Learning to Play Piano Doesn't Exclude Someday Learning Other Instruments

Hey, how about learning to play sax or trumpet or even drums. Think any of them are right for you?

Because learning any instrument is akin to learning a second language, you need to decide if you want to play popular music, classical, jazz, or even new age music and see if the instrument fits in with the genre. Some, like the harpsichord with rock and roll, or the piccolo with gospel just don't fit, obviously.

Take the tenor saxophone, for example. This instrument has been heard in an amazing variety of musical disciplines in everything from early Motown to the most refined classical music, from big band jazz to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Clearly, this is a universally loved instrument.

The guitar is another easily moldable sound that is an integral part of nearly every type of music you could name. In the form of bass guitar, which originally emulated the double bass fiddle, this pillar of the small ensemble will always be in demand. Can you imagine ANY rock and roll band without the bass guitar?

In classic acoustic or even hollow bodied jazz forms, the guitar has evolved to be everything from a sidebar to the sole instrument for generations. A competent guitar player will always be in demand.

Should you consider an instrument like the French horn or even a woodwind such as the bassoon, your choice will most probably limit you to an orchestral environment to play in, which is where you'll find music written specifically for these instruments. There has been the occasional jazz French horn player, but because this horn is especially difficult to play, most are found in traditional classical environments.

Don't forget the drums when you are considering a field of music to enter. Actually, the area of percussion is filled with much more than just the drums, and includes timpany, bells, cymbals, bongos, and even the xylophone.

The piano is a type of percussion instrument mixed with tonality, which makes learning the piano a journey to unbelievable depths. There is a reason it is beloved the world over. The piano is a timeless instrument worthy of all the hype, pomp and circumstance.

Learning to Play Piano

Have you ever thought about taking beginner piano lessons, or pondered studying to play another instrument? Lots of individuals over the years have learned to play multiple instruments, however the majority have targeted one specifically. The one that you pick varies according to your tastes, but you should do your due diligence concerning each one prior to deciding to make the plunge.

Since learning any instrument is akin to learning a second language, you need to choose if you want to play pop music, classical, jazz, or new age and see if the instrument grooves with that type. Some, including the harpsichord with rock ‘n roll, or the piccolo with gospel are simply a bad match.

Take the tenor saxophone, as an example. This specific instrument continues to be included in an incredible number of musical genres, from early Motown to the majority of classical music, from swing to Bruce Springsteen. Without a doubt, the tenor sax has an incredibly well-rounded and well-received sound.

The guitar is another easily moldable tone which is a fundamental element of virtually all sorts of music you may choose to name. As an amplified electric bass guitar, which originally emulated the double bass fiddle, this constant member connected with any small ensemble shall forever be in demand. Could you picture virtually any modern or classic rock’n roll group without the bass guitar?

With classic acoustic or even hollow bodied jazz varieties, the guitar has progressed to be nearly everything from a sidebar to a stand alone instrument for generations. A competent guitarist will eternally be in demand.

In the event you consider an instrument such as the French horn or even a woodwind like the bassoon, your choice will most probably limit you to an orchestral setting to play in, as that is where you’ll find music written especially for these types of instruments. We have seen the rare jazz French horn player, however, since this horn is especially difficult to play, most are found in conventional classical surroundings.

We certainly ought not ignore the percussive instruments in our discourse of viable music entries. The area is populated with more than a dozen examples from bongos to timpanis to standard drum kits, and even vibes. Mastering this group of instruments, in addition to having the ability to switch competently from one to the other, requires years to learn but can be enormously gratifying. Anyone who has ever witnessed Buddy Rich play knows exactly what I’m talking about. And here was a guy who never acquired the ability to read music!

Which instrument is calling you name? Perhaps, learning to play piano would be a great start in your life of musical endeavors. Try to learn to play piano by ear--its a lot of fun.

Pianist And Lovestruck Fan

It was 1963, and Cathy was in her glory, with good grades and many school activities such as junior prom, senior show, cheerleading, synchronized swimming and modern dance. She decided to drop piano lessons. Her piano teaching mother had said, “OK, but first, come to a rehearsal at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.”

Suddenly, into the conservatory walked a tall, dark, slim, handsome guy with hair. He bowed with a flourish, played the piano as if making love, leaning into the keyboard, slightly moving his lips as if whispering, and moving his head, fingers, and arms in accordance with each emotional nuance of the music.

Cathy wanted to meet this piano player. Her mother said, “No, he's much too old for you.” She did not meet him, and her reverie eventually faded away in the midst of school activities, minus the piano.

A year later, her mother took her to the opera house. The opera house décor was overwhelming. After they found their seats, the house lights dimmed, and out walked a tall, dark, slim, handsome guy with hair. He bowed with a flourish, flipped up his tuxedo tails, and sat down. His movements seemed vaguely familiar. As he leaned into the piano and moved his head, fingers, arms, and lips Cathy was more certain she had seen him before.

After the performance, her mother asked her if she would like to go back stage to meet the pianist. She eagerly agreed. They waited in line, while Cathy became increasingly flustered. When they finally reached him, Cathy could not speak. She floated out of the opera house. After a time, her dream faded, she graduated from high school, went on to college, and had a career as an airline stewardess, then as a deputy sheriff in Oakland.

In 1981, Cathy's girlfriend, Dolly, invited Cathy to a Halloween party in San Francisco as an opportunity to meet a piano player named Henry. The party was held in a Victorian home. Guests were to enter through the back gate and climb up spooky stairs. Dolly's guests jovially walked up. When Cathy arrived at the top of the stairs, she found herself alone with Henry. Dolly's other guests had quickly walked through the house and out the front door.

As the abandoned pair walked through the rooms looking for their party, they came upon a box grand piano. Henry sat down and played Chopin's exciting Fantasy Impromptu, combined with Love Story. As she watched his head, fingers, arms, and lips, she suddenly recognized him as the same pianist she had swooned over years ago.

They spent the evening dancing away. After a whirlwind romance, Henry and Cathy married.

Kids Love Easy Beginner Piano Lessons

You're Never Too Old to Take Beginner Piano Lessons

You've probably heard the old saying that goes: "You are only as old as you feel." If you feel it is too late for you to consider to learn to play the piano, you are probably wrong.

Music has long been associated with the field of mathematics in the way it builds neuron connections in the brain and challenges your mind to remain youthful and flexible. Children who are good at one are often considered to be at an advantage with the other. So, any age might actually be appropriate to begin such an undertaking.

Perhaps you feel that it takes many years to really excel in playing the piano and that you are in the twilight of your life today, with insufficient time remaining to have it make sense. This is simply not the case either.

Sure, it might be unrealistic to imagine you playing with a famous orchestra, but this does not mean that you cannot learn to play simple pieces that you love. Pop, blues, and even classical music can be learned relatively easily and the playing of these types of music has the potential to bring great joy into your life.

For mef, the MOST enjoyable type of music is not written down and has never existed before I play it. I'm talking, of course, about improvisation, or impromptu composition. This is possible in many genres of music, including classical, albeit rare. Beethoven did this at the advanced age of only sixteen on the harpsichord, to the amazement of everyone within earshot.

The most common genre for improvisation is jazz music, which has evolved over the last eighty or so years to the point that you are freely allowed to express yourself in almost every way imaginable. As long as the listener is offered an occasional glimpse of the structure of the background chord and time frames, you are OK. This is not to be understood as "anything goes" although that is nearly the case.Learning to play piano should begin with a working knowledge of the chord progressions of the piece of music you are playing, and the associated scales of those chords. The beginner student should first adhere strongly to the notes in the appropriate scales while learning the craft of interesting melodic and harmonic 'riffs'. More advanced players eventually learn to drift away from the designated scales in an artful and creative manner, before coming back to the original keys. This is known as 'going outside' of the framework of the keys and when done properly, is a magical thing, indeed. Don't ignore another really important aspect of improvising: syncopation. The best players almost NEVER play notes on the actual beat.

Start with beginnerpianolessons and go from there.

Famous Pianist Dies At 94

Earl Wild, a world-renowned classical pianist and leader of the Romantic revival, died at his home in Palm Springs at age 94 of heart failure

Wild performed for six presidents, including John F. Kennedy at his 1961 inauguration. He served as the musical director of the Palm Springs Desert Museum -- now the Palm Springs Art Museum -- during the 1970s. In 1976, he organized the Palm Springs Desert Museum Piano Festival to showcase new international piano talent.

Wild was born on Nov. 26, 1915, in Pittsburgh, and began taking piano lessons when he was 4 years old. When he was 12, he studied under a protege Franz Liszt, who helped create the Romantic movement in music. Wild began giving radio recitals in Pittsburgh when he was 12 and began playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony when he was 14.

In 1937, Wild joined the NBC network as a staff pianist, and in 1939 he became the first pianist to give a recital on television. After he left the Navy in 1944, Wild became a staff pianist, conductor and composer at ABC, a position he held until 1968.

In the following years, Wild toured and recorded prolifically. Many of his recordings are available on his own imprint, Ivory Classics. He also taught at the Eastman School of Music, Penn State University, Ohio State University, Carnegie Mellon, the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School.

Wild's last performance was at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Feb. 5, 2008, when he was awarded the President's Merit Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Wild was an inspiration for millions of students of easy beginner piano lessons and will be missed by scores of fans.

Seven Tips To Help Find the Best Beginner Piano Lessons

Leaning to play piano can be one of the most satisfying things one can do in life. Following are seven tips to help you find a great source of piano lessons.

1. Contact your local elementary school and ask if they have a qualified music teacher who offers private instruction. Most music teachers are qualified to play/teach numerous band and orchestral instruments such as piano.

2. Locate your Local Musicians Union to search for a qualified teacher--doing a search on Google for your local union is the easiest way to contact them. Although being a professional musician doesn't immediately guarantee that you are a patient, understanding teacher, experience and mastery of many types of musical idioms, along with the demand for superb "sight reading" gives them an edge. At the very least, this will be a great source for a reference.

3. If you live in or near a college town that has a school which offers a professional music curriculum, there are typically scores of advanced students who will offer their services to teach piano. And, this is often the least costly source of private lessons. Alternatively, the department heads will usually be a good source for this information--you might even find a professor who will offer lessons in his/her spare time.

4. Look on Craigslist. There are frequently ads by qualified teachers in your area offering to teach piano. Alternatively, you could place a 'want ad' for piano instruction--you are likely to be overwhelmed by the responses, but you will at least have a place to start.

5. Search in the phone book for piano tuners. Piano tuners are frequently "keyed-in" to the local music scene and can be a terrific source of information. Many are musicians and teachers just tuning pianos to earn spare cash.

6. Visit your closest source of retail piano sales. As with tuners, stores that sell pianos are usually knowledgeable about local teachers. You might even find a deal to buy or lease a piano in the bargain.

7. Google has a pretty new feature called "local search" which uses your computer's AP address to furnish you with local vendors and sources of searched items. Include your town and state to assist Google in focusing on your particular neck of the woods.

Sighning-up for private lessons is considered the best way to learn piano by most people because teaching it requires such a vast set of skills. Reading music, learning different keys and time signatures, getting used to two hand playing and fingering, setting-up good practicing patterns, and just finding time to devote to improving over time can be a challenge, but very rewarding when mastered.

There are many piano instruction books as well as online courses for those who are not sure if they have the skills, funds, or commitment for an undertaking like learning the piano. Some are quite good, others less so. We like a system of videos, sound files and music learning game which goes under the name of Rocket Piano. Click Here to learn more about it.

Consider a quality downloadable beginner piano lessons system as an inexpensive alternative to private lessons. Go to http://www.squidoo.com/easybeginnerpianolessons for more information.