I finally gained my keyboard!
 

My dad promised he would give it to me in the january of 2008, but he was only able to buy it now. I have been playing since monday 13th. I already learned most of the right handed part of One Minute Waltz and the slow parts of Fur Elise on both hands!

I'm currently trying to learn Departure from Samurai X (I don't know if anyone knows what song I'm talking about), it requires both hands and is full of hard chords, and I'm having serious trouble learning to play both hands at once. Are there any good tips for playing with both hands? I mean, other than just practicing and practicing?

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

I dont play piano i cant help you.
but i make music with a DAW digital audio workshop.
check out my new song
http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/256187

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

Well, that has nothing to do with the thread...
I will compare your song to the FFR's original and say what I think.

EDIT: I don't know what is the FFR's original... But your song is a bit repetitive and lacks a climax, sorry.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

Practicing is the only way to get better at anything. No one is just going to give you skill. Just start slow and continue to up your speed. Your hands have to get used to it. If you do not want to practice, then give up and sell your keyboard.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

steps to getting good at piano.

you can trust me because I am pretty good at piano. I've been playing long enough.

prerequisites: must be able to read sheet music

1) practice
2) check out Hanon's Virtuoso Pianist. Use that for, at first, exercises. Then when you get better just use them for warm-ups. Hanon is your guide. Use it. It will get you good at piano quicker than just dicking around and trying to do it yourself.
3) practice some more
4) learn some music theory. and perhaps even some jazz piano? there are some good books on that and knowing jazz is really important IMO.
5) practice
6) keep practicing

Really if you can't devote yourself and tolerate a year or more of sucking major ass at the piano, then don't even bother. Because guess what? You're gonna suck major ass at the piano for at least a year or more. I say "a year" assuming you dedicate yourself a ton. If not... then you'll suck even longer, perhaps forever if you quit.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

I didn't say I am not practicing. I obviously am.
I just asked if there is anything else that can help.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

you're a ****

wtf it bleeps cunt

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

Well, I think that I really don't suck considering the little time I've been playing. I'm starting to get good at that 2 handed song.

Thanks, I downloaded the book.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

Thank you! I am going to be working on that book all summer now to try to improve.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

Try to practice 2-handed songs that either have very static hand positioning and/or don't have many chords, then build it up from there, getting the muscle memory and piano experience is very much required. Whatever you practice let it sink in, it's not about speed, it's about understanding what you are doing.

I've been practicing piano for maybe 9 months, not even that actively and I'm practicing Moonlight Sonata Adagio 1st mov. I'm halfway through and I practice it nearly everyday, and for that specific song it's almost only getting the notes down, since doing it justice is hard - but I still like learning it. It's in my opinion good 2 hand practice and not too beginner unfriendly (you have to be able to reach ninths though).

But yeah keep practicing, set yourself realistic goals, it's all about time and effort.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

So, about the keyboard itself, what is it? I have a crappy one with light-up plastic keys that aren't velocity-sensitive. Got it for Christmas about 4 years ago, but I'm guessing it was $50-60. I'm probably going to spend some larger amount to get a nicer one, that feels like a real piano and IS velocity sensitive.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

It's a Yamaha E-313, i think it's good. It's velocity and touch sensitive and has many songs and different lessons: timing, waiting for the right note to be pressed, listen and learn, etc. I think I evolved pretty quickly with it. The keys don't have the hardness of piano keys, though.

Moonlight Sonata seems doable... I think I'll try it after I get better at the song I'm currently training at.

Re: I finally gained my keyboard!
 

Hmmm the E-313 model doesn't seem to have 88 keys like normal pianos, I'm not sure if you can play Moonlight Sonata with it even if you place octaves differently, just a heads up.

I have Korg SP-250 myself, pretty satisfied with the functions, my only gripes with it are that the higher notes having bit piercing/crackly sound (not sure if that's realistic emulation or not) and the keypresses are pretty loud if your volume is on low setting.

Another song I liked for two handed beginner is Final Fantasy 7 (Nobuo Uematsu) - Chasing the Black-Caped Man, you'll require both hands almost constantly and it's pretty static.