Wish to learn piano & theory

[adam0568]

This is a tad embarrassing, but I'd really like to start to learn piano. I took a couple years of lessons as a kid, but never learned much more than "Fur Elise" and simple things in the Faber n Faber series.

Are there any series of books you all would suggest for learning to play and also for learning musical theory? much appreciated fellas!


Edit: ha! perhaps, Faber n Faber is the wisest choice? Sheet Music Plus - Accelerated Piano Adventures For The Older Beginner, Lesson Book 1 by Randall Faber, Nancy Faber

[garww]

I'm even way behind you. I picked-up a DVD from eBay. I have not the chance to practice yet, but I did watch it to judge the content months ago.

I was impressed with the beginner content. I'm still in the "you have to show me" phase. Should you find yourself getting stuck, there are a ton of DVDs out there.

Hello everybody. just go on line or call a guitar center and get the "PICTURE CHORD ENCYCLOPEDIA " it is all you will need. it has a life time of every chord avery created with finger pictures. then you can but other easy chord books call cheat books thatt are the easy chords to many styles of music,

[richiebee]

What style of piano playing are you interested in?
Do you have a timeline, budget and purpose in mind?


Why would you be embarrassed to ask such a question?


R.

[adam0568]

thanks for the feedback, guys!

richiebee--hmm, i dunno why i feel slightly embarassed! i guess its because i'm older and i'll be jumping in at the level most 8 year-olds do . I have no specific genre of music I'd like to learn--i want to learn as much as I can! Pop, classical, broadway, jazz, blues, everything.

i have a MIDI keyboard and a piano VSTi, so I'm interested in instructional material. I have no plans (dreams, yes ) to be a public musician, and this will only be for at-home writing my own material or for collaborating with others. I have no specific budget and I have now until I'm dead to learn

[adam0568]

Forgot to say I can also read sheet music...but know zilch regarding theory

[sschac]

Right on.. I just started learning piano as well.. I found some really easy books and just started doing it .. The one thing I have learned over the past two weeks since I have started is work hard to keep good hand position, don't look down use a metronome

[EnSkorSang]

Hey for theory, and indeed anything, I would reccomend you check out the publications of ABRSM (The uk piano exam board) They have a great series of graded books taking you all the way from begginers (grade 1) to advanced (grade 8) and beyond. The books are called something like 'music theory in practice' and they have a similar set of books for learning the piano, and then a set of exam books released each year.

wesite: ABRSM - The World's Leading Music Exam Board : ABRSM.org - Home

[Heino Inge]

Learning piano as a second instrument is incredible beneficial to your musical performance. It is the most difficult instrument to play other than the harp. It is also beneficial for the musical knowledge you gain learning it.

[Mark Ellis]

Firstly congratulations on learning "Fur Elise" as a beginner. That is a Grade 4 piano piece. I would recommend going to a teacher as a good teacher should have a well developed teaching methodology. Just make sure there teacher is looking for the same outcomes as you are. They need to be able to teach adult Contemporary piano for leisure NOT orientated to classical music grades to children.

If you want to use books as your teacher you will find a good range at: Hal Leonard Online You should be able to find something there that will do it for you.

I would also recommend you put in a fair bit of work developing your aural skills. There are plenty of books with CD’s or software such as Auralia from Auralia Ear Training and Musition Theory Training - from Rising Software. Your aural skills appear to be the foundation for what people call “talent”.

For a full article on talent and how to get more talent see the article “Get More Talent” on Digital Harmony