Learning to play a piano

pinklady21

A fiddle is the same as a violin - just has a better repertoire!

Good on you for wanting to learn to play an instrument - motivation is the main driver for learning anything new, and I say if you are motivated then go for it!

I learned fiddle as an adult - and yes it took dediation and loads of practice and a hugely patient teacher as frankly the first wee while it sounds dire..... but after you gain the confidence to play through a few tunes, it is wonderful.
Agree with other posters too - it is great to be able to play in a group - maybe there are some pub sessions nearby where you could go along and listen?

What really kept me going, and I think helped me to learn was listening to lots and lots of music that I really enjoyed.
In the car, in the kitchen, in the bath......wherever. Have a collection of tunes on CD or Ipod that you really like and try and play them. Obviously start with something simple and slow in tempo and try and pick it out on whatever instrument you choose and see how you go.

Best of luck - let us know how you get on!

taliesin

For sure, you can learn an instrument, and as long as you remain enthusiastic and so motivated to practice, you can reach a high standard. Do appreciate that whatever instrument you choose, it will take time, both in terms of hours spent in daily practice and months to years to make progress.

Also, whatever instrument you learn, appreciate that a number of processes are involved and you will need to develop all of them. Which, and to what degree, depends on the style of music. Reading traditional written music is one process, memorizing a tune is another, understanding harmony and how to improvise is another again. Then there are the issues of playing the instrument, which vary widely. On stringed instruments, one hand plucks or bows while the other chooses notes. Violinists have to learn how to pitch notes accurately, whereas wind players have to learn how to use their facial muscles to control the sound development. But the relative importance of these varies according to the genre of music you are trying to play - a "classical" orchestra player puts great emphasis on the ability to read traditional music, whereas a Celtic player may have learned her repertoire entirely by ear and value the ability to reproduce a tune heard only once. A jazz improviser must have a deep knowledge of harmony, but that is often a closed book to "classical" players. Playing Chopin etudes involves very different skills to thundering out "Whole lotta Rosie" on a Gibson SG.

It definitely helps to learn each of these sub-processes separately and you can easily separate many of them. For example, if reading a score is a key part of the music that interests you, you might join a choir to strengthen those skills. If memory or harmony are skills "your" music needs, you can practice them walking down the street with your iPod, hearing a section and then humming it back to yourself. Unfortunately, the same principles also lead to one or two more tedious aspects of learning an instrument - practising scales, arpeggios and short phrases repeatedly to isolate a complex technical issue and get it right, or blowing long steady notes to focus on tone production. But those low points are far more than made up by the sense of accomplishment you feel when you play the piece in front of an audience with a little flourish.

In terms of which instrument to choose, some are easy to make a good noise on initially (keyboards for example) but learning continues for a very long way, whilst others have a very steep initial learning curve (violin, say) but progress becomes easier once that has passed. I would say that you need to decide first the sort of music you want to play and whether you want to play alone or in a group. Then find a teacher who is interested in that style of music and get them to help you work through the decision, including choosing an instrument. There are lots of early lessons that can be worked on without an instrument! If appropriate to "your" genre, you may be able to find group classes that work well - for example, those organised by the Scottish Music Group north of the border.

One last point - the suggestion of the recorder is a good one. The basic fingerings are typical of many wind instruments and it's easy to transfer what you've learned, if you were to move to a more complex instrument later. If the sound of the recorder doesn't appeal, the saxophone is another very approachable instrument, although the cost of a decent beginner's model could be an obstacle. On the other hand, if you fancy a plucked instrument, there is much to be said for the ukulele, especially the tenor model.

hethmar

Thank you for such long and comprehensive advice.

It sounds so feeble Im sure to dedicated musicians, but I just want to be able to pick something up and play. I was thinking piano because my grandmother was a professional piano player and I was thinking may be it was in the genes, lol. But to be honest, I do rather fancy the idea of having a "portable" instrument so that I can play when and where I want.

country/blue grass fiddle has always excited me and I thought that may be something which would keep me enthusiastic. Just bit concerned now that the old hands will be nimble enough as I get older. I dont think Im going to learn to read music, I couldnt manage it at school - though somehow I got through music lessons reasonably well as I seemed to be able to string a bit of music score together by luck I was also in a choir at school - it was in the finals of the BBC choir competitions at that time, but I do remember the head music teacher saying I was in it for my enthusiasm rather than my talent I can tend to go off key now and then.

My mother and aunt were both singers - my uncle in Southwark Cathedral choir, so I did rather grow up with music all round me, be it even just dad whistling or singing as he worked on something.

So, it would be very satisfying to be able to do something before it does get too late. But how do I know what I would be ok at. If anything. I dont want to waste money buying pianos or keyboards which Id need to practice on and I am drawn to the fiddle........... Funnily enough, my OH has had an old melodeon that belonged to his dad stuck in the understairs cupboad for about 20 years now - he keeps saying he will learn to play it one day. Perhaps we could be a duo - pmsl

hethmar

Well, went to the city today to check out some music shops. I think it looks like I will go for a digital piano. The staff at the shop was so nice and though they pointed out the actual violin is much cheaper to buy they did say that learning fiddle music is really quite difficult. Anyway, they gave me a learning piano book, I opened it and immediately played the digital piano - lol OH was gobsmacked - then I pointed out I was just following numbers, not reading the music. But have to say it was very satisfying being able to play a bit of Beethoven like that The shop even has a music studio where you can be taught.

fluffymuffy

Hello hethmar. Good for you.


I'd recommend a private teacher over a group lesson any day. Weekly if possible. And following the numbers is the proper way to do it. Don't get bogged down in letter names. You can find a teacher at EPTA.

hethmar

Many thanks fluffy. In fact it occurred to me after Id been in the shop and they showed a list of local tutors to me, that I know probably one of the best teachers going - he is also a head examiner - he was the musical director at a school one of my sons attended and hugely involved in choral societies. I have sent him an email and received a lovely email back encouraging me I shall be speaking to him about this - and he only lives a couple of miles from me. Of course he may be too busy but Im sure he will know someone suitable locally.

Fluffy, the other thing is, I have very small hands (gawd knows why but they are totally out of synch with my hefty frame) and yesterday I could only just stretch across the 7 notes, really only just. Is this a problem? I cant see how it would be really as kids learn dont they?

Fingers crossed I dont chicken out or realise I am useless. Not sure what to do about the digital piano now. Whether to buy new, they showed me a couple in the low price range at the shop. A Korg or, and the saleman said he preferred this - a Kawai CL26 (which had £150 reduction)? Or should I not buy but hire OR should I look at second hand ones in local paper. TBH, you often go in peoples homes and see one stuck in the corner and you hear no one bothers now - I do hope I dont end up like that

fluffymuffy

Have you considered an acoustic one? From a good dealer with a five year warranty you can get one from £600. You can always sell a decent acoustic should you want to upgrade it (or give up). There's not much market for second hand digitals. I've witnessed many of my pupils upgrade from keyboards to pianos over the years and lots have regretted buying digitals.

A cheap way in might be a portable digital piano like this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-NP11-Piaggero-Portable-Digital/dp/B004RTHGKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322995712&sr=8-1 - for less than £150. You won't need a pedal for a few years.

Kew2u

Buy one, hethmar! I bought a Yamaha PSR E313 / YPT 310...No idea what the numbers mean, but I bought it 2 years ago. I've never been able to play a keyboard before (and still can't..!) but I do get a lot of enjoyment trying. It sits in my back room and I just have a 'tnker' when the mood strikes. I know...I should get more serious, but playing just by ear, I can manage a tune or two. Good luck with your efforts and if you find a good teacher and are prepared to do the time, you'll be amazed how quickly you'll pick it up. Don't forget, there are also on line teachers..maybe not as good as a private one-one but it's an option. Look out for some cheap but helpful song books. Lots out there.

fluffymuffy

hethmar wrote: »

Fluffy, the other thing is, I have very small hands (gawd knows why but they are totally out of synch with my hefty frame) and yesterday I could only just stretch across the 7 notes, really only just. Is this a problem? I cant see how it would be really as kids learn dont they?

Not a problem. I can't reach beyond an octave (8 notes). Your hands would probably stretch to an octave over time (don't force this) in the same way that people take months to play an F chord on the guitar - it will come. You don't need more than an octave (or even an octave at all) as you can rearrange notes to fall within your hand. As I always tell my pupils - "Would Chopin prefer me to edit his chords or put his book back on the shelf?"

hethmar

Being a thicko here Fluff, but when you say acoustic, do you mean a standard piano? The ones I was looking at was a basic digital piano - not a keyboard - with weighted keys the Korg was £499 I think and the Kaiwa CL26 was about £600 (reduced)