Looking for guidance

[joeparrilla]

Hi everyone,

          I used to play a little bit on a keyboard as a young kid, but I recently decided to but a real digital piano and attempt to become a true pianist. My number one fear is that I dont want to just be the guy who can play some  specific songs and nothing else, I want to actually be a PIANO PLAYER. I have been playing guitar for about 8 years, so I am familiar with music playing in general. I want to be able to not only play songs, but actually improvise and also read new sheet music well and be able to play it without having to write a note name next to each note (which is what Ive done in the past). Getting a teacher really isnt an option due to many factors, but since I taught myself guitar, I figured I can do this. I picked up some books on scales and chords, also Hanons Virtuoso Pianist. My main question  here is to find out what sort of things I should do to become an actual well rounded piano player... and not just be able to play a select few songs. It seems simple enough to pick a song, run through each note on the sheet and write down the note name, then just memorize the order and play it. This is not what I want to do, I want to be able to eventually read as well as improvise my own music. Thanks              
     - Joe

[omar_roy]

Start by learning how to read music.  Recognize the notes on the page and their relation to the keyboard. 

Build up a good theoretical knowledge by studying music theory.  This will allow you understand the content of what you're playing.  So much of the way we play has to do with chord progressions, but many don't even realize it.

Learn your scales and arpeggi in all forms.

All the while, you should be working on 2 or 3 different pieces.  Pick EASY pieces at first!  Your ears will always be hungrier than what your technique can handle.  Find some of the easier Mozart pieces, and certainly Bach, maybe even a Chopin Prelude.

Most importantly, get a teacher.  Teaching yourself is great, but unless you have a teacher watching you like a hawk, you're likely to build up some bad habits that will be near impossible to get rid of later.

[joeparrilla]

Ok so Ive picked up some books of chords and scales.. Im going to look into some more general theory books as well. When I started out, I got caught up in "finger numbers" and memorizing songs, so I ended up being able to play some songs very very well, but outside of those I could do nothing. This I what I do not want to fall into again.

With my guitar playing, my teacher introduced me to chord progressions and scales/modes that matched them... so along with playing existing songs, I was able to jam along with a progression or just create little tunes that sounded pretty cool. I could never do this on piano because my "Skill" was solely based on memorizing fingerings of certain songs. This is my fear, and I need help knowing how to avoid this pitfall and become a real pianist.. not a chump who can play a few songs for my friends. I actually have a love for music and I dont want to half-ass this. Thanks so much for the reply omar_roy, any other help is greatly appreciated.

[joeparrilla]

Just wanted to add one more thing. When learning a new song, does it make sense to rely solely on the sheet music, and try to avoid actually listening to the recording at the same time? I find that if I keep listening to the music while I learn it, I have no need to pay attention to the timing of the music at all. Because of this, Ive never gotten into learning time signatures or anything. I would just get the sheet music for the notes, and figure out everything else with my ears. Does it make sense to just eliminate the recording and work with the sheet music by itself, and using a metronome to get the timing down? I just feel like it doesnt make sense to do both of these things, since having the song playing as many times as I need totally eliminates the need to learn the time signatures and a metronome. This seems to be another reason that I feel into a trap of only being able to play a few songs. I wasnt gaining any skill from songs other than some finger agility, basically I wasnt really "reading" the music, just finding the notes from the sheet and doing the rest by ear.

[stevebob]

I hardly know how to advise beginners to proceed, but you seem very motivated and I want at least to offer you some encouragement.

As regards your last question, I definitely do think you'll want to understand time signatures and the way that rhythm is reflected in the notation.  Even if it seems overwhelming at first, remember that the number of symbols you'll need to remember and recognize is quite finite (even though they can be used and combined in infinitely various ways—just like the letters and words of a language).

Are you familiar with the "For Dummies" books?  I've been impressed with the ones I've seen, and I know that there is a volume in the series called Piano For Dummies.  The title is just a joke, of course, even if it requires a certain amount of pride-swallowing on the part of the reader.  They do cover the lower rungs of a given field quite thoroughly, and many beginners find them very valuable.

Best wishes as you proceed, and remember that the learning curve can often be painful and slow.  Stick with it, and enjoy the journey!

[joeparrilla]

Thanks SteveBob.

So I think Im just going to do what makes the most sense, learn to play pieces using just the sheets.. that way I train my reading and playing ability, and dont use my ears to learn through listening to the music while I play. Along with that, I am going to work with my scale and chord books in order to improve my improvisation as well as ability to see patterns in the music I learn. I think that these things will get me where I want to be.

I am having some trouble finding music appropriate for my level though. All the music that I love to listen to seems to be way above my level. But I really dont want to play kid songs... are there any recommendations of really fun music to play that is at a level that a beginner can read and play? I really love the newer age pianists such as Yiruma, so that should give an Idea of what I enjoy listening to. I guess it would be appropriate to choose music with simple time signatures and rhythms at this point? Thanks for the help guys and girls

[jimbo320]

Joe,
May I suggest songs by Jim Brickman and John Tesh. Both are very good to learn from. I lean towards the more recent styles myself. Don't let self teaching seem as an impossibility, look at Yanni....

Best of luck to you.
Musically, Jimbo

[mcdiddy1]

I think you should its great having the courage to play without a teacher. The first step you should do however is GET A TEACHER. The benefits are too numerous for me to list so I am going to go over and give you some suggestions

If your goal is to improvise you a have to make some goals of what kind of improve do you want to do? Classical improv or Jazz improv? Which ever one you choose you should start listening to that kind of improv. Remember Improve is not just playing scales and arpeggios. It requires first of all technique to play the instrument, a knowledge of musical patterns, and it helps to have a great ear and knoweledge of music theory. It would be wise to gain experience with technique, ear training and theory. If you want to do improv, you should start today and experimenting and playing around with the piano. From my personally experience me having a large background from sightreading pieces helped me be able to do classical improve fairly quickly. As far as practice heres a routine you could try

Warm-up-scales, Hanon- focusing on finger independence, dexterity, lack of tension, strengthening 4 th fingers and improving tone

Improv- using melodies based on keys learned in scales

Repertoire- practice enjoyable pieces that build technique, provide a challenge and improve reading

Sight- reading- playing pieces you are familiar with-preferably a big book of popular tunes- playing them once and only once, looking for familiar patterns, easy pieces quick, hard pieces
slow, observing at a glance key changes, time signatures, expression markings, titles, chord progressions

You should  be capable of playing music without listening to a recording because there may come a day where you have to preform a work where there is no recording and you must learn it. You will eventually have to know what time signature and be able to play  with a metronome. There may come a time when you will have to play with a band and everyone can keep the beat but you! The metronome will not lie. Remember just because the pieces is recognize able does not mean you are playing it in rhythm. I have had many students that they play and they are  "in the area" of playing on the beat but they are dragging/ playing different tempos/ rushing many things that because obvious by using the metronome.