Tuesday, August 31, 2010

How to start playing piano for children

There are basically two different ways began playing music which is by ear or by notes. Many people want their children to learn an instrument such as the piano. Often the way to start is by ear. At the early age, kids are not usually able to read, so developing their ear for music is the best way. Train them by having them  focus on listening to a selected piece of  music. Also, if you have a piano in the home that is great way to let them learn by fiddling around of the piano.  This is great because children are more susceptible to learning at a earlier age, so later they will be able to piece things together.  As they develop then you may start teaching them notes, but primarily playing the sound is a key factor in playing by ear which is developing the sense of hearing and distinguishing sound. That is how even babies learn  an instrument. Develop the child's ear for music. For example if you wanted your child to learn another language at an early age, you would speak it to them. This factor relates to what we hear. Our music is the same way. Music is an international language. This concept means that if you speak Chinese, you would still know and hear the same musical sound as in English because its by ear. On the other hand, with looking at musical notes in English and Chinese, the writings and notations are different, so there would be present a barrier in learning or communicating in that regard. That is another reason why playing by ear is the best way to start in music.
The next question to proceed in developing your child's piano skills in training by ear is whether it is common for them to learn the bass line versus simply sounding out words of the song. Either way you choose to develop their piano skills, both styles of learning are based on what they have heard through their ears. It is essential to learn by ear first because of order.  After the kid's ability to play by ear has been developed, and the child is able to read or at least grasp the concept, then you may consider having them learn to read music.
The way you chose to learn essentially may vary by location and time. For the most part, in  previous generations most people were more likely to play by ear than by notes. In more recent times, it is has become more common to learn by notes. The reasons may vary due to location, time, ability, or simply preference. In recent years, things have become so much more precise and individuals look  forward pursuing music careers, so the demand is greater for individuals who play by notes. My grandmother use to play the piano by ear, and she had never been taught music notes. She was always interested in piano and had a passion for it, although she did not express the interest learning notes, she did not have time as child. She had to work on farms, so other things came into relevance such as location. Today most individuals have a choice, so their influences are great determining facts to whether they will try playing by notes or by ear. Many have the funds to pay for training, so they go to school. Many music jobs prefer individuals with a background in music which includes a college degree in music and several years experience. Many require both because the competition has become so great in recent years. In pursuing a major in Music, individuals are to take host of requirements including foreign languages German, or French, so no other languages will suffice. The individuals usually expected to completed a certain amount of lab work. This includes electronic recording classes, as well as the Music Appreciation, Theory courses etc. The individuals pursuing college education in music will be expected to attend various musical performances to complete graduation requirements. The performance are usually not in a selected category because it really gets into diversity, so all graduates of the department are expected to graduate with a wide knowledge in clear areas of expertise within music. Many people who do not pursue their first concentration, but they actually end pursuing their second. Statistical reports reveal that the second concentration is deemed most widely used by over 70% of graduates.
It is very important for pianists to branch off and learn to be around other musicians. It is an affective learning tools. For instances, even going into the local music store and practicing on  the piano in the rehearsal room. That is very helpful in building your musical skill. I have done it so many times. In the beginning of my music career, I literally had a jazz music teacher who came out her office into the rehearsal room to look at me. She wanted to play along with me and actually compliment my music with extra chords and scats adding to my existing bass line. She thought my bass line was great, also I was learning her chords as well.  In learning it is very greatly important to submerge yourself in the music for learning purposes.
Beginner musicians may notice in that there could be a sound that you have been hearing in your head, but you may be uncertain of how to formulate the music on the piano. Even for those scenarios, surrounding yourself with good musicians is a great idea.  My father who is bass player knows how to play the piano because he found similarities in the instruments. He did not always know how play the piano that actually came later, after I began playing. Likewise, I am able to pick up the bass guitar, and play it because of the similarities. You will be able to do the same thing. For me the bass in itself is amazing because the bass line is an important component for carrying practically any song.  This is great because I help my students develop things that just do not come over night. Knowing how to piece instruments together usually comes after years of playing. It is really the same idea in styles, certain genres because there is usually similarities in the other style of music that relates to your style of music. You will be able to notice the difference.



 It is important to be able to play a basic piano. The keyboard has a lot of technological advances that may handicap or impede many beginners from progressing. The transpose component is a button usually located on keyboards that allows individuals to maneuver through keys as you wish, acquiring the sound of all keys without actually playing in the perspective keys that sound produces. For example, Jose knows how to play in one key which is the key of "C", but not the other keys. Jose wants to move up to E, but he does not know how to manually, so he push the transpose button and the sound is replicated. Jose does not have to learn other keys because the technology of the keyboard has done the work. The transpose button restricts the musician from learning to play in other keys, so it limits a musician in many cases. Many keyboards are soft sometimes and striking each note can require less effort. On the other hand, the pressure from playing piano develops strength in the fingers. It requires more effort in pressing piano because the keys are more weighted. The keyboard is a percussion instrument.  There are some weighted keyboards such as the kurzweils etc. In previous times pianos did not have electronic components, but in recent times technologically advanced pianos  have been developed, and they include components with the transpose.

 If you are learning to play the keyboard you will need to stretch and exercise your fingers because many times you will be extending your fingers to unusual position for extended amounts of time, so exercise is very important. If you type on the computer keyboard, your finger may be slightly warmed up, but playing the piano requires the hands to be stretched to position far beyond the computer keyboard limits. It is important to always use proper position of  your hands to avoid if possible carpal tunnel and crepitus etc. These are usually common conditions in activities that require repetitive finger movements.

It is important to learn on the piano rather keyboard to specifically learn how to use foot pedals. On many keyboards the foot pedal is an extra accessory and sometimes not included with the purchase of a keyboard. The sustain pedal help you to hold notes for an extended period by tapping the foot pedal, and it also allows you to blend notes. The sustain pedal also allows balances, and can eliminate certain unwanted pauses and spaces in the music. The pedals also helps with developing the tempo and rhythmic pattern. The beats per minute can be measured with hand claps. The sustain pedal is especially useful in solo playing with no other instruments in accompaniment. There is usually a soft pedal that allows you to create soft sounds. There maybe times when you are asked to play during a prayer,  you would want to utilize the soft pedal for this event. The pedal also diminish the sound from the loud, so it is soft mezzo. It great to go into a decrescendo to avoid breaks in the music.
Playing for groups, choir, soloist, devotional service, talent shows, auditions, are different musical settings. If you are playing for a choir, the individuals who singing usually have to follow you, so you are able to lead them. Many times the pianist start by playing the introduction, then the group or choir began singing. In that case, play in the key rehearsed, and everything should be fine. If the choir members are tone deaf, or short of hearing keys, you may have to find the key in which they are singing because they did not musically grasp or comprehend the key of your introduction. If you are not able to play in the key in which they are singing, if you are on the keyboard press the transpose button to locate the key in which they are singing. On the flip side, if you do not play by ear you may not even be able to find the key, nor hear the key in which they are singing. In that case keep playing in the key in which you started, and usually they will fall back into the correct key or at least drift in out which is beyond "pitchy".  Let them sing acapella, if you cannot accommodate.  If you are playing for a devotional service, you have to follow the singers.  In this case it is very similar to open mic, you have no idea what the individual is going to sing, neither  will you be aware of the key in which they will sing. This is most effective way for someone who at least have a developed ear for music, and who has submerge themselves in the music. In this case the individuals could very well drift in and out keys which is literally maneuvering, you would need to be very good at tracing keys, stay neutral, or allow the individual to sing acapella because whatever happens could be deemed a direct influence on you.
 It is very essential to learn by using both methods of playing, firstly by developing a ear for music through playing by ear, then progressing to playing by notes. One method of playing  is a contingency plan for the other, so the both of them are necessary.
If you were to play for a popular group which required sheet music with preciseness in producing an exact sound, or if you were to meet requirements for a church that requires a music degree, you would need the formal musical education training by notes.  If you are to play for open mic, church devotional service, or unrehearsed auditions you could do well with playing by ear. In playing by ear, you are more adept in being able to play for events that are unrehearsed. In this type of setting playing by ear, the songs have not been sung or played previously, but they are confident that know how to play it with out sheet music.   Music is  an international language, so once you have selected a method, it is easy not hard, so start right away.