Someone Please help me

[jtabbott8]

okay, to start off, i have been playing piano for about 3 in a half to 4 years..so im technically not a "beginner" with that said, i feel like im not learning much. i take lessons, and i feel like im just memorizing songs rather than actually LEARNING the instrument. i can read notes, to an extent, but not that well.. and i want to be a great piano player, so i can compose, and improve, and just be great at it...but i really just dont know what to do.

how can i achieve this? meaning, okay yes i go to lessons, and yes i practice the song.. but i want to completely master, and learn, the instrument.

are there any good dvd coarses, books, excersise books, coarses, SOMETHING, i can do along with my lessons..

someone help me out please.

[ajspiano]

read the later page or so of the liszt consolation thread and jump on board the theory/harmony stuff that I've just begun guiding 'candlelightpiano' through...  as a start...

[quantum]

Have you discussed with your teacher your goals, and your reasons behind studying the instrument?  Make sure both of you are on the same page to the direction you want to be headed.

Realize that mastering the instrument will take a long time and lots of hard work.  There is no magic solution that will make it happen overnight. 

How are you defining the term "mastering the instrument?"  Can you list specific areas in which you feel that you are not making progress?  What makes you feel that you are not learning?

[jtabbott8]

hi, thanks for the replies.
what i mean by "master" is being able to sit down at the piano and have an abundance of knowledge about it.. compose music, improve, and be able to know what chord goes each note, and what sounds good, and know how to play all types of music, jazz, classical, blues, etc.. i would like to be able to sit and look at a piece of sheet music and figure it out rather than having to have my teacher tell me what note is which.

i have talked to her about my goals, and she gave me a note speller book and some flash cards, which dont get me wrong was very nice of her, but my passion is music, and the things she gave me are VERY beginner.

thanksz

[ajspiano]

read the later page or so of the liszt consolation thread and jump on board the theory/harmony stuff that I've just begun guiding 'candlelightpiano' through...  as a start...

^ ..like I said

[jtabbott8]

where is that located, im new to this forum.
thanks,

[ajspiano]

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=45007.300

^link to the relevant page - you'll have to skim down a bit - I started explaining chords found within a given key somewhere around halfway down and have offered ideas for how to start learning.. 

its only just started, no doubt I'll add more soon. - feel free to ask questions if you don't understand.

[jtabbott8]

thank you so much! i really appreciate it!

[jtabbott8]

@ajspiano
hi, i read it. just so we are on the same page, it was about the scales and chords, "f major scale" etc.. correct?

i see that it was split up into steps, step 1,2,and 3.

i cant find step 2 and 3,

could you possibly repost it on here?

thanks!

[ajspiano]

I won't repost here - just so I'm not clogging the forum with multiple threads saying the same thing..  I'll send you a private msg with an outline in a moment.

[pianoplunker]

okay, to start off, i have been playing piano for about 3 in a half to 4 years..so im technically not a "beginner" with that said, i feel like im not learning much. i take lessons, and i feel like im just memorizing songs rather than actually LEARNING the instrument. i can read notes, to an extent, but not that well.. and i want to be a great piano player, so i can compose, and improve, and just be great at it...but i really just dont know what to do.

how can i achieve this? meaning, okay yes i go to lessons, and yes i practice the song.. but i want to completely master, and learn, the instrument.

are there any good dvd coarses, books, excersise books, coarses, SOMETHING, i can do along with my lessons..

someone help me out please.

I would try a specific genre that is different than what I have been working on now. For instance , Ragtime, or Latin.  There are "minus-one" CDs which gives experience playing in a band situation. I think those are fun and you can find them for the level you are at. There are different things to learn at the piano. Improvising, Site-reading, playing by ear, that are not necessarily "memorized" as you are doing now.

[johnmar78]

here you, you want to master your music in your spare time other than lessons. Go thru complete clementi's sonatina book 1 and 2, and start sonate book 1 and 2 by Mozart, Kohler..
And dont forget play Bach's co,mplete short prelude and dance. I hope tese will keep you bust for another 3-4 years.