Starting piano

[shrimptabasco]

Hey everyone.

I've been playing keyboard on and off ever since i was a kid (i'm now 27 yrs old). Never took any lessons though.
Just started playing and figured everything out by myself. I can read notes but really slow.
Never really needed it since i did everything by hearing, improvising or computer programs where you can see which keys are played.

Eventually i came to a certain level where i felt i couldn't get any better without lessons.
I really like classical piano so i bought a yamaha p-155 and i'm having my first lesson next week. My new teacher will probably ask me what level i am but i dont really know the answer to that. Also i am afraid that because i did everything myself that that could be a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

I can play pieces like River flows in you from Yiruma or the first part of Fur Elise fluently.
Just like to hear your opinions

[quantum]

Play whatever you know how to play.  Tell your new teacher about music you would like to learn.  If you can improvise, show your teacher that.  Very few classical pianists have studied improvisation.  It is a very important skill to know. 

Show your teacher your ear skills such as picking up melodies. 

[deanalangraham]

If your teacher is any good it won't really matter what you say. There are many more aspects to learning than what you play. It's how you sit, how you move, your attitude and motivation toward learning, the style you want to play the most, the music you enjoy personally and where you want to go.

Crucially, you need to meet a teacher as a blank slate. Don't worry about the bad habits you may have picked up as a self learner - these can either be A: ironed out by good practice and support from teach or B: used to your advantage. I'd imagine that some of the greatest pieces we hear have come from those little things that make each player their own player.

Pick a selection of pieces (and these do not have to be 'classical' piano pieces, if you want to learn how to play a rock tune or 'music off an advert' then that's cool), maybe three or four, and go armed. Just say 'teach me this'. If they say 'NO!!! It must be BACH!!!' Then get another teacher. If they say 'okay, but we'll need to get the fundementals going, here's some Bach that uses the same technique' - you're good to go.

ONLY IN MY OPNION ARE THE VIEWS ABOVE VALID

[wellrod]

Hi!!! My case is similar yours!!!

when i was a child, my mother gave me a small keyboard and i started with popular music... making chords and the things that the radio plays...

My instruments are the bass and accoustic guitar... but Piano is my passion... my old passion... now, with 34 years old, i decided to buy my first Piano (Clavinova CLP-340)... and started to study... but i don't have any teacher... i know that is not the appropriated way to start, but i think that i have to pratice my reading of the notes first...

And i'm making many searchings on the net about the methods... and i decided to start with Hanon... some people hate it... but in my case i liked it so much to acquire some technique... at the same time i'm trying to read some bach pieces... but only trying...

Hey everyone.

I've been playing keyboard on and off ever since i was a kid (i'm now 27 yrs old). Never took any lessons though.
Just started playing and figured everything out by myself. I can read notes but really slow.
Never really needed it since i did everything by hearing, improvising or computer programs where you can see which keys are played.

Eventually i came to a certain level where i felt i couldn't get any better without lessons.
I really like classical piano so i bought a yamaha p-155 and i'm having my first lesson next week. My new teacher will probably ask me what level i am but i dont really know the answer to that. Also i am afraid that because i did everything myself that that could be a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

I can play pieces like River flows in you from Yiruma or the first part of Fur Elise fluently.
Just like to hear your opinions

[magio]

Try some Haydn Clementi Czerny and Bach easy pieces and you will improve very fast!
Keep on and good luck!!!
e-mail me at lx@hush.ai if you want sth to ask

[wellrod]

Thanks a lot!!! I found on this site many stuffs to download... i'm reading all tips at this site, all experiences people wrote here to compare and start my learning...

Thanks again!!!

Try some Haydn Clementi Czerny and Bach easy pieces and you will improve very fast!
Keep on and good luck!!!
e-mail me at lx@hush.ai if you want sth to ask

[magio]

Reply to me if you want any ideas about piano solos no matter of what level!

[timothy42b]

My new teacher will probably ask me what level i am but i dont really know the answer to that.

My last teacher told me to bring two pieces I could play and two pieces I wanted to play to the first lesson.

Any decent teacher can tell almost from the first note what level you're at.  But it may take some time to work out your goals and learning strategy. 

[wellrod]

Thanks again!!! My level a think that is something under -1... 

Reply to me if you want any ideas about piano solos no matter of what level!

[magio]

For any questions or ideas e-mail me at lx@hush.ai

[ask_why]

Just make sure you have a good teacher, they'll help you fix any bad habits you've developed and make sure you don't start any new ones.

I had a few different teachers when I was younger but I never realized how terrible they all were until recently.  Not once did they explain even the most basic things like proper bench height, keeping wrists steady, using your whole arm to play rather than just your fingers, etc.  Certain things that seem simple will have a huge effect on your ability to play difficult pieces with proper dynamics and emotion.  Technique (to me) is all about maximizing control, and it doesn't matter how well you can interpret a piece if you have poor control -- you won't be able to translate your thoughts into the sounds that you want to produce.

[wellrod]

At this moment i don't have any teacher... i'm only practicing the exercises, trying to play my favourite musics... i'm having very good moments with my piano... i don't want to become it a kind of commitment... i know that a teacher is very important to me... but at this moment i'm only trying to have fun with my piano... after this moment i will think about a teacher... do you understand my ideas?! I like to practice some exercises and after imagine a music or try to play it...

[magio]

but u should have a piano teacher if you want to improve your technique!
Take care!

[ask_why]

At this moment i don't have any teacher... i'm only practicing the exercises, trying to play my favourite musics... i'm having very good moments with my piano... i don't want to become it a kind of commitment... i know that a teacher is very important to me... but at this moment i'm only trying to have fun with my piano... after this moment i will think about a teacher... do you understand my ideas?! I like to practice some exercises and after imagine a music or try to play it...

I know exactly what you mean.  Sometimes taking lessons can make your hobby feel more like a job, and then it can lose a lot of the fun.

Just be diligent about learning/using proper technique so you don't dig yourself into a hole you can't get out of later.  It's not fun to work on technique, but it's even less fun trying to re-train yourself after years of practice.  Think of it like building a house:  If you finish the whole thing only to find out you laid the foundation wrong, you pretty much have to tear it all down and start over -- best to just get it right from the start and save yourself all the trouble. The phrase "old habits die hard" exists for very legitimate reasons 

[renatog]

Hey everyone.

I've been playing keyboard on and off ever since i was a kid (i'm now 27 yrs old). Never took any lessons though.
Just started playing and figured everything out by myself. I can read notes but really slow.
Never really needed it since i did everything by hearing, improvising or computer programs where you can see which keys are played.

Eventually i came to a certain level where i felt i couldn't get any better without lessons.
I really like classical piano so i bought a yamaha p-155 and i'm having my first lesson next week. My new teacher will probably ask me what level i am but i dont really know the answer to that. Also i am afraid that because i did everything myself that that could be a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

I can play pieces like River flows in you from Yiruma or the first part of Fur Elise fluently.
Just like to hear your opinions

Shrimp, what are your goals? What do you want to be able to do?

[wellrod]

Hi!!!

you have all the reason... i'll try to find a good teacher... but not now... but don't worry about learn wrong lessons... i have a friend that knows piano, and allways i ask her if i'm doing the right exercises and pracitices... i know that a profissional teacher can guide me correctlly... maybe next year i'll find one good teacher or school... i'm thinking about it!!! thanks again!!!

I know exactly what you mean.  Sometimes taking lessons can make your hobby feel more like a job, and then it can lose a lot of the fun.

Just be diligent about learning/using proper technique so you don't dig yourself into a hole you can't get out of later.  It's not fun to work on technique, but it's even less fun trying to re-train yourself after years of practice.  Think of it like building a house:  If you finish the whole thing only to find out you laid the foundation wrong, you pretty much have to tear it all down and start over -- best to just get it right from the start and save yourself all the trouble. The phrase "old habits die hard" exists for very legitimate reasons