Hi There I'm starting to learn how to play the keyboard/ piano and i need some tips/mentors/advice on how to improve my abilities. Since i am a beginner any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

ike15196:lol:

All I'd say, Ike, is don't rush. You really have to take it slow when you learn the keyboard unless you're a genius like Beethoven or something. Get yourself a beginner piano book and learn from it. Took me 3 years just to play one song from this site. (Mostly because I hadn't really used my left hand properly I guess. Only for chords, but anyway...) I mean it when I say don't rush to improve. You gain more failure than victory that way.

It'd really help to learn how to read sheet music too. I'm still working on that :think:...

Ah... That totally reminds me of how I first started playing the piano...

I'll give you a couple of advice:

1. Take lessons
Sure, you can do it on your own, but I highly recommend taking lessons. Depending on the teacher you get, you will either learn with vast amount of knowledge or will literally be still a beginner. Do research the mentors your going to undergo with their lessons before letting them take in as a student. :)

2. If you decide to self-teach, do read lots of sheet music
How do you learn to read these giant, heavy chapter books like Harry Potter and Eragon when you were little (or old)? You read the easy ABC books first and start taking baby steps toward reading these advanced books. Same goes toward music. Read and learn how to do easy music. Take Level 1 music and do baby steps as if you're reading a book. Sheet music is like reading a book, except it's in musical language rather than English/Japanese/whatever language the book is in.

3. Do learn the proper technique
You can be the best piano player ever and have the most difficult time playing a piece just because you have bad techniques with your hands. Each music require different techniques. You don't just place your hands on the keyboard/piano keys and fly away like a bird. You need to look at the notes, the patterns, the rhythms. Taking a look at those and adjusting your fingers to each note will definately make the music smoother and be very helpful toward your fingers. We don't need any broken or sore fingers at the end of the song. o.o

4. Sight reading...
Same goes with learning how to play the piano/keyboard. From how I learned to sight read fast while playing the flute (which helped me with the piano on the treble clef. Difficult time with bass clef since I can't read fast enough as my fingers move around the keyboard), you just gotta read lots of music. Done.

5. Wait! Learn your notes, key signatures, etc.!
If this is your first time entering the music field, you might as well pause for a moment and learn the basics of music: Notes. The piano/keyboard has very extrodinary way to provide music to everyone's ears. They're not like the woodwinds or brass where you have to press a specific set of buttons in order to play a note. No... You press a key to produce a note. And guess what? You gotta learn the notes. Remember that notes don't just go: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. They have flats, sharp, natural signs, etc. Basically, it seems like you gotta study how the language of music takes you to. Not only that, but you must study the key signatures, etc. Do look into lesson books/online lessons for help on these subjects.

6. Practice on your own pace
Nobody is going to rush you unless you have a life-death situation of playing the piano. Take your time and work on your own pace. Do you like to play the song first before fixing up your mistakes? Go right ahead. Would you like to read the music before playing the first measure? No need to ask, lad.

7. Have fun!
If you're learning the piano and hate it, why continue? Many musicians enjoy playing specific instrument(s) and enjoy music. Thus that makes them successful.

For a more modern approach. Try synthenasia XD
Dont actually play piano so i dont know how well it works

Ah... That totally reminds me of how I first started playing the piano...

I'll give you a couple of advice:

1. Take lessons
Sure, you can do it on your own, but I highly recommend taking lessons. Depending on the teacher you get, you will either learn with vast amount of knowledge or will literally be still a beginner. Do research the mentors your going to undergo with their lessons before letting them take in as a student. :)

2. If you decide to self-teach, do read lots of sheet music
How do you learn to read these giant, heavy chapter books like Harry Potter and Eragon when you were little (or old)? You read the easy ABC books first and start taking baby steps toward reading these advanced books. Same goes toward music. Read and learn how to do easy music. Take Level 1 music and do baby steps as if you're reading a book. Sheet music is like reading a book, except it's in musical language rather than English/Japanese/whatever language the book is in.

3. Do learn the proper technique
You can be the best piano player ever and have the most difficult time playing a piece just because you have bad techniques with your hands. Each music require different techniques. You don't just place your hands on the keyboard/piano keys and fly away like a bird. You need to look at the notes, the patterns, the rhythms. Taking a look at those and adjusting your fingers to each note will definately make the music smoother and be very helpful toward your fingers. We don't need any broken or sore fingers at the end of the song. o.o

4. Sight reading...
Same goes with learning how to play the piano/keyboard. From how I learned to sight read fast while playing the flute (which helped me with the piano on the treble clef. Difficult time with bass clef since I can't read fast enough as my fingers move around the keyboard), you just gotta read lots of music. Done.

5. Wait! Learn your notes, key signatures, etc.!
If this is your first time entering the music field, you might as well pause for a moment and learn the basics of music: Notes. The piano/keyboard has very extrodinary way to provide music to everyone's ears. They're not like the woodwinds or brass where you have to press a specific set of buttons in order to play a note. No... You press a key to produce a note. And guess what? You gotta learn the notes. Remember that notes don't just go: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. They have flats, sharp, natural signs, etc. Basically, it seems like you gotta study how the language of music takes you to. Not only that, but you must study the key signatures, etc. Do look into lesson books/online lessons for help on these subjects.

6. Practice on your own pace
Nobody is going to rush you unless you have a life-death situation of playing the piano. Take your time and work on your own pace. Do you like to play the song first before fixing up your mistakes? Go right ahead. Would you like to read the music before playing the first measure? No need to ask, lad.

7. Have fun!
If you're learning the piano and hate it, why continue? Many musicians enjoy playing specific instrument(s) and enjoy music. Thus that makes them successful.

Pretty much covered it all. I'm just learning now aswell. One more thing is start at basics. Don't try to play the first song you hear.. I speak from experience, start with simple songs that do the same notes over and over to get used to it. I suggest some of the tutorials on youtube. Bleach's song Will of the Heart is a pretty good song to start with. The music is a little hard to read, so I'm using a video and its one of the best begginner anime songs. :D