learning to play the piano... Options

[lumpy]

is this a difficult thing to do?

[OhMyAnniee]

Yes.
To learn by yourself, it is. I would recommend getting a teacher; they'll help you understand everything alot better.

[*sofakinglazy*]

Years and years of practice.

[*salcha4u*]

As long as you can read music and have good coordination.

[*sofakinglazy*]

Which takes...

Years and years of practice.

[*salcha4u*]

All instruments take years and years of practice

[Serendipity]

It's really not too hard. My mom started teaching me when I was about 4 or 5. Just basic stuff, like counting notes and stuff. And really easy note reading. Then I started taking lessons in 2000, and I'm still playing.

I think it's best to get a teacher, because they'll help you along. It may seem awkward in the beginning - getting to know the notes/keys, but I think anyone is able to learn...with lots of practice of course.

[towntown2]

No.
Once you get over learning the notes, then you move on to key signatures and tempo, then you're off to playing pieces!

However, I'd recommend somebody starting from a young age. Four years old or so. That way, the mind's still young and it's easier to teach. As the person grows up, the musical knowledge just sticks automatically.

But if you're starting a little later, say...fourteen years old and older, you'd have a harder time getting the hang of it. Not to say that you never will, but it'd take some more time.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks in a day.

[lumpy]

well im 17, and i just thought that since i really dont have a hobby, i thought playing the piano seem'd neat.

[Gigi]

I've been playing piano for around 8 years now, and I think I've always found it a little bit "hard". In earlier grades, it was always more about getting the right notes and the right tempo, right rhythms, etc. All the technical stuff.

As you begin to work with more intricate pieces, the technical stuff isn't as important. Creatively, it gets more difficult.

It's never too late to start a hobby, though. My brother started learning piano when he was around 17, too, just as an activity on the side. He said it's really relaxing (I scoffed at that, but then again, he doesn't spend hours on 2 bars in a Chopin piece).

It's really not that difficult to play. Just a matter of learning note names, using the correct technique, and, well, hitting the right buttons. That's all it really comes down to. And practice.

Nowadays there are a lot of teachers who teach older students exclusively, and I'd suggest learning with a teacher. Make sure you get all the right information, that's all.

Good luck!

[*sofakinglazy*]

No.
Once you get over learning the notes, then you move on to key signatures and tempo, then you're off to playing pieces!

Thats just the tip of the iceberg. What about style, dynamics, rhythm?

[*chaneun*]

i hated my piano teacher so i quit.

so now i have no teacher and play on my own. :)

[Gigi]

^x2 It's pretty obvious that he wants to learn piano as a hobby, not professionally.

Pop piano doesn't really require THAT much style and dynamic contrast or detailing. Higher levels of classical music, however, demand much more of that. The latter requires years of experience to build up.

It depends on what type of piano you want to pursue.

[*sofakinglazy*]

Well Music's music. Even if its just a hobby, a muscians needs to precision of a machine, but the emotion of a person.

[lumpy]

i kinda just want to learn well enough to play simple things like some indie music or something. nothing fancy just how to put things together. and i pry would be using a keyboard not an actual piano

[*sofakinglazy*]

Learn your scales. Big Big, help.

[Gigi]

Yes, music's music, but there is nowhere NEAR as much rhythmic, stylistic or dynamic technique contrast in a pop piano piece (or Indie music, for that matter), than any given Beethoven sonata or Chopin mazurka. There's just no comparison. At. All.

If the person is actually into their music, they'll find a way to express the emotion, whether or not they've spent years at the piano.

nothing fancy just how to put things together

Like...composition?

Might be a little difficult at first, but like sofakinglazy says, knowing your scales will help with that.

[*My Cinderella.*]

There was this one book my teacher lent me. It was really helpful and it pointed out where my fingers should be on the keys, what the notes were and how to play them. I even started to play Ode to Joy! But that's just the beginning so I figure it'll take at least a few years.

[DarkImpressions]

Umm I would say that honestly if you teach yourself with hard work and determination I think that it can come really easy,ive olny been playing trombone for like a year and some months, I started at the beggining of 8th grade and now Im in 9th grade,and I practiced my butt off,And I im 2nd chair in the top performing ensemble at my school,Im the the only freshman trombone player,and only one senior sits it front of me.So basiclly practice makes perfect.

[REBELnDISGUISE]

I think piano is pretty easy if you already have you music theory down.

[Gilbertay]

I have no idea...I ply the drums though and it's sorta hard...but I got it down :D

[Saeglopur]

I think piano is pretty easy if you already have you music theory down.

Yeah, definitely. I picked up on the piano pretty easily since I've been playing the cello for years.

[*digital.fragrance*]

If you have a good ear, you can pick it up easier. I mean, if you can hear a piece and are able to play the main melody by "sounding it out" on the keys, it makes life easier.

Learning the notes is easy, learning how to express yourself is the hardest part. That's what makes the musician

[*chaneun*]

i just finished practicing for about 30 min.

my fingers hurt.

[kaykaylicious]

itz nt really that hard to learn how to play the piano.. but it takes years to learn how to anyways iv learn for 3 years and i stoped for 3 or 4 years and now i am teaching myself lol its pretty interesting.

[ecargnmyst]

well...i started playing wheni was in kindergartenm so i cant really sayif itwasdifficult... but it didstart getting harderforme as i went tothe higher levels...and i quit in7thgrade =\ kindamissit now