Fire Emblem Addict Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 So I've recently decided that my instrument (violin) was very boring so I decided to try to learn the piano instead! I got myself a book called Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Level 1 or something like that and it came with a CD that has all the practice music and melodies from the book on it as reference. The thing is that I don't want to get another private tutor for the piano because I want to go at my own pace and not be assigned "homework" every week. I want to enjoy playing the instrument and I don't want it to become a chore (in fact, this is one of the reasons why I don't like playing the violin much anymore). So my question, for all you piano players out there, is whether or not this is possible to do (learn to play without a private tutor). I don't want to become a professional musician or anything like that but I do hope to be able to eventually play some of my favorite compositions (Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, and the like). The thing that I'm worried about is my posture since that's not really something that can be learned from a book and may require some scrutiny from a tutor (even now, my violin tutor still points out the occasional mistake that I make in bowing or fingering that I was not even aware of). Anyways, thank you in advance to anyone who replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxas Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Wait, you don't want to go pro? FPFFFFFFFFFFFFPHFPFPFFPFPTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. >:( Anyway, I think it's possible. I taught myself guitar and violin like this, so I guess you should be fine. A teacher is nothing more than a guideline for your musical journey. Basically, every thing is up to you and how much you practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excellen Browning Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Your posture... Sit up right, back straight. Keep your hands, wrists and fingers relaxed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire Emblem Addict Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share Posted July 31, 2011 Wait, you don't want to go pro? FPFFFFFFFFFFFFPHFPFPFFPFPTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. >:( Anyway, I think it's possible. I taught myself guitar and violin like this, so I guess you should be fine. A teacher is nothing more than a guideline for your musical journey. Basically, every thing is up to you and how much you practice. Yeah but I'm worried about forming really bad habits through practicing by myself that might inhibit my progress as I begin to play more advanced pieces. In fact, before I got my current violin tutor, I had another (rather crappy) tutor that didn't catch all the little mistakes that I made when I play (how my fingers were straight when I hold the bow for example) and my current tutor spent the entire first lesson that I had with her pointing out all my little mistakes to me. And after a year of playing with mistakes, they were HARD for me to fix. Even now (another year and a half later) I still make the same mistakes occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 One of my buddies did what you're describing on a piano in a public lounge during my freshman year of college. He got his music online and put in a little bit of practice almost every day. You'll improve noticeably but don't expect to be as good as the kids whose parents have had practicing since age 2. Be courteous about not making noise pollution when others are around even if nobody else is. Your actions always come back to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire Emblem Addict Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Haha yeah I know what you mean with the noise pollution thing. One of my neighbors (I live in an apartment) frequently practices his/her bagpipe even though it sounds terrible. However, I don't really hold anything against him/her since they only play during the day and its the only way for them to get better! That being said, I've always played during daytime only (even if it's a piece that I can play really well) since I don't want angry neighbors knocking on my door and ruining my day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxas Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 You'll improve noticeably but don't expect to be as good as the kids whose parents have had practicing since age 2. But seriously. Don't go into any competitions at the National level or above. THESE. KIDS. WILL. MAKE. YOU. RAGE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire Emblem Addict Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Hmm I've never done music competitions but I do know a lot of kids whose parents have forced them to start playing instruments and practice 3 hours a day. When I hear them play pieces like Rondo Alla Turca, it sounds flawless. So flawless in fact that it sounds EXACTLY like a MIDI. During the ABRSM testing, I've noticed that the really good players (some of them are no older than 8) are the ones who put emotion into the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxas Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Hmm I've never done music competitions but I do know a lot of kids whose parents have forced them to start playing instruments and practice 3 hours a day. When I hear them play pieces like Rondo Alla Turca, it sounds flawless. So flawless in fact that it sounds EXACTLY like a MIDI. During the ABRSM testing, I've noticed that the really good players (some of them are no older than 8) are the ones who put emotion into the music. Three hours is nothing, bro. They go for 7~8 a day. It's disgusting. THIS KID IS ELEVEN IN THIS VIDEO. PLAYING A PIECE THAT I'VE WANTED TO PLAY ALL MY LIFE. HE'S BEEN ON THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW WHEN HE WAS NINE. He's two months younger than me and I have to deal with this brat every year at the Bruno and Bradshaw International Piano Competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire Emblem Addict Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 He is one of the exceptions it seems. If you see the video of him playing Chopin's Nocturne, you can see that he connected with the music. But the people who are forced to just sit there and hammer (or saw in the case of the violin) away for hours a day are not like this at all. One of my friends started playing piano at age 3 (yes he was forced into it) and I've seen him play Winter Wind (when he was about 12 years old) without emotion of any sort. He sits there, stiff as a brick with a blank expression and hammers away at the keys until the last note is played. Yes, it's impeccable but it sounds so... empty. Now however, he has become a VERY competent musician and is looking into a career as a composer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wist Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 The conversation has moved on a bit, but in the event it's worth something: yes, chances are fair you'll develop some suboptimal habits, but if you play pieces you want to play and practice consistently and are playing primarily for yourself then there's nothing inadvisable about forsaking regimented instruction. You can always confer with a tutor or an experienced player later on or intermittently if you fear you're doing something wrong or otherwise believe doing so will be of help, and as long as you maintain your motivation your goal should be perfectly attainable in the not too long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erk Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 (edited) That's exactly the mindset I chose when I learned to play guitar and ukulele. I picked up some bad habits through ignorance, but I still can play them both reasonably well. SO much better than having homework assigned. Edited August 1, 2011 by Kvothe Kingkiller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Three hours is nothing, bro. They go for 7~8 a day. It's disgusting. THIS KID IS ELEVEN IN THIS VIDEO. PLAYING A PIECE THAT I'VE WANTED TO PLAY ALL MY LIFE. HE'S BEEN ON THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW WHEN HE WAS NINE. He's two months younger than me and I have to deal with this brat every year at the Bruno and Bradshaw International Piano Competition. .....well....my dad worked for this guy. :/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mfyCI82lWM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agro Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I would honestly get a tutor - I play violin as well, and though I don't take lessons any more, even though taking lessons is a pain in the ass, it's the best way that you can get better and it will force you to practise regularly to please someone as opposed to "taking things at your own pace". For me, trying to play an instrument would be like trying to learn biology without fear of an exam - you need something to motivate you to get better for the most part. Unless you're one of those people who are completely self-motivated, that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau of Isaac Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I highly, highly recommend you find a teacher to show you the ropes. While you can possibly teach yourself to be proficient without a tutor, you're inevitably going to make fuck-ups that will become ingrained, and will likely hold you back from improving yourself. To me, learning an instrument without guidance is much the same as learning a language without guidance, on a smaller scale. It's certainly possible to learn pieces, of course. But I guarantee with a small occasional push from someone more knowledgeable, you'll be leagues better with comparatively less effort than if you went it alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewjeo Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 But seriously. Don't go into any competitions at the National level or above. THESE. KIDS. WILL. MAKE. YOU. RAGE. A girl who graduated from my school two years ago won a state piano competition after playing for just a year. But I don't think that's very usual... Pfft, when violin got boring for me I started writing music, playing contemporary stuff with my sister, and I got a mandolin and an electric five string. Also, my teacher is awesome and is sometimes like "I don't feel like listening to more Suzuki. We're gonna write a piece today." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire Emblem Addict Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 A girl who graduated from my school two years ago won a state piano competition after playing for just a year. But I don't think that's very usual... Pfft, when violin got boring for me I started writing music, playing contemporary stuff with my sister, and I got a mandolin and an electric five string. Also, my teacher is awesome and is sometimes like "I don't feel like listening to more Suzuki. We're gonna write a piece today." Lucky you... All I've ever played during my lessons with my tutor was Suzuki... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenester Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Not to do a near month long bump on this but it's possible to teach yourself an instrument and learn it. You just need a good ear that can hear the notes, some dedication and good practicing. A teacher is like what someone had already said, a guideline to doing things. If you need some help, just see how the other piano players do it, learn from them and then apply it to yourself and learn it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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