Pianists

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

oh, about the numbering, try going through your pieces and figure out which ones are thumbs, and do lots of scales. They annoy you, but it helps, especially since you need to cross over your thumbs and that kind of thing.

c scale
right hand: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
notes: ----C D E F G A B C
left hand: 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

I actually have this kind of pad thing with like the finger combinations on all the scales (or at least i think i have all the scales *flips through pad*)

[FireSlytherin]

If you have it can you can it and send it to me. It would help me alot

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

how about type it? because i wrote it down. its only going up though. to go down, just do everything backwards.

also, i would go into quote to see it, since the forum is getting rid of the spaces

All Major Scales

key: top line is the name of the scale, second line is the finger numbering for the right hand, the second line has the notes, and the third line is the finger numbering for the left hand.

b=flats
#=sharps

1: thumb
2: pointer
3: middle
4: ring
5: pinky

C Major
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
C D E F G A B C
5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1


D Major
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
D E F# G A B C# D
5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

E Major
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
E F# G A# B C# D# E
5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

F Major
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
F G A Bb C A E F
5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

G Major
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
G A B C D E F# G
5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

A Major
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
A B C# D E F# G# A
5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

B Major
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
B C# D# E F# G# A# B
4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1

Db Major/C# Major
2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3

Gb Major/F# Major
2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2
F# G# A# B C# D# F F#
4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4

Bb Major/A# Major
4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3

Ab Major/G# Major
3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3
Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4

Eb Major/D# Major
3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3
Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3

[cathairetic]

Awwwww, just get a book with all the scales written out. They're available in the music stores. Most students loathe practicing scales but they are a necessary evil. You might as well toss in some arpeggios while you're at it. It's like ice skaters having do to do all the basic figures before they can do all the fancy stuff. A good foundation will let you climb higher.

However, remember what I told you, FireSlytherin. You will learn to play keyboards in uni because all music majors must be proficient in this. It is part of the curriculum for players of other instruments.

Don't worry yourself about it. Make sure you are really good on your instrument of choice and you will learn keyboards when you sign up as a music major.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

i didnt even know there were things like that. I actually still need to learn the minor scales, probably should've learned them before quitting....

[MmeBergerac]

Yes, scales are a bore, but sometimes you have to do it. You can try to make it a bit less boring (it's impossible making it a total fun so you're impatient to get home and sit before the piano to play scales, but something is something) playing them with different rythyms. This way, besides, your fingers will win agility.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

yes, and they really help with getting to know key signatures. I can't tell what a piece's key signature is just by listening, but it has helped my violin, and i can do piano sight reading way better than i could without scales.

[griffiegrrl]

I wouldn't call myself a "pianist" -- yet. However, my love of the piano is great.

I have what is known in my family as the picking talent -- I can sit down to a piano and pick out a tune that is in my head. We don't own a piano, but we do own an electric organ. I also have an electric keyboard.

I am trying to finally learn how to play piano traditionally -- I'm starting to self teach myself how to read music and such. I'm doing ok so far I think. The problem is being able to pick up where I've left off if I have to quit my "lessons" for a while.

Piano is definitely one of the prettiest and elegant instruments. It's got so much soul in it.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

Originally Posted by griffiegrrl

I wouldn't call myself a "pianist" -- yet. However, my love of the piano is great.

I have what is known in my family as the picking talent -- I can sit down to a piano and pick out a tune that is in my head. We don't own a piano, but we do own an electric organ. I also have an electric keyboard.

I am trying to finally learn how to play piano traditionally -- I'm starting to self teach myself how to read music and such. I'm doing ok so far I think. The problem is being able to pick up where I've left off if I have to quit my "lessons" for a while.

Piano is definitely one of the prettiest and elegant instruments. It's got so much soul in it.

i never really liked piano much. i know its complex and elegant and everything, but now i like violin way more. you can just do so much more with it, like vibrato and different things with the sound, stuff that i cant do on the piano. but i guess i still like it, i just hated the music my teacher gave me

[cathairetic]

Yesterday I made several video recordings with various orchestras. I had to wear makeup and very glitzy jewelry. I had some piano solos in the midst of all this and it is a pain to sit there and play various bits while they do sound checks so as to balance all of us. The director was very nice though. The only bad thing was when I played 'solo' I had cameras zooming about me here and there and it was annoying as I was trying to concentrate on not making any bloopers.

[Chrysalis]

I play the piano as well, right now I'm playing a Mozart Sonata, a piece by Rachmaninov, some Khatchaturian and I've also got some Satie, Shostakovich and Schumann lying around(nice alliteration huh? )

[EverLore]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

I play the piano as well, right now I'm playing a Mozart Sonata, a piece by Rachmaninov, some Khatchaturian and I've also got some Satie, Shostakovich and Schumann lying around(nice alliteration huh? )

I love Mozart's Sonatas, the Moonlight Sonata is my favorite. I'm playing Rachmaninov (wow, that's hard to type )...and I love Khatchaturian's Andante!

So, it's officially Christmastime...and this year I'm working on a really cool arrangment of Carol of the Bells...I'm very excited.

[cathairetic]

Have any of you ever played the Scaramouche Suite for two pianos by Darius Milhaud? What a hoot. Is it ever fun. If you have a friend who can keep up with you, try it.

[FireSlytherin]

Originally Posted by cathairetic

Awwwww, just get a book with all the scales written out. They're available in the music stores. Most students loathe practicing scales but they are a necessary evil. You might as well toss in some arpeggios while you're at it. It's like ice skaters having do to do all the basic figures before they can do all the fancy stuff. A good foundation will let you climb higher.

However, remember what I told you, FireSlytherin. You will learn to play keyboards in uni because all music majors must be proficient in this. It is part of the curriculum for players of other instruments.

Don't worry yourself about it. Make sure you are really good on your instrument of choice and you will learn keyboards when you sign up as a music major.

On my flute I like scales I beg my bad director to let us play them (I just like them because even though im not solid at my sight reading or playing really hard pieces of music I can play all 12 scales plus a decent chromatic )

I know I will learn I just want to have some foundation because I'm not the best player because I don't pratice at home and I don't do reigon band (they play this really hard music and the best out of the state perfom together in a band full of the best high school players in the state) I only do solo & ensamble and I normally pic a level 2 or what not but this year im going for a class II or class I .

The only instument I can play is the flute but I want to switch instraments but I don't know if they will let me or if I can to begin with. I will be more proficent if my parents will let me sell my sisters clarinet which technically she hasn't played for 3 years or so now, not counting playing it once or twice for a 15.

[gUcCiGryffindor]

I am attempting to teach myself how to play the piano.
If anyone has any pointers or techniques, feel free to share!

[cathairetic]

Get some beginner books like John Thompson's Teaching Little Fingers to Play and his Grade One Book. If you are teaching yourself it is best if you learn to read music via the "middle C" method that has you playing this note first with your thumbs and working out (up and down) to your little fingers. The piano uses the entire grand staff of notes with middle C right smack-dab in the .....middle of the keyboard. This way you learn to read bass clef and treble clef painlessly and use both your hands almost at once.

[gUcCiGryffindor]

yeahh, i know the notes and the scale, i think ;]
When you are playing bass, do the notes on the staff go A B C D E F G in an ascending order?

[mariebeth83]

Aw, I miss playing the piano! I used to take lessons when I was in secondary school - it got me out of maths class! But my teacher wasn't the nicest, so I quit after I finished school because of her and because I just didn't enjoy practicing (necessary evil I know!) I do really wish that I hadn't stopped, maybe when I go home from my travels I might start taking lessons again. Although I'm sure my parents will make me pay for a piano if I want to get one again...and I don't know how that will work seeing as how I'm planning on buying a horse when I get home!!!

[cathairetic]

Originally Posted by gUcCiGryffindor

yeahh, i know the notes and the scale, i think ;
When you are playing bass, do the notes on the staff go A B C D E F G in an ascending order?

The lowest note on the piano keyboard (on the left) is A. The notes go up ABCDEFG and repeat the letter names until you come to the highest note. I taught piano for years and was quite successful at it, with some students coming to me who had failed with other teachers. However, I did not teach my own children how to play piano. It was like trying to teach your mother-in-law to drive a car. My oldest daughter taught herself through Thompson's Third Grade Book so I suppose you can do it too! She wanted to write duets for string instruments and piano so she was motivated to learn the grand staff. She is now a university professor of French but she still plays the cello professionally. We are very fortunate that musical talent runs rampant in our family genes.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

Originally Posted by cathairetic

Yesterday I made several video recordings with various orchestras. I had to wear makeup and very glitzy jewelry. I had some piano solos in the midst of all this and it is a pain to sit there and play various bits while they do sound checks so as to balance all of us. The director was very nice though. The only bad thing was when I played 'solo' I had cameras zooming about me here and there and it was annoying as I was trying to concentrate on not making any bloopers.

I would never be able to play well if that happened. It must've been so hard.