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Archive for the ‘Piano’ Category

How Long Does it Take to Learn Piano Songs?

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

It’s easy to feel stressed when you pick up a new piece of music. Where do you start? What should you do if you get stuck? And how long will this take? Read on as Winnetkta, CA piano teacher Anthony B. shares his advice…

Everyone has a repertoire of songs that they practice or play often; but what happens if you don’t have one, or better yet want to expand it? When learning a song on the piano, the biggest struggle resides in choosing a piece of music you’d like to learn, finding the route to go about purchasing the sheet music or locating the book it is found in. Once settled, and you have the music in front of you, there is a pressing question on your mind: How long will it take to learn this?
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Posted in Inspiration & Motivation!, Music Lessons for Adults, Music Lessons for Children, Piano, TakeLessons Teachers | Comments

Share Your Stories, Photos, and Videos!

Monday, April 8th, 2013

student spotlight Whether you’ve been playing music for one month or several years, recognizing and celebrating milestones along the way is important!

Our students inspire us every day – so we want to hear your stories, and share them with the TakeLessons community! Did you perform at a recital, talent show, or open mic night? Did you ace an audition, or get accepted into a prestigious music program or school? Maybe you mastered a difficult song quicker than you expected.

Whatever your story is, let us know and you might be featured on our Facebook page! Every Friday, beginning April 12th, we’ll select one student to shine the spotlight on.

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Posted in Drums, Guitar, Inspiration & Motivation!, Performing, Piano, Singing, The TakeLessons Team | Comments

Video: Turn Your Piano Into a Drum Machine

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

The piano might seem like a simple instrument, but there’s actually a lot you can do with it! You’re not just limited to classical and jazz genres. For the extra creative types, have you ever thought about changing the sound of the piano by altering the strings inside? This is called “prepared piano,” a term coined by experimental composer John Cage. As you can see in the video below, these artists have used everyday items like coins and a wallet to turn their piano into a drum machine of sorts, lending a hip-hop feel to this jazz standard…

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Posted in Just For Fun, Piano, Videos | Comments

Beginner Piano FAQ: Should I Look at My Hands or the Music?

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

Sometimes playing the piano can feel like trying to rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time – there’s a lot to think about! One common question that beginner piano players have that ties into this is whether you should look at your hands or the music when you’re playing. Read on as Chicago piano teacher Carol R. tackles the topic…

I am asked this question many times in my teaching, especially with beginners. I try to explain that it is like typing on a keyboard. You have to “feel” where the keys are and only look at the music. This is fairly easy if it is done at the beginner level. Your piano teacher should be training you to watch the music and not look down.

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Posted in Piano, TakeLessons Teachers | Comments

Playing and Teaching Piano Trills

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

A lot goes into learning how to play the piano. Beginners need to learn a whole new language; memorizing the notes, practicing scales, and getting a feel for chord structures are just a few of the basics. After that, though, you’ll be able to dive into more exciting things, like dynamics and ornamentation.
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