Published on November 6, 2005 By pseudosoldier In Music
On top of all the other responsibilities I have, I recently decided that I'd like to learn the piano. Actually, there's a particular piece I want to learn, but have not yet received it in the mail. I was hoping to use some of the interim time to learn a bit about playing before I simply learned that one song, as I figure that would give me a head start... but Google mostly turns up sites that you have to pay for, or provide personal information, or just flat out want to sell you something.

Does anyone have any good websites they could recommend for this? Any easy-to-get beginner's books, perhaps? I don't want to put a whole lot of cash into this, and I'm going to be learning this secretly, actually, so something that talked about some as well as presented some workbook-type exercises would probably be good...

Otherwise, I'll have to use what I have, and learn some Disney songs along the way.

Comments
on Nov 06, 2005

I will keep an eye on this, too, since Pseudo has inspired me to try piano myself...
My oldest son is playing alto sax in his school band this year. It reminded me that I need to take up an instrument.
I want to be as good a piano player as X-SPC NS... maybe one day...
on Nov 06, 2005
www.gopiano.com - Check this out. It says its free but I know their are some web sites that try to trick you. Hope it helps.
on Nov 06, 2005
Oh, I'd love to learn to play the piano all over again. I took classes in high school and college, but haven't really played since then. I wish I could remember
the name of the book I used in both those classes. It was very easy to follow (Maybe you could look at college piano textbooks; you might find a used one online).
Also, I typed "free online piano lessons" on www.altavista.com and some interesting sites came up. You might want to check those out sometime (one of them was gopiano.com, and another was mysheetmusic.com, which starts you off with very simple beginner lessons; it has 28 lessons in all) Good luck!
on Nov 06, 2005
Hmmm......if only you knew someone in the Cove area that played piano........

played piano and had a degree in music...........

played piano and had a degree in music and was learning to be a teacher.............

someone in the Cove area that played piano, had a degree in music, was learning to be a teacher and you knew from the Army............say someone listed in the phone book..............

someone in the Cove area that played piano, had a degree in music, was studying pedagogy, listed in the phonebook, and who's name started with a B.

Yeah. If only. I bet they'd even teach ya without charging............you know, if you did in fact know such a person.
on Nov 06, 2005
I love you, dude, but did I mention this was on the sly? As in, when it's just me and the boys around (or perhaps when everyone is asleep, and I can use the headphones that were purchased for the electric piano...)?

Actually, the way I'm picturing it, the intended recipient of this gift will initially think that the music book is the gift, and then I'll take it back, move over to the piano, and play a special piece... (it's not classical, either, it's actually a Depeche Mode song, but I don't think any would hold that against me). Too sappy?

Perhaps I will find some time to give someone like that a call, though.
on Nov 06, 2005
www.gopiano.com on the surface is a site that offers free lessons. However, once you get to a certain point in the first few lessons, it offers to sell you a CD to complete the rest of each lesson... I still think I can get something out of it, at least working through the practical exercises (which are almost mind-numbingly simple) to learn the notes. I do need to learn how to read treble clef music, though. I was a trombonist and only tried briefly to learn the trumpet.
on Nov 09, 2005
www.gopiano.com is wholly designed to sell you their CD. There is minimal information on the site.

Luckily, I found an "advanced beginner's" book buried under the other music on the back of the electric piano. I worked my way through the first 17 pages today in about 1/2 hour... I need to work on reading music, as I've forgotten most of what I knew, and I think my biggest hurdle after that is utilizing both hands on the keys at the same time. It's going to take some practice. I think I'll have some time on the 19th and 20th alone, though.