Casio CTK 700 Keyboard: Ideal For Beginners

Are you interested in music and musical instruments? Want to learn how to play the keyboard? If you are a beginner in the field of playing keyboards then the best choice for you will be a Casio keyboard. They are ideal for children and even adults; actually, they are a great keyboard for everyone.

The Casio CTK 700 keyboard is also a great choice for beginners. It is very user friendly and it is easy to learn to play. It also has a bunch of features that makes it all the more wanted. It has 61 keys, which are of full size, and it also comes with a sing along function.

The keyboard has on screen icons and a feature, which displays the musical information on screen. It has an inbuilt volume controller as well as microphone input jack. This keyboard comes with a step lesson feature, which will help you to learn how to play the correct notes on the keyboard. There are two speakers built into the keyboard and both are almost 10 centimeters in size.

There is a volume control for the microphone. There is a song bank controller, which can perform various functions like play or pause, stop, forward and reverse when playing songs.

The Casio CTK 700 has as many as 100 songs, which are built in, and there are 100 different kinds of rhythms like jazz, rock and dance. It also has different sounding tones such as guitar, piano, percussion and brass.

If you get an adapter with the keyboard then you will not require batteries, the adapter costs only $14.99. You can also add a sustain pedal which will allow you to sustain notes while you play.

Piano lesson: Learn To Play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Without Reading Sheet Music

In this piano lesson you will learn to play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star without the use of sheet music. After this learn to play piano tutorial you will be able to play the melody with both hands!

As you know Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is a popular nursery rhyme. The melody is from France and the lyrics from an English poem by Jane Taylor.

The English lyrics are as follows:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are

In this piano lesson we will use a form of tablature instead of sheet music notation.

Tablature is a type of musical notation which will tell you where to place your fingers to play a melody on your piano. The first thing we will do is to locate the note C.

The middle C on a piano is the first white key that is to the left of two black keys. It is called middle C because on the piano keyboard it is right in the middle, near the keyhole.

In our piano tab notation the keys are numbered instead. This middle C in our type of piano tab is called 1.

This means that when you see the number 1 you are to play the middle C once. The white key to the right of C we call 2, the next 3 and so on.

Let's play some piano tab notes:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Now you have played a scale with the actual notes C D E F G A B.

Now we will start to play the melody Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

1 1 5 5 6 6 5

Now you have played the notes C C G G A A G.

How can you use your left hand? Let's make this piece a little bit more difficult and also more rewarding to play by using your left hand for bass notes.

The notes from C to the next C is called an octave. The keys are grouped this way on the whole keyboard.

You also have these notes to the left of the middle C. We can call these notes the left octave.

If you use the notes 1-7 in the left octave to play bass notes with your left hand we can notate the melody in the following way:

1/1 1 5/3 5 6/4 6 5/3

The note to the right of the slash is the bass note. 1/1 means that as you play the first 1 with your right hand you simultaneously play number 1 in the left octave with your left hand.

I guess you have noticed that you only play bass notes together with some of the melody notes.

Let's continue this piano lesson with the next line:

How I wonder what you are

4/2 4 3/1 3 2/5 2 1/1

What fingers should you use as you play? You can and maybe you use your index fingers on both hands to play but it will be easier to find your notes if you cultivate the habit to use all your fingers.

On your right hand you can use your thumb to play number 1 and your index finger to play number 2 and so on.

The next piano tab looks like this:

Up above the world so high

5/3 5 4/2 4 3/1 3 2/5

If you want to use fingerings on your left hand you place your little finger above key number 1 and your thumb on number 5 and the other fingers accordingly.

On the next piano tab the melody is identical:

Like a diamond in the sky

5/3 5 4/2 4 3/1 3 2/5

Now you only have to play the beginning of the song again:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

1/1 1 5/3 5 6/4 6 5/3

How I wonder what you are

4/2 4 3/1 3 2/5 2 1/1

Congratulations! Now you can play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star as a piano solo with two hands!

This type of piano notation is probably best used as a help to find the notes until you know the melody by heart. I suggest that you memorize one line at a time until you know the whole song as this will enable you to play the song anywhere and anytime!

Adult Piano Lessons!

Adult piano lessons! Not sure if you should be going ahead with or not? I think it is perfectly alright if you have doubts in your mind. As adults, we become so engrossed in our day to day life that it hardly leaves us with any time to learn something new. That is the reason we have to think so hard to take that decision, since it means committing your precious time. To accommodate time for your new hobby and that too for a few months would definitely make you sit up and think about it.  

At the same time you also need to realize that if you cannot get time for it now, you will never get time for it, and you will miss out an opportunity to play the piano. So definitely give it a thought, and after giving it a lot of thought, if you still are not able to completely remove this idea from your mind, then may be you should just give it a try… and not worry too much about the results. After all, learning the piano is something you always wanted to do. The good thing now is that you don’t even have to ask for money from your parents -:)    

Knowing Yourself

As an adult, you need to know yourself so that you can choose the correct approach to learning the piano. Adults learn differently from kids so plan accordingly. Adults also need lot more flexibility, just because they have so many other commitments. If you are talking lessons from a personal teacher, you may need lessons late in the evening or over the weekends so make it clear to your teacher. 

Method Books

If you are one of those who do not want to learn from the teacher, you can try one of the several method books that are available. Almost all these books have accompanying CDs that can be used as part of the lessons. Some of the popular publishers of adult piano courses include the Alfred's Method and Piano Adventures Method by Fabers. Piano for Dummies is another good book which can also be used to learn the piano. 

Piano Software

Another good way is to buy Piano software, which will help you to learn the piano on your computer. If you have a digital piano, it can be connected to your computer. If not, look for packages that come with a midi-keyboard (3-5 octaves). Connecting these keyboards to the computer can be of great help since the software can then actually tell you what notes you have played wrongly.  

So as you can see, there are plenty of opportunities for you to learn the piano. Just pick up whatever you are comfortable with!

Yamaha Keyboards: The Right Choice For You

Are you in search of Yamaha keyboards to meet your purpose? Are you thinking whether the Yamaha keyboards will be good for you or not? If you really go for Yamaha keyboards you will save both your time as well as your money. You will save time because you do not have to search very far for a Yamaha keyboard because they are available in almost every musical instrument store as well as widely over the internet.

On the other hand, you will save money because these keyboards are priced quite reasonably and you will find them very reasonably priced. Before you decide on a particular model of keyboard, you can just visit a review website and read the review of the various models of the Yamaha keyboards.

Either you can be a beginner in the field of playing the keyboard, or you can be one of those professionals in the music industry that play the keyboard regularly. For both of you the ideal choice of keyboard will be the Yamaha keyboard. On internet forums, you can also discuss which keyboard you should buy.

There are lots of experts who can give you good advice about which keyboard you should go with. The features of the Yamaha keyboard are unique and you will get everything you require to play good music. Yamaha keyboards are designed for all ages of piano and keyboard players. The basic features of keyboards are almost the same and hence you will get what is required for you.

Yamaha keyboards also have the feature of composing and storing music and you can listen to it whenever required. There are many models of Yamaha keyboards that will give you a number of music lessons. You will get manuals as well as guides with these keyboards, which you can use to the fullest and learn some of the greatest music pieces ever written. Yamaha keyboards are very much user friendly and they do not have to many complicated buttons and systems, which can confuse a beginner.

See How your Kids Can be Smarter With Piano Lessons

There are many and varied reasons to have piano lessons. It is a beautiful instrument with a beautiful look and a beautiful sound. It can be a soloist's instrument or a group instrument. It sharpens the mind and body. The gift of music is therapeutic. There are many careers that require piano skills. The list goes on and on.





1.One quality that the piano and not many other instruments share, is that you can play more than one note at a time. It is polyphonic. Thus, unlike instruments like the flute or violin, you can play pieces with complex and rich harmonies when playing alone. That makes the piano a dynamic solo instrument. At the same time, the piano sounds beautiful accompanying other instruments. So, whether you are introverted or extroverted, the piano will suit your style.





2. Playing the piano also develops a high level of manual dexterity. While it may seem very simple to just push the keys, learning to perform complex pieces with precision AND emotion needs a little time and a very human touch. It has also been noted that co-ordination skills increase when you have piano lessons.





3.Research has shown that children who have had piano lessons do far better in scholastically than their fellow students. Not only are their artistic and musical skills above the norm, but also their language and mathematics skills are also improved. While this benefit is sometimes difficult to measure, piano students also receive a very tangible benefit. Many high schools are recognizing the achievements that children make in piano and reward them with high school credits when they pass certain grade levels. (In Alberta, Canada, passing a recognized piano exam level/grade 6, 7, and 8 is worth 5 credits each for a total of 15. When you consider the fact that one needs only 100 credits to graduate high school, this is a huge recognition)





4.Pianists also learn some basics in posture which can reap huge rewards. For one thing, the basic hand position required for the piano is also the one required for the typewriter/keyboard. Considering how vital the computer is these days, learning this technique is invaluable. With the proper hand position, one can avoid carpal tunnel syndrome that is plaguing our modern-day offices now that computers are being used so extensively. At the very least, the basic concept of sitting tall in a chair will help with basic posture and back pains.





5. Anyone aspiring to be an orchestral or choral conductor is required to study the piano. Learning the piano trains the pianist to understand and hear the interplay of the various harmonic lines in each piece of music. This is a vital skill for a conductor who must hear and guide all the instruments of his/her orchestra and voices in his/her choir. If you go to colleges which teach music, or if you are applying towards a degree in music or you want to learn to master an instrument at a university it is necessary to take a year or more of piano. Piano is a really good music classroom teaching tool and is the key and basis to learning music theory.





6.Since the piano differs from the guitar or wind instruments (in which the person usually memorizes finger paterns) the piano uses both hemispheres of the brain, requiring your ten fingers to be controlled independently! This might sound hard but with practice and time you'll be able to even do more than one thing simultaneously. A piano player who decides to play drums, if skilled enough can pick them up more easily than someone who hasn't had the experience to play such instrument.





7.There are many jobs and careers for people who have had piano lessons. One can be the piano player in a lounge, on a cruise ship, in a church (mass, weddings, funerals), or in a band. One can be an instructor with a college or university or teach out of a home studio. One can accompanying vocalists, choirs, violinists, and others as they perform for competition or for an audience. One can compose movie scores or commercial jingles or orchestral pieces.





8.The ability to play a musical instrument and to express one's self with a musical instrument is very healthy and therapeutic. Stresses can melt away. The piano is always there, ready for you to pour out your soul. It is a most patient and agreeable companion. If you're upset, go ahead and thunder away on the keyboard. And when you're done and feeling better, go ahead and pick up a more languid or cheerful piece.





The Internet is the best way to find good piano lessons (no geographical barriers/ no re-occurring fees and no stranger in your house). The best piano lesson learning tool that I have found is here.

Uses of the Piano Lessons

Introduction





Piano lessons are not only for beginners but also for students who want to improve their playing skills. Learning the piano is fun, easy and a great way to start making your own music. It is the foundation on which your knowledge and love for music is built. And it holds quite true in the case of very young children.





Music





Music helps improve and develop traits like self-confidence, creativity, imagination, short and log term memory, social skills, coordination and self-discipline. It has its own set of terms and expressions called notes that represent different pitches. There three important things that you need to remember while learning music it should be fun, playful and enjoyable only then will you be able to learn well.





Learning





One of the best ways to start playing the piano is by learning the piano. And it works right from the children to the elders. It is a real natural and enjoyable experience. This process involves the use of different parts of the brain like emotions, creativity, motor skills and housing spatial reasoning skills.





Online





And if you don’t have a piano teacher, don’t get worried, we have online lessons here on the internet. It is a very quick and easy way to learn the piano. They fit very well in your schedule, since it is you who decides when you want the class. These lessons on the web are also much cheaper than the regular piano lessons. Many sites also offer free piano lessons and this should be the first place to go to learn, if you are learning online. Here they teach you to play the piano from beginners to advanced really quick, but teach you every aspect involved in the process of learning the piano.


Practice





To perfect the art of playing the piano, one needs to make it a point to practice everyday. And at least 10 minutes of practice everyday will help you play the piano really well in a matter of months. But you should make sure that you never miss even a single practice in the beginning since it is this daily practice that will decide your progress.


Conclusion





Piano lessons are offered to all, there are classes for beginning and intermediate level students. It is ideal to start classes when a child is 6 yrs old, even young and older adults can take classes. It can help both you and your kid to increase your ability to concentrate and focus in general. It also teaches the kid that patience and hard-work always pay’s off at the end of the day. The benefits you get from these lessons are plenty and can be etched in for a really long time.


And for this all you will need is just a piano or a keyboard and ZAP you can start learning.

Learn All Traditional Piano Lessons With Variety of Courses

Do you want to become successful in playing piano. If u interested to know about the piano playing but you have not time then don’t worry we help’s you.For learning piano there is no age, You are never feel old to start learning how to play the piano. Now a days there are many online course available on web, but which is little bit confusing to choose one our of many. It is our intent that this article will help to create a light into your search to find the most appropriate course for your specific musical needs.





At first, I strongly recommend that you do some profound searching and choose what style of music you really want to play. There are so many styles of music and at this stage in your life; you should only focus on the style of music which give you a really enjoyment.Second, decide how much time you can spend to learning to play the piano. Now, if you’re only concerned with playing with the least amount of mental and physical effort, I advise you to seriously consider purchasing an inexpensive keyboard that offers instrument accompaniment features. You don’t need to “take lessons�? for this type of recreational enjoyment.if you’re really interested in learn how to make music on the piano, and can consistently set aside at least 15 to 30 minutes a day, then you should definitely continue your search for the online programs that helps to your specific needs and lifestyle.





If you search for a complete gospel, jazz, piano, organ lesson and resource center then you will get all traditional piano lessons with variety of courses that will helps you to be a advance artistically in music. Other kinds of music, including Gospel music , is often used to encourage visitors as incentives to continue their efforts in exercises like sight reading, technique, or memorization. Even you can find DVDs to help in learning piano without a teacher.


The trick you will see in the video is that Christopher plays a simple major chord with both hands repeating the same chord up the piano octave by octave. The end result sounds like a flourishing move that expert pianists make; only it is so easy to do. Try it yourself and see. It has really made my day as a beginning piano student to try this lesson. I hope you get a lot out of it too.

Piano Lesson: For Piano Beginners

Playing piano can be a wonderful experience. If you want to start playing piano sheet music you need to know a few of the conventions used in western sheet music notation. Let's make a little journey through the music notation djungle!



First we might notice that the piano as we are used to play have been around for some time. Around 500 years or more. Playing keyboards is in other words a rather old art. This means that the conventions as to how to play keyboard instruments and how to notate the music have had some time to develop.



As you might know a piano has 88 keys. This means a full sized piano but you will find keyboards with a considerably less amount of keys. however, the order of the white and black keys are the same.



How can you learn to play piano?



Well, as you might know little children don't have too much problem with this question. The just hammer on!



At least one thing you can learn from children. To learn to play you have to play. That is an important beginning!



Do you need sheet music in order to start playing the piano? Well, the before mentioned children have already answered the question with a definite no!



Some accomplished pianists have never used sheet music at all and play entirely by ear or by reading chords in songs. This type of pianists usually learn songs by listening to recordings or just by playing from memory. It works fine and many very fine musicians and pianist have used this approach.



Other pianist have always played sheet music and would feel very uneasy confronted with a keyboard without their music sheets. Maybe they have learned pieces by heart and have a large repertoire of piano solos but they have never improvised or played by ear. Even these pianists can create great music.



I would suggest that you use the best parts of both these approaches as you learn to play piano. Take time to develop your ear and improvise but also to make a conscious effort to learn to play piano sheet music.



One way to learn to read sheet music with a concentrated effort is to read a piano solo and trying to understand all signs and symbols in the music.



Try to tap the rhythm and as you become more skilled you can try to sing or hear the music in your head. This is a very effective way to really get into learning sheet music.



Here are some symbols you will find as you read a piece of piano sheet music:



You will find vertical lines in the music that divides the notes in groups. These lines are called barlines and the distance between two of these barlines are called a measure.



Sometimes you will find two dots at the end of a section and also a double bar. The two dots are called a repeat sign indicating that you should play the section twice.



The elaborated G is called the G clef and indicates the position of the note G in the treble note staff. It is also called the treble clef.



The left hand notes are mainly situated in the bass clef or the F clef because the two dots indicates the note F.



It will be a great help for you to study the sheet music before you play a piece of music, rehearsing the names of the notes and preparing yourself for a pleasant encounter with the music behind the dots.

It's Never Too Late To Take A Beginner Piano Lesson!

Sometimes all it takes to get started down the road of music is a beginner piano lesson. How many times have you told yourself that you should learn to play an instrument before it gets too late? And how many times have you put off your first lesson because you just don't have the time, or because you don't know where to go? When you learn online, you eliminate the need to go looking for lessons because everything can be accomplished in the comfort of your own home.



For many people, learning to play the piano may seem intimidating, especially for those who are older. The piano may seem like it is a difficult instrument to play, but once you have your first lesson, you will realize it is not as hard as it looks. Sometimes all you need to do is rely on your hearing to learn how to play songs that are both easy and more complex.



Once you find the right online source that can instruct you on how to play the piano, you need to kick back and trust that they know what they are doing. Take a look at the testimonials and see how others have learned to play music. You will find that people of all ages and from all backgrounds are just as interested as you in learning to play the piano. And just how successful they have been.



If you don't already have a piano in your home, you can buy a small keyboard to get started. Your main goal when you first start to learn the piano is to play a few notes and simple songs. Once you come to the end of your online piano course, you may find that you want to purchase a piano in order to improve your sound. But to start lessons, a keyboard is all you need.



Online piano courses are designed in such a way that you start off slowly, stepping up the pace as you build up confidence and skill. Learning at your own pace allows you to master each lesson plan before you're ready to move on. This means that you will have all the concepts you need before you move on to the next lesson, which increases your ability to be more proficient at playing the piano.



After your first beginner piano lesson, you will be ready to start taking your lessons seriously. In no time at all, you can be playing the piano like an expert for your family and friends.



Hear and Play specializes in providing piano lessons and learning guides for those who wish to become more proficient in playing the piano by ear. Our programs are designed for beginners and advanced players - everyone has the opportunity to refine their skills and successfully play piano by ear. Contact us at http://www.hearandplay.com/ to learn more.

Free Online Piano Lessons Beginners For Rookies

With the progress and advancement of science and technology, the modes of teaching and learning how to play a piano have undergone vast changes. No one has the time in today’s fast and busy jet set lifestyle to spend hours searching for a reputed piano teacher and even if you find one easily, the steep charges will make you faint. After all, who wants to spend $100 on a private lesson that will last for one hour only and a full fledged beginners’ course that will set you back thousands of dollars? Of course, it will burn a comparatively smaller hole in your pocket if you opt for group lessons.

But even then when free online piano lessons beginners courses are available at a dime a dozen over the internet and which don’t compromise on quality to produce quality fare, why should you let these teachers and piano learning schools fleece you? In these free online piano lessons beginners courses, you will receive piano instruction online via your web cam and you will be able to learn how to play the musical instrument with lessons on online keyboard. The courses will cover starters’ playing techniques and patterns, rhythmic patterns, basic notations, tones, scales etc, how to read music from printed score and other such things.

These free online piano lessons beginners courses are available in CD format, DVD format which is very popular, online course form via web cam, and in software form. If it is a software lesson, you shall have to download it from the concerned website and it will take only a few minutes to download and install it on your computer. The process is very easy. Many of the beginners’ courses feature 16 lessons, some feature 60 lessons and there are others which feature 223 lessons or skills.

You can take these lessons whenever you find time, you can learn at your own pace and these courses will slowly but surely guide you from step one to the last step until you have acquired a thorough knowledge of the basics. And there are quizzes to test the depth of your knowledge.

Online Piano Courses - a Viable Alternative to Traditional Piano Lessons

When most people think of learning to play the piano, the image that often comes to mind is of them sitting with an instructor who explains the rudiments of music, and guides them through various beginner lessons to develop their playing skill. That can be an exciting visual to imagine.

What follows next is the realization that these lessons will require committing to a series of weekly sessions, which means rearranging schedules to make room for piano instructions one or more days a week.  Also, the time it takes to travel to and from these lessons suddenly becomes a factor.

Then there is the cost to consider. Private piano lessons these days can be quite expensive.  And with widespread economic uncertainty looming over just about every sector of society at the moment, many people may be forced to put their dream of playing the piano on hold, indefinitely.

But it doesn't have to be that way!

If the above scenario reflects your particular situation, here is a solution that may be perfect for you - an online piano course. Thanks to advancements in Internet technology and the escalating number of households with hi-speed Internet access, online piano courses are enjoying growing popularity because of the tremendous benefits they deliver.

For example:

• Most courses are comprehensive with lessons ranging from basic to very advanced.




• Some courses allow you to access a free lesson before you commit to the entire program.




• An entire package can be yours for less than the cost of a few private lesssons.




• Lessons are presented in a variety of media formats (pdf, audio, video) to keep things interesting.




• There are "play along" tracks to develop your group playing skills.




• You can learn at your own pace.




• Exercises are structured to develop your dexterity as you advance.




• You can find courses on jazz, rock, pop, hip hop, blues, new age, gospel, country, classical and other types of music.

One of the most amazing things is how clearly video lessons are presented and how easy it is for students to absorb the material. Not only are you able to see the piano keyboard and hear every note played, but you can observe which fingers play which notes.

Along with this, the names of the notes being played are indicated. You can even see and understand how the keyboard notes correlate to notes on a staff of music.

Meanwhile, as you are viewing all this, there is the instructor's voice explaining exactly what's going on. It's as comforting and reassuring as if he or she were in the same room with you. These are some of the things that make the online method of learning so attractive.

This do-it-yourself approach to learning the piano is not at all intimidating. It is a natural extention to the many other aspects in our lives where DIY is commonplace. We've grown accustomed to pumping our own gas, and checking ourselves out at the supermarket and big warehouse stores.  So applying the same principle to piano lessons is an easy concept to embrace.

Added to this list of benefits, is the convenience and flexibility of being able to study in the comfort of your own home whenever it suits you. No traffic or weather conditions to deal with. And there's no need to worry about getting stuck on a particular concept, because in many cases customer support is available 24 hours a day. 

If you already have some experience playing the piano and you wanted to explore specific techniques such as chords and progressions, or modal playing, you can find lessons designed exclusively for those as well. So if gospel music is your thing and you would like to accompany singers at the next musical event at your place of worship, you can find lessons that'll teach you comping, riffs and chord changes in the gospel music tradition.

There you have it, a look at the online piano course as a convenient, practical and inexpensive alternative to live piano instruction.  And if for some reason you purchased a course that failed to meet your expectations, you can always resort to the 60-day money back guarantee that most courses happily provide.

Why? Your Keyboard Success Comes From Answering This Key Question

Are you wondering when you'll be able to play the piano with ease?

Do you wish you could improve your piano playing more quickly?

Are you struggling to stay motivated to practice each day?



Is so, read on.....



There's a lot of talk these days about setting goals.

Unfortunately, even if you do set a goal, you may not achieve it.



Perhaps it's because your reason for accomplishing the goal isn't important enough to you.



Have you ever prepared to perform at your spring piano recital and put everything else aside during the few days before? Perhaps this is because you wanted to play well. Or you may simply have been motivated by the fear of embarrassment.



In his famous book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill said "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat."



Think about the day before you go on vacation. Won't you work like crazy to accomplish all of your tasks so that you can pack your suitcase, change into your casual clothes and get going?



If you want to stay motivated, improve your piano playing more rapidly and get to the point where you can play the piano with ease, you will need to discover your deepest reasons for accomplishing these goals. In other words, you will need a very strong desire to achieve your piano playing success.



Desire is the powerful fuel in your goal setting process.



But how can you access desire and use it to succeed?

You need to keep asking yourself WHY?



Why? The Key Question to Ask and Answer for Your Keyboard Success



? Ask yourself WHY you chose to play the piano in the first place.



o Were you inspired after watching Horowitz performing on television?

o Do you remember hearing your grandmother tinkling the ivories?

o Did you become energized after experiencing the excitement of a Billy Joel concert?

o Is it because you inherited a piano, and it's now sitting in your living room?

o Were you forced to take piano lessons as a child? (Hardly your choice)



? Ask yourself WHY you now want to play the piano-this is your long term goal.



o Do you want to play for relaxation?

o Do you want to be able to entertain friends at parties?

o Do you want to play in a band?

o Do you want to play piano on a cruise ship or in a piano bar?

o Do you want to compose and record your own music?



? Ask yourself WHY you are making your piano playing a priority at this time of your life- this is your medium term goal.



o Are you anxious to finally focus on playing the piano now that your children have grown up and moved out?

o Do you really want to be able to play the Moonlight Sonata or memorize five Gershwin tunes?

o Are you eager to learn to improvise or play the blues?

o Do you want to open a fake book and play any song you choose?

o Are you anxious to develop your technique, sight-reading skills or knowledge of music theory?



? Ask yourself WHY you want to practice the piano today-this is your short term goal.



o Do want to have a good lesson on Thursday?

o Have you had a stressful day today and need to unwind?

o Do you want to feel the satisfaction of playing 4 measures of Misty from memory?

o Are you excited about jamming with your Band-in-a-Box computer music program?

o Do you wish you could master the last 8 measures of Chopin's Nocturne in Eb?



Action Exercises



Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.



First, ask yourself WHY you really want to play the piano, WHY you want to reach a certain musical level, WHY you want to achieve your specific goals and WHY you want to practice today.



Second, answer each of your WHY questions and write these responses on index cards, in your notebook or in a computer program. The act of writing will reinforce your reasons for staying motivated and focused.



Third, remember that the way to keep fueling your desire to persevere on your keyboard success journey is to continue to ask WHY and then regularly answer your specific questions. The more consistent you become with this process, the more motivated you will feel.



If you want to get great results from all of your piano playing and really achieve your keyboard success, keep asking the key question: WHY?



You'll be amazed at how quickly your piano playing will sound super!



Before you know it, you'll have fueled your desire to succeed because you asked and answered the Key Question for Your Keyboard Success: WHY?



© 2007 by Ed Mascari All Rights Reserved. ed@edmascari.com

A To Z Information On Digital Keyboards

Digital keyboards that feature full 88 touch sensitive keys will perhaps be the best choice for you if you wish to capture the feel of an acoustic piano. A damper pedal attached to it would be even better. However, you have to keep in mind that keyboards of this variety will set you back by $1000 more.

These kinds of digital keyboards are ideal for beginners or those who are into their 1st year music lessons. The starting price for cheap acoustic pianos is around $2000. So you can naturally guess how much an expensive electric keyboard will cost you. When you purchase a keyboard, you must check to see that it has USB connectivity and PC connectivity.

Such features will raise the price bar higher, but ultimately you will be the gainer in the long run. Don’t think of digital keyboards as substitute for an acoustic piano, rather it should complement or be an adjunct to the latter.

If you are a complete novice who wants to test the piano learning waters or wants to gift your children a piano to encourage him or her to take up piano lessons or if you are not sure about the student’s interest levels and don’t want to waste a lot of money on something super expensive. Then the cheaper varieties of smaller keyboards will be ideal for you and they cost less than $200 and are therefore, extremely pocket friendly.

You can make do with these types of keyboards for quite a few months. These types of digital keyboards have a rudimentary type of damper pedal, the keys might often turn out to be not so touch sensitive and there will be no more than 4/5 octaves. A full keyboard usually features around 8 to 9 octaves. Another feature that you must check while purchasing a digital keyboard is whether the instrument is MIDI compatible or not.

Nowadays, you can avail yourself of different models featuring both complex and simple kinds of keyboards, which are sold with piano training software, and the makers nowadays make available different varieties of software and hardware combinations.

Piano Lesson: Learn To Play Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace for piano is a popular song on the internet. In this piano lesson we will learn to play this song with melody and chords without the use of sheet music. We will start by finding the note C.



The note C on your piano is found on many places on the piano keyboard. C is always to the left of two black keys on the keyboard. Let's find the middle C on the piano.



The middle C is often called C4 as it is in the fourth octave of an ordinary upright piano or grand piano. It is sometimes called the keyhole C as it is at the same horizontal position as the keyhole on some pianos.



In this piano lesson we will call it C4 and the C to the left of this note we will call C3 and so on. We will now continue this piano lesson by learning the song Amazing Grace. Let's take a look at the lyrics to the first verse:



Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind, but now I see



We will play this song in the key of F-major. You don't need to know exactly what this mean but it still is in F-major anyway.



We will start with the first line:



Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound



Here is the notes to play to this line:



C4 F4 A4 F4 A4 G4 F4 D4 C4



In this piano lesson we will use a type of piano tab that doesn't indicate the length of the individual notes. You will probably figure out this by yourself as you know the melody!



I feel confident that you are able to do this!



Let's continue with the next line:



That saved a wretch like me



C4 F4 A4 F4 A4 G4 A4 C5



We will now take a break in this piano lesson and amuse ourselves with three piano chords that you can play with your left hand as you play the melody with your right hand.



The first piano chord is called F-major or just F and it is played with these notes in this song:



F: C3 F3 A3



The next chord is Bb-major. It is played with these notes:



Bb: D3 F3 Bb3



What is the note Bb3?



Well, the ordinary note B3 is immediately to the left of the note C4. Bb3 is the black key immediately to the left of the note B3. Okey?



The third and last chord we will use in this piano lesson is the chord C7. It is played in the following way:



C7: C3 E3 Bb3



If you want to use these chords in the song I recommend that you learn them by heart first. Now we will continue with the piano lesson.



I once was lost, but now am found



A4 C5 A4 F4 A4 G4 F4 D4 C4



We finish this part of the piano lesson by playing the last line of lyrics.



Was blind, but now I see



C4 F4 A4 F4 A4 G4 F4



Our piano lesson on Amazing Grace is completed as far as the piano melody is concerned but if you want to use your left hand to play the chords as you play the right hand melody you'll find the bonus text here:



I will notate the melody as I did before but at certain places among the notes I will place the piano chords you already have learned after a slash.



When you see a note with a slash and a piano chord after it you are supposed to play the note and the chord at the same time.



Here is the Amazing Grace melody with piano chords:



C4 F4/F A4 F4 A4 G4 F4/Bb D4 C4/F



C4 F4/F A4 F4 A4 G4 A4 C5/C7



A4 C5/F A4 F4 A4 G4 F4/Bb D4 C4/F



C4 F4/F A4 F4 A4/C7 G4 F4/F



That's it! I recommend learning the Amazing Grace melody with or without chords by heart. You will then have access to it whenever you will find a piano or keyboard to play.

I Hated Piano Lessons When I Was a Kid, But Now I Want to Play

I've never met an adult that says "I sure am sorry I learned to play the piano so well when I was a kid." But I've met hundreds of adult who have said "I sure wish I had kept up my piano lessons -- I'd love to be able to play"



However, some adults who have been out of practice for several years may find returning to piano lessons challenging. Re-learning piano as an adult can be intimidating. Starting piano lessons again can be fulfilling though for those prepared to tackle the challenges.



One of the biggest challenges of re-learning piano as an adult is changing methods. Adults who took only a few years of piano lessons as children may have initially learned to play by rote. Playing piano by rote focuses more on memorization and mimicry than on learning to read music and understand chords.



Children tend to learn very quickly by rote. Children who learn by this method appear to progress quickly. Eventually though, as pieces get more difficult, learning tends to slow down significantly. Grasping new skills becomes increasingly difficult. This method is becoming less and less favored by piano instructors today for this reason.



Another hurdle to clear when re-learning piano as an adult is chords and theory. This is especially true if an adult took only a few years of piano lessons as a child. Adults who had five or fewer years of piano lessons likely didn't learn chord theory. Even adults who learned to read music as children frequently have trouble grasping chords.



Learning anything (piano or otherwise) is always harder in adulthood than childhood. It's not impossible though. Anyone with a foundation in music is at an advantage when re-learning piano as an adult.



Would you like to tickle the ivories and play your favorite songs? Here are four things to consider before you start:



1. Be willing to put aside old habits. That keyboard is still the same old keyboard. Teaching methods may have though. Don't discount a teaching method just because it's different from what you're used to. Compare different learning methods before deciding which one is best for you.



2. Be willing to start from sqare one. Adults by experience have a better grasp of the physical properties of a piano keyboard. That doesn't mean it won't be challenging. Don't expect to play a classical sonata in the first month. Take things slowly, perhaps even starting with a refresher of the basics (i.e., scales).



3. Be committed to practicing. Remember your mother nagging you to practice as a kid? Mom's not around now, so it's up to you to push yourself. The results you get in piano playing will be comenserate with the time and effort you practice. Make daily practice time a priority.



4. Find the right teacher. Getting the right piano instructor makes all the difference in the world. Look for a teacher who is experienced with working with adults. Make sure the instructor is familiar with the original method that you learned. The right instructor should be able to evaluate your skills within one or two sessions. He or she will then set you on the right course for re-learning. For self-motivated adults, there are a couple great piano teachers online that can get you playing and enjoying yourself fairly quickly. Type in "play piano" or "piano lessons for adults" in any search engine and you will locate them.



Re-learning piano as an adult can be very rewarding. Not only will you improve your piano skills; you'll stimulate your brain too. There are benefits galore in many ways from playing piano. Adults who take piano lessons often report a better ability to concentrate. Many also realize a greater aptitude for learning other new skills. These things carry over into other parts of adult life, from work, to hobbies and even raising children.

How to Play the Keyboard

Learning how to play the keyboard has several advantages over learning how to play the piano. Although you might think learning one is as simple as the other, the keyboard as an instrument is superior in many ways.



With a piano, you only have one type of instrument that you can play...the piano itself. Electronic keyboards allow you to mimic the sounds of dozens of different instruments. Some more expensive models can mimic the sounds of hundreds of instruments and allow your to lay tracks...right on the keyboard!



When you learn how to play the keyboard, you are learning all of those instruments without having to take additional lessons. Sounds can include:



Many types of pianos (grand piano, electronic, etc.)

Percussion instruments

Organs of all kinds (even harmonica!)

Stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, contrabass)

Brass instruments (trumpet, tuba, trombone)

All of the Woodwinds (clarinet, flute, saxophone)

Sitar

Banjo

Bag Pipe



The piano sounds that come from a keyboard can include grand piano, electric piano, honky-tonk and many, many more! There may even be special effects available like bird noises, telephone rings and other novelty sounds.



When you learn how to play the keyboard, you'll also get to choose from a variety of background sounds that can accompany your main melody. You can normally choose from one of the following:



Pop

Dance

Rock

Jazz

Latin

Hip-hop



More advanced keyboard models may have more choices.



Learning play the keyboard is perfect for beginning music students. There are keyboard models that will show you each note that needs to be played next. It is an easy method of learning that guides students into a better understanding of music.



Playing with a keyboard is also more portable than playing a piano. A keyboard, if it is small enough, can go anywhere with you. This makes it easy to practice in different environments.

Keyboards are easy to find. While pianos can cost thousands of dollars, you can find a keyboard for as low as in the classified ads.



There are more complex keyboards that cost much, much more. But for a small investment you can decide if playing the keyboard is really right for you. In the future, you can upgrade your keyboard choice to a more featured model.



Learning play the keyboard is one of the easiest and most fun ways to get into music. There are plenty of songs available for the keyboard, and with practice there is no limit to what you can play! You can experiment a lot with the keyboard; and even create your own one-man band, complete with drums, piano, horns, string instruments and possibly even your own voice. Who knows? You may even produce a demo that you could send to a music executive. The possibilities can be endless!

It's Just That Easy To Learn Gospel Keyboard!

One thing many people have always wanted to do is learn gospel keyboard. Playing gospel is a great way to express of how you feel, especially if you grew up listening to gospel music and it is an important part of your life.



When you focus on learning to play one style of music, you have a better chance of mastering the sound you are looking for. This doesn't mean you need to limit yourself to gospel music forever. However, it means that if you want to master a particular style of playing on the piano, concentrating on that technique specifically will help you progress at a faster rate.



The most important part of learning any type of music is knowing the chords and notes that are commonly associated with that style of playing. Once you have a grasp of the chord progressions and combinations that make up gospel music, you are already well on your way to succeeding.



The keyboard is one of the most popular instruments students play when they are first starting to learn music. For parents, this means the old piano in the family room no longer has to go unused. Children love to make music on their own, and learning to play piano is an easy first step for a burgeoning musician. For adults interested in pursuing a new hobby, the piano is a familiar and comfortable place to start. Everyone enjoys to listen to piano music, and being able to make your own music at any time is always rewarding.



If you are looking to purchase a piano, they can be somewhat expensive, so you may want to do a little comparison shopping. Finding a used piano might be wise. Antique pianos are very expensive and often used for display rather than playing. A good alternative to buying a large piano is buying a keyboard. A keyboard can fit almost anywhere in your home so that you can learn to play comfortably without worrying about moving a heavy instrument.



There are several online websites that allow you to learn gospel keyboard from the comfort of your own home. This is a good alternative for those who have a full life and find it difficult to devote any more time to outside activities. You can learn to play the keyboard no matter how little time you have to devote to lessons and practice each week. Learning to play online gives you the freedom to move at your own pace and progress from lesson to lesson when you are ready. And if you miss a week, it is always easy to pick up where you left off when you have time.

Once You Have The Basic Chord Stucture, The Gospel Keyboard Is A Snap!

Learning to play gospel keyboard is one way you can bring the joy of this music genre into your home. More and more people are discovering the delight gospel music brings to their family and friends when they play. Memories of evenings spent around the piano singing your favorite songs can be brought back to life when you learn how to play gospel in your own home.



Playing the piano is enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and all around the world. The piano is thought to be one of the most beautiful instruments in the world. The piano creates such a melodic and delightful sound that you would be hard pressed to find a soul that does not enjoy listening to gospel or playing gospel on the piano.



Learning to play the gospel keyboard is much like playing any other type of music style on the piano. Once you have the basics of chords and theory behind you, you can adapt your playing style to incorporate gospel. Taking lessons in playing gospel music gives you experience with the most common chords that are used in this genre of music.



Knowing the scales you are playing, and being able to recognize them by ear, lets you master any song you want. You'll know what notes are likely to come before or after a chord, and this can help you when you're playing in public for an audience or tackling new songs. Learning the gospel keyboard is just a matter of finding the songs you want to play and learning the chords most common to the gospel sound.



Gospel is a traditional type of music enjoyed in homes and churches everywhere. Learning to play gospel on your keyboard is sure to bring you great satisfaction and hours of joy. And taking a course in gospel music will give you the knowledge you need to execute the right chords and put the right style into your playing.



If you have a piano in your home, you may want to consider taking some piano lessons or finding simple piano tutorials on the internet. Learning to play the piano is not very difficult—it just takes some time and patience and the right online courses that will help you master the important concepts. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to practice playing and you will be surprising everyone, including yourself, as you play beautiful gospel music.



Hear and Play, at http://www.hearandplay.com, is a great online source for gospel music lessons and theory. They have designed lesson plans that will take you all the way from being a beginner piano player to an experienced player who is proficient on the gospel keyboard. Visit the website for more information about learning programs.

Piano Keyboards to Keep You Playing: What To Look For In a Keyboard

When looking for a new keyboard, consider the name brand manufacturers of piano keyboards. Look at your budget and then go from there. Does that budget allow you to check out some of the premiere makers out there? Does your budget require you to go with a lesser-known manufacturer?



Some of the names in piano keyboards are Korg, Kurzweil, Roland, Yamaha, Kawai and Moog. There are a host of others as well, some with a wide model line available. Check each manufacturer's products from low-end to high-end and compare across companies for features offered. Sometimes a lower-priced model may suit you just as well as a higher-priced one that has many extra gadgets you may never use. The main thing is to make sure any model you choose has a clear, full sound resembling as close as possible a traditional piano sound. You don't want a tinny sound that is more annoying than pleasing.



If you base your decision solely on price, investigate consumer reports and product reviews that may alert you to product flaws. You may find some high-priced models receive more bad press than lower-priced makes. Regardless, don't let a piano keyboard purchase blow your budget. You can always upgrade down the road.



One important consideration when purchasing a piano keyboard is the warranty. If you're buying a new brand, make sure the warranty is suitable with no unacceptable "except for" clauses. If you're buying used, try to buy from a dealer who offers even a six-month warranty on a used product. They're out there; you just have to look for them.



Consider the type of keys your fingers will run across when you look at piano keyboards. Do you want traditional weighted keys that have the feel of an acoustic piano? Do you want touch sensitive keys that spring into action with little downward pressure? Both are available, and checking them out will ensure that it suits your touch. I would certainly recommend that you get both of these features so your keyboard not only sounds but also feels like a normal acoustic piano.



Consider whether you want a full 88-key piano or one with fewer keys. It depends on what you plan to play, how much you want to spend, and the space you have in a room. You don't want to feel cramped with a keyboard whose length barely fits into a small room. On the other hand, if you plan on getting better in a hurry, then get an 88 key keyboard from the outset so you won't have to worry about outgrowing it.



Another thing to consider in a piano keyboard is the number of controls a model has for sound modification. Many keyboards come equipped with settings to make the piano sound like different musical instruments. Some also have voice settings, so certain keys sound like a choir singing. Again, if you want just your typical piano sound, you may not require all these sound controls. To keep your costs down, it's best to buy a model with only the features you will use.



An important consideration, especially if you live in an apartment or condominium, is sound control. You want a keyboard that allows you to set the volume as low as possible while maintaining quality and clarity of sound. You also want a keyboard that allows for headphone plug-in, so you can play as loud as you need without disturbing anyone.



With today's "going green" concerns, you may want to investigate the energy use of keyboards. Keyboards that are green friendly are sure to be the latest models and can save you dollars on energy bills. With that extra money, you can upgrade to a higher-priced keyboard later.



Additional things to consider are any special benefits or bonuses for buying. Some music studios sell keyboards and may offer lesson or music book discounts for purchasing from them. Some music stores offer music lessons on premises and may offer free introductory piano lessons with a keyboard purchase.



The final thing to consider when purchasing a keyboard is its capacity for attachments. Aside from the headphones (and you'll want them for sure so you can practice silently), you may want outlets for an amplifier or a Musical Instrument Digital Interface outlet. This allows you to hook a keyboard into a computer. Of course, the computer also has to have a MIDI input. If your computer doesn't, you have to buy a USB MIDI adapter. With the proper software program in place, you can play notes on a keyboard and have them show up as written music on your monitor. The computer plays the notes back, and the program stores the played notes on the computer. If this looks like an attractive option, seek a keyboard with this outlet.



Take the time to investigate all the piano keyboard options available to you on the market. There are makes and models to suit your exact requirements. All you need is an investigative attitude to search out the one that's right for you.

Online Learning of Keyboard Music Synthesizers

You want to play synthesizer? Want to learn the instrument from your home? No problem. Online learning of keyboard music synthesizers is possible now.



Keyboard music synthesizer is a nice instrument. It is very good for learning the basics of keyboards. It is very user friendly. It includes a full octave keyboard, with various brilliant effects.



Online learning of keyboard music synthesizers has become very easy nowadays. There are lots of websites available for that. But they have got some rules and regulations. You just need to visit their website and read those carefully. You may have to register your name. Then download the lessons. Obviously step by step. First download the easy lessons. Downloading the tough lesson will not help you anyway.



You will find their instructions about the learning process. Just follow them. You need to be very careful while reading the lessons. You will not find any one who can give you a practical lesson. You make one small mistake to understand the lesson and it can ruin your whole lesson.



The best thing about online learning of keyboard music synthesizers is that you can gather all the lessons by sitting at your home. You do not need to go anywhere. All the facilities are just one mouse click away. You will even find a varied range of notations of different songs. You can take those and practice. It will help you to achieve the perfection.



Another thing, which makes the online process exclusive, is the tips from the professionals. A lot of famous synthesizer players often give various valuable suggestions on various sites. These suggestions will help you to understand the lessons properly.



This process is very effective. But it will not give you any practical knowledge. To gather that, you need to play what you have learned. Do not only take the lessons. Practice them at your home regularly. The more you practice, the more you will be perfect on your playing.



If you practice daily, then you will be able to learn your lessons fast. And if you learn your lesson fast, then you will be able to move on to your next lesson very soon.



Although the online process of keyboard music synthesizers is pretty good; but it will be more effective if you also consult some books. There are many books available that will help you to enhance your knowledge.



You can even sit for the practical exam from your home. You do not have to go anywhere. Just fill up a small form online and send them to the proper address. All you have to do is, just pay the examination fee. And after this you will be able to give the exam online.



And you will not have to move a thing. They will take every hassle. They will send you the question paper, they will check your copy and even send you the result.



Online learning of keyboard music synthesizers is not that tough. The online instructions are very lucidly written and you will not find any problem to understand them. So do not worry. Just go ahead and give this new system a chance.