Recommendations: Improving my Piano playing ability?

Question

I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations of books or websites on how to progress my ability and technique when playing the piano?  I am very much a play the music that I can actually play and ignore the hard bits type pianist at the moment!  The Music Shop that I used to go to all the time has now closed down so it is hard to look at sheet music before I buy it.  

I had Piano lessons for about 5 years when I was younger but as I wanted to concentrate on my Violin (Grade 7) and Accordion (Grade 4) I had never really progressed beyond about grade 3 level.  I have had a couple year of limited practice on each instrument due to commitments at uni but want to really try to achieve my goals on each instrument now that I have the spare time.  I am not too worried about picking up the violin and accordion again as I have had very good teachers up to the point of starting uni.

I know I should look at getting a new teacher but I think that with determination and the basis of knowledge I have to work from I can easily progress it is just getting interesting and good materials to work with which is important.

So any recommendations would be greatly received.  Thanks in Advance.

tiny(eye giant) · Answer

suggestions:
>youtube vids (I currently watch Animezzz and Tehlster...uh otaku stuff hehe)... also Kissin, Rubinstein, Valentina Lisitsa and other great contemporary pianists (unless you are not into classical)

>read more about piano terms then APPLY (I did with violin... with violin terms)

>study difficult chords (like C13 and C flat 13 flat 9  and such ) (I do with all my instruments)

>do intensive ear training  (applicable to all instruments)
(you don't need to purchase anything, just start by guessing what note was played, then the chord... then listening to a score and start pinpointing the part like bass gtr, strings/ violins, piano etc... then you can try getting the chords in a jazz song ... well that's nosebleed for me hehe)

>then learn how to play rapid scales

this apply to all instruments, especially ear training... this way you'll excel in all instruments you play
(btw... playing violin after loud heavy piano/ guitar playing is hard especially when playing in third position or higher and doing 4th finger vibrato and such, because when muscles are exerted, their flexibility is diminished... unless you do stretching exercises)

while you can't find a teacher, teach yourself

I think learning music and how to play it involves ears, focus and determination, that's all.
Then you get a teacher to advance further (I learn from our church's pianists and music seminars where my church sent me as a delegate)

Trending News

Recommendations: Improving my Piano playing ability?

1 Answer