Thursday, November 27, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Distance Between You and the Piano
- Measure the distance between you and the piano: put your arms straight out from your body, closing your hands to make loose fists.
- Your knuckles should just touch the fallboard. That's how you measure the distance between you and the piano
Measure the distance between you and the piano by putting your arms straight out from your body, your hands in loose fists. Your knuckles should touch the fallboard (that's the board that comes down when you cover the piano keys.
Remember, sit tall. Your arms should be level with the keyboard. If they aren't, you may need to use a cushion to elevate yourself a little.
Good posture at the piano is important. Good technique is dependent on it.
Good posture at the piano is important. Good technique is dependent on it.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Using a Metronome to Practice Links
First, keep shoulders and arms as relaxed as possible when practicing. Don't tighten up. Rhythm should be steady and even. Start with a slow tempo and gradually increase the tempo.
Divide your piece into "links," like chain links, either 1-, 2-, and/or 4-beats or 1-, 2-, and/or 4-measures. Divide 16th notes into beats; divide quarter and eighth notes into measures.
Start with short links and master the rhythm and notes for each link. Using a metronome will help you keep the rhythm steady.
Play the link from the first note through the first note of the next link. In this way, you are linking the them. Repeat over and over, using the metronome set at a slow tempo, until that link is mastered.
Keeping the slow tempo, expand the link, from 1-beat to 2-beats or from 2-beat links to 4-beat links, and so on.
Divide your piece into "links," like chain links, either 1-, 2-, and/or 4-beats or 1-, 2-, and/or 4-measures. Divide 16th notes into beats; divide quarter and eighth notes into measures.
Start with short links and master the rhythm and notes for each link. Using a metronome will help you keep the rhythm steady.
Play the link from the first note through the first note of the next link. In this way, you are linking the them. Repeat over and over, using the metronome set at a slow tempo, until that link is mastered.
Keeping the slow tempo, expand the link, from 1-beat to 2-beats or from 2-beat links to 4-beat links, and so on.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
How to Practice with a Metronome
Here are some simple guidelines in practicing with a metronome:
1. Practice one phrase at a time.
2. Start with a slow tempo.
3. At first, practice playing hands separately.
4. Once you've mastered separate hands, play phrase with both hands.
5. Once you can play the phrase well at the slow speed, gradually increase tempo a notch or two at a time.
6. Repeat process.
7. Always keep the rhythm and notes even and steady.
8. Relax shoulders and arms when you play.
9. Work on individual phrases, slow to fast tempo, and then begin practicing them together in the same slow-to-fast routine.
1. Practice one phrase at a time.
2. Start with a slow tempo.
3. At first, practice playing hands separately.
4. Once you've mastered separate hands, play phrase with both hands.
5. Once you can play the phrase well at the slow speed, gradually increase tempo a notch or two at a time.
6. Repeat process.
7. Always keep the rhythm and notes even and steady.
8. Relax shoulders and arms when you play.
9. Work on individual phrases, slow to fast tempo, and then begin practicing them together in the same slow-to-fast routine.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Video #25: Learning to Play Major and Minor Triads
Check out this website for a good video on learning Major and minor triads in a progressive format. As is pointed out in the video, watching the video only takes a few minutes but it may take years to master this exercise. It combines visual plus audio plus hands-on to learn the triads.
http://www.true-piano-lessons.com/how-to-play-the-piano.html
Video: Major & Minor Triads Progression Of Learning
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