing a piano but this is a beginning.

As you can see it is not so easy to decide what's best for you. If you can't decide what type of piano to buy you can do as I have done. Have both types of pianos and keep smiling.

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play piano resources at http://www.capotastomusic.com

Learn To Play Piano - Let The Train Station Teach You About Piano Playing

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Learn to play piano on a train station? Let me show you what you can learn about piano playing as you wait for your train!

Well, all people seem to go by car these days but we might have had the privilege to go by train and this experience can teach us a lot about piano playing:

1. You want to go somewhere by train. In piano playing this is the wish you have to learn something on the piano.

2. You go to the train station trying to find a suitable train. Before you can know if you are taking the right train you have to decide where you want to go. When learning to play the piano this is the goal you want to reach.

3. Before buying a ticket to the right train you have to decide when you want to arrive. When you learn to play piano this means when your goal is to be accomplished.

4. When you know these things it is much easier to find the right train. In piano playing this means that when you know what you want to accomplish as a pianist and when you want to have accomplished it it is much easier to select a proper method to use to reach your goal.

5. Now you can buy a ticket to the right train. This is when your decision becomes a commitment. Learning to play the piano can involve money but the most important investment is your work and motivation. Through a commitment you gain momentum to accomplish the piano playing goal.

6. After having bought a ticket most of the job is done. Left is only to find your train and your seat and then relax. In your piano playing this means that when you have decided what you really want to accomplish it is much easier to progress. You know where you are in your piano skills, where to begin your work and you don't have to waste your energi by wondering what to do.

Do you have to take the right train?

Some unusual people might think it is okay to take any train and travel for the fun of it with no thought about the destination. If you feel that way about your piano playing and are comfortable with it it's okay I guess.

Let me share some thoughts...

The reason why I started to be very interested in computers way back in the late 80's was because of what I believed that computers could help me with. I was very interested in composing music and had used pen and paper so far.

I tried to write nice sheets with music but it took a lot of time and if I wanted to change something in my compositions, which I often wanted then and even now, it was difficult.

The notation programs back then were difficult to use but I perused the manuals because I had this great goal before me that computers and notation programs could help me with my creative endeavors.

The goal was actually to compose music and the means was computers and notation programs.

Computers have become much easier to use and notation programs more sophisticated since then and I feel that I have reached the goal to become more effective as a composer through the use of computers as a means for my music composing.

Some of my friends have used computers the opposite way. They have been interested in computers and have aimlessly installed and uninstalled programs and changed os or messed around in the Windows directory and so on.

I guess we could say that their goal was to have fun with computers, even if they haven't expressed it that way, and I think they also reach their goal.

What I wanted to say with this is that it is much easier to select methods to use and to be really motivated when you learn to play the piano if you know what you want to accomplish.

Take the right train and enjoy your journey into piano land!

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play piano resources at http://www.capotastomusic.com

Learning To Play Piano Chords

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

If you are playing several notes at the same time, then you are playing piano chords. Simply put, when multiple notes are played together, piano chords are achieved. The chords then come together to form a melody. Every song that you hear has a melody and it is through each melody that music is achieved. Sound complicated? Well, that?s ok because it really isn?t as difficult as it sounds.

As a musician, whether it be professional or hobbyist, you will need to learn the various types of piano chords. The more that you understand about piano chords, the more variety you will have when playing. If you want to write your own music, you not only need an ear for tunes, but also the understanding of how to make them come together. A good instructor will introduce you to piano chords during lessons.

If you already have some experience, but simply want a better understanding of advanced piano chords, discuss these options with a private tutor or music teacher. By gaining an understanding of what sounds good and what doesn?t, you will have the undeniable edge over other budding musicians.

Every piano has 88 keys and while it may seem intimidating to learn piano chords, it actually comes down to memory. When typing on the computer, you know which keys to press in order to make a lowercase letters change to uppercase, right? By studying piano chords, you will begin to understand which keys to press at the same time in order to play a chord. During your introduction to learning piano, an instructor will cover some of the basic chords and you will come to know their sound when you hear them. After enough practice, you will be able to immediately identify piano chords by ear.

There are several other ways to help in your learning of piano chords, including instructional books, tutorials and videos. In the beginning, it may even help to label the keys until you have a better understanding of each of their unique sounds. As you progress in your learning, you can remove the identification labels and play using any arrangement of sheet music. Learning to identify notes will play a large part in your understanding of piano chords. As you move through your studies, you will learn all of the terminology associated with piano playing and the definition of each.

Learning piano chords is a very important part of the process, but it does require a certain degree of patience. Always remember that time will lessen the difficulty and, before you know it, you will be playing and identifying piano chords by ear. While it may seem intimidating at first, you will soon begin to notice the ease of playing piano chords will come naturally. Happy tunes!

Ian Williamson is the owner of The top learn to play piano site.

Networking is Like Playing the Piano

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 Networking is Like Playing the Piano

 by: Janice Byer, CCVA, MVA

For anyone who has ever read articles I have written or asked me for helpful tips for getting their business up and going, you know that I truly believe that networking is one of the most important aspects to building a successful business. The spoken word has an awesome power for any entrepreneur.

Networking, in relation to running your business, is not just attending events that allow you to meet new contacts and exchange business cards. Networking is any time you talk about your business. Whether you are at a social event and you get the chance to bring up the wonders of being a small business owner or you bump into an old college friend and you swap stories about what has happened in your lives since you last saw each other, anytime you get to tell someone about your business, that is networking and you should jump at the chance.

Even when you chat on the email discussion lists that you belong to and use your signature line, that is networking. There are so many opportunities to network every day.

But (and I am sure some of you can relate to this) the hardest part of networking can be what do I say? How do you let them know the great aspects of your business without over doing it or sounding full of yourself?

Well, there are many contributing factors when it comes to saying just the right thing at just the right time, factors that will influence how well you impress others and whether you leave a positive lasting effect. First and foremost, what are the circumstances of your encounter? Are you at an organized networking event or are you chatting with a friend? More often than not, your attitude and professionalism will be determined by your surroundings.

You will also have to play it by ear at times. You need to get a feel of how much your listener wants to hear. If someone comes right out and asks, What do you do?, dont refrain. This is a perfect opportunity to describe your business. But, there are two things to remember one, dont over talk; and two, give your audience a chance to talk about themselves as well.

However, if you are in a situation where it is not an organized networking event but you get the feeling that mentioning your business would fit into the conversation, then be as reserved as the situation warrants. A social conversation is no the place to ramble on. A quick mention would suffice and, if you notice an interest from the person you are talking to, by all means continue on. But remember to call it quits when you get a feeling it is time to do so.

Regardless of the situation, if you have an opportunity to talk about your business, be sure that one of the first things you mention is the benefits your product of service offers. Sure, your name and the name of your business is important but it is the benefits of your products or service that are going to influence your listener and make the sale.

Also, networking is like playing the piano you get better with time and practice. Everyone feels nervous (to a certain degree) when they visit networking events, whether they are in the start up phase or even after years of running their business. But, the more times you attend them, the easier it will get. You will be able to calculate what you say that has the highest impact on your listener and mould that into the perfect infomercial for your product or service.

Networking is a vital and powerful way to promote your business. So, keep your eyes open for opportunities and fine-tune what you will say and soon you will become a master at convincing others of the benefits of what you have to offer.

Janice Byer is the founder of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net), a professional Virtual Assistance and Website Design company, specializing in helping small business owners get ahead. She is a certified Canadian Virtual Assistant and Master Virtual Assistant and winner of the Most Successful Start Up 2000 and Home Based Business of the Year 2000 Awards

jbyer@docutype.net

Play Piano As Fast As Possible

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Proven Tips, Tools and Tactics (that anyone can learn) to Play Rock, Pop, Blues, R&B and "Smooth Jazz Piano.

One of the rules of practicing we all hear over and over is "Be sure to practice slowly."  (I'm guilty of this too!)  Often the result of this is a feeling of inhibition, which leads to tedium.  Picture yourself filled with excitement and yearning in setting out to learn a new piece.  Suddenly a voice from the darkness whispers: "Don't touch those keys!  Sit erect, play slowly, stay strictly in time, watch that fingering..." and your smile is gone.  I'm beginning to feel a cramp just talking about it.

The fact is, a certain amount of slow practice and attention to small scale detail is absolutely necessary.  But there is something lacking in the approach so many of us have taken; we set out to make music, and end up playing what amounts to no more than a series of sterile exercises.

How can we overcome this problem?

First of all, it's important to remember that music comes to life through shading, dynamics, differences in touch, the shapes of its phrases, the rhythmic vitality that is so much a part of the right tempo.  These qualities are all missing in a slow, rigid "practice" version of a piece.  They are just as essential as correct fingering, and they don't come across without careful work.

So, perhaps we should change that rule from "Be sure to practice slowly" to "Practice as fast as possible."  But Wait!  This requires some further discussion.  The slow part of practice helps teach the fingers where to go, and makes it mush easier to learn the work.  But in order to learn how to create music, how to make the piece singwe must practice it at a tempo that will help reveal musical relationships and subtleties of form.  Pianists must have the opportunity to experiment with touch and phrasing while practicing, and there is little chance of boredom when so many exciting elements are introduced to the practice session.

In my E-book, I've included many basic exercises with background music to assist you in acquiring this level of keyboard performance.  In other words, you will be practicing with other instrumentalists.  You will hear the drums, bass and an unobtrusive piano accompaniment that provides a harmonic blanket for YOU to practice your course material!

Ideally, then, both ways of practicing should be used! 

First, we should practice slowly enough to learn the notes and fingerings.  Then, we should "practice as fast as possible"; that is, as fast as we can without losing control of the basics we learned in slow practice.

Here' how this would work.  Take a short part of the piece; you might choose a four- or eight-measure phrase.  Practice it slowly.  When you feel comfortable with the music, increase the tempo.  Don't wait until you've practiced the entire work slowly.  In this way, at each sitting you'll get to learn a little section, bring it up to tempo, and feel into what is needed to bring it to life.

At the next sitting, work on the next four or eight measure.  When you have that section brought up to tempo, combine it with the first section.  Now, you will begin to understand how the phrases relate to each other.  You can introduce the idea of dynamic shading and decide which lines to bring out at a given moment.  In fact, you will be making real, exciting musiceven before you've learned the whole piece!

As you go on in this way, you will probably change your mind about how to play the work as new sections are added.  This is part of the process of discovery and experimentation.  Concert artists are always re-interpreting, because they think about these elements all the time.

So play as slowly as you need to; but as fast as you are able!

I wish you the best of success.

Ron Worthy

Ron Worthy is a Music Educator, Songwriter and Performer.  His Website, Play Piano Like a PRO, offers online multimedia piano instruction for all ages.

An Innovative Piano Instruction Video Game - Excellent Way to Learn to Play Piano

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

People that play the piano beautifully fascinate me. It is interesting the different paths some of them take to become good at it. There are so many options now days for children and adults interested in becoming concert pianists, or just become comfortable with this instrument and play it whenever they feel like it, carry a tune for their enjoyment or to please others like myself.

Many excellent piano players started their education at a young age, because they were given the opportunity by their parents, relatives or friends, and with time they found a way to express themselves, increasing their self confidence opening doors of inspiration and self satisfaction to become better at their new enterprise.

In this technological age of computers and video games, these have become an excellent way to transmit information at an early age to children. The challenge remains in figuring out which video games should we buy and keep.

As far as piano learning is concerned, recently I have been shown and become interested in the PianoWizard video game package from Allegro Multimedia. piano instruction game computer software provides a fun attention grabber display setting to users, teaching them to play music first by being involved with game activities on the screen that they can interact with a fun color coded keyboard. This makes children start enjoying music without them even realizing they are stepping into the piano-playing world. This computer instruction game teaches music notation while children get more into the game, making the learning curve transparent, pressure free, fun and enjoyable.

The system works with MIDI files that one can download to a computer, in fact, the company's main site has links to many sites that have a large amount of MIDI files and information.

I find that the price for the keyboard and PianoWizard video game package is very affordable for all the capabilities included in the piano instruction software. I really do like the fact that one can up-load any type of song in MIDI format into the game and start playing it along in minutes. I believe your time will be well spent while visiting their site http://www.pianowizard.com/piano-instruction/ and learn about their excellent piano instruction game purchasing offer.


My best wishes to you and your children in this musical and uplifting venture.
Ivan Alegre is a Technology Market Analyst and apiano instruction game enthusiast.

 

Is My Child Old Enough to Start Piano-Music Lessons?

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 

Before I give you my opinion on this, I want you to ask yourself this question: ?Why do I want my child to take piano lessons??

Proper answers should include these types of responses:

• ?I want to give my child a love for music that they can enjoy and carry on throughout their entire life.?
• ?I want to give my child a boost in creativity and spatial reasoning skills by studying music.?

They should not be this:

• ?I want my child to be involved in music from an early age because I hear that they can earn big scholarships to colleges/universitiesand I wont have the money to send them to a good school."
• ?I want my child to be a famous music star!?
• ?I took lessons when I was young and hated them, but I wish I would have kept going, so now I am going to force my child to take lessons so that they don?t have the same regret that I do."

Although these 3 responses, phrased differently, may have some positives, they are focused on YOU, and not your child. Please make sure that you are enrolling them in piano lessons because you want them to have a great experience that they can enjoy and keep with them for the rest of their lives, while increasing their brain?s capacity for doing math and other augmenting other reasoning skills. With that being said, let me answer the first question, ?Is my child old enough to start piano lessons?? This depends on a number of factors:

• Can your child physically sit still for at least a half-hour? (The typical length of a beginning-level piano lesson)
• Can your child mentally focus on doing what is expected of them for at least a half-hour?
• Does you child need you to be in the room, or will they suffer from separation anxiety causing them to be focused on where you are and not at the task at hand, which is learning music?
• Can your child read the letters of the alphabet?
• Can your child read and count numbers?
• Can they do very simple addition like 2+2=4?
• Do they get enough exposure to the types of music that would complement what they will be learning?

Although each of these factors can be worked around in some fashion, especially when first starting out in music, these could be considered a good list of pre-requisites. In my personal experience, I have started children as early as 4, but suggest that they probably wait till 5, in order to be more familiar with the pre-requisites I just spoke of. One of the good things about learning to read notes, at such an early age, is that children pick up on them rather quickly. They are learning to read the letters of the alphabet (putting a name to a symbol) which is exactly the same thing as learning to read the notes. The closer together these two experiences happen (learning to read letters and learning to read notes) the better. I have even heard of parents using flash cards with notes on them (can be picked up at just about any music store) while doing letters of the alphabet at the same time and find that their children learn both equally as fast, and better yet retain them! This can be a great advantage because once they can read music (both treble and bass clefs), learning to play an instrument becomes very easy, since it is a matter of motor coordination (something that is generally easier to learn once the ?notes are out of the way?.)

It is also beneficial for your child to have friends that are going through the experience of learning music at the same time. They often will want to show each other what they have learned and play together. This is exactly what happened to me. I had friends that were taking lessons and showing me what they were learning and I wanted to do the same thing. Before I knew it, we were in school band together (now playing band instruments as well as piano) and were enjoying it ?socially?.

I wish you and your child/children all the success in the world and welcome any questions that you may have for me. Please feel free to contact me at my website:

http://JerryGreene.Com

Jerry A. Greene is a private music teacher in the San Antonio, TX area. If you are interested in taking private lessons with him, please click one of the links below:
Piano Lessons in San Antonio, TXPrivate In-Home Music Lessons in San Antonio, TX

Piano Lessons and the Importance of Learning Chords and Music Theory

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 

To truly learn to play the piano well, piano lessons and a proper instructor are of utmost importance. Sure, there have been many great self-taught piano players throughout the history of the piano, but even the most naturally gifted piano players know the benefits of having a good mentor can result in a much quicker and more well-rounded learning process for the average beginning pianist. When I say "much quicker," I do not mean that a qualified piano instructor will magically turn you into a concert pianist in a week?s time, because it takes years to truly reach an advanced level of piano playing, even for the gifted students. The reason that proper piano instruction is vital to the learning process is that it enables the piano student to learn proper piano playing techniques from a qualified source and gives the student an additional perspective rather than being only self-taught.

Of course, the styles of each piano instructor you meet may vary, but their teaching should always cover the same five basic topics: fingering and posture, reading music, scales, technique, and sight reading. The proper fingering and posture should be taught earliest, due to the importance of a piano student knowing how to their hands and where to place them on the piano keys. The basis of this area of study should be repetitive practicing of scales. Soon after, the piano student should start learning how to read music notation beginning with the very simplest notes, key signatures and time signatures before moving on to more advanced ideas.

Piano teachers introduce most of these ideas into the piano lessons at the same time the student is learning to read music notation. Learning to read music is an area of practice that will continue throughout the full course of learning to play the piano. A piano teacher will usually begin a student with easy musical pieces to start off with, and gradually increase the difficulty level and introduce the piano student to more advanced assignments. After the student is adequately knowledgeable in reading music, a piano teacher might introduce the student to Sight Reading, which is the term used for playing a piece of piano music without having seen it before.

Another detail of properly learning to play the piano is studying and practicing music theory and chords. Chords and music theory are extremely valuable aspects of a pianist's learning process. When learning to read music, a beginning piano player should be taught to understand the theory behind the music, rather than simply relying on sheet music. There may be instances in a pianist's life in which he or she will have to perform without the aid of sheet music, and this is where the value of knowing chords and music theory kicks in. Unfortunately, many piano instructors seem to leave this factor out of their piano lesson plans, but with chords and music theory mixed in with all other quality piano instruction, the beginning piano player begins to grow as a pianist since all of the elements of instruction are working together. Learning to play the piano then becomes simply gaining knowledge gradually over time, and it only gets easier and more enjoyable!

Todd Bridges is a life-long music fan and piano lover. His website is at http://www.perfect-piano.com. Other than standard piano lessons, Mr. Bridges is a supporter of the educational and entertaining Piano Wizard software for learning how to play the piano.

Piano Lessons and the Importance of Learning Chords and Music Theory

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 

To truly learn to play the piano well, piano lessons and a proper instructor are of utmost importance. Sure, there have been many great self-taught piano players throughout the history of the piano, but even the most naturally gifted piano players know the benefits of having a good mentor can result in a much quicker and more well-rounded learning process for the average beginning pianist. When I say "much quicker," I do not mean that a qualified piano instructor will magically turn you into a concert pianist in a week?s time, because it takes years to truly reach an advanced level of piano playing, even for the gifted students. The reason that proper piano instruction is vital to the learning process is that it enables the piano student to learn proper piano playing techniques from a qualified source and gives the student an additional perspective rather than being only self-taught.

Of course, the styles of each piano instructor you meet may vary, but their teaching should always cover the same five basic topics: fingering and posture, reading music, scales, technique, and sight reading. The proper fingering and posture should be taught earliest, due to the importance of a piano student knowing how to their hands and where to place them on the piano keys. The basis of this area of study should be repetitive practicing of scales. Soon after, the piano student should start learning how to read music notation beginning with the very simplest notes, key signatures and time signatures before moving on to more advanced ideas.

Piano teachers introduce most of these ideas into the piano lessons at the same time the student is learning to read music notation. Learning to read music is an area of practice that will continue throughout the full course of learning to play the piano. A piano teacher will usually begin a student with easy musical pieces to start off with, and gradually increase the difficulty level and introduce the piano student to more advanced assignments. After the student is adequately knowledgeable in reading music, a piano teacher might introduce the student to Sight Reading, which is the term used for playing a piece of piano music without having seen it before.

Another detail of properly learning to play the piano is studying and practicing music theory and chords. Chords and music theory are extremely valuable aspects of a pianist's learning process. When learning to read music, a beginning piano player should be taught to understand the theory behind the music, rather than simply relying on sheet music. There may be instances in a pianist's life in which he or she will have to perform without the aid of sheet music, and this is where the value of knowing chords and music theory kicks in. Unfortunately, many piano instructors seem to leave this factor out of their piano lesson plans, but with chords and music theory mixed in with all other quality piano instruction, the beginning piano player begins to grow as a pianist since all of the elements of instruction are working together. Learning to play the piano then becomes simply gaining knowledge gradually over time, and it only gets easier and more enjoyable!

Todd Bridges is a life-long music fan and piano lover. His website is at http://www.perfect-piano.com. Other than standard piano lessons, Mr. Bridges is a supporter of the educational and entertaining Piano Wizard software for learning how to play the piano.

Adult Piano Lessons... It's Never Too Late!

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 

As a piano teacher, I talk a lot about what I do. And I'm always amazed when adults tell me they've dreamed of playing piano, but believe it's too late for them to learn. I wish I knew where this belief came from -- it's simply not true!

Adult piano lessons can be a rewarding process for both the student and the teacher. And playing piano is certainly a wonderful stress-reliever for busy lives.

If you're an adult who is ready to play piano, here are some helpful tips as you find a teacher and become a student once again.

 1 -- Find a great teacher.
Find a teacher who is passionate about and experienced with teaching adults, and who has adult students in her studio. If a piano teacher's experience and specialty is starting young children, and her studio is full of 5-15 year-olds, she may not be the best choice.

Why? As a teacher, all her preparation, repertoire, and teaching tools are geared towards children. That's not to say she couldn't teach adults -- but her studio is geared for a younger age group.

 2 -- Choose your method.
Are you really wanting to play classical? Or is jazz more what you're looking for? Maybe you're not even interested in learning to read music -- you just want to be able to improvise on chords and read lead sheets. Why not take lessons that are giving you exactly what you want?

There are so many ways to go about learning to play piano. Talk to prospective teachers about the methods they teach, and find one that will teach you in a way that makes you excited to play every day.

 3 -- Make the time.
Adult piano lessons are a commitment of time and resources in a busy life. It helps to make a conscious decision to devote the part of your everyday routine to piano practice. If piano is low on your to-do list, you'll end up practicing only on weekends -- which will lead to a disappointing experience for you. Really.

So carve out just 10 or 15 minutes a day to totally devote to piano. It will work wonders!

 4 -- Be a student.
Ask yourself: are you truly willing to be a student, and be taught?

One of the most difficult things for my adult students is releasing control of the learning process. I understand -- as adults, we need to make decisions, solve problems, and decide the best way to do things. But piano lessons are different.

You're a beginner. Accept that, enjoy it, and allow your teacher to guide you in the learning process -- even if you don't understand why she might be asking you to practice a certain way, or you're just sure you can do it faster or better. After all, who is the expert? If you knew the answers, you'd already be playing piano!

 5 -- Patience!
Lastly, patience is a virtue. Learning to express yourself fluently at the piano is like learning a new language: it takes time. Be patient! Play each and every piece, from the first one you learn, with intention and beauty.

Don't ignore the journey by focusing on the destination. You'll miss out on enjoying all the simple pieces if you believe anything less than Chopin isn't really playing the piano. From the moment your fingers touch the keys, you're playing. Enjoy it!

Your piano lessons, and the time you spend every day at the piano, can bring you happiness from the moment you start.

It's never too late to learn to play piano!

Kimberly Luker is a studio owner, piano and flute teacher, and webmaster of You Can Play Piano! - a friendly, informative site full of resources to get you playing piano and loving it. She believes that everyone is deeply and naturally musical -- including you!

For more tips on adult piano lessons, visit Adult Piano Lessons at You Can Play Piano! And while you're there, sign up for our free newsletter, PianoForte!

What To Look For In Beginning Piano Lessons

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 

When looking for beginning piano lessons, one must assess their personal needs. If you are an adult looking to play piano as a hobby, you would certainly have different needs than a parent looking for classical piano lessons for their child. Many things come into play when looking for beginning piano lessons, such as how much time you have to practice and how serious you want to be about your piano playing. Do you have the time to practice? Are the beginning piano lessons worth the cost? No matter what you are looking for in your lessons there are a few fundamental questions that one must answer before choosing a piano book, piano instructor or piano lesson software package.

What is your goal with the piano? Have you ever heard the age old saying, ?If you don?t know where you are going, you certainly won?t get there?? Well it is absolutely true when it comes to playing a musical instrument! You must set a strict set of goals and work to reach them. If your goal is to just play your favorite songs you hear on the radio, you most likely wont need to sit and practice music theory or classical pieces of music on your piano. So in order to effectively reach your goal on the instrument, be honest with yourself up front and focus on what you want to play. Nobody can be a jack of all trades, so its best to just focus on what you want to do and practice your beginning piano lessons around your goal.

How much time do you have for your beginning piano lessons? To really reach your goal, no matter if its simply playing ?Mary had a little lamb? on the piano, you need time to practice! Many people think that if they go to their piano instructor once a week for 30 minutes, pay the fee and play the exercises during their beginning piano lessons, they will reach their goal in no time. This way of thinking couldn't be further from the truth. I hate to break it to you, but playing a musical instrument is not easy. It takes blood, sweat and tears to become a competent piano player. You need to set time aside for practice and take it serious if you want to learn the piano.

Which process do you want to use to learn piano? When starting your beginning piano lessons, you can really take two separate routes. One way is the way that many think of as real piano lessons, where the student starts playing scales, arpeggios and reading sheet music. However there is also the route of learning by learning simple chords and playing songs right away. Instead of learning music theory, sight reading and scales from the start, you can start playing real songs immediately and learning by ear. However learning piano from the immediate playing method has many pitfalls, such as not knowing and understanding the structure and theory behind the music.

There are many other questions you should ask yourself before beginning piano lessons, but the ones listed above are a good starting point. Some of these questions may seem like common sense to many of you reading this, but they are fundamental and key to your success and learning. Without starting with a good foundation as to which way, why and how you are going to reach your goals of playing the piano, you will never achieve them.

If you are looking for further information on which beginning piano lessons are better suited for your goals, you may want to check out Jack Patterson?s website at http://www.piano-learning.info Jack not only gives piano lessons but gives reviews of many different piano educational products to save you time searching for them yourself.

Teach Yourself How To Play Piano Despite Years Of Lessons

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 

So, you've taken piano lessons for years but you still can't play on your own.

You probably know the scales and can read off music sheets, but you can't just sit down at the piano and make music.

Don't worry. It's not your fault. You see, literally thousands of people are just like you. They've taken piano lessons for years and while they can play a piece by Bach or Beethoven, they can't for the life of them figure out how to create something original. Something that is not written by a dead composer or that isn't on music sheets.

Here's the solution? Learn a chord-based approach to playing piano!

What's that you ask? Simple. A chord-based approach allows you to think and play like the composers you can play so well off of sheet music. Chords and the Key they come from determine the sound of music.

You may think this approach takes a while to learn. Nope. Not at all. In fact, in my free lesson Reflections in Water, you learn how to play 4 chords right away - and you get to make your own music with them as well. In this lesson, you learn how to use open position chords in the Key of C major along with broken chord technique to create a calm, reflective mood! And best of all - you can do it now? right away - without having any piano playing experience whatsoever!

How is this accomplished? Through the use of chords and the scale in the Key of C major. You first learn the chords and the C major scale (which you probably already know) and begin to improvise with them. There are 2 audio tracks to this lesson that lets you hear exactly how it's done. Exciting? You bet. Difficult? Not at all. In fact, this may be the easiest, most fun lesson you'll ever get to play online!

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

Piano Lessons For Beginners - A New Approach

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

 

If you're interested in learning how to play the piano and you're a beginner listen up. What I'm about to share with you will have you playing the piano in no time at all.

First off, forget about note reading. Forget about sheet music and trying to play Bach or Beethoven. While all of these have their place in piano lessons for beginners, it's not what I'm going to teach you. I promised you a new approach and that's exactly what this article will deliver.

Take a look at my free piano lesson "Reflections in Water," (available by clicking below.) The first thing you probably will notice is the title followed by what this lesson will teach you to do - namely using open position chords in the Key of C major to create a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

Notice anything here? This piano lesson actually looks like an art lesson doesn't it! It's completely different as it takes you step by step through the process of actually creating your own music.

After you notice the title and the description of the lesson, you may also notice a small paragraph of text to the left that reads "materials used." Again, like an art lesson, you see exactly what you'll be using to create with. At the beginning of most art lessons, the author introduces you to the materials and techniques you'll be using to complete a finished painting. That's exactly what I do with piano instruction.

And my students love it. It gets them playing piano almost right away. Plus, it allows them to create music with modern sounding chords instead of the usual boring triads.

Note reading is not required for this approach. Just a little knowledge of chords. For the lesson "Reflections in Water," you'll see 4 chords and the keyboard diagrams they are laid out on. Once you get the feel for the open position chord, you'll love it and want to play the piano with enthusiasm. Why? Because it's fun! And it's easy.

And if that wasn't enough to get you motivated, there are also audio samples that let you hear how another pianist plays it.

Piano lessons for beginners do not have to be the same old boring thing most of us have come to know. They can actually be fun AND creative!

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

How To Choose The Right Online Piano Lessons For You

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Back before the internet dominated the way in which we find products and services we relied on more conventional means such as; the yellow pages, print advertising and word of mouth. While these are still effective ways to find information, the internet is certainly as effective and in many ways far more efficient.

The major difference between them is; the internet can display hundreds of thousands of search results for a single search. And, although a search engine like Google can give you many relevant results, it makes it hard sometimes to filter through it all and find what you're looking for. The choices are often overwhelming.

For example, a Google search for piano lessons reveals a million and a half results. How would you even begin to sift through it all and find yourself a piano course that's right for you? Try it yourself. Do a search and visit some of these websites, you'll find thousands of online piano lessons and thousands of different piano methods.

Most of these sites do very well at pitching you why they're the best method for you. Most focus on the beginning piano player. Why? Because, it's an audience that know the least and it's easy to appeal to their emotions. Bold selling statements like, "learn to play by ear" and "impress your friends by playing all your favorite music after only 1 hour" and "the secret piano method that makes the pros jealous!"

I admire these people for their ability to pitch. In fact the internet has made it possible for anyone with an idea and a few copy writing courses to sell just about anything. And, it works. But, what is the aftermath of learning one of these so-called shortcut piano methods. Do they really teach you how to play in and hour? Can you really learn to play by ear overnight? Well, not really.

Certainly, it's possible to learn how to play by ear and to learn how to play all your favorite songs but for most beginning piano players these are just completely outrageous claims.

What should you look for instead, in order to avoid getting sucked into these "learn to play fast" schemes? First of all, if you're even considering learning how to play from an online course I would recommend that you do a little research on who is actually giving the course. Are they professional musicians or just someone with a little knowledge? Do they have backgrounds in music? Do they have recordings that you can listen to? Or, are they offering only shortcuts to amazing playing?

Once you've done your research on the teacher then look for anyone else who has taken their courses. What are they saying? Do they give any testimonials as to the effectiveness of the courses? Do other students give any proof of their new piano playing abilities?

What I'm trying to point out is; if you dig deep enough you'll avoid spending your hard earned money on bogus schemes that simply do not work. Learning to play the piano is a lengthy process and should not be taken lightly. It can be fun, but it still takes practice. Anyone who thinks otherwise simply does not understand or does not have enough experience to know any better.

So, let's say you do find yourself a true professional; someone with a lot of experience, a great track record and plenty of proof to backup it up. What's the number one reason why you should learn online from this person rather than find a local teacher?

For starters, your online teacher will likely have way more experience and credibility that your local teacher. But, the main reason to learn online is price. A local teacher of any credible stature will be charging at least $75 an hour. An hour online video lesson will run you an average of about $25.

There are other benefits such as; you can learn at your own pace, there are no travel expenses, it's anonymous, it's stress free and your lesson is always available for review at any time. But, for most people it's a question of economics. It's way cheaper to study online than in person.

So, the next time you do a search for "piano lessons" on Google, please use the above information above to help you choose the right piano lesson for you.

If you are looking for highly motivating and entertaining online piano lessons, Paul Tobey is a certified piano lesson trainer and multi-award winning concert pianist whose piano music is known throughout the world.

Private Piano Lessons are a Waste of Money!

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Have you wasted your money? Are you wasting your money? Or are you about to waste your money on private piano lessons?

In the following article you will find out exactly what I mean.

* * Private Piano Lessons Are a Waste of Money! * *

When you are starting out, you will realize that there are lots of different ways you can learn the piano.

* From a book * Private teacher * Online lessons * Music School (group lessons)

All of them have their advantages and disadvantages.

What you are about to learn in the following article is the advantages and disadvantages of having private lessons and the answer to the controversial statement "private piano lessons are a waste of money".

Having private piano lessons means one-to-one piano lessons in your own home or at your teacher's home.

* * Piano lessons in your home * *

- - Advantages - -

* Saves you time, zero traveling * You can make "your own cup of tea just the way you like it" * You can keep up-to-date with your favorite TV program at the same time!? * You can disappear to the toilet at anytime to escape from the boredom

Only joking! But it really does happen sometimes. Really there is only ONE advantage and that is saving the time it takes to travel to lessons.

- - Disadvantages - -

Distraction is the biggest disadvantage if you decide to have piano lessons at home. It really is unavoidable.

* Your phone rings * Your dog is barking and wants attention * Your neighbor is banging nails into the wall * Your other neighbor is 'not the greatest fan of the piano' and is banging something else on the wall * Your teacher is stuck in traffic and is running late * Your teacher complains every week about the poor quality of your piano, and that it is always out of tune * Private piano lessons are incredibly expensive and you usually have to commit for a certain period of time

And on...and on...Well, you get the idea.

Distractions affect your concentration, your ability to learn and remember things and it really wastes everyone's time.

* * Private lessons in the piano teacher's home * * If you don't have to travel too far and can avoid traffic jams then having piano lessons at your teacher's home is better than in your own home.

- - Advantages - -

* Your teacher's piano is usually a good one, and is normally in tune * You rarely get distractions at your teacher's home

- - Disadvantages - -

* Traveling time * Stressful driving in traffic * Finding a parking space * Parking costs * Fuel or public transport costs

- - Conclusion - -

Private piano lessons at home are ok if you have an endless supply of money (who has?), and distractions do not bother you.

Piano lessons in your teacher's home are slightly better, but the boredom level is significantly increased!

- - The Answer - -

Go and learn by yourself! Buy an online piano course (not a free one, as you usually don't get enough information).

The best online piano courses usually cost less than $50 and you get the same information and sometimes more than any teacher would give you.

You can also study the course in your own time, in the comfort of your own home, with your feet up on the desk, sipping the best cup of tea in the world ;-)

P.S. You may think that I'm out on a mission in this article to bash private piano teachers. This is NOT the case. There comes a time when you reach a certain level that having private piano lessons is the ONLY option. I am simply stating that these days there are much cheaper and more convenient ways for beginners to learn the piano.

There is a free piano course I have created for you below. It will give you a taster for piano lessons without you having to spend any money. I have given as much information, tips and techniques as possible.

Graham Howard is considered an expert in the piano industry. He has spent his whole life SURROUNDED by pianos. You can get "Learn How to Play Piano, Read Chords, Understand Rhythm and Read Music", a free 5-part mini course written by Graham Howard here: http://www.alltalents.co.uk/Free_Piano_Lessons.html

[You're free to use this article on your website or newsletter as long as it remains intact and includes the author's biog box]

Piano Lessons: Make Sure They Include Chords & Music Theory!

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Proper piano instruction is an element extremely vital to learning the instrument well. Though it's very possible to be a self-taught piano player, piano lessons can really increase the speed and efficiency with which one learns the instrument.

That's not to say that great piano instruction makes great piano players overnight; even the most naturally talented pianists still play for years before they consider themselves advanced. But proper piano lesson instructions will maximize those years to the fullest and ensure that the student is learning the correct techniques.

Though teaching styles always vary from instructor to instructor, piano instruction generally covers the same basic areas: fingering, music reading, scales, technique, and sight reading. The early lessons will cover fingering and posture, making sure the student knows how to hold his or her hands and where to put them on the keys; series of scales practiced repeatedly will be the basis of this area. Piano instruction will then move on to notation essentials, starting with the basics of notes and key signatures and time signatures and then moving forward to more advanced concepts in rhythm, tempo and dynamics.

Many of these concepts are introduced into the piano instruction while the student is learning to read music, a practice that runs through the entire course of the piano instruction. Teachers will assign short, easy pieces to kick start the student's music reading knowledge and eventually move forward to more advanced pieces. Sight reading, the ability to play a piece of music without ever having seen it, is sometimes placed sporadically throughout the piano instruction, after a student is fairly well-versed in reading music.

One crucial element of piano playing that is often left out of traditional piano lessons is the study and practice of chords and music theory. To learn to read music without understanding the theory behind the music and the chords and chord progressions that form the music is almost like teaching a surgeon to cut without understanding the human anatomy and it's interrelated parts. The student will be able to play the piano from a piece of sheet music, but take that music away or have it blow off the piano and he or she is immediately in big trouble.

There is a famous anecdote about a lady who was a concert pianist and could impress people with her playing, yet when asked to play "Happy Birthday" at a party had to decline with great embarrassment because she didn't have sheet music for the song handy. To be tied to the written music is a shame, when learning chords and music theory adds so much to the value of piano instruction.

Given a healthy dose of music theory and chord instruction mixed in, all of the other elements of piano instruction eventually begin to work hand in hand. Piano instruction then becomes an intricate web of gaining bits of detailed knowledge little by little and understanding the music that's being played without fully realizing that it's being gained.

Playing the piano then becomes more fun and a joyful event that can be shared with full understanding of the music theory and form and chord structure that lies behind each song.

A series or free lessons from Duane on the various aspects of chords & music theory is available: "Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions!"

Piano Tricks Site Offers Online Video Piano Lessons

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Berkeley, CA--January 15, 2007-- PianoTricks.com is the collaboration of Jon Broderick, webmaster, and Christopher Schlegel, piano instructor. Jon and Christopher work in a successful partnership on the popular guitar instruction site guitartricks.com. They decided to expand their reach into cyberspace in 2006 by offering an innovative online piano lesson resource with modern video lessons. Because of the popularity of their sister site the team realized that the techniques they have learned teaching guitar online could translate to people motivated to learn piano online as well, while allowing the students to do it easily in the convenience and comfort of their own homes.

The instructor Christopher Schlegel has many credentials and he is an experienced musical performer and teacher. He has been playing music for 30 years, piano for 12 years, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Bethel College in Tennessee. Christopher loves music of many different styles and knows how to apply the basic fundamental unifying principles of music to any genre. He also composes and performs his own original music in addition to teaching classes and seminars involving music technology (MIDI sequencing, digital recording, scoring). Christopher has 20 years of private instruction experience teaching guitar, piano, and music theory to students of all ages and all styles and a very thorough and enthusiastic teaching style, which is visible in his lessons.

People today have hectic schedules to maintain and as the ability to relax and unwind becomes increasingly difficult, the internet offers an outlet for individuals to pursue activities they would not normally because of the constraints on time, travel, and expense. PianoTricks.com offers an outlet for your busy life and leaves no excuse in your way to take the music lessons you always wanted to.

Visit the PianoTricks.com site to get an example of how lessons are delivered right to your desktop in the easiest possible format. Online piano lessons can fit any schedule 24/7.

Contact: Jon Broderick
Company: Web Trick Inc.
Address: 2625 Alcatraz Avenue, #311, Berkeley, CA 94705
Phone: (510) 991-7414
Email
Website

PR Created and Distributed By MuzikReviews.com

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck conducts interviews, writes reviews, biographies, press releases and articles for Independent and Major artists Worldwide. Articles are dispersed on a vast network of websites. Links to sites with great music content are provided on Homepage and Links Page.

Online piano lessons- How to play popular piano in 10 easy lessons

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Without a doubt, the piano is one of the most beautiful instruments to play and listen to. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions as to how difficult it is to play and therefore many people don't take the first step out of fear of failure. We've been conditioned to believe that traditional methods of learning, such as reading music and practicing scales are the only way to learn and this is not entirely true.

Learning piano without years of lessons is not difficult, however it's important that students understand that learning to play requires daily practice and a lot of discipline and for many, this is difficult. Fortunately, we have options today and thanks to the Internet we have the ability to invite a virtual tutor right into your living room at any given time via the online piano lesson

Do interactive piano lessons really work? Traditionalist will say this system of learning is flawed, but you can't argue with the results people are having and they are impressive. Traditional lessons typically run 30 minutes long once or twice a week at a rough cost of $20 per lesson. The online or interactive lesson has a one time cost and you have the luxury of "hiring" you tutor at any time. As with anything, you're going to have to do you homework before you purchase a home study course.

So are there actually 10 easy lessons to play popular piano? Perhaps there are, but keep in mind that practice and discipline are just important.

Finding the right online piano lesson is as simple if you know where to look. Learn how to really play piano despite years of lessons

http://www.piano-lessons.consumer-reporter.com

Looking for Piano Lessons in Los Angeles? Don't Leave Home!

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

So, you live in Los Angeles and you want to play piano. Here are your options. You can pick up your local yellow pages and thumb through dozens of ads in the hope of finding a qualified teacher. Or?

You can learn how to play piano online for a fraction of the cost. That's right! Piano lessons in Los Angeles do not have to be expensive. You can pretty much find what you're looking for online. And most of the time, you can find piano lessons that are free.

For instance, the website gopiano.com has been around forever and teaches the beginning student how to play in the classical style.

If you're looking for something a little more creative, there's a website that teaches you how to improvise your own music. It's called quiescencemusic.com and has a free piano lesson for you.

The lesson is titled "Reflections in Water" and shows beginning students how to play something called the open position chord. This chord structure gives students an opportunity to play modern sounds right away. And you get to use BOTH hands.

Most online piano lesson sites try to start students off with triads. There's nothing wrong with triads. It's just that they aren't very modern sounding and aren't used much in today's music. With open position chords, you can begin playing and creating your own music? literally in minutes!

Look, if you live in Los Angeles, you know you have to get in your car to get pretty much anywhere. Why spend 20 minutes on the highway when you can learn piano from the comfort of home. In fact, by taking online piano lessons, you'll save a LOT of money. How much money? Look at it this way.

If online piano lessons cost $9.97 a month and you're run of the mill piano teacher in Los Angeles charges $30-$50 per hour (that's a conservative estimate) the cost for a year's worth of piano lessons would run you $960. That's if you spend $40 every other week.

But, if you decide to learn piano online, you could access ALL the lessons anytime you want and it would run you only $119. That's practically eight times cheaper. All in all, a pretty good deal!

Listen - don't waste your hard-earned money trying to find a piano teacher who lives 30 miles away. Save your time and your money. Learn piano online!

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

 

Piano Lessons: Creating an Impressionistic Soundscape

           

         >>  Dont Even Think Of Trying Other Prodicts untill You Read This <<

 

Ah? the Soundscape. That indefinable rush of notes that envelopes and soothes. The first classical composer to really embrace this type of music was Claude Debussy.

In fact, a whole style of music (Impressionism) was coined based on his music alone.

It's a lush style that tries to steer clear of too definable a melody line. Instead, textures and rhythms are explored. Some students think this style is the hardest to learn but I think it's actually easier to play this style than the straight melodic style embraced in the classical period.

For the improvising pianist, creating an impressionist Soundscape requires nothing more than learning a few chords and playing them.

Debussy based much of his music on something called the whole-tone scale. This scale basically takes out any "tension" that can be found in our major and minor scales. The Chinese and Japanese use pentatonic scales frequently and this is also similar.

But, we don't have to use these scales to create our Soundscape. The C Major scale will work just fine. For instance, in the lesson "Reflections in Water," we use open position chords to create with. It's HOW we use them that gives us the feeling of a Soundscape.

We play slowly and allow the notes to ring out. No rushing is involved here. Instead, we adapt an attitude of exploration. The music is created by allowing our fingers to play with the tones in the C Major scale. Chord changes come every few bars or so. The music is repeated a few times and then we stop.

You see, you don't need fancy materials to create beautiful Soundscapes with. You can use just a few chords from the C Major scale and improvise a beautiful piece of music! We play with the textures and allow the music to appear - without forcing or willing it into being.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!