What helped you the most on learning how to play the piano?

Question

I have decided on learning how to play the piano/keyboard. I bought a keyboard with 88 keys (ypg 625), since I don't have the money or space for one. The keyboard included a couple of things to help me out (cd-rom/dvd). I also bought a beginning book. Well my question for all of those that have excelled in playing the piano: what methods did you use to help you learn how to play a song. Did you learn through music reading, memory of the keys/sound?

Thanks!!!!

Answer 1

My daughter's answer (since she played the piano) is practicing. So, practice, practice, practice. :)

Answer 2

Practice in alternating ways: first right hand alone slowly, then left hand alone slowly, then both hands slowly. Repeat with a faster tempo. Keep doing this until you get the tempo it's supposed to be played. It's a boring way to practice but it works. Also use a metronome religiously while you're learning a song so that you get the rhythm down perfect; beginning musicians often have lapses in rhythm. When you know the song well you can go off the metronome to add style. Finally, taking the time to memorize songs helps you learn faster. At first it'll be slower because you be pausing to look at the music and see what comes next. After awhile you'll get it and you'll be able to look at your hands instead of the sheetmusic, so you'll play better. You'll hit fewer wrong notes for sure.

Answer 3

I cannot read music ..... I play by ear.
I have a Yamaha 3000. The easiest way is to get your beat first from the keyboard. So if you press "Waltz" you should have a Tempo of 80. Most keyboards Tempo are faster than what they should be. eg Quickstep normally hows at Tempo 220 ... so you have to bring it down to 190.

Ok so press "Country 8 Beat" .,.,.. press one of your white bass keys ... .and think of a song that will go with that beat. Your ears will be able to pick up when you have to change that bass key to another one. Sing along with it ... it won't take long.
Music comes from the heart.
Good luck.

Answer 4

I learned how to read notes. It does help me learn how to play song that I like. But it's also good to remember the keys on the piano/keyboard so you don't have to think about which note is which. And if you're learning how to play with two hands, you should learn one hand first and add on the other hand. And I agree with everyone who said to practice, practice, practice.

Answer 5

Since I knew how to read music already that helped a lot. It took me some time to memorize the keys but once I did playing was easy. The hardest thing for me was having to play with two hands. That took some getting use to. But when it's all said and done and you know how to do everything, it's great to hear the music you play!

Answer 6

Take the time to go SLOW and learn how to read music as well as some basic theory. The biggest mistake people make is in wanting results fast without doing the work. Playing "by ear" is something that you can master after the fact, but you can't fake reading music. Good Luck! (And don't forget to go SLOW.)

Answer 7

knowing how to read the music is probably the greatest challenge. My piano teacher had notecards. They were from a music store, but you could easily make them yourself. On one side they had a scale and a note. On the back side was the name of the note, for example E, G, C. Also, some of the cards just had notes and you had to say how many beats the note was held for. They really helped me!

Answer 8

I had lessons when I was young, and learned primarily through music reading. Now, I can play some things by ear. But the most important thing is----practice, practice, practice.

Answer 9

Knowing how to read music is important, because then you can play anything you want. But starting out I mainly learned by listening. Keep it up! Being able to play an instrument of any kind is great! :)