Archive: 38 posts

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Hey. Just wondering if anyone here plays the piano or keyboard. I've been trying to teach myself for a while but never stick at it for very long, what with college and exams and all. I always learn the start of a song or half a song off youtube and then I'll see a more advanced version of the same song and feel like the version I'm learning is wrong or "stupid". Is it ok to learn an easier version of a song? Also I really want to be able to sing and play at the same time, have the start of Falling Slowly learned and most of Mad World. After the exams I'll try to get them down and put them up on youtube. But I was wondering, if you're singing a version on youtube that is played without vocals, do you not play the right hand notes (which are usually the same notes as the vocals)? Or do you have to change how you play completely? Anyway feel free to share your piano experience, whether you've done grades or not, what kind of music you play, what you've been learning lately etc.

2009-05-03 18:02:00 Author: Burrich Posts: 1018

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I can play Merry Had A Little Lamb and Chopsticks...

2009-05-03 18:04:00 Author: Unknown User

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We've already got threads concerning Guitar, Bass and now Piano? Are you guys putting a band together or something? Can I be a roadie?

2009-05-03 19:01:00 Author: Morrinn3 Posts: 493

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I play piano! I've played for around 10 years now. Fun stuff! Right now I'm practicing up some classical pieces (around Grade 9 RCM), and I play lots of stuff by ear. I can play most songs I hear without much practice, so I have fun playing movie themes and other stuff. For your songs, I would learn the easy ones first, then move up to the advanced ones when your ready. It might not sound as good, but you've gotta practice first For singing, you probably want to play mostly chords and maybe a harmony. You can still use both hands though. You can also find lots of sheet music on the web.

2009-05-03 19:07:00 Author: hilightnotes Posts: 1230

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I play piano! I've played for around 10 years now. Fun stuff! Right now I'm practicing up some classical pieces (around Grade 9 RCM), and I play lots of stuff by ear. I can play most songs I hear without much practice, so I have fun playing movie themes and other stuff. For your songs, I would learn the easy ones first, then move up to the advanced ones when your ready. It might not sound as good, but you've gotta practice first For singing, you probably want to play mostly chords and maybe a harmony. You can still use both hands though. You can also find lots of sheet music on the web. K, you beat me >_< I'm only playing like not really complex st00f... (for me it's hard enough ) I can do things from naruto, mario, one piece, mortal kombat and tetris... not really amazing stuff <_<

2009-05-03 19:14:00 Author: Yarbone Posts: 3036

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I kinda taught myself...same as YB though, I can't do complicated stuff. (I did figure out Final Countdown [Chorus], Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Crazy Train, Livin' On a Prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name, El Shadi [Did I spell that right?], and a bunch more on my own, though. Hmm.)

2009-05-03 22:27:00 Author: SawronZXZ Posts: 463

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I'm just learning... I can play simple songs with simple chords and that's it.

2009-05-03 23:13:00 Author: crazymario Posts: 657

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I've been playing for about 6-7 years, the hardest song I can play right now is the Entertainer. Not much to say about my experiences with piano beyond that. Here's some asian kid doing a better job than me at it. YouTube - The Entertainer - Joplin

2009-05-04 12:57:00 Author: Code1337 Posts: 3476

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"An error occurred, please try again later." :S I'm sure he's awesome :3

2009-05-04 17:09:00 Author: Yarbone Posts: 3036

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"An error occurred, please try again later." :S I'm sure he's awesome :3 Same... I bet he makes it into some HARDCORE ROCK STYLE THING!!!!!!!!!!! Or not.

2009-05-04 17:19:00 Author: moleynator Posts: 2914

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I actually used to play keyboards and sing professionally with rock bands a number of years ago. I used to write and record music with a guy named Steve Sanders (who used to be with the Oak Ridge Boys) and Ted Watts (who used to play with the Pure Prairie League).

2009-05-04 19:54:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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I don't but I"d like to learn how to play. I've messed around on keyboards and stuff like that a lot. I play the guitar so it's given me a decent ear for music so far (I've only been playing a year and going on 5 months so it's not great) And I started learning some music theory but I kind of stopped....I need to keep studying!

2009-05-04 19:55:00 Author: Hamsalad Posts: 2551

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We've already got threads concerning Guitar, Bass and now Piano? Are you guys putting a band together or something? Can I be a roadie? well, im still the only one who plays bass :| someone (may have been you, i dont recall off the top of my head) mentioned another user who plays it, but ive never seen him around, and there were some other people who play it here and there but mainly play other things. im the only full-on bassist... its so lonely :

2009-05-04 23:04:00 Author: gofurr360z Posts: 886

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I dabble. I can play 'properly' but I'm not particularly very good. Well I guess I could be if I memorized more songs for it.

2009-05-04 23:48:00 Author: Foofles Posts: 2278

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I actually used to play keyboards and sing professionally with rock bands a number of years ago. I used to write and record music with a guy named Steve Sanders (who used to be with the Oak Ridge Boys) and Ted Watts (who used to play with the Pure Prairie League). Cool! Did any of you go to a music school? I'm looking into music schools for composition.

2009-05-05 01:54:00 Author: hilightnotes Posts: 1230

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Cool! Did any of you go to a music school? I'm looking into music schools for composition. I don't think so.... I'm self taught, however my parents are both classically trained pianists (so I had help). Ted Watts is self taught, but I'm not sure about Steve Sanders (he actually shot himself during the time we were playing together, so I can't really ask him.... http://elvispelvis.com/stevesanders.htm)

2009-05-05 04:51:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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I used to play keyboard, I could play a lot of grade 1 songs but never continued to take the grade 1 test. Starting to play guitar now.

2009-05-05 22:14:00 Author: S-A-S--G-U-N-R Posts: 1606

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"An error occurred, please try again later." :S I'm sure he's awesome :3 Same... I bet he makes it into some HARDCORE ROCK STYLE THING!!!!!!!!!!! Or not. You guys don't know that song? Shame! It's like in every amusement park! Here's a dude playing it. YouTube - The Entertainer by Scott Joplin

2009-05-05 22:22:00 Author: Whalio Cappuccino Posts: 5250

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ofcourse i know that song... i guess... But i didn't know the name of it :O

2009-05-06 19:28:00 Author: Yarbone Posts: 3036

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I've been playing piano for almost 10 years now. I learned in Hamilton (In Canada, Ontario) by myself then I started going to a school called Ontario's Conservatory of Music.

2009-05-06 21:25:00 Author: Kurtiss Posts: 6

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No way! I have family in Hamilton Also, do you know much about schools for composition? I'm looking to go into a music school for composition soon...

2009-05-07 01:28:00 Author: hilightnotes Posts: 1230

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I play piano. I have only played it for about 2 years though. I'm at grade 1 -_-.

2009-05-07 15:31:00 Author: Unknown User

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Hey to anyone who is learning through grades, is it worth it getting lessons and doing grades? They seem to be pretty expensive and I'm trying to figure out if I'd be just as well off trying to teach myself or not... They probably are worth the money but I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter.

2009-05-07 17:47:00 Author: Burrich Posts: 1018

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Lool i'm just playing random stuff, I don't feel like taking lessons

2009-05-08 07:25:00 Author: Yarbone Posts: 3036

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Hey to anyone who is learning through grades, is it worth it getting lessons and doing grades? They seem to be pretty expensive and I'm trying to figure out if I'd be just as well off trying to teach myself or not... They probably are worth the money but I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter. The only thing you'll get out of lessons is technique if you can already read music. You'll learn to slur, staccato, blur, proper hand technique, etc. If you already have technique, and are able to read music, I don't recommend you take lessons unless you plan on doing it professionally, in which case the piano teacher can teach you how to teach piano, and the proper manner in which to do a performance, but it's not worth your money if you're just playing at home for fun.

2009-05-08 13:45:00 Author: Code1337 Posts: 3476

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The only thing you'll get out of lessons is technique if you can already read music. You'll learn to slur, staccato, blur, proper hand technique, etc. If you already have technique, and are able to read music, I don't recommend you take lessons unless you plan on doing it professionally, in which case the piano teacher can teach you how to teach piano, and the proper manner in which to do a performance, but it's not worth your money if you're just playing at home for fun. yeh ... for me it's just for fun.. And it's even more fun when you play a song with someone else :hero: I got a friend and we made our own song! :3 Sounds very amateur though >_>

2009-05-09 07:10:00 Author: Yarbone Posts: 3036

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My family keeps saying I need to play the keyboard because of how fast I type... but I have no grace or musical talent. xD

2009-05-09 21:59:00 Author: Tyler Posts: 663

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lol... i don't think it has much to do with typing xD TBH

2009-05-09 22:43:00 Author: Yarbone Posts: 3036

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The only thing you'll get out of lessons is technique if you can already read music. You'll learn to slur, staccato, blur, proper hand technique, etc. If you already have technique, and are able to read music, I don't recommend you take lessons unless you plan on doing it professionally, in which case the piano teacher can teach you how to teach piano, and the proper manner in which to do a performance, but it's not worth your money if you're just playing at home for fun. Well mostly I play just for fun but JazzSoc (the music society in College) do open mic nights and I wouldn't mind having a go. So I guess my overall goal is to be good enough to play and sing some songs for a small crowd (open mic or like at a party where there's a piano/keyboard) or perhaps play in a band but I have no real wish to teach or play professionally. Now I know that achieving those goals is probably a good while away but would you recommend I get lessons? I can kind of read music but not really... I think that's more from a lack of study than anything else, I have a good book on it. I have no real technique though I usually just copy key presses and hand movements from videos on youtube.

2009-05-10 14:27:00 Author: Burrich Posts: 1018

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Well mostly I play just for fun but JazzSoc (the music society in College) do open mic nights and I wouldn't mind having a go. So I guess my overall goal is to be good enough to play and sing some songs for a small crowd (open mic or like at a party where there's a piano/keyboard) or perhaps play in a band but I have no real wish to teach or play professionally. Now I know that achieving those goals is probably a good while away but would you recommend I get lessons? I can kind of read music but not really... I think that's more from a lack of study than anything else, I have a good book on it. I have no real technique though I usually just copy key presses and hand movements from videos on youtube. I would take lessons. If you can't read music that well and don't know what certain things mean or how to play them, you will end up getting the songs wrong and just frustrated. If you really just don't care that much, just get some simple music or something.

2009-05-10 14:42:00 Author: Unknown User

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I used to. Got Grade 1, passing by 1 mark (yeah), and Grade 2, losing 1 mark overall, ie, distinction. Then I stopped, due to illness (google: CFS), and have never really got back into it.

2009-05-10 15:30:00 Author: dawesbr Posts: 3280

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I used to. Got Grade 1, passing by 1 mark (yeah), and Grade 2, losing 1 mark overall, ie, distinction. Then I stopped, due to illness (google: CFS), and have never really got back into it. CFS... that sucks man. My cousins neighbour had/has that... it's no joke. Are ya getting any sort of treatment? (Sorry doing medicine, apologies if I'm prying, just interested ).

2009-05-11 20:25:00 Author: Burrich Posts: 1018

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Thought I'd resurrect this thread. Making a bit of progress but it's slow going and I get frustrated with it sometimes when there are parts of songs that are too difficult . Though learning off youtube probably isn't the best way to learn. Anyway at the minute I'm learning Feeling Good by Muse, Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (frustrating, might learn a simpler version first), Hurt (cover) by Johnny Cash (again frustrating as my keyboard doesn't go low enough for the "what have I become bit") and Signal Fire by Snow Patrol. I'm also trying to sing and play Signal Fire at the same time but I'm getting very frustrated, it's not as bad for Falling Slowly as the words are on-beat with the music. Anyone else learning anything on piano at the moment?

2009-06-14 19:36:00 Author: Burrich Posts: 1018

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I've taken 14 years of piano lessons and studied under a world famous pianist for 2 of those later years. I've been playing since I was 4 years old, (so I guess that makes 16 years total) And have won numerous scholarships and performed at several events. So am I qualified? :arg: Here's a video of me playing a very strange modern song that I won a $2,000 scholarship for my senior year in a performing arts competition. (warning: The song is very weird and modern, but is also very technically difficult to play. I was a little rusty when I recorded this, so I made a couple mistakes...of which you probably won't even notice.) YouTube - Crazy Hard Piano Song: Tocatta

2009-06-19 06:46:00 Author: ApellesJr Posts: 282

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I can't seem to see the video...

2009-06-19 09:27:00 Author: Zwollie Posts: 2173

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Hmmm, I don't know what happened, but I fixed it up. It should be there now...

2009-06-19 18:56:00 Author: ApellesJr Posts: 282

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Hmmm, I don't know what happened, but I fixed it up. It should be there now... Yep, it's up there now....and it sounds great apelles!! It sounds like a modern Gershwin.

2009-06-19 19:19:00 Author: Zwollie Posts: 2173

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Yeah...I really like more classical composers like Rochmoninoff and Beethoven, but this was the only video i had of myself playing, and I don't feel like making one. But anyways, Burrich, as far as learning new songs, and especially singing while you play, the cliche saying "practice makes perfect" stands true. I helped a friend learn a few of his favorite songs on the radio this past year and he just played them over and over every day on my keyboard and eventually learned them. He plays them all without mistakes now

2009-06-20 01:43:00 Author: ApellesJr Posts: 282

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