Piano tunes help needed.
Discussion
My son is a bit of a wizz on the old ivories. He is ten years old and has just completed his grade 4 (with a distinction no less). Anyhow he gets bored of the stuff he churns through for the grades and he really enjoys playing modern R&B. We picked up a Rhianna book for him but he wasn't keen on it. I was hoping for some ideas from anyone in the know.
Any help would be appreciated - espeically by his musically inept parents!
Any help would be appreciated - espeically by his musically inept parents!
Is the music he has been playing for grades predominantly classical?
When I learned (thirty years ago now!!!) I went through a similar phase, and was on the verge of quitting....and my dad bought me a few books of "popular" music... not necessarily up-to-date (at the time) music... just pop music classics (if that makes sense)
Even though I may not have been a huge fan of a particular peice, it was still hugely enjoyable to learn and play it, in comparison to the classical stuff I had been doing.
To be honest, it re-kindled my love of playing the piano, and I am so glad I continued (to grade 8!)
I realise that doesn't answer your question directly, but thought it may help (a bit!)
When I learned (thirty years ago now!!!) I went through a similar phase, and was on the verge of quitting....and my dad bought me a few books of "popular" music... not necessarily up-to-date (at the time) music... just pop music classics (if that makes sense)
Even though I may not have been a huge fan of a particular peice, it was still hugely enjoyable to learn and play it, in comparison to the classical stuff I had been doing.
To be honest, it re-kindled my love of playing the piano, and I am so glad I continued (to grade 8!)
I realise that doesn't answer your question directly, but thought it may help (a bit!)
Yes. I have the answer.
What I suggest you do is exactly what I did in L6th (years ago). I had played classical properly since 7 and then started "jamming" blues and boogie woogie and making up my own tunes. I got to the end of this and realised that I needed to get into jazz in order to progress.
I got recommended to an old session player (lots of gold records!!) who taught me 5 part modern harmony.
You don't learn jazz, you learn "modern piano" which involves the study of how chords are built up, both jazz voicings and gospel/pop voicings, how to improvise and what is the most perfectly beautiful part, it's very simple. Instead of full score (music written for both hands) you use "short score" which is the melody line PLUS chords (harmony). This is an absolute peach and for me, it was the time I went from being an average classical pianist to a jazz ripper. Give me (or anyone who can read/play modern piano) a short score of anyone from the spice girls to duke ellington and I'll play it how you want it.... latin, march, funky, straight, swinging, whatever. It is the most rewarding way of playing the piano and what's more, you can jump in with any band, be given the framework of chords or "lead sheet" (short score) and just do it.
I pretty much threw classical in the bin, but as boring and regimental as classical is, it teaches some very important skills and discipline.
Make sure your son has a decent instrument and give him a year or so of lessons and he will be very good indeed.
What got me practising hours and hours a day was when I really started making progress and enjoying myself on the piano. If he wants to go in this direction, I totally recommend it.
Finding a good teacher is something totally different. Best of luck
What I suggest you do is exactly what I did in L6th (years ago). I had played classical properly since 7 and then started "jamming" blues and boogie woogie and making up my own tunes. I got to the end of this and realised that I needed to get into jazz in order to progress.
I got recommended to an old session player (lots of gold records!!) who taught me 5 part modern harmony.
You don't learn jazz, you learn "modern piano" which involves the study of how chords are built up, both jazz voicings and gospel/pop voicings, how to improvise and what is the most perfectly beautiful part, it's very simple. Instead of full score (music written for both hands) you use "short score" which is the melody line PLUS chords (harmony). This is an absolute peach and for me, it was the time I went from being an average classical pianist to a jazz ripper. Give me (or anyone who can read/play modern piano) a short score of anyone from the spice girls to duke ellington and I'll play it how you want it.... latin, march, funky, straight, swinging, whatever. It is the most rewarding way of playing the piano and what's more, you can jump in with any band, be given the framework of chords or "lead sheet" (short score) and just do it.
I pretty much threw classical in the bin, but as boring and regimental as classical is, it teaches some very important skills and discipline.
Make sure your son has a decent instrument and give him a year or so of lessons and he will be very good indeed.
What got me practising hours and hours a day was when I really started making progress and enjoying myself on the piano. If he wants to go in this direction, I totally recommend it.
Finding a good teacher is something totally different. Best of luck
Tangent Police said:
Yes. I have the answer.
What I suggest you do is exactly what I did in L6th (years ago). I had played classical properly since 7 and then started "jamming" blues and boogie woogie and making up my own tunes. I got to the end of this and realised that I needed to get into jazz in order to progress.
I got recommended to an old session player (lots of gold records!!) who taught me 5 part modern harmony.
You don't learn jazz, you learn "modern piano" which involves the study of how chords are built up, both jazz voicings and gospel/pop voicings, how to improvise and what is the most perfectly beautiful part, it's very simple. Instead of full score (music written for both hands) you use "short score" which is the melody line PLUS chords (harmony). This is an absolute peach and for me, it was the time I went from being an average classical pianist to a jazz ripper. Give me (or anyone who can read/play modern piano) a short score of anyone from the spice girls to duke ellington and I'll play it how you want it.... latin, march, funky, straight, swinging, whatever. It is the most rewarding way of playing the piano and what's more, you can jump in with any band, be given the framework of chords or "lead sheet" (short score) and just do it.
I pretty much threw classical in the bin, but as boring and regimental as classical is, it teaches some very important skills and discipline.
Make sure your son has a decent instrument and give him a year or so of lessons and he will be very good indeed.
What got me practising hours and hours a day was when I really started making progress and enjoying myself on the piano. If he wants to go in this direction, I totally recommend it.
Finding a good teacher is something totally different. Best of luck
You are somewhat dismissive of 'classical' music. If you think it is boring and regimented, then perhaps you just didn't find a decent teacher. That is not to say that learning it is easy, but then that is part of the satisfaction.What I suggest you do is exactly what I did in L6th (years ago). I had played classical properly since 7 and then started "jamming" blues and boogie woogie and making up my own tunes. I got to the end of this and realised that I needed to get into jazz in order to progress.
I got recommended to an old session player (lots of gold records!!) who taught me 5 part modern harmony.
You don't learn jazz, you learn "modern piano" which involves the study of how chords are built up, both jazz voicings and gospel/pop voicings, how to improvise and what is the most perfectly beautiful part, it's very simple. Instead of full score (music written for both hands) you use "short score" which is the melody line PLUS chords (harmony). This is an absolute peach and for me, it was the time I went from being an average classical pianist to a jazz ripper. Give me (or anyone who can read/play modern piano) a short score of anyone from the spice girls to duke ellington and I'll play it how you want it.... latin, march, funky, straight, swinging, whatever. It is the most rewarding way of playing the piano and what's more, you can jump in with any band, be given the framework of chords or "lead sheet" (short score) and just do it.
I pretty much threw classical in the bin, but as boring and regimental as classical is, it teaches some very important skills and discipline.
Make sure your son has a decent instrument and give him a year or so of lessons and he will be very good indeed.
What got me practising hours and hours a day was when I really started making progress and enjoying myself on the piano. If he wants to go in this direction, I totally recommend it.
Finding a good teacher is something totally different. Best of luck
tank slapper said:
You are somewhat dismissive of 'classical' music. If you think it is boring and regimented, then perhaps you just didn't find a decent teacher. That is not to say that learning it is easy, but then that is part of the satisfaction.
Indeed, you could argue that to play it exactly as the composer prescribed is missing the point. Music is an art and thus one should express emotion through it, irrespective of the style.I spent years in my youth as well learning piano,all the old usual classical stuff you got taught.Got disillusioned and bored with it all,got as far as grade 7,picked up an electric guitar,fired up the amp and battered an A chord,waaahaaayy!!!!Never looked back
.Only thing i got out of the whole piano lessons thing was a real love of Chopin for some reason!!Goes slightly against the grain of my love of ACDC,Foo Fighters and the likes but the guy was a genius!
.Only thing i got out of the whole piano lessons thing was a real love of Chopin for some reason!!Goes slightly against the grain of my love of ACDC,Foo Fighters and the likes but the guy was a genius! Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff