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Tickling the Ivories

16:12 / 09.12.05

Right, so Tez has blown an entire month's wages on a piano, which now sits proudly in his front room looking very attractive. However, he's finding himself a tad disappointed that, despite having been learning the instrument for nearly 4 months, he's still not mastered it.

Are there any other lithers out there who enjoying giving the old Joanna a stroke now and again, and, if so, any advice for a terribly enthusiastic but not yet terribly accomplished beginner, and any pieces you recommend to help strengthen the fingers, particularly on the left hand?

16:21 / 09.12.05

I played the piano for 11 years in my youth, and still like to sit down to it now and then although my sight-reading ability is completely gone and my general ability is much deteriorated.

As far as strengthing the hands and developing coordination, while finger exercises are boring, they do work quite well for their purpose. My sister-in-law, who teaches piano, still does finger exercises religiously on a daily basis and it shows.

16:45 / 09.12.05

My sister-in-law, who teaches piano, still does finger exercises religiously on a daily basis and it shows

I rather expected you to say that. Oh, finger exercises how I loathe thee.

On the sight-reading side of things, I'm not terribly concerned about being able to achieve that, especially as I have no need of, nor interest in, taking any official grading. Learning the pieces themselves isn't a problem, since I play a variety of other instruments and can read and write music fluently...

...my problem is that I've just never actually sat down at a piano and played the damn thing, so my hands have far too much stiffness in them, and I lack the benefit of practice.
This of course makes it all the more frustrating. My musical skill is such that I can read a piece and get the tune, my damnable fingers just keep disobeying me on the keyboard.

19:50 / 09.12.05

I am sick with jealousy that you own a piano. The guy living downstairs from me has numerous pianos, and one piano is at the moment in the hallway, but I have none. It makes me sad.

The best way to get over the stiffness of hand is indeed the dreaded finger exercises, or scales, or whatever gets you to make your hands work in repetitive and useful movements. Some things just can't be achieved without the necessary strength and flexibility of finger, and the only way to acquire that is exercise.

Of course, playing as much as possible won't hurt. I always found that learning to whallop my way through a few pieces that I loved was most excellent (although former teachers probably wouldn't agree), simply because I would cheerfully work on them and would attain a level of competency with which I personally was happy - which is all that matters really.

If you've always wanted to touch-type, and can't, and also want to improve your piano playing, then now is the time. It's all about well-trained fingers... many many words per minute can be achieved if you can also master a fugue....

11:36 / 10.12.05

All I know is Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano...

Hope that helps, Tezcatlipovsky.. I can play Für Elise and the theme from Wagon Train. All self-taught. Not all are as gifted as me, however.

20:15 / 11.12.05

I'm seconding the play what you want idea. One possibility is to badger a musician and to do you simple arrangements of tunes you really like. Positive motivation is the best way forward for learning this stuff. Otherwise just get a cd and try and find the notes... tricky but really good for your ears.

If there isn't anything specific that springs to mind go to a local music shop and ask them for beginner piano books - there are now a bunch that aren't too institutionalised / scary / dull and there may even be some for beginner adults. Those are good for learning to read too, not too much at once.

Finger exercises are good, but dull. Exercises are good for when you want to really concentrate on your hand movement, but that can be so dull that it's potentially disasterous to your motivation unless you've really got the bug.

However I can't emphasise enough getting your seating and posture right from the first moment, and often a teacher is the best way to sort it. I would particularly recommend paying their travel once so they come to your house to look at how you are sitting. If you are phoning about to find one say specifically what you want - this helps. A bit like typing your hands need to rest just above the keyboard, elbows fractionally higher than that and preferably your knees slightly lower than your hips. It's kind of like you have a broom down your forearm running onto the back of your hand and your fingers are completely free to move beneath it.

I know you've just forked out for a piano - did that include a piano stool too? The right height seat makes a world of difference.

Just getting used to how a piano feels is always a good idea - sit and noodle about, see what you can play by using your ears. Ultimately that's the most important thing, actually hearing what you are playing.

Final note about teachers - from the really rubbish ones to the ones who are tenured at a university - they nearly all charge £20 - £30 per hour. It's worth hunting a good one because the price may not change that much at all.