ur not lying about ur age are u? some people try to pass for 26 on the internet when they're actually 40. i knew a newby that was supposedly 35 or 38 and voila, the very next year he had a 40th birthday party.
Hi All,I've decided I want to learn piano, and I'm looking for as much assistance I can get!I'm 26 years old, and I already play guitar and drums to a reasonable level. I taught myself by ear and never really got too involved with theory or sheet music, but I'm looking to change all that and I've just bought "Piano for Adults - Book 1" by Bastien.I don't yet have a piano (only a Yamaha PSR 295 keyboard...) but I'm thinking that's enought to get me started.I know a teacher would be the best way to learn, but I don't really have the spare cash to spend on lessons so I'm hoping to find enough free stuff on the web to keep me busy...In the meantime, I'm looking for any tips or assistance you guys would care to offer, specifically the following questions:1) Does anyone know if the book I bought is any good? If not, what should I be looking for in a beginner's book? Any recommendations for the next one I buy?2) How long before a piano becomes an absolute necessity? I know I can't use the keyboard forever but I'm hoping to get to a decent standard before shelling out on a proper piano. Obviously the sooner the better, but at what point would you say that it was crucial to my development? Is it acceptable to learn the fingering, chords, reading etc first and then go back and work on the performace subtleties once I have a piano? 3) Is there any way to gague myself against a standard syllabus? I've heard about Grade 1-8 etc but don't really know what each entails - is it possible to download the "coursework" and "exam" anywhere? I know I wouldn't actually get the grades if I "pass", but I'd like to see how I'm progressing and I figure this might be the best way?4) I'm worried about sightreading. I seem to take a long time to play what are quite simple pieces and it's almost as though, by the time I'm playing it properly, it's because I've practiced it so much and have memorised it rather than because I'm reading it? (if that makes sense?) Is this normal for beginners or should I be able to play it pretty quickly given that the pieces aren't that difficult?5) I can probably only put in around 30 mins a night practise. Is this enough to get to a decent level? I'd like to be able to jam with my guitarist friends, and play some nice classical ballads and stuff. Any ideas how long this might take? (I realise it's an impossible question, but I'm just looking for a ballpark answer!)Thanks a lot for any assistance given - it is much appreciated!
the classical stuff -people work their whole lives to play it, and when all is said and done, most realize they are still not satisfied. Give it time, start slow, and god help you if you play 'simplified' classics as a cheap replacement for the real deal.
i'll say one thing and then the very next person will say 'no no no - that's not the way to do it - do it like this.' how are u going to decide who's right? ur just going to get majorly confused.
go get a teacher - stop playing the guitar. eat less food (to save on teh budget) say - skip lunch and spend ur lunch money for the week on piano.
If you just want to learn how to jam with your buddies, then get 'fake' books to learn the chords and scales.
... god help you if you play 'simplified' classics as a cheap replacement for the real deal.
OK, scrap my first post.I've shopped around and managed to find a teacher who won't break the bank, and I've got my first lesson booked for Wednesday!My worry now is that, as this guy is the cheapest, he might be the "worst"?
He also says it should take around 1 year to get to grade 1, then allow 9 months each for the other grades which seems to me a little long?I thought 4 years would be enough to get to level 8 - am I being over optismistic? I realise that everyone is different, but what's the average time from beginner to level 8? (with around 30mins per day practice)
Hi All,I've decided I want to learn piano, and I'm looking for as much assistance I can get!I'm 26 years old, and I already play guitar and drums to a reasonable level. I taught myself by ear and never really got too involved with theory or sheet music, but I'm looking to change all that and I've just bought "Piano for Adults - Book 1" by Bastien.I don't yet have a piano (only a Yamaha PSR 295 keyboard...) but I'm thinking that's enought to get me started.I know a teacher would be the best way to learn, but I don't really have the spare cash to spend on lessons so I'm hoping to find enough free stuff on the web to keep me busy...In the meantime, I'm looking for any tips or assistance you guys would care to offer, specifically the following questions:
2) How long before a piano becomes an absolute necessity? I know I can't use the keyboard forever but I'm hoping to get to a decent standard before shelling out on a proper piano. Obviously the sooner the better, but at what point would you say that it was crucial to my development? Is it acceptable to learn the fingering, chords, reading etc first and then go back and work on the performace subtleties once I have a piano?
4) I'm worried about sightreading. I seem to take a long time to play what are quite simple pieces and it's almost as though, by the time I'm playing it properly, it's because I've practiced it so much and have memorised it rather than because I'm reading it? (if that makes sense?) Is this normal for beginners or should I be able to play it pretty quickly given that the pieces aren't that difficult?
I robably only put in around 30 mins a night practise. Is this enough to get to a decent level? I'd like to be able to jam with my guitarist friends, and play some nice classical ballads and stuff. Any ideas how long this might take? (I realise it's an impossible question, but I'm just looking for a ballpark answer!)