Project : Nyu~ Just Another Magpie asked:
I was thinking piano or violin as i really love the sound of them, for me to learn one of them however i’d be using self help books as there is no way i can afford to pay for lessons, i can afford a violin and would borrow my friends piano to learn.
So what instrument would be best for me to learn out of the both?
Tags: Learn Music, Self Help Books, Violin
How to Read Music Notes
Piano.
All aspiring musicians are encouraged to learn the piano before any other instrument as it sets you up for the all the rest. The notes are all laid out in front of you and this gives you clean, consistent patterns and visuals of how chords are built.
How Long Does it Take to Learn How to Read Music?
guitar or drums, tabs (not sheet music) are VERY simple to read
and drums are pretty self explanatory,
but, i mean if your parents are the steriotypical asian kind that are strict, crazy, don’t let you listen to anything but classical music, and will chop you up into small pieces and feed you to your cat if you make below a 100 on your math test, than i would start playing a recorder, no reading involved
How to Read Music
I can’t read music either, but I learned to play keyboard rather quickly. It’s nice since all the keys/chords are laid out for you.
How to Sight Read Music
Hi, I have one who play about 10+ instruments. My recommendations are as below if money is not the issue. I do not have the financial means then as a child then so my order of choices will be different.
For very fresh beginners, you need to get the song right as soon as possible. So the choices narrow down to instruments where the tones are fixed and the order is linear. So the choices would narrow down to piano, keyboard, accordion (keyboard type), melodica, pianica or harmonium.
Very little fancy technique is needed to get melodies right in the above instruments although you can really get fanciful if you want to later on.
The piano and the keyboard will allow you to add in harmony and rhythm later which most other instruments will not be able to allow you easily. So if you want all-in-one, go for the piano (preferably digital types with 100+ instruments and accompaniments – about USD1000.00) or keyboard (at least the USD300+ types for keyboards)
Getting melody right is not an issue for most people. It can even be self taught. As for harmony, I think you will find it trickier. I can understand that you can’t afford long term tuition fees but I have created a system to allow you to learn at home. It is a 10 set video learning system each over covering approximately 2 lessons. It is complete with videos, mp3, workbook and bonus song book. It is only for USD119.00. Being in the industry for 25 years and having been playing by ear for 42 years, I believe my material would be the best in the market to get you started right. Check out my links below.
Now, after being able to discern melody and harmony tones via keyboard or piano, you would be ready to explore other instruments. Most other acoustic instruments require special techniques of using as well as tuning. So developing a good ear for the right pitch will put you in good stead when it comes to tuning your instruments – instead of depending on equipment to get it right or taking a long time to get it right.
Many teachers spend a great deal of time teaching their students to hold their instruments right and that is why you end up paying on going fees – just to teach you to hold the instrument right. That, in my opinion is a waste of money.
A music examiner has once said: “I don’t care what technique you use, as long as the final result is the one I want to hear.” If you work along that line, I believe you will be just fine.
Now once you can play the piano or keyboard decently, it will not take you very long to gain mastery of other instruments – violin, guitar, saxophone, clarinet. etc. etc. – probably only a few months to get some decent songs out.
Due to financial constraints, I had no choice but to start with a toy accordion, harmonica, chinese bamboo flute, toy pipe, recorder, then guitar as a teenager (I struggled with the harmony), then organ, piano, synthesizer as and adult, violin, etc. etc.
There is no greater satisfaction than to be able to play on stage or at parties all those songs that people love instead of those classical songs that only the purist approve of.
Hope this helps you.
Have fun. (remember to check my links out)
learning to read music
back in 2007, when i was 47 years old I started learning to play piano. I never touched music so I could not read one note. I bought two sets of books to teach myself. A Hal Leonard ” learn piano today” and a Bastiens set. I used both together, and bought some books of music to practice with. I became obcessive.
Today I am ready to move on to level three.
I just started with a Teacher last month and she is amazed at how far along I am – she keeps telling me I am her most advanced student.
I say you could learn any instrument, devotion and dedication are key elements.
you must be determined and stay the course.
Around here, there is no violin teachers, and only recently two places to learn piano – both are good. That had nothing to do with my decision to take up piano but I am sure you should consider this early on – I am learning today how wrong my technique was taught ( from doing it alone).
You can get a cheap keyboard online – upgrade as your budget permits…. you goal should be to get a full sized piano to play on.