Is there any good, free, online lessons on how to play the piano?

[gwk]

Is there any good, free, online lessons on how to play the piano?

I've been looking for months now and I have came across nothing. I am trying to refine my piano skills in my spare time but it ends up getting wasted by searching for piano lessons!

Please, if anyone knows anything, I would be most grateful...

[ramseytheii]

If you are really serious, spend some time with this massive tome:
https://members.aol.com/chang8828/contents.htm

It's gotten a lot of press around here at piano forum.  Some find it pedantic but it has a lot of information that, even if you don;t agree with it, will make you consider those things which it addresses.

If that is too overwhelming for you, come back here, and do a search for the posts of Bernhard, who posted systematically on piano practice and the elements that piano playing required.  If you're interested, perhaps I can find a few links for you (he tended to categorize all his posts and occasionally post dozens of links at a time).

Walter Ramsey

[danny elfboy]

If you are really serious, spend some time with this massive tome:
https://members.aol.com/chang8828/contents.htm

The problem with someone like "gwk" who I guess is a beginner and has no teacher is the lack of pictures and drawings in this book. This is a huge problems since we have witnessed many times before that it's impossible to speak about these things about kinethetic sensations, feelings, hand position and movements without at least pictures

Gwk I suggest you to check Fink Dvd
(I know you're looking for free .. but this is worth it and not that expensive)
Mastering Piano Technique DVD

[gwk]

Walter,

Thank you for your post. You mentioned that you might be able to get some links. If you could, I would be most grateful!

GWK

[ramseytheii]

Walter,

Thank you for your post. You mentioned that you might be able to get some links. If you could, I would be most grateful!

GWK

With Bernhard, you can also get overwhelemed, but if you read enough you will see that he repeats himself enough times that the body of information will seem to get smaller and more useful.  I advise you to start with this page:

Practicing, adult beginners, technique:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,4901.msg47078.html#msg47078

Then move on to here:
General posts on technique including: starting from scratch
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,5767.msg56160.html#msg56160 (scroll up)

Here is specifically about practicing:
Practicing
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,13011.msg139872.html#msg139872

And here are some articles about specific piano techniques.
Specific technique articles:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,10316.msg106140.html#msg106140

As Bernhard used to say, "This is only the tip of the iceberg."  Let me know if any of those were helpful to you and then we can go from there.  There's a lot more where that came from!

Walter Ramsey

[timothy42b]

Is there any way for you to watch skilled pianists performing?

There is a lot of stuff that doesn't make sense until you see it done up close, and if you don't have a teacher you may not have anyone to demonstrate.

I sit near any performer who I think plays well, at church or a concert, and watch.  What is their posture, the angle of their arms, how does their hand look, does mine look the same or not, etc.  There is a lot you can pick up without a formal lesson. 

[rc]

The problem with someone like "gwk" who I guess is a beginner and has no teacher is the lack of pictures and drawings in this book. This is a huge problems since we have witnessed many times before that it's impossible to speak about these things about kinethetic sensations, feelings, hand position and movements without at least pictures

Even pictures aren't that great.  Watching performances are better, but still can create confusion and misunderstanding.

my little tidbit for gwk:  read everything you can, find pictures and watch performances (look for links to youtube clips, there's some good free stuff there!)...  Fill your head up with ideas, then TRY THEM.  That's the key to improvement.  The only value of an idea is in its application.  Often I'll bumble into the solution to a problem through practice (which winds up being something I've heard 100 times, but I didn't fully understand until I figured it out for myself anyhow )

There is no one truth with piano, the variety of approaches to learning and teaching is amazing!

To help find yourself the best direction, a good question to ask is - what about your piano skills would you like to refine?

[gwk]

Everyone,

Thank you for your replies...I am most grateful! I will try to attempt everyone's advice but if anyone else has more advice...please post!

Thank you,

gwk