Tips for a beginner

[andrecsh]

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum and would like to have a few tips from everyone.

I've started piano lessons this week and will buy a digital piano next week.
I have never had any musical lessons of any sort and have ZERO experience on playing any instrument.

I'd like to know if there are any books people recommend to a 100% beginner, like music theory, or anything that would help me to learn how to read sheet music.. I mean anything at all that you guys had or wish you had when you started learning..

I'm not looking forward to become a professional or anything, just want to learn it as a hobby, maybe play it to my family, but mostly learn to play musics i enjoy and play it to myself.

Any tips of any kind are welcome.

[michael_sayers]

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum and would like to have a few tips from everyone.

I've started piano lessons this week and will buy a digital piano next week.
I have never had any musical lessons of any sort and have ZERO experience on playing any instrument.

I'd like to know if there are any books people recommend to a 100% beginner, like music theory, or anything that would help me to learn how to read sheet music.. I mean anything at all that you guys had or wish you had when you started learning..

I'm not looking forward to become a professional or anything, just want to learn it as a hobby, maybe play it to my family, but mostly learn to play musics i enjoy and play it to myself.

Any tips of any kind are welcome.

Hi andrecsh,

I suggest self-pacing in order not to burn out, and to have some fun with it!


Mvh,
Michael

[bronnestam]

As you are taking piano lessons, your teacher will help you with the basics. Learning to read sheet music is easy! Especially for piano playing, as the layout on a piano is extremely user friendly. So you learn the basic principles, and the rest will follow automatically.

As you are going to buy a digital, make sure that you buy one with weighted keys so it is alike acoustic pianos. Otherwise you will not learn the right piano technique properly.
An important feature that comes with modern digitals is the recording feature - use it often, that is, LISTEN to yourself in recordings a lot, that will be really helpful. Because you don't just have to train your hands, but also your ears ...

I also think it is very important to learn the right posture and movements from the very beginning. Far too often I see beginners who have terrible, tense movements that will give them pains and injuries for sure, and their playing sound accordingly ... So let your teacher guide you and try to find a correct posture which allows you to play with a minimum of effort, that will save you from a lot of problems later - and make your playing much better as well. It is a good investment to start with this. You don't have to rush theory learning; let it come in small portions.

My last advice is this: don't go to the piano and start to play unless you have a very clear plan on what you want to do this time. Personally I write a practice journal where I jot down notes on what I intent to work with - small sections of pieces, and HOW I intend to work with them (very slowly, hands separated or something like that). Setting up vague goals like "learning to play Für Elise" is NOT a clear plan.
Once you have learned to read sheet music - and again, you will learn rather quickly - you can make it a good habit of studying the music BEFORE you go to the piano. "Read" the piece carefully a lot of times and resist the temptation of trying to play it at the same time. When you have got more used to piano playing, you will even be able to imagine how you play. No, you don't have to have perfect pitch or memorize the piece perfectly, this is just a preparation that will speed up your learning and effectiveness quite a lot.  So when you finally sit down at the piano, you will know exactly what to do and the piece will already be a bit familiar to you.

I really wish someone had taught me this way of learning from the very beginning.  

[yadeehoo]

Learn to read sheet music first thing (get a music theory book) and practice on any song you like. Come back here often when you got questions

[compline]

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum and would like to have a few tips from everyone.

I've started piano lessons this week and will buy a digital piano next week.
I have never had any musical lessons of any sort and have ZERO experience on playing any instrument.




Andrecsh, Am I right in thinking that if you've started piano lessons, must mean you have a tutor?
If this is the case , and I believe it is essential requirement  since you have had no experience on any instrument or previous knowledge of how to go about things or where the middle C is on a piano - or perhaps you do.  


Before I started lessons, I taught myself how to read music and do simple tunes on the violin. But I seriously took up piano and found a tutor who has helped me greatly. He Started me off with  ' John Thompson's  Adult Preparatory Piano Book, which I have now completed, and now hope to progress with ongoing  tuition and work towards grades.  
I am a 2 and a half year student, its been hard work and slow but I love the idea actually being able to play a few pieces.

  

[compline]

Andrecsh, Am I right in thinking that if you've started piano lessons, must mean you have a tutor?
If this is the case , and I believe it is essential requirement  since you have had no experience on any instrument or previous knowledge of how to go about things or where the middle C is on a piano - or perhaps you do.  


Before I started lessons, I taught myself how to read music and do simple tunes on the violin. But I seriously took up piano and found a tutor who has helped me greatly. He Started me off with  ' John Thompson's  Adult Preparatory Piano Book, which I have now completed, and now hope to progress with ongoing  tuition and work towards grades as far as I able.
I am a 2 and a half year student, its been hard work and slow but I love the idea actually being able to play a few pieces.

  

[/quote]

[andrecsh]

Thanks guys. All those feedback have been very helpful =)

compline that's nice. what pieces can you play already?

[compline]

Thanks guys. All those feedback have been very helpful =)

compline that's nice. what pieces can you play already?

Now you are making me think, ha!  

I can play Mozart's Minuet in G , but when I have left it for a few months, I get a bit rusty on it, but I soon get into it again.
I can play fairly easy stuff like Calypso Joe -  Falling Leaves, by Knut Nystedt -  The Lincolnshire Poacher -   Haydn's  Minuet in G, -  Drink to me Only With Thine Eyes.  
and some easy Christmas Carols.  I find when I leave off some pieces for a while, I have to get into it again, then its ok.  

It's been a challenge and hard work me but loving it, and I'm not aiming for the stars or anything, I'm just happy to be able to play for  the pleasure of it and when I feel confident enough I'll play at church.   

[andrecsh]

Thats cool!  

By the way... I know you guys probably hate these kind of questions but..

Couldn't help myself. How hard is it to play these kind of songs?

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[chechig]

Hi
One thing that may be helpfull, are those app in moviles for practicing reading notes. There are many, if you have spare time or in the bus or tube you can try,

[tabeticclown]

I think the best tip I could give is to not overestimate your abilities. Feel free to try and play pieces above your level for fun, but understand that you won't be able to play Chopin's ballades for a very long time.

[michael_sayers]

I think the best tip I could give is to not overestimate your abilities. Feel free to try and play pieces above your level for fun, but understand that you won't be able to play Chopin's ballades for a very long time.

Hi tabeticclown,

It nonetheless could be inspiring and enjoyable to give them a go.


Mvh,
Michael