Welcome to Classical Music Guide
NEW! Classical Music Videos
Famous Classical Piano Music Article
Piano Tips
Carlos Semilla
Here are some pointers to help you on your journey in learning to play the piano:
1. Take some lessons with a good classical teacher.
2. Use the Hanon exercises (especially the scales and arpeggios) to gain finger dexterity and to know the correct piano fingering of the scales and arpeggios. Always use a metronome when you're doing these exercises to develop your sense of timing. If you don't have a metronome try putting an accent on the "one" count of every sixteenth note (e.g. ONE,two,three,four; ONE,two,three,four... etc... ).
3. After learning the basics/rudiments of playing the instrument, find another teacher who can teach you how to play the chords (a good jazz piano improvisation teacher will do!) and how to improvise.
4. Master the five qualities of chords (major seventh, dominant seventh, minor seventh, half-diminished, and the diminished seventh) their inversions, arpeggios and scales.
5. Try to apply what you are learning to your favorite songs especially jazz standard songs even to some classical music pieces. You can use songbooks, fake books, real books and music sheets, which are readily available at your local music stores or online.
6. Listen to all types of music and try to transcribe phrases/passages/riffs/licks or songs that interests you. Listen to piano players - the way they play, improvise and learn from them. Try to read their biography to learn how they study, practice, who influenced them and their achievements. I believe these can help to make you a well-rounded piano player.
7. Play with other musicians or join a band in your school or in your neighborhood.
8. Try to sing the melody of the song you are playing (you might have a hidden talent in singing) or if you are improvising, sing (scat) what you are playing.
9. Buy some piano lesson books, magazines, piano lesson videos, piano lesson software or CD-ROM.
10. Practice, practice and practice!
About the Author: Carlos Semilla got more piano tips for you and free piano lessons at http://www.learn-to-play-piano-online.com . A website with free sheet music, jazz improvisation lessons, tips, and music resources.
Source: www.isnare.com
Famous Classical Piano Music News
MusicalFare revue honors American spirit in music, politics - Buffalo News
Politically themed musical theater can be a tricky proposition, even for the most gifted practitioners of the form. But just in time for the inauguration of America’s first black president, MusicalFare Theatre director Randall Kramer has struck ...
Read more...Imagination would boost pianist's technical strengths - Seattle Post Intelligencer
The 21-year old artist Yuja Wang, who made her local debut Wednesday night at Meany, is a good case. When she was booked, the Chinese pianist was hardly a breath away from her North American premiere. Then she made her New York debut, toured Asia ...
Read more...A new look at classical music - Medford Mail Tribune
Quartetto Gelato describes itself as a place where music meets theatre with virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, gypsy pyrotechnics and a world accordion champion. Chamber Music Concerts is bringing the Canadian musicians to the Rogue Valley ...
Read more...Music is a family affair for acclaimed violinist performing in ... - Newark Star-Ledger
TONY KURDZUK/THE STAR-LEDGER Violinist Sergey Khachatryan performs at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in March 2006. Sergey Khachatryan with Lusine Khachatryan . When: 8 p.m. Wednesday. Where: Matthews Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 ...
Read more...New York concerts examine “lost music” of twentieth century - World Socialist Web Site
Classical works by composers who died at the hands of the Nazis or who were forced to leave the lands of their birth, in some cases never to return, have been receiving increased attention in recent years. James Conlon, an American-born conductor ...
Read more...'SNL' musician to jam with students - Tri-City Herald
Ryan Keberle was destined from birth to play music. His dad is the renowned music teacher and trumpet player Dan Keberle, a professor at Whitworth University in Spokane. It was at Whitworth where Hanford High's band director, Kevin Swisher, honed his ...
Read more...