If you want a keyboard, there are
several models to choose from!Early pitfalls
Are there any common problems that new
learners encounter?
The biggest problem is frustration at not moving
ahead as quickly as you would hope and
consequently becoming demotivated and losing
interest. To keep yourself motivated it’s good to
experiment and have fun with the piano away from
having to conform to the rigidity of what’s already
out there on the sheet music. Exploring the keys
and the notes that they play on your own terms
will allow you to get to know the instrument better
and you can then start piecing together your own
songs. Everyone, even the virtuoso players, had
to start somewhere, so just imagine that music
doesn’t exist and that you’re the first person to pick
up – not literally – the instrument! If you do want
to concentrate on playing existing songs then
concentrate on simple ones and then have fun
adding your own little musical embellishments to
the composition – there really are no rules.
Best for learners
What type of piano/keyboard is most suitable
for learners? What should I look out for when
considering which piano to buy?
On a full-size piano there are 88 keys, so look out
for the number of keys on any models you’re
thinking about buying to see if you get the whole
experience. Some keyboards only offer 64 keys.
Obviously it is better to have the full scale of keys,
whether you’re learning or otherwise, and that
they’re also of a decent size so that you don’t hit
the wrong key by mistake. The only other things to
consider are the space it is likely to take up and the
cost – so just scout around, weigh up your options
and go for the one that suits you best.Keep the beat
I have read about using a metronome while
practising. What is a metronome and how can it
help my playing?A metronome is a device that holds the perfect beat
by producing regular ticks or beats. This is a useful
tool to have to hand when you need to practise
at a certain tempo or whenever you’re trying to
increase your speed on the keys. The tempo of a
metronome is measured in Beats per Minute (BPM)
and metronomes come in three forms – mechanical,
electrical and software. A traditional metronome is
a triangular device that holds a metal ticker that you
wind up and it boasts a slider through which you
can adjust the speed.
Most modern metronomes are electronic, but
follow the same basic principle and use electronicsand quartz crystal to maintain the beat. Metronomes
are useful for practising scales and increasing your
speed through them. You may only be able to play a
scale at 150bpm at present, but by practising with a
metronome and increasing the tempo at which you
practise every day with, say 5bpm, you will gradually
train your fingers and brain to play quicker and
quicker, which is immensely satisfying. If you have a
keyboard or a modern digital piano, you may have a
metronome built in to the hardware.Play time
I would like to learn some popular songs. Could
you recommend some easy ones?Easiest is definitely best when starting out, and the
beauty of simple ditties such as Mary Had A Little
Lamb, Frere Jacques and Jingle Bells is that you
undoubtedly know the songs so well already that
you won’t even need sheet music to play them,
you can just steadily find the right notes by ear
and then keep practising until you are able to play
them seamlessly and at a high tempo. When you
have achieved this then you can start branching out
into more complex pieces and your musical journey
will continue...“The biggest problem is frustration at not
moving ahead as quickly as you would hope
and consequently becoming demotivated”
Location courtesy of Music Is Life, Bournemouth