A few questions from a beginner

[easycure]

Hi,

So I've decided to start learning how to play the piano, and I have a few questions.

My main goal is to be able to read sheet music at a decent level (my definition of decent in this case may vary widely from yours.  I'd also like to be able to sight read at a decent level) and to be able to cover non piano songs on the piano (without sheet music), as well as 'simple' piano pieces by ear, without sheet music.  I'd also like to eventually be able to compose songs (as well as write them down as sheet music).


Should I practice pieces at a slower pace than what they would be played at, and then increase the pace as I become more accurate?  

Is the DGX 640 one of the better keyboards at its price point?


How difficult is it to play something like this,

?

Both in being able to recognize the notes in the original song and being able to find the correct keys on the piano, as well as being able to play it?  

Edit, initially should I practice while looking at my hands, or looking in front?

Edit 2, do I have to decide between becoming good at playing by ear, or playing by reading sheet music?

Hope someone can help me with this!

[nataliethepianist]

Hi! It's great to see that you've taken an interest in the piano, and I would love to answer the questions to present (lets hope they are of some help).

I have found it helpful to play pieces slower and than gradually get to the correct speed, but really why I do that is so I can focus on COUNTING. If you're like me, you will always need to count and write "1 e & a & 2 e & a" on your sheet music so you can play it correctly. Right now I am finishing up Chopin Fantasie Impromptu and I must go slow and make sure I am at the right time signature (the difficulty of 3/4), and that I am matching up the right notes.

Sorry, can't help you with the keyboard. If you haven't bought it yet, I recommend a Casio or even a Yamaha (I have tried them both).

That song would be hard for a beginner, I say. I could play it, though I am more into classical pieces. I am going to brag for a second and say that I have a good ear, so if your's is as good as mine was when I started playing than it shouldn't be too hard, but it will be hard if your ear needs training. I encourage you to look it to the amazing world of classical music! Have a look at the ABRSM level pieces (1 - . They should have nice pieces.

You should look at your sheet music and at your hands when playing. When people become really, really good, they know where their fingers should go so don't need to look down as much.

You don't need to decide one way or another! I was self teaching myself by playing by ear about 1.5 years ago, and just look at what reading sheet music has done for me! I could certainly not learn Fantasie Impromptu by ear! I didn't even try.

Good luck in the amazing world of piano

- Natalie

[easycure]

Hi, thanks for replying.

How long have you been playing for?  I'm interested in knowing how difficult other posters find the song that I linked, and how long they think it could take to be able to play something like that.


Are there specific things that a piano teacher should teach me if my main interest is being able to 'copy' rock songs to the piano?  Or will that just come as I practice a 'general' piano curriculum, one that includes learning how to read sheet music, etc?  

The DGX 640 is a Yamaha.

[raphaelinparis]

I have found it helpful to play pieces slower and than gradually get to the correct speed, but really why I do that is so I can focus on COUNTING.

true, that is a really good point.
One of the best advise my teacher gave me is to work very slowly because:
- you have enough time to count so you get the rythm right
- you have enough time to find the right notes 
- you have enough time to say the notes in your head (it helps to memorize)
- last but not least you memorize very well at low speed, hence you don't need to play the piece a zillion times to remember it (furthermore if some moves have a tendency to hurt your hand or fingers, then it is better if you don't need to loop too many times...so it is safer!)

And also, playing "fast" is not really the problem. Playing right comes first, then with experience you can speed up, but there is nothing wrong in playing right and slowly.

[brianlucas]

Love to see anyone at any point find a love for piano. Welcome to the piano family!

This site seems to be more classically focused. So let me try to answer your questions from a non-classical approach.  By the way, I've been playing for 30 years and teaching for almost 20.

The Tool song doesn't sound so hard, because it's based on a simple chord structure.  Classical approaches focus on every note written out. You can be sure that's not how the song was written.  If this is the style of music you want to play, classical lessons won't help you play pop music.  Reading sheet music may help you read specific piano intros (for instance, the iconic piano intro to "Don't Stop Believing") but won't help you understand song and chord structure, especially if you want to write music as well.

The DGX 640 is about the best you're going to get without having a real piano.  It's keys are weighted to feel more like a real piano, and it has a full 88 keys.  The only upgrade from that would be to either get a real piano or something with a little heavier weighted keys.  Neither of which is vitally important at this stage of your learning.

Hope that helps. A little shameless plug here. I've developed an 8 week course specifically for students like you, to give them a solid understanding of the piano. It covers chords as well as a different approach to reading sheet music, designed especially for beginners.  www.pianoin8weeks.com Feel free to check it out and let us know how you're doing.

-Brian
www.brianlucas.com

[nataliethepianist]

I haven't been playing classically for too long, maybe and year and a half. If you wanted to be able to learn by ear, than I would say a well trained ear would of course do you a lot of good (like ear-training classes). I haven't been taught ear training before, so  I can't tell you what it is like, but I can tell you what I did that helped me get a good ear.

When I first found a love for piano, not classical piano, just piano, I was in my beginning of 8th grade. I played for hours a day, just messing around, composing the melodies to pop songs, and trying to make a piano interpretation for my favorite pop songs. Just becoming more familiar with the piano will help you so much!

[easycure]

Brian, thanks for the feedback on the DGX 640.  

The reason I'd like to be able to read sheet music is so that when I want, I can just open a book and play the song (nothing complicated) on the spot, or after a couple practices, rather than having to piece it out by ear.  One of my thoughts was also that learning how to read sheet music would allow me to more easily learn other piano songs by myself (stuff like Yann Tiersen). 

Thanks Natalie, I've been doing that so far, but it seems like a slow way to learn (by itself).  I'll try to complement that with 1 on 1 lessons.  

I'll try bringing up some of these songs with a teacher so that they can better understand what my goals are.  

[brianlucas]

Reading sheet music is a good goal, and one any piano player should try to accomplish. But don't be surprised if when playing a non-classical song, you are disappointed with what is written out.  Usually after the intro, the sheet music is dumbed down to its basic structure which won't sound much like the song at all.  That's when knowing chords and how to manipulate them comes in handy.  I wasn't familiar with Yann Tiersen, so I looked him up.  You're right, songs like that would be easier to read from sheet music, because the piano part is so specific through the entire song.

Try to find a teacher that will both show you how to read sheet music and explain chord and song theory to you. If you focus on learning both, you'll be better prepared to play more styles of music.

[jimbo320]

Just chiming in here. The DGX 640 is a really good keyboard. I've used one a few times for gigs and it always sounded and felt great...