Complete noob

[slpctrl]

Hello, I've been wanting to play the keyboard for a while, and I just got one for christmas, what would be the easiest way to learn how to at least start to play a simple song without a teacher? I have a friend that's gonna teach me, but I wanna learn something now that could be useful. Right now basically I can barely read music, but I've read some stuff online and have a very noob gist of it. Any help would greatly be appreciated thnx! 

I also figured, since I'm naturally very good with my hands, I can type about 130 wpm on a english keyboard, I was thinking maybe that would help me to play piano. But maybe I'm wrong in that assumption? 

[mariocast]

I'm not sure what you mean by "simple songs" and you might need to define what is "useful", but here's a collection of video piano lessons that I've produced:

st?p=24132B1A07E22254

Hopefully that can get you started, but I do want to stress that the best way to improve as a pianist would be to study formally with a teacher on a regular basis whether it be in private lessons or group classes.

I've never heard of a correlation between typing and playing the piano.  However, there have been studies that pianists who are able to keep their eyes on the music with less looking down at the keys are better sight readers. 

[term]

Hello, I've been wanting to play the keyboard for a while, and I just got one for christmas, what would be the easiest way to learn how to at least start to play a simple song without a teacher?

Easiest is: play by ear. That's a good start. Just make music.
Another way would be to get a teacher.

If you take the first way you have more freedom to express creativity and musicality. But on the other hand you have a risk to get a bad technique which will ultimately frustrate you so you quit.
Your choice.

I also figured, since I'm naturally very good with my hands, I can type about 130 wpm on a english keyboard, I was thinking maybe that would help me to play piano. But maybe I'm wrong in that assumption? 

No,. you're partly right. You have a good coordination, and that helps with piano.

[Bob]

Hey, play by ear.

Then have someone show you something with a few chords.  Fur Elise is just a minor and E Major.  "Yes, it's THAT easy!" 

Then find someone who gives lessons cheaply.  Someone who does lessons on the side to make a little money.

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

Concerning the relation between typing and playing piano, I am not too sure, but in my opinion, there is very little correlation. Both use different skills, and different movements. I think it is very similar to ther reading sentences and reading notes. Both are completely different and having experience in reading lingual text is not going to help you with reading musical text. As a proof, certain pianists have been reading notes before they could read, so that confirms that reading literature and reading music are two independent skills.

[term]

Greetings.

Concerning the relation between typing and playing piano, I am not too sure, but in my opinion, there is very little correlation. Both use different skills, and different movements.

Playing piano and typing both require good coordination.
The same with piano, if you can play a c# minor scale fast you are not automatically able to play a c major scale in the same quality. But, there is a correlation between them obviously, because you'll be able to play that c major scale better than without having practised the c# minor scale.
Just a silly example^^
Another example for a correlation between two obviously different things: if you can play Für Elise perfectly and it's the only piece you can play on the piano, you'll not automatically be able to play the Moonlight Sonata perfectly. (completely different technique required). But you _will_ have a better start than someone who can't play piano at all. That is, because both have basic things in common. It's the same with typing and playing piano.

[maestoso]

one of the most important things i am learning as a semi newb on piano(6mos) is to play relaxed and soft. on a keyboard you have no dynamics and everything will be easier to play but ultimately when you get on an acoustic piano it will be a rude awakening.keyboards are extremely different from a piano unless they have weighted keys, although they are helpful in obtaining keyboard memory you'll eventually want the real thing to learn on. but do not fret you have come to the right place these people are extremely helpful and non judgmental. there also is an abundance of sheet music to download so that you can build your technique. do, however get a teacher if you can i fought getting a teacher for the first 5 mos of playing then i got one, and it has increased my ability tremendously. hope i have been helpful.

[debussy symbolism]

Playing piano and typing both require good coordination.
The same with piano, if you can play a c# minor scale fast you are not automatically able to play a c major scale in the same quality. But, there is a correlation between them obviously, because you'll be able to play that c major scale better than without having practised the c# minor scale.
Just a silly example^^
Another example for a correlation between two obviously different things: if you can play Für Elise perfectly and it's the only piece you can play on the piano, you'll not automatically be able to play the Moonlight Sonata perfectly. (completely different technique required). But you _will_ have a better start than someone who can't play piano at all. That is, because both have basic things in common. It's the same with typing and playing piano.

Not necessarily because knowing how to play Fur Elise is practicing piano. Typing is not. Playing Fur Elise one encounters scales, notes from different scales, and many hand and finger movements. Typing doesn't introduce those movements, and even though the fingers do move, there is practically no resistance from the keys of the computer keyboard.

To really assess this notion, it would be wise to set an experiment with having several people who are really fast typers with no experience in piano and have several people with no typing experience or very little of it also start piano, and assess their progress. This test is unfair because everyone different, and natural tendencies may cloud up the results.