How To Play Piano - Taking the First Steps in Learning the Piano

Learning how to play piano is not an extremely difficult task that has stringent age requirements, contrary to what some people think. Although there are advantages to learning at a young age, the piano is an instrument that can be mastered by anyone with the guts to persevere. The first requirement to learning this instrument is owning or having access to a piano.

Because the piano is a large and expensive piece of equipment, having a smaller and less expensive keyboard is a decent substitute for beginners. The main difference between these two instruments is that the keyboard has 66 keys, while the piano has 88 keys. Another important difference is that the piano keys are larger and heavier, making it more difficult to play for beginners.

This is an instrument that has been around for several hundred years and has been the subject of much study over the years, out of which many different methods for learning and teaching this instrument have emerged. Several people adopt the "learn by ear" method, which is where they simply fiddle and learn by trial and error. This method is rather ineffective and several bad habits can be acquired by attempting such a task without a proper tutor or instructor. In order to learn how to play the piano properly, a tutor of some sort is required. This can take the form of online video tutorials, DVDs, books or an actual teacher.

Those who are quick learners and have a lot of motivation will find that videos and books are very effective instructors and will be able to learn many different chords and even a little musical theory. A private teacher is generally considered more effective, as the teacher can modify the syllabus to suit the pupil's strengths and interest. Attending a music school also affords one the opportunity to learn musical theory (sheet music) properly.

The act of reading sheet music is a complex task, which takes some study, a little instruction and a lot of practice. Learning how to read sheet music enables one to be able to play complex compositions almost instantly, rather than trying to figure them out by ear. That being said, "Ear training", or learning to recognize musical intervals and tonal changes is a very important skill which is also taught by professional teachers. Once a method for learning has been appropriated, the next and most important element is practice. Skill and proficiency at this instrument is not absorbed and can only be achieved by steady and faithful practice. Learning how to play piano is something that can be achieved by a person of any age. The important thing is to choose an appropriate learning method on how to play piano and dedicates enough time to practice regularly.

Discover the simplest way on playing the piano by looking at How to play piano on-line store. Alternatively, watch the YouTube video by clicking How to play piano

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Looking to Learn Classical Guitar? Read This First!

Are you looking to learn classical guitar? Are you wondering where and how you should get started? Are you not able to decide if you should take guitar lessons from a teacher or learn from home? If so, make sure you read this article fully. By the time you finish reading it, you will have the answers to all your questions.

Classical Guitars - A Good Choice

If you are a beginner, classical guitars are the perfect choice for you. They have nylon strings, which are really easy on the fingers. It makes it possible for you to practice for a long time without hurting your fingers. Contrary to what some people think, the transition from a classical guitar to an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar is not that difficult. So, if you have decided to take classical guitar lessons, you should be happy for making a good choice.

Getting Started

When it comes to learning guitar, you have three choices - taking lessons from a music teacher, learning from home using books and videotapes, and taking online guitar lessons.

Hiring a Teacher

It is a good choice if you can afford to handle a set schedule. Picking the brains of an experienced music teacher will help you learn classical guitar quickly. You should, however, be willing to move along at the teacher's pace.

Books and Videotapes

You can read books written by experts and watch videotapes to learn guitar from home. You can learn at your own pace. The only problem is the absence of a qualified instructor who can help you with your practice and clarify your doubts.

Online

If you have a computer and a reliable internet connection, you can take online classical guitar lessons and learn from home. There are a number of websites that contain a variety of guitar lessons for beginners, intermediates, and advanced learners. These are membership sites that require you to pay a small fee and get registered. Once you do, you will be able to access all the learning material, interact with other members, and communicate with the teacher who created the course.

These websites contain instructions and tips in the form of text as well as videos. So, you can read the information, watch the videos again and again, and learn at your own pace.

Tips to Learn Classical Guitar

* First, select a good guitar. Choose one with a solid top. A cedar top, in particular, is a very good choice. Spanish guitars are usually a good choice as they sound better than most other guitars available on the market today. If you are on a budget, go for a guitar with laminated sides and back.

* It is a good idea to buy extra strings as you are likely to break the strings while practicing for the first time.

* Do not try to play music straight away. First, learn the necessary skills to play music. This is an important point you need to remember while taking online classical guitar lessons.

* Learn to hold the guitar properly. You will not get it right immediately. Try it again and again and settle into what works for you. As you start practicing, you will be able to notice the difference between the way you hold the guitar and the way your instructor holds it. You should then make the necessary adjustments and correct your posture.

* You cannot master the instrument after practicing for a few months. If you try to learn quickly, you will not make any progress in the long run. So, it is very important to advance at the right pace. If you want to learn classical guitar, you should start with the basics, learn all the important techniques, update your musical knowledge, and practice regularly until you get the desired results.

To add to your body of knowledge of playing a guitar click on Learn Classical Guitar and for even more info take a look at Classical Guitar Lessons.

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Surviving Your First Music Festival Gig

When bands make the leap from garage to bar, things get fun. When they make the leap from bar to festival show, things get interesting. This article will provide you with some key things to pay attention to when you are playing your first festival show.

Some buzzwords you will want to keep in mind: "House equipment" is what the venue will be providing for you. This typically includes the PA system, lighting, vocal mics, stage monitors and microphones to mic your amp cabinets. They usually will have some other things around like direct boxes and XLR snakes. "Front of House" (also called FOH) is a separate mixing area close to the stage. The FOH engineer is responsible for making sure the band members can hear themselves o.k. on stage. What the band hears on stage is called the "stage mix". The "house mixing engineer" typically operates a larger console placed much further back from the stage. This engineer is responsible for creating the mix that the audience hears. You may or may not have a FOH engineer, depending on the size of the venue/event.

Sometimes a house drumset is included and sometimes a house guitar amp stack is included. Some venues want to have very fast turnover times between acts, and require that the band uses the house drumset and/or house guitar/bass amp stacks.

Before you show up at the event, try to find the following out days in advance:

1) Do you need to bring anything other than your core band instruments. For example, do you need to bring vocal mics, mics for your guitar amps, or stage monitors?

2) Is there something you will *not* be allowed to bring on stage. For example, do they require you to play the house drum set or use the house guitar amp stack to minimize stage turnover time between acts?

3) What is the size of the stage? Will you be able to fit comfortably?

4) Will there be wireless vocal mics? (This can affect the opportunities for the lead singer to move on stage).

5) If it's an outdoor venue, what covering is over the stage? (You may think twice about bringing your $3000 electric guitar if there is no covering and the weather is forecasting rain).

6) Will there be soundcheck opportunities? If so: what time do you soundcheck, and how much time do you have?

7) What time do you go on? How much time do you have to play, and how much setup time do you have?

8) Where is the load-in area for your equipment? How safe is it? What level of supervision does the load-in area have before/during/after you go on stage?

You should not be shy about asking these questions. The concert arrangers and technical people want you to know what you are doing. They want you to be informed, on-time, and prepared.

Besides the above checklist, you should also be reviewing your equipment in terms of backups and fail-safes: If you broke a string on stage what would happen? If the drummer broke a cymbal or a snare drum head on stage what would happen? If your guitar cable cuts out on stage what would happen? If the battery in your stompbox dies on stage what would happen? Make sure something as silly as an extra set of guitar strings doesn't ruin your day. Also make sure a traffic jam doesn't ruin your day either. The one day you need to get to the big gig can be the one day that there is a three-hour delay due to a giant traffic accident!

Festival shows have their own amount of wackiness. But proper preparation and knowledge can minimize the mishaps and allow you to concentrate on entertaining the audience. Good luck!

J.H. writes for 2sheetmusic.com, which features sheet music such as Morning Has Broken for guitar, bass, flute, and other instruments.

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