A keyboard instrument which uses felt-tipped hammers to strike at strings.
13
votes
3answers
493 views
Why is a grand piano better than an upright piano?
A Grand piano is considered better than an upright piano. Aesthetically I could understand why, but why does the orientation of the strings matter so much sound-wise?
10
votes
3answers
6k views
How many hours of practice total are typical for different piano grades?
Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Outliers", stated a hypothesis: becoming good at something takes about 10,000 hours of practice.
I've recently been wondering how long a typical piano student has practiced ...
6
votes
4answers
6k views
Using keyboard/MIDI controller to learn piano
I'm an adult just starting to learn music from scratch. The piano I have been using is sometimes not available for me to use, so I would like to buy a keyboard/MIDI controller so I can practice ...
18
votes
7answers
12k views
How do I make piano chords sound interesting when playing along with popular songs?
I'm wanting to start playing along with popular songs and the easiest way to find lyrics and music only has guitar chords. I can play those chords on the piano but it just sounds boring. How should I ...
2
votes
2answers
43 views
What are good warmup practices for piano?
What are the basic warmup practices and exercises for piano playing?
10
votes
3answers
121 views
Why does a piano have only one or two strings per note in the bass register, but three for other registers?
Does it have something to do with keeping it in tune, since the smaller strings might be more prone to be stretched? (And therefore they spread out the impact to more than one string).
Or maybe just ...
2
votes
3answers
94 views
Piano Maintenance
What should be done to maintain an upright piano?
I am not asking about tuning it, but what can be done so it does not have to be tuned as often?
I heard someone once say about a particular piano ...
-2
votes
0answers
33 views
How is this type of music called [closed]
In what genre does the song Dinah by Fats Waller fall?
I would like to know the name of the genre as this would enable me to search for on-line lessons containing this type of music (would be great if ...
4
votes
4answers
80 views
Acoustic considerations for positioning an upright piano against the wall?
I know that upright pianos are usually positioned against the wall for aesthetic reasons, but I was wondering whether there are any sound quality considerations.
Searching the web it seemed like some ...
5
votes
2answers
97 views
strange fingering in moonlight sonata
This is an except of bars 47-50 moonlight sonata from Henle
In bar 49 in the middle of the second triplet there is a fingering of 21 (pressing with the 2 finger and switching to 1 while pressing), ...
6
votes
2answers
251 views
How do I improve the rate at which I learn arpeggios?
I'm referring specifically to this sort of structure, where the notes cascade upwards or downwards but most often up and then back down. Many of the pieces I play (on piano) involve this rather ...
5
votes
2answers
87 views
How to practice endurance to be able to play boogie woogie pieces?
I'm practicing boogie woogie pieces like Pete Johnson's Dive Bomber. After some time my hands are getting stiff and tired while practicing. Especially the left hand. I can mitigate this by limiting ...
2
votes
6answers
136 views
Sight reading (“two hands”) for one non-performers?
For a long time I have wanted to learn to sight-read piano music, and made a few a ttempts, but failed.
The most important reason for these failures, I think, is that I have no interest whatsoever in ...
1
vote
2answers
82 views
Is there a way to repair key on a digital piano?
We have a Kurzwell digital piano and one of the keys sounds louder than the others. Any way to fix this?
2
votes
2answers
86 views
How are method books for instruments created and why do they work?
This is an odd question. But I think I can use some wisdom from teachers and other experienced individuals.
Now, most of the instruments have method books, and many teachers follow them as well. My ...
-4
votes
0answers
40 views
Which instrument is more suitable for playing a romantic song? [closed]
I would like to know which instrument is more suitable for playing a romantic or melody song. I mean for a solo melody..
For example : Trumpet, Piano, Violin, Guitar(different types), Flute etc.
32
votes
18answers
4k views
How to play a song without making mistakes?
I have played keyboard quite a while and now I'm starting to practice some classical musics like Fur Elise. When I see a live performance of any musical instrument, there seems to be no error at all. ...
19
votes
7answers
6k views
How can I significantly improve my hand independence on piano?
I started taking piano lessons about 7 years ago, and stopped about 2 years ago when my teacher (the one and only piano teacher I've had) quit.
In all honesty, my piano has been severely neglected ...
1
vote
3answers
73 views
Tension in hand while playing tetrads (4 notes chords)
I have been playing piano for 2.5 years now, and recently I started playing an arrangement for piano of "The Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker.
Below is an excerpt from this arrangement. There ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
piano finger spread
I'm a self-taught piano novice, can play easier two handed pieces (e.g. Minuet in G maj), struggling with chords. My favourite piano listening piece is BWV582, Bach's Passacaglia/Fuga from an Angela ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Beethoven's Ode to Joy - interpretation [closed]
I heard that Beethoven's Ode To Joy was written to express the essence of life in terms of suffering and acceptance.
I'm not totally convinced by this sentence so I'd like to ask whether someone ...
7
votes
4answers
189 views
Playing Guitar Tabs on Piano?
I was wondering if anyone could possibly explain how I could somehow translate a guitar tab into notes on piano. Is there some sort of algorithm I can apply?
ex:
...
1
vote
3answers
187 views
Advice on writing a midi file from almost complete sheet music
I want to convert a song to a midi file. The sheet music I've found on the internet for this song is almost complete. It's missing a few notes that I can hear when I listen to the song. I can just ...
1
vote
0answers
92 views
Realistic long-term goals for an adult piano learner? (Limits of adult learning) [closed]
I started learning to play classical piano 6 months ago, at 27 years of age. Although I did not play the piano at all prior to this, I have been listening to classical piano and attending concerts for ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Bars 32-37 in Moonlight sonata first movement
I am having trouble playing and memorizing the broken chords sequence:
Should I try and practice on each triplet individually? because when I try to think on it as a broken chord I often can not ...
5
votes
1answer
127 views
How to play repeating notes quickly in the left hand on the piano
I've been working on Fur Elise, and I came to one section repeating a single note staccato in the bass.
How do I play this? I've tried playing it normally, but I can't sustain it for more than a ...
6
votes
2answers
258 views
How do I describe the difficulty of my song?
As part of my practice and for my mini-concerts I compose arrangements to songs. Most of them so far are Simon & Garfunkel songs. I also have started giving away some sheet music to some friends ...
1
vote
4answers
121 views
Is a digital or acoustic piano a better option for a beginner (sound and feel)?
I just started learning piano, and I want to buy a piano for recreational purposes and practicing. I am torn between digital and acoustic. I love the feel and sound of an acoustic, but I cannot afford ...
55
votes
16answers
19k views
What is good software for learning how to sight-read?
I'd like to learn how to sight-read on my own, but practicing the same song over and over again just causes me to memorize it, and filling out worksheets is boring.
Is there any good software for ...
12
votes
4answers
998 views
Fast octaves on the piano
I'm working on the piano accompaniment to Schubert's "Trockne Blumen" variations for flute and piano. Variation 2 is all sixteenth-note octaves in the left hand. I began by practicing very slowly ...
-2
votes
1answer
71 views
What is this song? [closed]
I've been hearing this song everywhere, but cannot identify it. It's the first few seconds of this video:
...
8
votes
2answers
178 views
Is it easier to play on a Grand Piano than an Upright Piano?
I was just wondering if it's easier to play on a Grand Piano comparing to an upright ? Like can someone play well on a grand if he's used to an upright...
I also wanted to know if the keys weight on ...
2
votes
3answers
625 views
How difficult is it to play Beethoven's (Emperor) Piano Concerto No. 5?
At what ABRSM grade would it be sensible to attempt the piano component of this sublime piece of music?
10
votes
2answers
146 views
Trill measure 29 3rd movement moonlight sonata
How do you play the trill in measure 29 of Beethoven's moonlight sonata?
6
votes
6answers
423 views
Assess child's ability or interest in music and piano
I've played the piano a while ago (24 years to be exact!), then had to stop for a number of reasons.
Now I'm 37. I want to start playing again, not just for myself, but to get my 5-year old daughter ...
0
votes
4answers
143 views
Which diploma, ATCL or dipABRSM
I've just completed my grade 8 piano ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in the United Kingdom) exam with distinction. Which diploma should I take next, Trinity's ATCL (Associate, ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Is there a color code for notes?
A few days ago, to learn to play music, I bought a keyboard (Yamaha, EZ-30). It has lighted keys and all light red. It somehow felt wrong that all keys light up red.
If A lights up red, then C should ...
5
votes
2answers
92 views
What is the proper technique for a glissando on piano?
What is the proper technique to perform an upward and downward glissando on piano? In particular, how should you position your hand, and is it important which finger(s) you use?
8
votes
2answers
3k views
How to turn any (pop) song into a jazz song?
Quite often there are pop songs wich get covered in a jazz style. These covers are seen from youtube to tv.
Now I tried doing something like this, with for example Bad Day by Daniel Powter. It's ...
3
votes
6answers
335 views
How to learn piano improvisation
I am a self-taught piano player, played for about five years with shorter and longer breaks. I've never had any formal education, don't know chords or music theory. What should I do to learn piano ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
Notation on Schubert's Op.94, D760, piece 6
I was practicing the 6th moment musicaux of Schubert's Op. 94 using a Henle edition (which is in public domain in imslp, Here) and I encountered something I have never seen before.
Over the bars 30, ...
5
votes
1answer
75 views
Learning standard notation without succombing to simply remembering songs?
I'm in a tricky position. I've been playing guitar for around ten years and am fairly good at improvising and tinkering around on a piano, too. I understand sheet music, I can decipher it, but I can't ...
2
votes
1answer
136 views
Transcribing Piano Chords for Guitar
I've recently started playing rhythm guitar in my church's worship service. The more contemporary songs I don't really have a problem with. It's the traditional songs that are giving me some pain ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Is it easier to play “softly” on a grand piano?
As I live in an apartment complex, I'm limited to playing on digital pianos; something I can plug headphones into so I don't disturb my neighbors. I recently purchased a Yamaha P95 and have been blown ...
-2
votes
1answer
99 views
Please recommend the next piano piece I should learn [closed]
I started learning to play the piano in September last year. I am taking private lessons from a young man who is a very skilled pianist and also a good teacher, but I happen to be his first student. I ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
Is this note in Für Elise an E or a D?
I've seen two notations for the note progression of Für Elise that goes "E.-C-B-A" at the end. One is "E.-C-B-A", which was the one I heard first, and the other is "D.-C-B-A", which appeared in an RCM ...
5
votes
3answers
117 views
Should I be grabbing piano key?
When I hit a piano key should I be grabbing the piano key with a slight inward tug kind of like a brushing motion? Or should I be pressing down with no inward motion?
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Good book/method for a piano beginner [duplicate]
I've been playing guitar for the last 20 years, but I never learned to read notes. Now I decided to learn to read notes and I decided to do it with a piano. I have a good book to learn the notes, but ...
3
votes
4answers
10k views
Yamaha vs Casio digital piano - is there an objective comparison?
I am looking to buy an entry-level digital piano for playing at home, and it seems that of the brands available locally, Yamaha and Casio provide an entry level range that suits me price-wise.
...
-4
votes
1answer
99 views
What are the best books to learn music theory? [closed]
I haven't been able to find anything that particularly relates to this, and I'm sorry if this is a duplicate, but what are the best books to learn about music theory? I honestly have no idea about ...
