Am I learning the piano properly?
GYoung asked:
I started playing around 6 months ago becasue i was bored and have a piano that i never gave thought to playing. I learned simple songs first but then moved to stuff like Maple Leaf Rag, Fur Elise, Alla Turca etc. The way i learn however is by reading each cleff separtley, playing it tell i have the notes/chords memorized and then put them together and work out the rhythm with a metronome without further assitance from the sheet music (unless i cant figure it out then ill look at it again). I am getting better at sight reading and am starting to interpret quicker but should i be going into more depth on each piece and studying it more. I also don’t practice scales or theory much, i just practice playing the 5 pieces i know and improvise sometimes but my improvs are’nt very good. When i find a piece say like Alla Turca that has you playing up and down the scale at a certain part in the piece, i figure out what key it’s in and then learn the proper fingering for that scale.
How to Sight Read Music Video Lesson
I started playing around 6 months ago becasue i was bored and have a piano that i never gave thought to playing. I learned simple songs first but then moved to stuff like Maple Leaf Rag, Fur Elise, Alla Turca etc. The way i learn however is by reading each cleff separtley, playing it tell i have the notes/chords memorized and then put them together and work out the rhythm with a metronome without further assitance from the sheet music (unless i cant figure it out then ill look at it again). I am getting better at sight reading and am starting to interpret quicker but should i be going into more depth on each piece and studying it more. I also don’t practice scales or theory much, i just practice playing the 5 pieces i know and improvise sometimes but my improvs are’nt very good. When i find a piece say like Alla Turca that has you playing up and down the scale at a certain part in the piece, i figure out what key it’s in and then learn the proper fingering for that scale.
How to Sight Read Music Video Lesson
Sight Reading Music Lessons
scales and theory are more important than you think. they are also good warm ups. it’s good to work on the clefs separately like you do, but focus on the melody, then add the other clef later. dynamics and tempo are very important, if that’s what you mean by getting more into the piece. also, a metronome isn’t always the best- sometimes it makes your playing sound choppy and robotic.
What Top Musicians Know About Sight Reading Music
You’re doing the process half right by looking at your favorite music, studying them a bit, and playing them until you have them embedded by heart — that’ll develop your technique, rhythm, note reading, and ear.
The other half in the learning process is knowing the why and how of things — why does this sound as good as it does? How do these chords or series of notes work? How can I improvise better and play something extraordinary off the top of my heart?
This is what is called “music theory,” and the more you study it, the more music makes sense to you. If you commit your scales and chords to memory, and learn about harmony, many things will start to make sense. You’ll be able to break down a composition and examine its structure, you’ll sometimes even predict what chords will come next as you play through a piece of music, and of course, you’ll be able to improvise more dynamically as you will know what chords and notes to pick and play out. All of these will contribute to your universal understanding (and enjoyment!) of music — be it classical, pop, jazz, contemporary, etc.
If in doubt, invest in a music teacher, if any only for the basics, especially finger technique, if absolutely have no idea how to play with proper technique. If you like it, he/she can become your guiding hand throughout your entire learning career.
Hope this helps, good luck in getting better and better!
Learn How to Sight Read Music
It depends are you hitting the keys softly with one hand and moderately loud with the other? for melodic. Whats important is to listen for the Melody. Play melodically, not like a robot. And when you play legato you hold each note until the next one begins, so there is no break between them.
Scales give the fingers exercise and the power to be swift across the keyboard.
Have you considered a piano course? you can learn much from a piano instructor.
How to Sight Read Music Video Lesson
Your doing a disservice to your learning by not working on mastering music theory first. Get comfortable with that before you try anything more complex.
Good luck in your learning!
sight reading music
Whether it’s “correct” or not depends on what kinds of music you want to end up playing, and how you want to use the piano or keyboard yourself.
You might want to read this recent question that deals with some of the same stuff:
Have fun!
Diane B.