Where Piano Playing Retirees Get Information and Encouragement
Most, but not all scales have scale degree numbers of 1 through to 7. The starting note is known as 1 and the numbers are assigned in order, so the 7th degree or note of a scale is the one just before you get to a higher version of your starting note. So the scale degree … Read more
It is well and truly obvious that to learn to play the piano, or any other musical instrument, you need to practice regularly and the more regular it is the better. In fact, I think that it is much more important to practice for a few minutes every single day than an hour once a … Read more
Recently I have seen online various adverts that talk about secret knowledge of being able to successfully remember how to play pieces of music that you have already learned months or even years ago. It is no big secret, it is just using what is called muscle memory. (As an aside, it is purely a … Read more
I’ve noticed lately that there are quite a number of sources saying that learning to play the piano is hard and it has not just been one or two websites. The myth that learning to play the piano is just about impossible for adults is alive and well, unfortunately. What is also alive and well … Read more
Some people can really get themselves bent out of shape about learning to read two lines of music at the same time. This is often common with someone who plays, or has played another musical instrument before trying to learn to play the piano. Most instruments have only one line of music, whereas piano music … Read more
I’ve been thinking lately about why kids seem to be content when they are learning something new, like learning the piano, unlike adults, who seem to spend so much energy wondering whether they are going to be any good. If you think of a five or six year old, they don’t worry whether they will … Read more
As a piano teacher, I have been asked this question many times and sometimes the information available is not clear cut. First of all, every time signature that exists in western traditions of music falls into the category of either simple time or compound time. Simple time includes: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 Compound time examples are: … Read more