A keyboard instrument which uses felt-tipped hammers to strike at strings.
5
votes
2answers
275 views
Is there a way to guesstimate how long it will take me to play a specific piece?
I was wondering if there was somewhere a list of classical pieces along with the amount of "unit of time" usually needed to master it.
The "unit of time" being adjusted using where you are now and ...
1
vote
1answer
249 views
Cannot wrap my mind around playing 6 notes with one hand and 8 notes with the other one [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What's the best method for learning how to play triplets over quavers?
Each time I attempt to learn something like this:
or even:
my head explodes. It feels ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the foundational book of Czerny finger exercises for piano?
I've recently started teaching myself piano (via Bartok's Mikrokosmos) and feel it would be helpful to supplement the pieces with some standard exercises. Everyone I speak with suggests Czerny, but ...
5
votes
2answers
288 views
How would you train for Chopin's Étude no. 2 op. 10?
This Étude is really painful for the right hand. Difficulty comes from medius, ring and little playing chromatic scales while thumb and index punctuating.
The thumb cannot be used as a pivot while ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Are short fingers detrimental to becoming a pianist?
In this question, the OP asks about the problem of his wife's fingers being too short to cover the guitar's fretboard entirely. Similarly, my wife wants to start learning piano and her fingers are ...
12
votes
4answers
693 views
What do I need to know and how do I need to practice to start playing by ear/improvising?
Up till now I've been playing music from the sheet, and eventually I've grown frustrated how after 3 years of playing I can't even play Jingle Bells if I'm asked to without figuring it out from a ...
10
votes
7answers
800 views
How useful is a metronome for playing the piano?
I've been learning to play the piano for over a year and a half now, and have never used a metronome to date. My rythm and tempo are usually decent, at least after playing the piece properly a few ...
6
votes
2answers
224 views
What happens when I start to get music “down” to the point where I can play it fluently?
When I am learning a new piece on the piano, at first I struggle to get it together bar by bar. It depends on how tricky it is, but most of the time I start out real slow, trying to get it 'down'. At ...
4
votes
3answers
352 views
What kind of digital piano instrument should I look for when I like to play pop?
Currently I have an old simple Casio (touch-sensitive keys, awful synthesis) and now I'm looking for another digital piano instrument. I think that it's a good idea to have weighted keyboard (It's ...
13
votes
2answers
517 views
How do I begin finally making music on the piano?
It's been almost 4 years since I had too much time on my hands while living in student dorms so I decided to learn to play the piano.
I always loved listening to classical and suddenly listening ...
15
votes
3answers
480 views
How do you remember your music and how do I improve in this regard?
Okay, let me start with my own story. I jumped straight into playing classical pieces on the piano without much in the way of formal musical education. By now I know how chords are built (but it takes ...
1
vote
2answers
367 views
Why piano keys are not integer factors of octave notes?
In one of the answers of this question, some pianos with 44, 61, 76, and 88 keys are introduced. I just don't get it. Why notes are not following any formula? I mean, a piano with 63 keys means that ...
4
votes
6answers
519 views
Are there any compositions for piano that are impossible to play without a full-range keyboard?
I’m wondering if there is a piano composition that uses notes from subcontra octave (C0) and five-lined octave (C8) at the same time?
In other words, is there any song there is no way to play without ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
How can I improve my playing of faster finger runs?
I am just preparing for my grade 8 piano exam. I'm struggling with quick runs in the 3rd movement of Beethoven's Sonate Pathetique. It really doesn't sound right. When I play I can't do it smothly and ...
7
votes
4answers
291 views
What should I do about composing 'soft' accents for piano?
When composing for the piano, I often find myself writing a lot of sudden soft notes. I need an accent mark that suddenly softens notes. From my knowledge (and searching the web), I can not find any ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
How do I finger these descending treble fifths?
From BWV 914, Toccata in E minor, Fuga:
My Henle edition marks 5-1 for the first four pairs of fifths starting from F#, E, D, C#, but doesn't give fingerings for the next 6 pairs of fifths.
What ...
5
votes
4answers
736 views
Should pedals be used when playing classical piano music?
I recently did some reading on the historical evolution of the piano. From my understanding, classical-era pianos did not have foot pedals. By classical-era I refer to the narrower meaning of ...
3
votes
2answers
757 views
Playing Piano in a Big Band / Chordal Accompaniments
I play piano in a jazz band and I've been learning piano for about 8/10 years now. The type of music I'm talking about here is mainly swing music.
What are some good techniques/practices for ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
How much being a touch-typist can help learning the piano faster?
I'm a touch-typist, and I want to learn piano. Does my touch-typing help me learn it faster? I have a good amount of control over my left hand, and my palms are curved as if I hold an small orange. My ...
15
votes
6answers
2k views
Fast Chord Identification
How would someone go about identifying chords quickly and efficiently? While sight reading, I would often come up to some strange chord and try to decipher it. It normally takes me (what feels like) ...
2
votes
2answers
406 views
In what order should I learn all the theoretical concepts for piano?
I can do major scales with every key. I am now start minor scales. In what order should I learn all the concepts and theories? For example chords, chord progressions, lots of other stuff etc..
I ...
7
votes
5answers
517 views
What is the proper way to play A-Flat scales on piano?
Consider four cases:
A-flat major
A-flat (natural) minor
A-flat melodic minor
A-flat harmonic minor
I start them with the third finger on the A-flat key (both hands), but I have no idea how a ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
Is there a typo on page 27 of 'Mastering the Scales and Arpeggios'?
Cooke's 'Mastering the Scales and Arpeggios', from 1931, came recommended to me as the one-stop reference for learning to play scales. On page 27, I find A-flat. The text says, 'Right hand: Fourth ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Playing one hand loudly and the other quietly
I'm currently learning to play Comptine d'un autre été from Yann Tiersen (Sheet music(pdf) - youtube video) and when I play starting from the 13th bar I barely hear the notes my right hand plays.
...
3
votes
3answers
496 views
Suggestions for switching from piano to electronic keyboard?
I've been playing piano for more than 40 years -- started out with classical, but I've been playing in a praise band the last 10 years or so.
We recently purchased a Kurzweil PC3X keyboard for the ...
4
votes
1answer
108 views
How does achieve a “distant” effect on piano?
I'm trying to teach myself some piano pieces by Joaquín Turina and he marks certain passages as "lointains" (French for "distant"). It occurred to me that I have no idea what this means in terms of ...
2
votes
1answer
161 views
Is it normal, when playing scales on the piano, to occasionally rub neighboring fingers against each other?
When I play the F sharp harmonic minor scale, my right index finger on E sharp (F) rubs on my third finger on F sharp, since this scale is rather awkward. Is this to be avoided, or is it ...
6
votes
5answers
406 views
Should I take piano class?
I had been playing keyboard for years. But I'm kind of interested to learn and practice in more proper way. As I had been self learning since the beginning. I know the basic of music theory and also ...
3
votes
1answer
280 views
Piano technique: Repetitions and oscillations
Not sure if I am using the right expression, so allow me to cite examples.
There are some piano movements that cause my hands (wrists) to cramp when I play it for too long. One are repeated chords. ...
0
votes
0answers
241 views
How to practice different dynamics in each hand
In the piece "Melody" from Op. 68 (Schumann) the right hand plays piano while the left hand plays pianissimo. I find it difficult to play different dynamics in different hands.
How should I practice ...
3
votes
0answers
228 views
How to be calm and relaxed during a performance, recital, or competition? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to overcome audience fear?
I play the piano and have to frequently perform on stage, and participate in competitions. Sometimes, I remain calm and played well. ...
9
votes
2answers
413 views
How far “off” can a piano unison be and still be considered “in-tune”?
I'm talking about either beats per second of a resulting beat between two strings in the midrange of the piano. My piano seems to vary during different parts of the day, I think because of the ...
19
votes
1answer
1k views
Beginning “adult” piano for musicians
My piano skills are the weakest part of my conducting/rehearsal technique, so I'd like to work on them essentially starting from scratch. I don't have the option of a piano teacher, so I'm looking for ...
12
votes
6answers
360 views
When learning a piece, concentrate on playing the beginning really well or the whole piece the same?
I'm currently learning to play piano for 6 months and every time I learn a new piece I learn it like this:
learn the first line, play it until its pretty good
learn the next line and play the ...
1
vote
1answer
226 views
A peculiarity in John Tompson's first grade book regarding key signatures
Back in the days when I was studying from John Thompson's First Grade Piano book, I had come across a peculiarity which I could not understand: in pages 13-15 there are pieces which are in the key of ...
9
votes
2answers
290 views
Important to know which note you are playing?
When I'm learning a new piece of music (for piano), I tend to read the notes each time until I know the movement for my hands by memory. At that point I don't know what note I'm playing anymore only ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What notes on the piano do the Ukulele strings equate to?
If you highlighted the 4 strings of the Ukulele (default tuning) to notes on the piano, where would they come in relation to middle C?
4
votes
5answers
512 views
Piano Exercices to go beyond John Thompson's Modern Course?
I've been playing the piano long enough now that I thought it might be helpful to learn a few exercises for improving dexterity and/or "warming up" when one first sits down at the piano. My level is ...
4
votes
2answers
632 views
Are tools to help improve finger dexterity, strength and speed really useful?
I don't have access to a piano every day of the week, but want to keep my flexibility. Searching on the Internet, I found many kinds of contraptions and devices that claim that they help keep and ...
3
votes
1answer
416 views
Is there a canonical piano grading system?
The Thompson's books are divided by grade (first grade, second grade, etc.) Aside from that I have encountered a pianist who says that he is considered to be an X grade pianist. what is this grading ...
16
votes
6answers
918 views
How to formulate a chord on the piano?
I play guitar, and am attempting to teach myself the piano. Which notes from a scale form the chord on the keyboard? Is there a common rule for this?
Thank you for your time.
11
votes
3answers
769 views
Why do standard modern pianos have 88 keys?
I know that the piano contains 7 octaves plus a 4th. I also know that it accommodates the full circle of fifths (from C and back to C). But since a fifth contains 7 semitones, it only
"needs" 7X12 = ...
6
votes
1answer
166 views
Sibelius op .75 Number 5: is the composer a bit sloppy, is my edition a bit sloppy, or am I missing something
In my edition of this piece, there's very specific (Ped) (*) markings, which suggests to me that the composer is laying out all the pedalling.
However, a bit after the Forte/fermata in the long ...
4
votes
2answers
305 views
Causes of piano finger strain and ways to relieve it
After I practice for a few hours on the piano, I feel a strain in my hands (I don't know if strain is the right word, It doesn't hurt or anything. It actually feels good because I feel like I have ...
3
votes
1answer
143 views
Playing Haydn on the modern piano, reading list?
A typical modern score for Haydn has a boatload of editorial suggestions for dynamics, staccato, tenuto, etc. I'm sure these editors know more than I do (that's not hard), but I'd like to know more ...
4
votes
1answer
479 views
Fingering indication for double glissando (Ravel, Alborada del Gracioso)
In this piece, from the five Images by Maurice Ravel, there are three “double glissandi”, ascending then descending, over white keys of the piano. One of them uses a fourth interval, the next one uses ...
10
votes
2answers
746 views
How can I improve piano proprioception?
What exercises are effective at improving proprioception while playing piano?
My immediate goal is to be able to play piano pieces without taking my eyes of the sheet music. (ie. avoid looking at my ...
7
votes
1answer
793 views
Where can I find jazz piano scales to practice?
I played the piano for years classically when I was younger, but eventually left it alone in my late teens and twenties. I probably wouldn't have if I'd been allowed to do more Jazz as I always wanted ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Are Hanon exercises mindless unmusical repetiton or a great way to develop finger strength and dexterity?
There are a lot of different opinions about Charles-Louis Hanon's "The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises". Some say it is unmusical and can even lead to wrist damage, while others think they are the ...
10
votes
2answers
6k views
Finger Exercises for Piano when not playing
Are there any finger exercises I can perform even when I am not near a piano to improve my dexterity and strength of my fingers?
