Piano as 2nd instrument

[charleyg]

I'm a 52-year-old tenor.  I've been singing in various ensembles since I was 8.  I play the violin and the guitar.  I've got the notation and the theory down.  I'd like to learn to play the piano.  The challenge for me begins with reading so many concurrent lines, coordinating 2 hands, knowing which finger would be best to utilize.  Has anyone heard of a piano method that doesn't do one of 2 things:  1) assume you don't know what a quarter-note is or 2) assume you want to play piano without wanting to be able to read music, by ear or by chord patterns. 

I figure, I mostly need piano technique, but most methods seem to want to start with a novice musician.  The thing about knowing which finger to use, I don't seem to be able to find anybody talking about that.  Some arrangements have some notations but does one have to memorize everything without understanding why?

Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Charley Garrett

[arumih]

Hey, well I think I started piano in a similar position to you in that I knew how to read music and understood some of the basics.

Get yourself a grade 1 scales, arpeggios and broken chords book and use that to work through technique. Learning to play scales and arpeggios might help you figure out some of the mysteries of fingering. Learn the C major scale hands separate, hands together, parallel motion, contrary motion, one hand piano, the other forte, both hands staccato, one hand staccato, the other legato. I used that to develop technique as an absolute beginner on the instrument and I thought it quite helpful in terms of developing coordination and hand independence (with the staccato/legato and piano/forte scales).

Also, jump straight into some very very easy music. Music that keeps you in a five finger position (ie only using CDEFG or FGABC) with the melody in one hand and minimal changes in the other hand. As you progress you'll gradually expand out of that position. Search online, there's lots of free quite simple music about. If using method books, use them for the pieces or little exercises they may have in them, skip past the theory bits you don't need.

In terms of fingering as I said learning scales and arpeggios helps with that, but follow whatever fingering is given for now. As you play more music you'll understand why certain fingering is given and you'll be able to figure out your own fingering. Most of the time the fingering given allows yours hands to remain comfortable and relaxed, or is designed to simplify a change from one position to the next.

Since you're involved in the music world, it shouldn't be hard for you to find a friend who'll be willing to observe your playing every now and again to make sure you're on the right track, or perhaps a teacher might help. Just take things slowly and be patient! Good luck.

[nhi1605]

Hi Piano is also my 2nd instrument (after a viola). I've started on the piano roughly 1 months ago and I am now working on Fur Elise by Beethoven. I have a few questions... when am I supposed to use the pedal? I only have novice friends who play the piano at an intermediate level and the only advice they gave me is "When it feels right". How do I know when to use the pedal? I don't want to continue what I am doing right now (which is holding it down for a prolong period of time) but I have no one to listen to me and tell me what to do. Help? xD

Hey, well I think I started piano in a similar position to you in that I knew how to read music and understood some of the basics.

Learn the C major scale hands separate, hands together, parallel motion, contrary motion, one hand piano, the other forte, both hands staccato, one hand staccato, the other legato. I used that to develop technique as an absolute beginner on the instrument and I thought it quite helpful in terms of developing coordination and hand independence (with the staccato/legato and piano/forte scales).

What do you mean by parallel motions? Thanks for the post btw I think I will start practicing those

[mad_max2024]

when am I supposed to use the pedal? I only have novice friends who play the piano at an intermediate level and the only advice they gave me is "When it feels right". How do I know when to use the pedal? I don't want to continue what I am doing right now (which is holding it down for a prolong period of time) but I have no one to listen to me and tell me what to do. Help? xD

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,1474.0.html
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,5523.0.html
After a quick search... 
Maybe these will help.

The right pedal takes the dampers off the strings allowing them to keep vibrating after the key is released.
That makes the sound go on for longer.
It also allows the other strings of the piano to vibrate sympathetically.

In a very basic way, you should change pedals whenever you want to clear up the sound.
Leave it down for too long and you will start making everything sound at the same time and generally making a mess.

[arumih]

Parallel motion means both hands are playing in the same direction on the keyboard. With contrary motion, your hands are moving away from each other:

C major scale (Parallel)
LH-CDEFGABCBAGFEDC
RH-CDEFGABCBAGFEDC

Contrary (both hands start on middle C)
RH- CDEFGABCBAGFEDC
LH- CBAGFEDCDEFGABC

[end]

Hi,

this thread has helped me and I'd like to thank the posters: thank you!

[nhi1605]

Hi uhm one more questions... I've read through a few beginner's piano book and some of they are quite contrary to the other... how do I know which book to trust/ follow? Should I base it on how famous the author is or something...? Oh I'm thinking of maybe getting lessons from other students at my high school for a cheap price... is it worth it or I'm better off self studying and waiting to get a better teacher? The main factor is actually price for me though... thanks for all of your help btw. now I have a gazillion more practices to practice =D

Edit: I've seen a lot of people saying "learn/play by ear" is this skill necessary to become a moderate pianist? I don't think I have much musical talent (even though many books have said that musical talent is a skill gained through practice, studying, etc) seeing as how I've been in the school orchestra for 3 years and still can't fine tune my viola so I think "leaning by ear" would be a challenge for me since I've been told I am tone-def xD

[Bob]

Sounds like the OP might want more jazz styled lessons. 

Or just go through the method books.  You'll fly through them if you don't have to worry about learning theory, etc. 

I think method books can start in different places, but basically end up in the same place.  In that case, just pick one.