3 ms·

I've only recently started to come around to liking the piano as an instrument and learning my around it a bit. This article touches on some the things that kep

I've only recently started to come around to liking the piano as an instrument and learning my around it a bit. This article touches on some the things that kept me away from it for so long - the mechanical nature of what is regarded as "good" playing, the focus on training up finger strength. But if I'm being honest, the number one thing that kept me away was that piano just seemed so... uncool. Watching youtube vids with killer piano covers of songs I actually love (ex, this cover of Toxcity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1g2c2760oM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1g2c2760oM ) has been helpful in disabusing me of that bias though. I watched a few of Glenn Gould's videos and they were pretty great as well, but for whatever reason classical music never seems to do as much for me.

peterlk 6y ago
This is a topic about which I am particularly passionate. We teach music so wrong. Classical training is about militaristic precision - the ability to achieve perfect regurgitation of a piece that everyone has heard before. But this is the least interesting version of music. Still interesting because it requires skill, but, at least for me, not awe inspiring. Piano is one of the most versatile instruments (like the guitar) in that you can play lots of notes with it (and synthesizers make for a wide array of sounds). It is one of the more powerful tools for speaking the language of music. And that's what it's all about, communicating with the listener. Learning to improvise and compose is a much more rewarding approach to piano than learning to play Fur Elise. If you'd like some inspiration, check out Jacob Collier, Haywyre, Anomalie, or basically any funk band with a keys player.
- maroonblazer 6y ago
  I was classically trained on the piano as a child and detested every second of it. I later discovered blues and jazz and it renewed my interest in piano. Even later I dated a woman who played and loved classical piano and I discovered a universe of beautiful music I'd previously dismissed. So, I'm not so sure it has to do with how we teach music. But rather when we teach what kinds of music.
- sudosteph 6y ago
  Thank you recommendations, I will give them a listen. You sound like an excellent teacher, and you're of course spot-on about how powerful piano is for composing. I always felt that when I tried to compose from string instruments (banjo or guitar mostly) there were just certain left-hand positions that were so awkward to transition between or hold for long periods, that they weren't worth exploring, even if I liked the sound. It's been really fun to sort of be able to run wild with the keyboard, it feels like experimenting is easier so I get more experiments in. There was one other big thing that surprised me, as someone who was formerly turned off by experiencing the whole "room full of 8-year olds with the cheapest casios learning from one teacher and a workbook"-style of piano instruction. I grew up with one of those cheap digital keyboards with the light up keys and gazillion sounds, and it was never more than a novelty. It wasn't until I went to a friend's house last year and they showed me their piano (a big old yamaha upright they got second-hand) when I realized that the tactile feel from properly weighted keys is amazing. I ended up getting an alesis with weighted keys, 16 voices, and pretty much no bells and whistles - but the experience of playing it is just night and day compared to the stuff I had been exposed to before that.
Dumblydorr 6y ago
Have you seen Valentina Lisista on YT? She is incredible and may hook you into Classical piano being cool, her videos are very well made and her playing is beastly.
- sudosteph 6y ago
  Will definitely give her a listen then, thanks for the recommendation!

peterlk 6y ago

This is a topic about which I am particularly passionate. We teach music so wrong. Classical training is about militaristic precision - the ability to achieve perfect regurgitation of a piece that everyone has heard before. But this is the least interesting version of music. Still interesting because it requires skill, but, at least for me, not awe inspiring. Piano is one of the most versatile instruments (like the guitar) in that you can play lots of notes with it (and synthesizers make for a wide array of sounds). It is one of the more powerful tools for speaking the language of music. And that's what it's all about, communicating with the listener. Learning to improvise and compose is a much more rewarding approach to piano than learning to play Fur Elise. If you'd like some inspiration, check out Jacob Collier, Haywyre, Anomalie, or basically any funk band with a keys player.

maroonblazer 6y ago
I was classically trained on the piano as a child and detested every second of it. I later discovered blues and jazz and it renewed my interest in piano. Even later I dated a woman who played and loved classical piano and I discovered a universe of beautiful music I'd previously dismissed. So, I'm not so sure it has to do with how we teach music. But rather when we teach what kinds of music.
sudosteph 6y ago
Thank you recommendations, I will give them a listen. You sound like an excellent teacher, and you're of course spot-on about how powerful piano is for composing. I always felt that when I tried to compose from string instruments (banjo or guitar mostly) there were just certain left-hand positions that were so awkward to transition between or hold for long periods, that they weren't worth exploring, even if I liked the sound. It's been really fun to sort of be able to run wild with the keyboard, it feels like experimenting is easier so I get more experiments in. There was one other big thing that surprised me, as someone who was formerly turned off by experiencing the whole "room full of 8-year olds with the cheapest casios learning from one teacher and a workbook"-style of piano instruction. I grew up with one of those cheap digital keyboards with the light up keys and gazillion sounds, and it was never more than a novelty. It wasn't until I went to a friend's house last year and they showed me their piano (a big old yamaha upright they got second-hand) when I realized that the tactile feel from properly weighted keys is amazing. I ended up getting an alesis with weighted keys, 16 voices, and pretty much no bells and whistles - but the experience of playing it is just night and day compared to the stuff I had been exposed to before that.

Dumblydorr 6y ago

Have you seen Valentina Lisista on YT? She is incredible and may hook you into Classical piano being cool, her videos are very well made and her playing is beastly.

sudosteph 6y ago
Will definitely give her a listen then, thanks for the recommendation!