a request for some advice

[Calliah]

Hi again!
First off, I'd just like to say (again) that the concert at Otakon the other night was awesome! The music you played was beautiful, and Steve and Erin were awesome too! Make sure you come back to Otakon next year!
Ok, now on to the request. Back in eleventh grade, I took a course in Piano. I loved it, to say the least. The problem was, the teacher wasn't very good, and I didn't learn properly. I struggled for three years trying to continue playing...but frustration would always set in and I'd give up for a month. The only thing i really succeded in doing was memorizing certain sections of certain songs. The only one I remember now is Rydia's theme from FFIV, and that one I only remember vaguely now. That one just strikes me in a certain way, you know what I mean? Anyway, Three years go by, and I get so frustrated with my inabilty to get any better at playing that I give it up completely. (Just as an example, I learned to read the staffs on a music chart, but only by going through them before hand and lettering them...not a good technique, i'm embarrassed to say.)
Now, a year later, I go and see Piano Squall, and I remember why I started wanting to learn it again. The instrument gives off such a beautiful sound. Most of the music just sends a shiver down my spine, and I get swept away..*sighs*..yeah...so beautiful. Ok, NOW on to the request. I've decided, after the much needed inspiration from Piano Squall (tahnks again!! ) to pick the instrument back up. I've forgotten most of which I new, technique wise, but I still want to break myself of all the bad habits I learned. Would you (anyone here in general) suggest I go to a teacher to learn again, or should I attempt to teach myself? Either way, could you send some suggestions on where I could possibly go internet wise to start looking? Thanks a lot!
And, once again, the concert was beautiful. (and I cry at Aeris' Theme too! I did that night, in fact. *cough* *blush*)
Thanks again!!
Calliah (Steve)

[Ameria-chan]

^_^ Thank you very much, it was an honor. I'm also glad to hear about someone else who was inspired to return to the piano. Music is such an integral part of our lives, at least that's my philosophy.  

"So I say thank you for the music, the song's I'm singing..
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing..
Who can live without it?
I ask in all honesty..What would life be? Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me..."

Ah, ABBA always knows just the right words.. ^_^

[Calliah]

Yeah, i would have to agree completely. Our lives would be dull and lifeless without it. Its what inspires me to do a lot of my writing and what not. And I've never heard ABBA, but I completely agree with that quote! (Sorry if you're a big ABBA fan or something...just not my kind of music, really ).

[sorjai]

well Mike definitely inspired me to play piano again. Right after I saw him play for the first time, I went out and bought 500 bux worth of keyboard equipment, haha.

Anyway, it's definitely easier to have someone teach you how to play if you had a good teacher. Mike was pretty good at starting me off with "To Zanarkand" and now I'm working on a few songs on my own (Aeris' Theme and Julia). If you think that it's something you can play on your own, then you should give that a try. If you find yourself too frustrated and could use some help, try finding a nice, decent, patient teacher who's willing to help you out.

[Ameria-chan]

Piano Squall: Changing lives one otaku/gamer at a time.

It's really great to hear this stuff about you guys getting back into playing piano. I wish you the best of luck, and you do know that I expect to hear you play someday!

[sorjai]

haha you won't be seeing me play in public anytime soon... need too much practice.

[Ameria-chan]

haha you won't be seeing me play in public anytime soon... need too much practice.

Aww... Well I can be patient then. ^_^

[Calliah]

Thanks for  that bit of advice, Sorjai! And Ameria, patience is going to be a virtue in this case , because you won't see me playing in public either!
Thanks again!

[Ameria-chan]

*sigh* I can't even listen to a practice session? ^_^;;

[Whispers]

Well, this will be one of my very rare posts...

I've been playing the piano for 12 years.  (Even so, Mike plays one heckuvalot better than I do...)

I was classically trained by (of all people) a classical pianist.   Mike, on the other hand, went through a couple of teachers, most of which were more interested in getting him to play music, and less concerned with technique.

Mike and I go back quite aways, so we've had the luxury of arguing about the usefulness of being able to play an Eb scale in triplets in opposite directions with both hands at the same time.

But we definitely agree on one thing.  He often tells me he wishes that he was trained classically.  Even though he fights playing scales tooth and nail, he knows that it does help in the long run.  While most game/anime music doesn't approach the complexity of Mozart's 12 Variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (or "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman" for the purists among us), the technical abilities you'll get by practicing scales is indispensible.

For me, being trained classically, it's easy for me to say "yes yes! quickly, run off and find some classical piano teacher to grill you into playing a million different scales in a million different ways!"  But I know that turns off alot of people to piano.  I would still recommend a piano teacher if you're getting back into things... because he/she will (hopefully) keep the bad habits away... like flat pinky fingers and the like (very important).

If for some reason you can't get a piano teacher, ask someone who's played piano for awhile and has been classically trained about thier technique.  It'll help you in the long run if you listen to them and try to emulate them.  Mind you, I'm not encouraging you to play scales every day for an hour, unless you really like to do that.   I'm just saying to remember to keep your fingers curled and your pinky curled, stuff like that... sounds retarded, I know, but when you hit that crazy run in some piece you'll thank your lucky stars that you remembered to build good habits.

But one thing that will make your life as a game/anime piano music enthusiast much easier is the ability to sight-read.  If you don't want to practice scales, at least practice that.  And if you can do it with good technique under a good teacher, so much the better.

Wow.  That was alot of mumbo-jumbo that said pretty much nothing.

I'll save you the trouble of deciphering my idiot-babble:

1. Teachers good, not necessary.
2. Technique/Good Habits (IMHO) imperative
3. Sight-Reading (for this kind of music and your enjoyment) very important

Hope this helps.  PM me if you have more questions... or better yet, PM Michael.. he plays better than I do.  

[Warky]

I SERIOUSLY! SAY, GET A TEACHER!!!

I sadly Taught myself to play piano, and I can't use my thumbs. I can play pieces and what not, but I believe that I would have been able to play more pieces had I learned to play with my thumbs....

oh well, 8 fingers is just as good!!!

LOL

Ask mike, he's seen me play, it's creepy looking. ^^

Wark!

[Venus, Queen of Faeries]

I only learned to play piano (keyboard, eh heheh...) properly in college, because it's part of the music minor (when I was a kid, I always had a keyboard. Loved it). Three semesters' worth of it, and I didn't really learn much outside the first. I got both of my hands going at the same time (something I couldn't ever teach myself), though I had some difficulty with scales. My hands are actually too small (or maybe my fingers are too stubby) to play intervals greater than an octave. I can stretch for a ninth, but then my (right) pinky gets all stiff due to what I've called "flute finger" and the it hurts like hell if I try to bend it. -_-

At least I got out of a lot of much-hated scale work that way. I also learned to sightread a little better which was fantastic because I used to SUUUUUCK at it. Anything off the beat tripped me up in an instant, even it was something as stupid as straight eighths. Basiclally, I can't think and play. I've GOT to memorize.

I digress. Calliah, I admire your efforts to try the piano again. ^_^;; I, like Steve, recommend a teacher. And if you luck out with a good one/one that you like, you'll learn better and faster. You'll probably remember a lot more, too.

[Calliah]

Wow, thats a bunch of good information. Thats what I kind of figured about the teacher. The problem is finding one around my way for a good price. I think its time to whip out the phone book! Thanks a lot from everyone who left a reply! I really appreciate it!
Calliah (aka Steve...not THE Steve...just another random one )

[Calliah]

Ok, so here's a little update for those who care! I dug out my keyboard today and cleaned it off. I had to completely dissassemble it because of the dust and dirt under the keys and whatnot. It took me about two hours to clean it off. The manufacturers made it a bit more complicated to take apart than it really had to be, but I'm sure they weren't anticipating anyone pulling theirs apart. I'm just glad I'm technically/mechanically/electronically( or whatever the right word is) inclined. Otherwise the thing wouldn't have worked when I put it back together.
Plus, I may have found  teacher. I was looking through a phone book and called a few music stores and asked who they suggested. So now I have a pamphlet coming in with the information from the teacher. Whoo!
I'm anxious to start messing around with it again, so I might find my old high school instruction books that I inadvertantly ...er...borrowed...*cough*.
Thanks again for the info you all have given!

[AngelTheRingGiver]

In addition to what was already said about teachers. I took piano lessons for roughly 9 years with a 'classical' enthralled piano teacher..although that was years ago.. and all I have to say is make sure you find an instructor that will let you have some say in what you learn and what you play. I remember never getting a real chance to play anything I wanted and was stuck doing recitals and stuff feeling like a trained monkey. Pick someone who'll let you do somethings you want to, although of course staying 'with lessons' and what not. I guess I might just be repeating what has already been stated..But I'm stating it again then >.< cause it's an important point gosh darn it..