Almost 40 - want to play piano like Elton
Discussion
No, not play like a gay man....I had piano lessons for a few years as a kid and about 6 months worth 5 years ago. So I'm almost a beginner - but not quite, I can read simple music and know where middle C is. I got as far as a VERY basic swan lake.
Anyway - at 38 I figure if I'm going to get this sorted I need to do it now - so, how do I go about learning to play? My big problem last time was that I was learning swan f
king lake!!!! It bored me silly. My aim is to be able to play a little Elton, simple rendition of Thunder Road would be cool - perhaps a dabble at some Coldplay. Just nice simple stuff that is a) stuff written after 1900 and b) sounds like I'm alright! (Youtube is full of 5 year olds playing Adele so how hard can it be????)
So - in 2011, whats the best way for an old man to do this? Is there a style of learning that can skip the classics and get me into something a bit more fun? I dont want an exams on the wall! Is an on-line option dumb? Will some teachers happily jump into modern stuff?..... or am I too old and should just forget it?
T
Anyway - at 38 I figure if I'm going to get this sorted I need to do it now - so, how do I go about learning to play? My big problem last time was that I was learning swan f
king lake!!!! It bored me silly. My aim is to be able to play a little Elton, simple rendition of Thunder Road would be cool - perhaps a dabble at some Coldplay. Just nice simple stuff that is a) stuff written after 1900 and b) sounds like I'm alright! (Youtube is full of 5 year olds playing Adele so how hard can it be????)So - in 2011, whats the best way for an old man to do this? Is there a style of learning that can skip the classics and get me into something a bit more fun? I dont want an exams on the wall! Is an on-line option dumb? Will some teachers happily jump into modern stuff?..... or am I too old and should just forget it?
T
Whitester said:
Get a keyboard with some songs on it. Mine has light-up keys to show you what to play, lessons where it will play the music without the main piano part which will wait for you. If you want I can give you the model name tomorrow, when I can be arsed to check.
Is it a Yamaha EZ-200? I was looking to pick one up/something similar.FInd a good teacher.
You NEED a teacher to progress in music, and you need enough drive to practice.
My wife is has a diploma in Classical Guitar. When she's preparing for a performance it's 4-6 hours a day, every day, getting the pieces nailed. She only has lessons about every 2 weeks, just to iron some bits out and gain inspiration and enthusiam, but you NEED a teacher.
There's no shame at all in it, most people with the time to learn and perfect a musical instrument are older. Most of the people she plays with at various guitar societies are 40-60 y/o men.
No wait......
You NEED a teacher to progress in music, and you need enough drive to practice.
My wife is has a diploma in Classical Guitar. When she's preparing for a performance it's 4-6 hours a day, every day, getting the pieces nailed. She only has lessons about every 2 weeks, just to iron some bits out and gain inspiration and enthusiam, but you NEED a teacher.
There's no shame at all in it, most people with the time to learn and perfect a musical instrument are older. Most of the people she plays with at various guitar societies are 40-60 y/o men.
No wait......
waffles said:
Is it a Yamaha EZ-200? I was looking to pick one up/something similar.
Casio of some sort. I don't play much nowadays but it's bloody brilliant, taught me to play far better than my teacher ever did. Mind you she taught me theory which has been invaluable. I'll post a link of some up tomorrow, they're around 200 quid IIRC.Tiggsy said:
Revised goal then, 2012! (see, I'm already moving the goal posts!)
And apologies to anyone over 38 who thinks it's not that old (but it is)
Well if you feel old, you are, is all I can say.And apologies to anyone over 38 who thinks it's not that old (but it is)
If you can play by ear a bit, then you should make your goal.
If your paying for the lessons, tell them what you want if going private.
If you go to the local colledge you'll have to - do the course.
My daughter did formal flute lessons up to grade 7 (I think), not heard her play for years now, but apparently she does to relax, according to the wife.
I have real admiration for people that can make music! GO for it!
I was in a similiar position to the OP 10 years ago, except I was 43 then. I had visions of being able to play Beethoven within 12 months. However, as Eric has pointed out, progress can be slow later in life. Our brains are very good at new things when we are children, but not so good when we become adults.
I would also advise getting lessons, but be careful with your choice of teacher. Most are trained to give lessons to children. I had lessons for about a year and stopped them because it was obvious that the teacher was a bit frustrated with my slow progress. This in turn had a very negative effect on my confidence.
I would highly recommend Tim Richard's Improvising Blues Piano .
It will give an understanding of both Blues and rock and roll, fingering techniques and teach as well as "improvisation".
Don
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I would also advise getting lessons, but be careful with your choice of teacher. Most are trained to give lessons to children. I had lessons for about a year and stopped them because it was obvious that the teacher was a bit frustrated with my slow progress. This in turn had a very negative effect on my confidence.
I would highly recommend Tim Richard's Improvising Blues Piano .
It will give an understanding of both Blues and rock and roll, fingering techniques and teach as well as "improvisation".
Don
--
singlecoil said:
The thing that concerns me particularly is that from watching it looks as if piano players are doing different things with their two hands at the same time.
So when you play a guitar both your hands are doing exactly the same thing?Learning any instrument is down to the person and how far they want to take it. There is no quick fix it is all about practise, then some practise, then some more practise.
You will reap the rewards and that will keep you at it.
A teacher, one to one is by far the best route to go down.
But always remember Rome wasn't built in a day and it is never too late to start playing.
Promised Land said:
singlecoil said:
The thing that concerns me particularly is that from watching it looks as if piano players are doing different things with their two hands at the same time.
So when you play a guitar both your hands are doing exactly the same thing?Learning any instrument is down to the person and how far they want to take it. There is no quick fix it is all about practise, then some practise, then some more practise.
You will reap the rewards and that will keep you at it.
A teacher, one to one is by far the best route to go down.
But always remember Rome wasn't built in a day and it is never too late to start playing.
Speaking as a music teacher, I can only echo what has been said, the key is getting a teacher - but it must be the right teacher. Make sure they know your goals, and are willing to work towards them with you. You don't want a teacher who will push their own agenda on you - else you'll get bored and give up.
The two hands thing will come with practice, but that's part of learning of the piano. It makes up for it by being easy in other aspects compared to other instruments!
singlecoil said:
Speaking as someone who strums the guitar a bit, how difficult is it to play a keyboard instrument? The thing that concerns me particularly is that from watching it looks as if piano players are doing different things with their two hands at the same time.
if you play chords you're halfway there. You'll know every chord as a root, third and fifth. Just transpose to the keyboard (i.e. C chord is C plus E plus G). etc etc. Play the guitar chords on the sheet music on the keyboard et voila - you're playing piano!Edited by audidoody on Monday 2nd January 10:19
A good teacher is imperative whether you just want to bash out a few tunes or if you in fact want to be very good. Just like guitar teachers you'll find those that are "into" the same sort of music that you are... AVOID THESE TYPES AT ALL COST. You don't want to be taught by anyone who will lead you down your own little path and have you learning anything parrott fashion.
Find someone who has a decent classical background and preferably someone who has since applied that knowledge to a wide range music in the popular music world too. That way you will get the best technique plus a whole lot of decent theory to back it up with which should allow you to become a musician rather than just someone who plays a bit of piano (there is a vast difference). If you learn properly you will at times get bored with having to do as you're told for what looks like no good reason, but it is these early foundations that you will base all your future technique and theory on, so just make sure you have the willpower to overcome the boredom!
For instance maybe you could give me a two hand voicing for Ebm9 moving to Ab13b9 with an Eb in the lead line as a fill in a big band jazz enviroment? No... I thought not and thats without even thinking of where in a bar those would fall.
Find someone who has a decent classical background and preferably someone who has since applied that knowledge to a wide range music in the popular music world too. That way you will get the best technique plus a whole lot of decent theory to back it up with which should allow you to become a musician rather than just someone who plays a bit of piano (there is a vast difference). If you learn properly you will at times get bored with having to do as you're told for what looks like no good reason, but it is these early foundations that you will base all your future technique and theory on, so just make sure you have the willpower to overcome the boredom!
audidoody said:
if you play chords you're halfway there. You'll know every chord as a root, third and fifth. Just transpose to the keyboard (i.e. C chord is C plus E plus G). etc etc. Play the guitar chords on the sheet music on the keyboard et voila - you're playing piano!
This is about as wrong as it gets. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with chord charts, but if you don't have the technique or theory to back it up then you are not "playing piano", you would be even less of a "pianist" and never be "a musician". I've played from chord charts/lead sheets as well as full dots and even condensing full scores at sight and none of them are any better or worse when used in the right context. The whole point is that to do any of them well that the all-round experience and theoretical knowledge is exceptionally important and you don't get that from saying "C major is C, E, G". That is pressing some keys like dialling a telephone number. It is not playing a musical instrument.For instance maybe you could give me a two hand voicing for Ebm9 moving to Ab13b9 with an Eb in the lead line as a fill in a big band jazz enviroment? No... I thought not and thats without even thinking of where in a bar those would fall.
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