Digital Marketer working towards an MBA at the University of Southern Maine. My interests include hiking, music, playing music, reading, writing, travel and yoga Address: Windham, ME
Piano for Beginners: Top 5 Tips for Learning to Play the Piano
Have you always wanted to learn h... more Piano for Beginners: Top 5 Tips for Learning to Play the Piano
Have you always wanted to learn how to play the piano but have been unsure of where to start? Here are a few basics if you are somebody who would like to learn how to play.
Piano vs. Keyboard Piano • Acoustic • Weighted keys • Traditional styles of music • Tune at least twice a year • Price: $2,000-$10,000
Keyboard • Electric • Lighter keys • Traditional, modern styles of music • Rhythm Bank • Portable • Price: $200-$1,000
You should base your decision on personal preference but I recommend purchasing a keyboard with weighted keys to start since they are cheaper and require little to no maintenance. This way if you decide the piano isn’t for you, you have invested little money into it. You can always upgrade later on.
Size Matters First, you need to be familiar with the notes on a piano keyboard. A standard piano has 88 keys, however a digital piano can have as few as 25 keys. The notes range from A through G and become higher as you move to the right of the keyboard. I recommend a piano or keyboard with at least 61 or 76 keys as this will give you a broader range and allow room for growth.
Posture Keep your neck aligned with your spine Your ears should be above your shoulders, this will ensure that your neck is aligned with your spine and your head isn’t too far forward. It is important to keep a straight back so you do not develop a hunch or other back related problems.
Shoulders down and back Ensure that your piano bench is the correct height, check that your elbows align with the keyboard, this will prevent your shoulders from tensing up and rounding.
Arch your fingers This is important. Aside from your thumbs, your fingers should always be bent, not flat. This will protect your joints and allow you to move along the keyboard easily.
Feet flat on the floor Your feet should be flat on the floor and not hanging. If your feet dangle, adjust your piano bench. If you use a foot pedal, make sure your heel is grounded on the floor and use the ball of your foot on the pedal.
Practice To progress, practice 20-30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week. Practicing for 20 minutes a day is more effective than practicing for hours at a time because we can only absorb so much new information at once.
Set Goals Set realistic goals for yourself, you will not become a pro overnight. It takes a lot of practice and dedication. Goals will keep you motivated and inspired. Your goal can simply be to practice every day or maybe there is a specific song you want to perfect. Figure out what it is you want to achieve and plan how you will achieve it.
Get Started Now There’s no time like the present. One of the best ways to learn piano is by taking a course, which is how I learned. There are some great courses online that allow you to get started playing today on your own schedule. I personally had success with PianoForAll. They offer all their courses digitally, and on DVD, with several resources and eBooks included in the package. You learn all styles of piano, pop, blues, jazz, ballads, improvisation, and classical while learning to read music at the same time.
Piano for Beginners: Top 5 Tips for Learning to Play the Piano
Have you always wanted to learn h... more Piano for Beginners: Top 5 Tips for Learning to Play the Piano
Have you always wanted to learn how to play the piano but have been unsure of where to start? Here are a few basics if you are somebody who would like to learn how to play.
Piano vs. Keyboard Piano • Acoustic • Weighted keys • Traditional styles of music • Tune at least twice a year • Price: $2,000-$10,000
Keyboard • Electric • Lighter keys • Traditional, modern styles of music • Rhythm Bank • Portable • Price: $200-$1,000
You should base your decision on personal preference but I recommend purchasing a keyboard with weighted keys to start since they are cheaper and require little to no maintenance. This way if you decide the piano isn’t for you, you have invested little money into it. You can always upgrade later on.
Size Matters First, you need to be familiar with the notes on a piano keyboard. A standard piano has 88 keys, however a digital piano can have as few as 25 keys. The notes range from A through G and become higher as you move to the right of the keyboard. I recommend a piano or keyboard with at least 61 or 76 keys as this will give you a broader range and allow room for growth.
Posture Keep your neck aligned with your spine Your ears should be above your shoulders, this will ensure that your neck is aligned with your spine and your head isn’t too far forward. It is important to keep a straight back so you do not develop a hunch or other back related problems.
Shoulders down and back Ensure that your piano bench is the correct height, check that your elbows align with the keyboard, this will prevent your shoulders from tensing up and rounding.
Arch your fingers This is important. Aside from your thumbs, your fingers should always be bent, not flat. This will protect your joints and allow you to move along the keyboard easily.
Feet flat on the floor Your feet should be flat on the floor and not hanging. If your feet dangle, adjust your piano bench. If you use a foot pedal, make sure your heel is grounded on the floor and use the ball of your foot on the pedal.
Practice To progress, practice 20-30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week. Practicing for 20 minutes a day is more effective than practicing for hours at a time because we can only absorb so much new information at once.
Set Goals Set realistic goals for yourself, you will not become a pro overnight. It takes a lot of practice and dedication. Goals will keep you motivated and inspired. Your goal can simply be to practice every day or maybe there is a specific song you want to perfect. Figure out what it is you want to achieve and plan how you will achieve it.
Get Started Now There’s no time like the present. One of the best ways to learn piano is by taking a course, which is how I learned. There are some great courses online that allow you to get started playing today on your own schedule. I personally had success with PianoForAll. They offer all their courses digitally, and on DVD, with several resources and eBooks included in the package. You learn all styles of piano, pop, blues, jazz, ballads, improvisation, and classical while learning to read music at the same time.
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Have you always wanted to learn how to play the piano but have been unsure of where to start? Here are a few basics if you are somebody who would like to learn how to play.
Piano vs. Keyboard
Piano
• Acoustic
• Weighted keys
• Traditional styles of music
• Tune at least twice a year
• Price: $2,000-$10,000
Keyboard
• Electric
• Lighter keys
• Traditional, modern styles of music
• Rhythm Bank
• Portable
• Price: $200-$1,000
You should base your decision on personal preference but I recommend purchasing a keyboard with weighted keys to start since they are cheaper and require little to no maintenance. This way if you decide the piano isn’t for you, you have invested little money into it. You can always upgrade later on.
Size Matters
First, you need to be familiar with the notes on a piano keyboard. A standard piano has 88 keys, however a digital piano can have as few as 25 keys. The notes range from A through G and become higher as you move to the right of the keyboard. I recommend a piano or keyboard with at least 61 or 76 keys as this will give you a broader range and allow room for growth.
Posture
Keep your neck aligned with your spine
Your ears should be above your shoulders, this will ensure that your neck is aligned with your spine and your head isn’t too far forward. It is important to keep a straight back so you do not develop a hunch or other back related problems.
Shoulders down and back
Ensure that your piano bench is the correct height, check that your elbows align with the keyboard, this will prevent your shoulders from tensing up and rounding.
Arch your fingers
This is important. Aside from your thumbs, your fingers should always be bent, not flat. This will protect your joints and allow you to move along the keyboard easily.
Feet flat on the floor
Your feet should be flat on the floor and not hanging. If your feet dangle, adjust your piano bench. If you use a foot pedal, make sure your heel is grounded on the floor and use the ball of your foot on the pedal.
Practice
To progress, practice 20-30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week. Practicing for 20 minutes a day is more effective than practicing for hours at a time because we can only absorb so much new information at once.
Set Goals
Set realistic goals for yourself, you will not become a pro overnight. It takes a lot of practice and dedication. Goals will keep you motivated and inspired. Your goal can simply be to practice every day or maybe there is a specific song you want to perfect. Figure out what it is you want to achieve and plan how you will achieve it.
Get Started Now
There’s no time like the present. One of the best ways to learn piano is by taking a course, which is how I learned. There are some great courses online that allow you to get started playing today on your own schedule. I personally had success with PianoForAll. They offer all their courses digitally, and on DVD, with several resources and eBooks included in the package. You learn all styles of piano, pop, blues, jazz, ballads, improvisation, and classical while learning to read music at the same time.
Check out my website to learn more https://ashleyzemla.wixsite.com/pianoforall
Have you always wanted to learn how to play the piano but have been unsure of where to start? Here are a few basics if you are somebody who would like to learn how to play.
Piano vs. Keyboard
Piano
• Acoustic
• Weighted keys
• Traditional styles of music
• Tune at least twice a year
• Price: $2,000-$10,000
Keyboard
• Electric
• Lighter keys
• Traditional, modern styles of music
• Rhythm Bank
• Portable
• Price: $200-$1,000
You should base your decision on personal preference but I recommend purchasing a keyboard with weighted keys to start since they are cheaper and require little to no maintenance. This way if you decide the piano isn’t for you, you have invested little money into it. You can always upgrade later on.
Size Matters
First, you need to be familiar with the notes on a piano keyboard. A standard piano has 88 keys, however a digital piano can have as few as 25 keys. The notes range from A through G and become higher as you move to the right of the keyboard. I recommend a piano or keyboard with at least 61 or 76 keys as this will give you a broader range and allow room for growth.
Posture
Keep your neck aligned with your spine
Your ears should be above your shoulders, this will ensure that your neck is aligned with your spine and your head isn’t too far forward. It is important to keep a straight back so you do not develop a hunch or other back related problems.
Shoulders down and back
Ensure that your piano bench is the correct height, check that your elbows align with the keyboard, this will prevent your shoulders from tensing up and rounding.
Arch your fingers
This is important. Aside from your thumbs, your fingers should always be bent, not flat. This will protect your joints and allow you to move along the keyboard easily.
Feet flat on the floor
Your feet should be flat on the floor and not hanging. If your feet dangle, adjust your piano bench. If you use a foot pedal, make sure your heel is grounded on the floor and use the ball of your foot on the pedal.
Practice
To progress, practice 20-30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week. Practicing for 20 minutes a day is more effective than practicing for hours at a time because we can only absorb so much new information at once.
Set Goals
Set realistic goals for yourself, you will not become a pro overnight. It takes a lot of practice and dedication. Goals will keep you motivated and inspired. Your goal can simply be to practice every day or maybe there is a specific song you want to perfect. Figure out what it is you want to achieve and plan how you will achieve it.
Get Started Now
There’s no time like the present. One of the best ways to learn piano is by taking a course, which is how I learned. There are some great courses online that allow you to get started playing today on your own schedule. I personally had success with PianoForAll. They offer all their courses digitally, and on DVD, with several resources and eBooks included in the package. You learn all styles of piano, pop, blues, jazz, ballads, improvisation, and classical while learning to read music at the same time.
Check out my website to learn more https://ashleyzemla.wixsite.com/pianoforall