I can read treble cleft fairly well, but I have a hard time reading bass..... Help? I'm a violist also, so I'm not exactly sure how to place my fingers and sometimes I am not sure where the notes are. I was also wondering if you guys happened to know how much a typical "Midi keyboard" costs? Thank you!

Just keep practicing constantly and you will get it slowly. One thing you can try is to write the name of each note on top for have a better guidance whiles you memorize them. Or practice with separate hands, first the right hand then the left hand. Another way to memorize the notes is to sing each one(Solfège). With time you will improve and you will can move to pieces more complicated.

About the keyboard the price can variate. I would recommend to get the notation software or sequencer that you want first, then to look for a keyboard. For connect it to your computer you will need also a midi cable to transfer the data to the software you are using. Keep in mind that the midi cable won't transfer any sound of your keyboard, just data. For transfer your keyboard's sound you will need a different cable that transmit the signal.

I would like you to elaborate better about what for you want to use the keyboard? To use it for mere music notation? To use it with a sequencer? To use it for record yourself playing? To use it for practice and play pieces?

That would help to give you a better advice of what is more recommendable for you.

http://forums.ichigos.com/showthread.php?t=13195

About the keyboard the price can variate. I would recommend to get the notation software or sequencer that you want first, then to look for a keyboard. For connect it to your computer you will need also a midi cable to transfer the data to the software you are using. Keep in mind that the midi cable won't transfer any sound of your keyboard, just data. For transfer your keyboard's sound you will need a different cable that transmit the signal.

I would like you to elaborate better about what for you want to use the keyboard? To use it for mere music notation? To use it with a sequencer? To use it for record yourself playing? To use it for practice and play pieces?

That would help to give you a better advice of what is more recommendable for you.


what type of special cord do I need for the keyboards sound?

Well, I want to use it for writing music into my computer. So I guess "With a sequencer". I'm thinking of getting Sibelius.... but we will see (seeing how it is so expensive). What music program with writing songs would you recommend?

I would like to tell you but I do not remember how is called, lol. I am after that cable also. Last time I checked it cost around 30 dollars if I am not wrong (How a stupid cable can cost that!?!?!).

Hmm, Sibelius is a notation software, not a sequencer.

Here is a list of sequencers for you to have a better idea:

http://flstudio.image-line.com/
http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/musicproduction/cubase4_product.html
http://www.cakewalk.com/
http://www.digidesign.com/
http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/

Here a list of notation softwares:

http://www.sibelius.com/
http://www.finalemusic.com/
http://www.notionmusic.com/
http://www.musicjotter.com/

My recommendation is, if you want to notate music, export to midi and print your scores, go for a cheap notation software, or even, do what Noir said! If you are not interested to go professional with it, there is no need to spend a lot of money. Also you can still make scores in a notation software without the need of a midi keyboard. You can use the mouse, however this may take you longer to finish a score(Same with a sequencer).

By the way, for put the notes in a notation software or a sequencer with a keyboard, the cable you need is the MIDI one, if you will get it, look for an USB one. The other cable what do is to transfer the sound of a keyboard to your computer so you can record it. This one does not transfer data nor you can use it with a notation software I believe.

Now, about the keyboard there are MIDI controllers that are keyboards without any sound integrate, I mean with this if you play a note, it won't have a sound, you have to plug it to your computer through a MIDI cable for use the sounds of a sequencer or a notation software(with a VST, soundfont or your soundcard). There are many of those and in different sizes, one of the smaller is this: http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?A_PROD_NO=nanoSeries But the bad of choice a small one is that you will be changing of octave all the TIME, and you will hate it!

But I guess you may want it with sound, so you can try to go to any music store that sell instruments and check all the keyboards they have, and choice the one you more like. Most of them probably will have a MIDI in and out, so don't worry much of that. Pay attention to their sounds and if the keys are weighted and sensitives.

Some decent brands are:

M-Audio
Yamaha
Casio
Korg

Ok, I hope I did help you. o_O

alright, thank you so much! That helps a lot!! I have a keyboard at home...but it doesn't go into my computer :P. So about $100 dollars for the keyboard, and the plug total, if I get a cheep one that is...(any suggestions to where to buy- over the internet(if any)? I think I may have one music store that's close to my house, I'll check them out) Hope I can find some! Thanks for the help :)


"export to midi and print your scores, go for a cheap notation software, or even, do what Noir said!" - ok how do I export to midi? what is the cheapest notation software? Noir said to "take a few hours of your day and download both full versions of Finale and the sound samples of your choice to go with it without paying a dime." so in other words the free down loads which only last a month----

You can ask for a USB MIDI cable at the music store, maybe they will have one. Remember to get it USB and not the one of pins, so you can connect it to your USB port. In the internet, hmm, you can look at www.amazon.com, www.ebay.com.

Errr... What Noir was meaning is to download the full software illegally.

About the prices, you will have to look around in the internet to see which one you think will be better for you, Finale have various version and with variate prices. Look at their page and the other pages I put of notation software.

And don't forget about the specs, you should have at least 1gb of RAM for run the software smoothly, 512mbs the minimum. If you do not know how much RAM your compute have, go to Start>My Computer>Properties (Right click). For Macs I have no idea.

The MIDI export/import all notation software have it, I think.



Well, that is all. I hope others can help adding anything else. And think before buy; explore before buy.

sweet I have 1.5 gb of RAM :) And I would never download software illegally... I dont want to get in trouble. Plus, my best friends dad is a police man (or at least use to be) :P thank you a lot :)

Just keep practicing constantly and you will get it slowly. One thing you can try is to write the name of each note on top for have a better guidance whiles you memorize them. Or practice with separate hands, first the right hand then the left hand. Another way to memorize the notes is to sing each one(Solfège). With time you will improve and you will can move to pieces more complicated.

About the keyboard the price can variate. I would recommend to get the notation software or sequencer that you want first, then to look for a keyboard. For connect it to your computer you will need also a midi cable to transfer the data to the software you are using. Keep in mind that the midi cable won't transfer any sound of your keyboard, just data. For transfer your keyboard's sound you will need a different cable that transmit the signal.

I would like you to elaborate better about what for you want to use the keyboard? To use it for mere music notation? To use it with a sequencer? To use it for record yourself playing? To use it for practice and play pieces?

That would help to give you a better advice of what is more recommendable for you.

the first thing you said, hahaha! thats what i did ^_^ just thought i should let you know for no reason, heehee ^_^

um, ok :)

Be careful with keyboards though, its feel and the feel of a real piano is extremely different. I know people who began on keyboards and eventually had a pretty hard time getting used to the real piano. Keys of a real piano are so much heavier and in a way of saying, hard to press than a keyboard you'd surprised that some of the techniques you learned by keyboard would become practically useless on a real piano.

Be careful with keyboards though, its feel and the feel of a real piano is extremely different. I know people who began on keyboards and eventually had a pretty hard time getting used to the real piano. Keys of a real piano are so much heavier and in a way of saying, hard to press than a keyboard you'd surprised that some of the techniques you learned by keyboard would become practically useless on a real piano. that's ok, I'm using a real piano, no worries there

Yeah I can vouch. It is hard to adjust to a real piano from keyboard. It's still hard for me.

step 1 to becoming a pianist, play piano
there is no step 2, or step 3
follow this guide and without fail you will become a pianst

A pianist (/'piənɪst/) is a musician who plays the piano. <---see wikipedia says so

*cough*Trust me, you won't. If you're going to avoid piracy, do it to support the software developers who are bettering your musical life, not to avoid getting in trouble. ;)

As for playing piano, there aren't really any special techniques or anything, just a ton of practice ahead of you, like most other things. I guess one thing to remember would be to keep your wrists decently high, and to push the keys down with your whole hand, instead of just with your fingers. I think. I haven't had a piano lesson in almost ten years, so take my advice with a grain of salt, I guess. Nowadays I'm learning alone, just like you. =D

Anyway, good luck. I'd like to start violin pretty soon, so then we'll be in opposite situations, hahah.

With that being said,

Get lessons from a good teacher, ASAP. There are no "pianists" out there who are self-taught; at least not in the field of concert pianists.

Is there a good way to find a good teacher? I didn't know any better as a kid when i first started but I dont think most parents go looking for the best piano teacher. Im pretty sure now with 7+ years of piano i could go back to a teacher and see if there really skilled but for the starters should they look for like qualifications? Rankings? A website?

You could ask a local teacher and "try-out" for them. Just sit and talk and play with them. Who knows, maybe they'd really like to take you on or possibly suggest you to another teacher that might fit your "qualifications." A teacher should be more like a friend than the teacher you feel uncomfortable with asking things and talking with.

Very cool guys Thanks :)