Beginner Piano
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or if you had a few lessons a few piano chords when you were a child and gave it up, to begin playing the piano or the keyboards you will have to take some kind of lessons. What ever applies to you, the way of learning stays the same.
There are many methods of tuition but really they are all very similar. Today, many players will be using some sort of electronic keyboards, the learning process for keyboards is the same as it is for the piano. A lot of students will need to learn how to read music and play a few classical pieces but they will probably also be interested in learning some modern music, pop songs or maybe even Jazz. They might also want to learn how to accompany singers and other instrumentalist.
This may sound a bit ambitious for a complete beginner but you should know your direction right from the very start. You will find that in a relatively short time you will be achieving most of the above.
A short while ago I had to write a review for a home study piano course called ‘Piano For All’. I loved the method they used for teaching. To start with they teach you is how to find the notes on the keyboard. Then you are taught how to read those notes on the musical staff
Then they show you how to play a simple tune which entails using all of the fingers, as a leaning aid. The melody is written out so you can see it and there is also a diagram of the piano keyboard reminding you where the notes in question are.
This is only the first part of the first lesson, Next you are taught the three notes that make up a basic chord. To play the chord you are given an easy little rhythm to play. You are then told to duplicate the first note of the chord with your other hand but an octave lower, this gives you a bass note. You are taught a new rhythm to follow involving using both hands and then suddenly you find that you are actually playing beginners piano and it sounds musical and isn’t difficult at all.
Once you have this feeling easy to play, which will be almost straight away, you will then be shown a few more simple basic chords. By Using the rhythms they teach you and changing chords from one to the other making a chord sequence you now discover that you are playing an authentic piano accompaniment to which you or another person could sing or play along to (This will all have happened in a matter of about 20 minutes or so)
This is a great way to learn the piano as it makes you feel secure and gives you an appetite for learning more.The course continues teaching more different rhythms, more chords and melodies and each time you are shown how this is written musically. In no time at all you find yourself advancing as a piano player and musician and with each lesson your playing will start to sound more and more authentic. As far as I’m concerned this is definitely one of the better methods of learning piano as it teaches you how to play by ear and how to read music too.
You can get more information on home study piano courses at the beginners piano website
