Learning to Play Piano

Since I'm an overly-needy person who has to enquire about too many things...

I know people here play piano... I'm finally going to try to learn. I have a keyboard that I got a loooong time ago, but never learned to play (I was about nine and I have no idea why I wanted it).

What's a good book ? Or a web-site ? I have NEVER played keyboard or piano before except for senseless plonking. My music teacher told me it's something I could start learning on my own (which would be good since I don't have the money for lessons - and I'm pretty much stuck at home, anyway).

Thank you !


(You know you love overly-needy people... At least I know how to use my MICROWAVE... at least... the one at my mom's house... TANGENT !)

I personally learned piano by way of the, "You're five years old, here's your new music teacher, I expect you to be a virtuoso by the time you're ten" method. My first teacher used Schaum's "All in one course" and "Fingerpower" books, which come in "Level 1, 2, 3..." versions. My next teacher used the Hanon exercises book, which I like better. I'd recommed. :P It teaches finger dexterity and other stuff.. yeah.
My new teacher is obsessed with the Suzuki method. I think it's supposed to teach you music the same way a child learns, or something. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_method there's more on it...
Hope I helped.

You helped ! I'll defiantly write those down and look for them when I go to the music-store (which, should happen sometime between now and 2009... if I'm lucky ! :P !!) !

Speaking of piano... My teacher emailed me the "Moonlight Sonata" score--all three movements. I sit here, mouth agape, as I watch pages come flooding out the printer. 25 pages!!!! AHHH!!! I thank god I have more than a year to learn it. XD
It's finally done printing... I imagine my printer feels similar to how my mom did after giving birth to my oldest brother (we other two were c-sections. O_O)
*Drowns in Moonlight Sonata sheet music*

I can play Mary Had A Little Lamb now, I feel proud and this is my third year of learning :P

!!!!

This thread pushed me off the edge! I'm definetely going to pick up on last year's unresolved New Year's Resolution... It just won't be the same practicing on a keyboard with no sound, though. ://

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=660066>Pomponias Marrion wrote: [/QUOTENAME]!!!!

This thread pushed me off the edge! I'm definetely going to pick up on last year's unresolved New Year's Resolution... It just won't be the same practicing on a keyboard with no sound, though. ://[/QUOTE]
MSN!!! pleeease! It's boring on there. ¡_¡ And I have some news about Rocky Horror! :D
Sorry for hijacking. Aherm.

Go Charles!

I started about two years ago on the Alfred's books (levels 1 and 2). Now I'm playing out of random books, they are a bastien and Bastien book, and two Alfred books. You'll love piano, but if you want it to be really fun (I'm gonna try to talk my piano teacher into letting me do this) is to learn songs that you already know (Play the Game? Dear Friends?). If you need, you can also use simplified versions (that's what I'm doing).

The first thing you have to learn is the position (unless you want Freddie's): think that you hold an apple or a tennis ball in your hand.

I remember starting with the John Thompson books, but my mother said that the Michael Aaron books are better. You can find them on Amazon.

But if I were you (since you won't be taking lessons), I would look at some of the websites or software programs. I think it would be good for you to hear how a song should sound before you start practicing it. Just a bit of reassurance for when you are first learning about timing, keys, etc.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Donna13 wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I remember starting with the John Thompson books, but my mother said that the Michael Aaron books are better. You can find them on Amazon.

But if I were you (since you won't be taking lessons), I would look at some of the websites or software programs. I think it would be good for you to hear how a song should sound before you start practicing it. Just a bit of reassurance for when you are first learning about timing, keys, etc.[/QUOTE]

Yes! Totally right!

ana magdalena bach is good too :D

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=teal>Edgarlicious! wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Speaking of piano... My teacher emailed me the "Moonlight Sonata" score--all three movements. I sit here, mouth agape, as I watch pages come flooding out the printer. 25 pages!!!! AHHH!!! I thank god I have more than a year to learn it. XD
It's finally done printing... I imagine my printer feels similar to how my mom did after giving birth to my oldest brother (we other two were c-sections. O_O)
*Drowns in Moonlight Sonata sheet music*
[/QUOTE]

Good luck ! :O ! (Our longest song so far in choir is only ten pages - and it's layed out in a pretty spaced-out way... !)


[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=660066>Pomponias Marrion wrote: [/QUOTENAME] This thread pushed me off the edge! I'm definetely going to pick up on last year's unresolved New Year's Resolution... It just won't be the same practicing on a keyboard with no sound, though. ://[/QUOTE]

Good luck ! But... how will you practice with no sound ...? O_o


[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=Maroon>He Won't Try Suicide! wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Go Charles!

I started about two years ago on the Alfred's books (levels 1 and 2). Now I'm playing out of random books, they are a bastien and Bastien book, and two Alfred books. You'll love piano, but if you want it to be really fun (I'm gonna try to talk my piano teacher into letting me do this) is to learn songs that you already know (Play the Game? Dear Friends?). If you need, you can also use simplified versions (that's what I'm doing).[/QUOTE]

I'll look into those books, too ! I know I'll love the piano - as a small and annoying child I was glued to it at my baby-sitter's house (I'm not sure how she put up with that). XD And I hope your teacher lets you try those songs !


[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sonia Doris wrote: [/QUOTENAME]The first thing you have to learn is the position (unless you want Freddie's): think that you hold an apple or a tennis ball in your hand. [/QUOTE]

I think I'm going to try the "classical" way, like you suggested (Freddie's looks mildy cramp-inducing... wait... that's how I type... no wonder I'm getting wrist problems............................). I think I need to go watch videos of people playing piano... !


[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Donna13 wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I remember starting with the John Thompson books, but my mother said that the Michael Aaron books are better. You can find them on Amazon.

But if I were you (since you won't be taking lessons), I would look at some of the websites or software programs. I think it would be good for you to hear how a song should sound before you start practicing it. Just a bit of reassurance for when you are first learning about timing, keys, etc.[/QUOTE]

All these different books ! :o ! And I'll DEFINATELY need to hear how a song should sound - I played trombone for a few years and I never "got it" until I heard someone else play it (I think I really have to work on reading music... I can... but not as well as I would like to).


Thank you everyone !! For all the suggestions and letting me talk to you whilst talking to myself ! I hope to get started with (something) on Monday ! Hooray - I'll be sucking for a few years ! : D

I took piano lessons for awhile, until my teacher suggested I find a different hobby.

i play everything completely by ear and i did for the 6 years of lessons (boggled my teachers and familys mind on how i did so well)

so i cant help ya there :-/