I was never that into musical performance, but as I've gotten older, I find myself wishing that I had learned to play the piano. In fact, it's on my Life List. I absolutely love piano music. My sister went through a phase several years ago where she also wanted to play piano, so my parents got her an electric keyboard for Christmas. When I went home last weekend, I picked it up and brought it back home with me, along with a "Teach Yourself to Play Piano" book they had laying around.
I do have to say, I wish that I had maintained some kind of music skills over the years. Even just reading music. After so many years of doing nothing musical, I'm basically back to beginner music reading. And I have no idea how I'm going to figure out bass clef.
Do any of you play piano? Any helpful hints you have?
I don't play piano, but I always thought about it when I was growing up because my grandmother had one. I did play the flute, for all but about 3 months before I dropped it. Good luck with the teach yourself book!
ReplyDeleteMy mnemonics for bass clef were 'all cows eat grass' (the spaces) and 'great big dragons fly around' for the lines.
ReplyDeleteI played when I was younger, I haven't played in about 12 years now. Piano was my gateway drug to things like the clarinet and the French horn. I enjoyed the horn so much more than the piano.
Thanks for the mnemonics Heather! That's really helpful.
ReplyDeleteHey! A few websites: www.musictheory.net has some staff-reading drills and games as well as basic lessons for learning to read music. I use it to create custom games for my piano students! Also, this won't help with learning to read notes on the staff but will help with note name recognition... www.classpiano.com has a lot of fun modern songs (Gaga!) that are written using note names instead of treble and bass clef. Have fun :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Steph! I started playing those note identification drills, and some of it is starting to come back to me a little! Awesome. :)
ReplyDeleteI took piano lessons when I was younger, but I don't really remember much from it. Since I played in band through college, I have no problem w/ the treble clef, although its been a while now since college. I find that the bass clef is the exact opposite of treble clef. So it is just a mirror image. At least thats what I think when playing the piano. I usually just play my right hand (treble) when I do play b/c I am lazy. lol. Good luck learning, I don't think it would be too hard for you. You sounded great on the video and I liked the song you chose "the saints go marching in". lol.
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