Learning to play piano

[Keen]

Feel like learning playing a piano... Can i learn it by myself through books? thinking of buying a keyboard to try out first... any advice on how should i start? and what keyboard to get? as I notice they vary much in price too..

[AngelEye]

not easy self learn. can take lesson, peace centre city music have course for adult. 1-1 lesson. learning pace depends on oneself. can go there regularly to practice on their piano. :)

[Keen]

ok... TY... anyway.. anyone know where can I get affordable good keyboards?

[Nus24]

I suggest you to take up a 3-months course, after that you can experiment on your own!

Learn all the basics notes reading, symbols and correct hand techniques.

 

Its like driving....understand all the basic rules...then the fine skills is up to you to practice on the road subsequently.

 

 

 

Cristopher/Yamaha got sales now......can get those electronics one around $1000. Remember to get those with weighted keyboard that simulate the actual wooden piano!

Edited December 22, 2008 by Nus24

[Zert88]

Hi, I'm also learning by myself The first question is how much time are you going to devote into learning each day. If you think you are learning just becos of one or two favourite piece of music, jus get a cheap keyboard. If you are serious about learning piano but not intend to spend too much $$$, get a electric piano which cost about 1-2k for a brand new one.

 

My bro is an example, he jus learn to play the one and only song he likes, then full stop. We both start learning at the same time and luckily I enjoy it, otherwise the $$$ spent is not worth it.

 

You can learn some of the basics and tips online such as

http://www.8notes.com/piano/

http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book

http://www.gopiano.com/

 

and piano sight reading

http://astro.sci.uop.edu/~harlow/piano/index.html

 

First few mths are the most difficult period. If you have a favourite song in mind, look for it at youtube, let those videos inspire you, sometimes you'll be able to find turioral of the song too. Expose yourself to piano related stuffs to keep you going.

 

I'm still learning, still sucks at it, especially sight reading No matter wat, don't give up

[Cheepo]

Go sign up for adults course for keyboards. If you clear that and are still interested then move on to piano.

[Genie47]

Bringing this thread up.

 

Wife is taking up piano lessons for adults.

 

I point all of you to http://pianosociety.com

 

My favorite melancholic pieces. Download to keep if you must.

 

Chopin's Nocturne No. 20.

 

Rachmaninov's Prelude Op. 32 No. 10.

 

Ravel's Pavane pour une infante d

[Sir8]

Got plenty of good used piano at reasonable price.

[Genie47]

A cheap MIC Pearl River 120cm tall upright can be bought for 3k. The used ones I saw are also 3k. But they offered buy back at 1.5k within 2yrs. So I got a brand new Pearl River.

[Hamburger]

learn pop piano where u learn to play chords n can also sing along. Classical piano is juz too much too digest

[Alex12]

Interested in learning? helping my friend to find ppl interested in learning. she's teaching in cristofori and turning to giving private lesson. interested can pm me

[Joyride77]

  On 3/30/2009 at 2:06 PM, Genie47 said:

A cheap MIC Pearl River 120cm tall upright can be bought for 3k. The used ones I saw are also 3k. But they offered buy back at 1.5k within 2yrs. So I got a brand new Pearl River.

 

 

Pearl River is made in china. No resale value in Spore leh.

 

3k can buy a used Kawai, exam height. Sporeans love to buy Yamaha and Kawai. If they are of exam height, CONFIRM can sell off to private buyers at very good price, losing very little, that is if you keep the piano tuned and looking good. Go to Cristofori's piano warehouse in the industrial estate across Changi Hospital. The used pianos are all in tip top condition and you get a huge variety of brands, so you can choose based on your budget. Installment payments are accepted as well.

 

Playing a better piano = better sound quality, will heighten your interest in picking up the piano.

[Tjkbeluga]

You can rent from Lowreys at SGD380 for 6 months to test water first.

[Watwheels]

Whoa, I'm impressed. You are one of the few who can appreciate classical music. I came across many ppl whom whenever I mention about classical music, the conversation cannot go far.

 

I play the piano since young but when I reached grade6 I cannot take it as I couldn't cope with school work. I luv Chopin. But so far I only master 2 Nocturn and still struggling with one of the Etude. His compositions are kinda challenging to play, a bit "eccentric"(some parts it just sounds like a mess) but at the same time romantic.

 

When I was playing my exam pieces, I realised that even ppl like Beethoven can compose not so nice music all the time...or maybe I hate playing exam pieces.

 

Finding scores in sg is also a pain. But there was once I was in Fuzhou, China, I can easily find what I wanted especially for Beethoven's "moonlight" series(there are 3 parts/movements). I manage to find all his famous works all compiled into 2 thick books. Dan later I found out Fuzhou was organising a piano competition at that time. Music scores were available in most of their major bookstores.

 

Being an adult I find that I have lesser time to practice and have a tough time trying to focus or concentrate dan when I was young. But nevertheless I won't give it up.

[Genie47]

I got it from Cristofori warehouse. I know the PR no resale that is why Cristofori agree to buy back at half the price that is why I got it. Transport they also foot the bill. I buy used 3k Kawai, no guarantee 1.5k though I might lose little but transport and all that hassle just to get rid of it? Forget it.

 

Its like car lah. Buy high, sell also high. Buy low, sell also low. Depreciation still the same.

 

BTW, do you know the Japanese don't bring their pianos along with them when they move house? Transport for the piano so damn expensive, they sell it together with the house and buy a new one for the new house.

 

Also I also don't like the idea of buying so called "higher priced, higher quality piano" because a lot of children drop out and then the piano becomes a very expensive piece of furniture at home. WTF for?!

[Genie47]

Rent at 380pm? You crazy?

 

With the PR piano at 3k, if the missus and little girl fails in achieving playing Ba Ba Black Sheep in 2yrs, I sell it back to Cristofori for 1.5k and that is 1.5k/24 = 62.50pm rental!

[Tjkbeluga]

  On 3/31/2009 at 2:12 AM, Genie47 said:

Rent at 380pm? You crazy?

 

With the PR piano at 3k, if the missus and little girl fails in achieving playing Ba Ba Black Sheep in 2yrs, I sell it back to Cristofori for 1.5k and that is 1.5k/24 = 62.50pm rental!

Per 6 months friend..... Slightly cheaper than your proposition, but then it's still good for those who want to test water and decided to call it quit later on. Only burn $380 only. Versus buy a piano and later sell back, it's still a loss of 1.5K no matter how low per month's amortazation is. Plus, within the 6 months, if we decide to buy, say on the end of 3rd month, can use the remaining unused rental cost to offset the price of the piano. Transportation I think is also provided by them. Their school is in Tampines... Going today evening to check it out....

Edited March 31, 2009 by Tjkbeluga

[Genie47]

While you are at the Tampines area, do go to Geylang to check out the Hailun or Wendl & Lung pianos.

 

Much I learned was from this thread in Pianoworld.

 

http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.../1164476/1.html

 

Beware it is 66 pages long. Lots of mudslinging as well. Eventually the unbiased experts won. If got money, Yamaha. If on budget but need good Hailun or W&L. Dunno why, many turned off by the sound the Kawais make.

 

From other threads there, I also learned there are lots of piano snobs dissing the MICs and whatever. Lots of other brands to look out for too. From Czech Republic, Petroff. Never heard but they sing praises about it. Like people here praise Skoda also from Czech Republic but dunno whether to buy or not.

 

Most of the European branded pianos are MIC pianos most notably the Czech ones. German damn expensive and have very strange sounding names that make them sound expensive. Lots of other shops to see used and new pianos. Opposite Mustafa also have. See this blog.

 

http://piano-diary.blogspot.com/2008/07/pi...-piano-for.html

 

The Hailun and W&L dealer are the same. Check them out. Opposite Singpost Ctr and the Paya Lebar MRT station.