help somebody who could well use it!

[seaole]

Hello my name is Alan Smithee.  I'm 19, piano is my current hobby.  So on with the question...

I'm a beginner to piano, I've bought easy classics to modern: music for millions.  And because I'm a beginner every song feels like the hardest song for me.  I'm having trouble just getting to the next note on time.  How can i increase my sight reading...should i scout for finger patterns and memorize as many of them as i can?  Also some people are telling me that for any given piece, I should play the song treble cleff only with my right hand, then bass clef only, then put them together.  Is this really a good advice? or am i better tackling a song with both hands?

Lastly, there's a book that I've got my eye on it's called "Virtuoso Pianist 60 Exercises."  I'm no virtuoso but I've heard that book has 98% of all finger patterns you'll encouter so would that be a good bet for me? Or is it just too far out (be honest )?

   

[g.w.k]

Seaole,

I suggest that you do practise by playing the treble clef first then the bass clef and putting the two together. As for improving your sight reading: look at a peice of music for five to ten minutes every day, trying to read the notes. Practise that for about a year (I am only repeating what I was told to do) and you should be able to read music quickly.

Hope this helps you,

G.W.K

[rc]

Hello Alan,

Practicing the hands seperately (HS) is a good way to start, the principle is to isolate the difficulties - if each hand on it's own is a challenge, practicing them together off the bat is a compound challenge so you can simplify by first getting each hand to be able to execute it's part.  HS is a useful tool, but in the end you want to treat both hands (and the entire body really) as a unit, some will become over reliant with it.  Try practicing HS on a bach 2pt invention.

Sightreading takes time to develop, it's a lot about familiarity.  I'm gradually improving my sightreading as well.  My advice would be to start very simple and slow.  Those adult method books are good to practice the fundamentals, and you can keep the books later to practice things like transposition or embellishment if you like.

Scan the page before you begin, take note of the time signature and rhythms (try clapping to the rhythm before starting), the key signature (play through the scale to whatever capacity you can), notice any accidentals or spots where you may have to change your hand position, familiar harmony (play the chords in the piece beforehand).  Bit by bit you will become familiar with all these elements and won't have to do as much preparation.

Develop the habit of brushing past mistakes, because to stop and correct a wrong note breaks the flow which is worse than to just forget about it.

Do a search in this forum, much has been said about the topic.  Have patience with yourself and have fun!

[hempnall]

I think you may be referring to the "Hanon Virtuoso Pianist" exercises.

Although they are all in the same key (C Maj) the first book is good for working on the weaker fingers in each hand. Dont play them for too long though because
a) you'll get very bored
b) your hands will hurt

I have read recenty that you should just accept that your 4th and 5th fingers are weak and choose your fingering (and hand posturing too) appropriately. 

[faulty_damper]

Lastly, there's a book that I've got my eye on it's called "Virtuoso Pianist 60 Exercises."  I'm no virtuoso but I've heard that book has 98% of all finger patterns you'll encouter so would that be a good bet for me? Or is it just too far out (be honest )?

I would suggest you skip the Hanon as it will have virtually no effect in improving your pianistic abilities and can delay pianistic development as well as musical maturity.

More on Hanon:
http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,4887.0.html
http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,4704.0.html