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View Full Version : Piano Playing Tips


Lenny
2009-08-16, 03:14 PM
I know there are other Piano threads, but this is for me.

I want to learn how to play the piano properly, and I need some tips.

What I already know:

- I'm a Gr. 7 (ABRSM) Trumpet player, so music is no problem whatsoever. Treble Clef is as easy as breathing, and although I'm slow with Bass Clef, I can read it.
- We've got a piano, and I've played with it for a couple of years, so I know where the notes are.

Erm... that about covers it, really - I'm already a musician, so I know the clefs, notes, and where things are on the piano.

I can also play things with my right hand (more than one note at a time is a bit taxing, but I can do it after a few minutes practising), though my left hand isn't fantastic. Two hands together is something I just can't do very well at all.

I've also got longish fingers, and can touch type, if that helps at all? :p

Currently there are three pieces I want to be able to play: To Zanarkand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGqTA2Uae3s) from FFX, This is Halloween (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-KUkCbphxA) from Nightmare Before Christmas, and Casper's Lullaby/One Last Wish (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ont3jgzo4) from the 1995 Casper film.

Short of sitting at the piano for hours and playing the pieces until I can do them well, does anyone have any tips? I'd particularly like to be able to play a new piece by sight in the future, and I don't think that forcing myself to learn three pieces would allow me to do that.

Jessifer
2009-08-17, 09:47 AM
My choir training has allowed me to be able to pluck out notes from sheet music on a piano, but my fingers are so short that I can't really learn to play effectively, chords and such, as much as I would love to. I used to be able to play the main melody of Eyes on Me - FFVIII (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMJ9OTXsQSg), and I probably could if I sat down and tried to pluck out the notes again. I can play the main melody of Rainy Day Man from Sailor Moon still, though...