Learn how to play keyboard piano tips

Source:Internet    Posted by:Learntopianoonline.com   Date:2010-03-26   Click:

Turn away from the piano and have someone play a note. Try to play the exact note played.
Develop an aural image of the note’s pitch in your head. Keep practicing this exercise, trying to reach for the note as it is heard. Slowly, this will become instinctual with practice. This is very useful for playing large leaps accurately. If a player can find the correct notes without looking at the keys, their playing will be much more secure.

If you want to learn how to play keyboard piano, be prepared to put time, effort, dedication and energy into it. You must have the right attitude if you want to learn how to play keyboard piano. There's no way you will become good at playing with a few hours or days of practice. Never mind the number of products out there that claim to teach you how to play in 45 minutes or a few days. It's just a bunch of nonesense.

You must take it one step at a time and not try to rush. Enjoy what you do. Keyboard practice should never be a chore. It should be about having fun. After all this is what music is about.

Most piano students receive some ear training at their piano lessons, but it
is done away from the instrument. Unfortunately this theoretical training has
very little practical use for learning how to play piano by ear. To take music
making to an advanced level, musicians need to be able to play what they hear
in their heads at the piano – and without looking at the keys!

Often, players want to learn how to play piano by ear, but they don’t know
where to start. Here are some ways musicians can practice so that they will
know how to play piano by ear:

Play with other musicians as often as possible.

Making music with others encourages new ways of playing and listening to music. Playing from printed scores or lead sheets is usually necessary, but in a group everyone has to learn to listen to the other players. Slowly, the brain’s analytic hold on music making lets go, and the ear will take over.

Practice familiar pieces with eyes closed.

You can learn how to play keyboard piano by ear or you can learn how to read music. The choice is yours.

Some very famous musicians don't know how to read a single note on a sheet. Some of the more popular authentic Jazz musicians are typical examples. They learnt through listening. Stevie Wonder and the late Ray Charles, two blind musicians, are very famous keyboard/piano players.

However, you shouldn't underestimate the role that music theory plays. If you know how to read music it's better for you. You can simply pick up a piece of music that you have never heard before and seamlessly play it. But without a good ear for music you will never become a true master of the instrument. So playing the keyboard by ear and reading music go hand in hand.

Participate in group sessions.

Many musicians hold open sessions and welcome players to join in. This is intimidating for some players. If this is new, they can start by just listening in. Experienced players will often help other players, and are available for private lessons. For the best lessons to learn how to play piano by ear, find a teacher that will teach by example – jamming - without using printed scores.

To learn to play by ear, a musician needs to practice ear training at the piano so that the ear takes over.
As a players becomes more comfortable playing piano by ear, new musical worlds open up! Their playing becomes easier, more enjoyable, and all aspects of their musicianship improve.
 

Musicians need to let go of the need to watch printed music if they are going to play piano by ear. It takes practice, but once a piece can can be played through with eyes closed, new ways of playing are discovered. There will be an extra layer of security when performing: an aural image of the piece will drive the performance.

Play along with recorded music without using a score.

Play a recording of an easy tune and play along. At first finding notes will be difficult, and can feel strange. Slowly, more of the notes will be found. This will take at at least six months to see big improvements, but is very worthwhile.

Sit down and create original music spontaneously.

Take a break from practicing and play for fun! Play a memorized piece or create an improvisation. The ear will continue to develop whenever the printed score is put away!

Test your ear with a friend.