Questions tagged [learning]

Learning is the act of acquiring or developing skills and knowledge.

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13 votes
3 answers
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Beginning to learn the transverse C-flute : with offset-G key or inline-G key?

I have a nephew, eleven years old, who wants to start learning the flute next september. I have seen that there are flute models with two central round keys either inline with the others or slightly ...
ogerard's user avatar
  • 8,748
13 votes
7 answers
22k views

What is the American system for graded teaching/examination of beginner musicians?

In many parts of the world, beginner musicians are taught and examined using a syllabus that is divided into "grades". It is a well known shorthand for ability level ("I play a bit of piano", "Oh ...
slim's user avatar
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13 votes
5 answers
3k views

What can I do to learn violin before going to a teacher?

Well, I just got a violin today. Got it set up, tuned up (I think), aaaand... Most horrible sound ever heard in my life! :D So, it is time to learn to play it. Apparently, it is highly advised to get ...
Saturn's user avatar
  • 1,389
12 votes
6 answers
4k views

Would you recommend a keyboard for beginners with or without lights in keys for learning?

For my kid, we want to buy a first piano keyboard. There are nice options under 200 EUR. But now we have a dilemma: do we need helping lights in keys do we need to connect to Tablet (we don't have ...
Vladimir Vukanac's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
4k views

What does /r mean in a score?

Does anyone know what the "/r" in this score might mean? Thank you so much...
Paul's user avatar
  • 121
12 votes
10 answers
36k views

Is Hanon's "Virtuoso Pianist" good for self-taught musician?

I am a self-taught pianist (or keyboardist, whatever you prefer). Some time ago I came across The Virtuoso Pianist but, because I never played under the eye of a professional, I was turned away by the ...
Maurycy's user avatar
  • 457
12 votes
8 answers
3k views

What is the best way to go about re-learning an instrument?

I used to play the electric bass, for about 8 years. I got quite good at it. By the end of my period of playing, I was playing pretty decent stuff, jazz, funk, finger style, slap etc. I had gotten to ...
Henry's user avatar
  • 129
12 votes
6 answers
57k views

What are the trade offs between using a pick and fingerstyle for guitar?

What are the main differences between using a pick vs. playing guitar with my fingers or even fingerstyle? Will there be any negative effects if I get used to one method and later want to learn a ...
Sahan De Silva's user avatar
12 votes
6 answers
3k 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 ...
Sufendy's user avatar
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12 votes
3 answers
107k views

How many keys are enough to learn to play piano?

How many keys are sufficient to learn mostly all basic piano exercises? Electronic versions came with variety of keys, and versions with fewer keys are cheaper and use less space at home. However it ...
h22's user avatar
  • 4,482
12 votes
4 answers
5k views

What are some common beginner mistakes when learning to play the piano?

I'm starting to learn to play the piano by myself (I've had experiences with other instruments so I have some sort of musical framework), and I would like to know what technical nuances I have to know ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 353
12 votes
6 answers
22k views

Can you learn how to drum with the game Rockband 3 and e-drums?

I play the piano (on a low level) but want to try something new. I stumbled on the console game Rockband 3 where you can attach a real e-drum set (the Roland TD9-SX seems to work) and play the game ...
qollin's user avatar
  • 293
12 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the best way to introduce my 4 year old to harmonica?

My 4-year-old son just got a standard 10 hole harmonica in C from his grandmother, and I would like to give him a good start that will encourage him to enjoy playing. I myself started out just like ...
awe's user avatar
  • 3,874
12 votes
1 answer
3k views

Shake and Growl on French Horn

I came across some interesting notation in a piece I'm playing earlier this week, and I'm really not quite sure what the composer intended for me to do. I play French Horn, and here's the notation (2 ...
Siyual's user avatar
  • 922
12 votes
6 answers
9k views

Why is the last string on a guitar called the first string and the first string called the sixth string?

I learned early in my guitar playing journey that what I would naturally assume would be the first string (the fattest string) is actually known in proper guitar anatomy parlance as the sixth string. ...
Rockin Cowboy's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

Dyslexia and sheet music

I was quite dyslexic as a child and struggled through elementary school where reading was concerned. However my math was pretty good so I had no trouble grasping rhythms and identifying scales as ...
crypton480's user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
4k views

What online resources should I use to learn harmony and musical analysis?

I had some harmony courses and I want to learn some more about it. Ideally, I am looking for is a KhanAcademy-like website about harmony and musical analysis. If that doesn't exist, where else should ...
Benjamin Crouzier's user avatar
11 votes
14 answers
792 views

What instruments can a four-year-old with left-side paralysis begin to learn/hope to ever learn?

My four-year-old sister has tragically suffered left side paralysis from a brain injury. Because she's so young, her brain is remarkably plastic, and a lot of functionality has returned. She can walk, ...
General Nuisance's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
3k views

How does one start learning music theory?

I know some basic stuff like scales and how to construct chords, but I don't know much about the roles notes play in melody, what kinds of melodies there are, how to do chord progressions, and so on. ...
EpsilonVector's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
19k views

Jazz piano versus classical piano

What are the main differences between a jazz Pianist and a classical Pianist, If there are any. If I play mainly songs of pop artists (e.g: The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, etc.) does this count ...
iddober's user avatar
  • 6,592
11 votes
7 answers
15k views

Becoming proficient at piano at age 30?

When I was 7 or 8 I took lessons and was not bad at piano. But my teacher and my dad was very strict and would smack me and shout at me when I got a note wrong or something. So, I became afraid of the ...
jack9292's user avatar
  • 111
11 votes
3 answers
26k views

I want to learn the sax. Where should I start?

I do not have any prior musical training. I do not know how to read music. The only instrument I have played are a keyboard and a harmonica. I think I can learn the saxophone if I remain as ...
shyamupa's user avatar
  • 213
11 votes
3 answers
4k views

What are some good slap guitar resources?

I'm fascinated by the technique of most of the guys on CandyRat records, specifically Andy Mckee. Are there any resources out there on slap guitar technique? How can I too become as epic as him at ...
Jduv's user avatar
  • 11.5k
11 votes
9 answers
3k views

Thinking about the notes when playing a piece

I've been a guitar player for 8 years now and I've started to learn the piano recently, which led me to get more into music theory and score reading. When I learned a song on the guitar, I used to ...
Malemort's user avatar
  • 111
11 votes
3 answers
4k views

How can one categorize himself as a Beginner or Intermediate Guitarist?

I'm a self taught guitarist(if you don't count Rocksmith 2014) who plays rhythm guitar only as a hobby. I always get tongue tied when someone asks me "are you a beginner?" because I don't know the ...
CVA's user avatar
  • 433
11 votes
3 answers
618 views

Is a very cheap drum kit an impediment to learning?

A national discount chain is offering an adult drumkit for £50 (about US$80). I've often fancied getting my hand in as a drummer. I don't ever expect drums to be my main instrument, but I would like ...
slim's user avatar
  • 36k
11 votes
1 answer
15k views

Carnatic Vs Western 12 Note system

I was trying to learn the chromatic scale and associate it with carnatic equivalents (I know equal temperment is not the way with indian music, but it interest me to relate and learn it to certain ...
RBz's user avatar
  • 269
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the difference between grouping overlaps and elisions?

I am reading "A Generative Theory of Tonal Music" by F. Lerdahl and R. Jackendoff and I don't understand the difference between grouping overlaps and elisions (this is explained in section 3.4). The ...
Sandra-Émilie's user avatar
10 votes
11 answers
3k views

Instruments that are easy on left pinkie fingers

I am interested in learning an instrument but have limited mobility in my left pinkie/little finger due to an old injury. What instruments are least demanding on that finger?
Hannerz's user avatar
  • 109
10 votes
16 answers
54k views

Why can some people play music well who don't "know music"?

I have seen people who can play instruments well, but can't: Read sheet music. Do not know anything about music theory. Do not know the structures or rhythms of sound, acoustics, or the such. I have,...
Bas Fetz's user avatar
  • 117
10 votes
5 answers
9k views

10,000 Hours Regime - Drums

I'm a big fan of Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 Hours To Master A Skill theory. I've picked up a set of drumsticks for the first time in my life 3 months ago, at the age of 21. The barriers, as they sit ...
Tom Granot's user avatar
10 votes
7 answers
3k views

Is a semi-weighted keyboard good enough to play classical music?

I recently purchased an 88-key, semi-weighted keyboard without doing my research and only recently found out that the weight of the keys has a big impact. I was under the assumption that they are ...
Aragorn250's user avatar
10 votes
6 answers
994 views

Do you have to enjoy a lot of music to make the investment of learning the piano worth it?

I'm currently learning how to play the piano and realizing there are actually not so many pieces that I would like to play. Over the years my taste in music has narrowed a lot. Even though I've tried ...
user avatar
10 votes
8 answers
3k views

How to develop a musical ear when even singing poses great difficulty?

I love music and would love to develop a musical ear. My problem is that I can't get started. All tutorials that I find start at a more advanced point compared to where I am at. I can't carry a tune. ...
Wynne's user avatar
  • 409
10 votes
11 answers
28k 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 ...
Saeed Neamati's user avatar
10 votes
5 answers
8k views

What way am I supposed to practice/learn scales?

I'm currently learning scales and 4 note chords, but I'm not really sure what I'm aiming for. When practising chords, I think they're slowly being cemented into my brain, through muscle memory mainly -...
MattBurrows's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
3k views

How to become a good musician at a later age?

I'm a soon-to-be psychology graduate, however my big passion is playing guitar, and I was wondering if I could turn my hobby into something more serious. I've been a bedroom guitarist for about 6-7 ...
user avatar
10 votes
8 answers
1k views

Are there any books or videos out there that teach you SLOWLY and do not focus on learning TABS?

Are there any books or videos courses that just teach you how to practice acoustic guitar and its not complicated either? I know that there are lots of video course, books, youtube videos out there ...
user avatar
10 votes
5 answers
18k views

Is it OK to play a G chord on the Ukulele differently than the standard finger position?

I'm very new to learning any instrument, so the uke is my first foray into anything musical. My question is, the standard placement of fingers for a G chord is not what I learned originally and I'm ...
user34737's user avatar
  • 109
10 votes
7 answers
18k views

Mastering simple songs vs trying harder ones when learning to play the piano as a total beginner

I've had this question in my head for ages. Recently I got myself to start playing piano again after about 5 years, but I'm still total beginner. Is it better if I stick with really simple songs and ...
Jakub Arnold's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

Am I too old? Is it too late? Starting, Resuming, or Mastering an instrument [duplicate]

Age is a commonly expressed concern in studying music, and there are many questions on this site addressing "late starts" from a variety of perspectives. This post is intended as Link ...
Aaron's user avatar
  • 82.4k
10 votes
4 answers
2k views

How does one "practice conducting"?

This is my first post on the site! I'm 15, a pianist, and have been interesting in conducting for a long time. I know quite a bit about it, I bought a book on it, have a few batons, a favourite ...
Joan's user avatar
  • 103
10 votes
3 answers
658 views

Is it wise to focus on putting odd beats on left when playing double bass drums?

I need to learn two double bass drum patterns: The first one is just repeated over and over again. The second repeats the first measure and then repeats the second measure. My question is about how ...
klutt's user avatar
  • 1,418
10 votes
4 answers
643 views

Free exercise books

I've asked a question here: What is a string skipping exercise?. A follow up question: Are there some good free exercise books available on-line for the post-beginner stage? A link to a good non-...
Silver Light's user avatar
  • 8,072
9 votes
9 answers
6k views

What instrument can an old guy learn if the main goal is to write music?

At this old age I began, two years ago learning to write music. I write it using Sibelius and let the computer play it for me. I have been strongly recommended to learn to play an instrument. I have ...
Anna Taurogenireva's user avatar
9 votes
13 answers
7k views

Is it possible to play instruments without being able to read music?

Can a professional musician play a song with an instrument without any written music notes? For example, you could play "I See Fire" immediately after hearing it once without a chance to practice it. ...
SPICA's user avatar
  • 117
9 votes
11 answers
28k views

What is the right age to start learning to play violin?

I heard that it becomes very difficult to learn to play violin after a certain age (14 IIRC). Is that correct? And what is the reason?
user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
2k views

What type of exercises should a guitar beginner do?

I'm learning classical guitar theory from internet, i get free random courses video on the net. I've tried to play some tabs that i found them on youtube, most tabs I've seen are very hard to play.. ...
Marwen Trabelsi's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
34k views

Do I play all the F's as sharp or just the one with the sharp in the space?

I am trying to teach myself how to play piano and while I know what a key signature is, I don't have a firm grasp on it. I have sheet music in the key of G major. There aren't any F's on that line, ...
user9235's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Intermediate exercises for sight reading, specifically for reading ahead

I've been practicing violin casually for about 20 years and sight reading for about 10 -- but I'm still quite slow, especially when there are a lot of 16th notes and syncopation. The problem for me ...
Rei Miyasaka's user avatar
  • 1,776

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