Help with piano?

Question

O.K. for some reason I have a problem with playing quarter notes with my left hand on the bass clef. In the song "A Public Affair" by Jessica Simpson (it's for a talent show for my best friend), I can't seem to move my left hand quick enough or I'm scared that I'll hit a wrong note. Are there any exercises or something to help me overcome my fear of playing with my left hand. I like whole notes with my left hand because I don't have to move them as much but my piano player at my church, she's wonderful at playing, but she only plays by ear. Oh, and that's another thing. How does one attain perfect or relative pitch? Thanks so much!

Answer 1

theres a bunch of finger exersizes you can do that will help you speed up your movements on the piano - my teacher used to make me do them for 30-60 mins per day when I was taking lessons they really help.

Here's one I had to do millions of times:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_inside.html?cart=10214319311&item=3144241&page=

Answer 2

Hanon exercises. Go buy yourself a book and learn em! They are more effective than scales, and improve technique in both hands. For the time being, just play the left hand for a bit. Practice it over and over. and then keep doing it. Just do two or three measures at a time until you master it. Once you master the whole song, add the right hand. You won't be able to advance as a piano player if you don't work on your left hand. A lot of times the left hand moves faster than the right, but quieter, and that takes a lot of technique. As for perfect pitch, try this. Try playing familiar tunes (just the melody) in every key. That way you will learn how to recognize increments without having to guess. Then practice adding the left hand once you get the hang of it. Also, try humming a note, any note and then matching it on the piano. That's what I do, and it works really well. And do Hanon... They are mean, and evil, and they are so effective it's ridiculous. I noticed a difference after only about an hour or so.

Answer 3

First, I don't think you can attain perfect pitch. Relative pitch can be attained by a lot of practice. You get used to hearing notes and where they fall in the scale. You can practice pitch retention on your piano. Play a series of 5 notes and then sing the notes back. start w/ easy combination like scales or triads and then progress to minor, diminished or random combinations.

As for the left hand thing, I am not an expert on the keys, but I think it is one of those things that you will get if you just keep practicing. Try to get your left hand playing on auto pilot then add the right hand on top.

My only other advice would be your song selection. You might try something besides Jessica. If you want to display talent at the talent show, you might need something else.;)

Answer 4

Practice with your left hand!

Try this: Play scales in quarter notes with your left hand only. Keep your right hand behind your back if you need to. Play a C scale up and down several times through two octaves. Do this about 10 times. Then switch to a different key (G or Aminor) and repeat. Then switch to another key. If your trying to play a specific song practice that song's key last so it's fresh in your head. Do this for practice when you're starting a practice session before you move on to anything else.

Keep practicing left hand only drills like this until it feels natural. But don't stop using this drill completely.

Answer 5

you know what? Just practice scales quickly everyday and you'll get used to it. Also don't stress your left hand too much or else you won't be able to jump quickly to the other note. Don't practice your left hand a lot more than you're used to or else you'll get it feeling sore really soon. Then just practice the song over and over first the right so you know the whole tune by memory. good luck with the show!!!

Answer 6

just keep practicing by only using your left hand. Play the song thru a few times with only the left hand and play it slowly. Soon enough you'll be able to speed up and play it with no problem. It will turn into muscle memory and you wont have to worry about hitting a wrong note

Good luck with the show!!!!

Answer 7

break out a metronome and take some time to practice your 1/4 notes ,my self i play bass guitar and had a real har time geting a handel on an 1/8 note and had to practice scales in 1/8 notes for hours to get it right

dont push your self to the point of frustration ,this is as much a cordnation thing as timing ,it will take some practice to teach your hands to do this ,you cant force them to lern

good luck ,don't give up

Answer 8

First just take time and stretch out your left hand i love to do this and it grosses people out when they see how far i can move my pinkie. but anyway.....this helps. you should try playing the left hand by itself SLOWLY and the work on increasing speed, then add in the right hand. The most important thing though, is to be confident in yourself- just like at piano recitals, if you keep telling yourself that you can do it, it really helps out. I BELIEVE IN YOU!! YOU CAN DO THIS!! I do, so know you have to.

Answer 9

as an exercise, play quarter notes with your left and and whole notes with your right

You can even do it without a piano, just tap the tabletop or something

As for relative or perfect pitch, listen to recordings or different note intervals and try to match it with singing or on piano.

Answer 10

i do 3 things
1 practice!!! right 1st then left, then put it together
2 if you have memorized it, just do the left on a counter top or somthing
3 go slowly until u get it right