For my learning project, I decided to pick up the piano again. I used to play the piano in my early teen years (13,14) but when I started high school I got too consumed in other hobbies to devote time to practicing the piano. I ended up discarding my piano. To begin practicing piano I went on Amazon and bought this piano . Decently priced for the purpose of this project and if there is one thing I learned about music and instruments is the better quality instrument the easier it will be to learn on.
To help illustrate my beginner-level grasp of the piano here is a short video of me playing small snippets of Let Her Go by Passenger and The Last of Us Main Theme by Gustavo Santaolalla.
I am excited to develop my skills on the piano over the course of the semester. My goal is to be able to play this piano rendition of the hit song “Stay” by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber
The piano I bought from Amazon came with a free subscription to an online piano learning resource called “Simply Piano”
For the first week of my learning (maybe two, depending on how much their is to learn from Simply Piano) I will use this learning resource to knock some of the rust off my piano skill. The goal for the first curve of this learning process is to get myself back to where I was, then once there I will focus on learning the aforementioned Song by Justin Bieber.
If you play the piano I would appreciate any tips or resources you have that would help me along in my piano journey, please leave a comment!
Hey Jayden! Welcome to the wonderful world of playing piano as an adult… I personally find it addicting.
I’ve been playing piano since I was 4 (17 years, wow I feel old) and feel like I’ve finally gotten to the point where I think I know what I am doing sometimes, and I would like to think my piano students agree.
On that note, as you look for more music I find that MuseScore is a really great source for finding new sheet music. It can be cumbersome to look through, but worth it when you don’t have to pay $10 for every new song you want to learn.
I would love to share more resources that I use, or if you ever wanted a free mini lesson hit me up.
Hi Sarah! I did have one question for you if you do not mind. I learned sheet music in like grade 10 when I took piano classes at school but honestly completely forgot it. Do you feel learning sheet music is necessary to learning piano? The to songs above I learned mostly by ear. would appreciate your input thanks
If you’re looking for a note-for-note adaptation for the song, sheet music is always a bonus. There might be other cues or notes in the background that you may not have picked up when you’re just listening to a song.
I think the one of the best things you can do right now is reviewing key and chord structures. You can do a lot with chord structures, especially if you’re gearing towards pop songs. When you know the key to the song, that will help with the right hand melody.
The next thing that would help would probably be a metronome. Start off with a slow tempo and get comfortable doing the just right hand first. After that, switch to just the left hand, then put them all together. Once comfortable with both hands, you can increase the tempo gradually over time until you have the desired tempo of the song.
Finally, just practice practice practice. Setting aside 30ish min a day will help immensely.
Cheers!
Hey Jayden!
Wow! You are so good at piano, and I did not notice if you made a mistake. I enjoyed listening to you play! I found it so soothing, and I can say I am not a musical person, but you have a great talent! I look forward to hearing how much you have progressed at the end of the semester! I am curious if you find it hard to play or learn piano. I am considering music lessons for my son when he is older as he loves to “play” instruments now. Happy piano playing!
Hiya,
Utilizing this project to pick back up on a skill you enjoyed (I assume) was such a smart choice!
In your video are you playing by ear? If so, you have many notes just chillin’ in your brain *mind-explode-y emoji*
Your goals seem very achievable and clearly laid out!
Good luck and happy practicing,
Austin.
Welcome back to the world of piano playing! It’s truly inspiring to see your commitment to come back to your passion for the piano through this learning project.
I really wanted to see your approach on Let Her Go but for some reason I can not watch the video.
The goal you’ve set for yourself to play “Stay” by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber is ambitious and exciting. The inclusion of a free subscription to “Simply Piano” from your piano purchase sounds fantastic, and I am sure is going to make your learning more entertaining.
Your strategic approach to the learning curve, focusing initially on regaining your former proficiency before diving into the desired song, reflects a thoughtful mindset. I’m sure many can relate to the challenges of balancing hobbies during university.
As you embark on this musical journey, I encourage you to embrace the learning process, celebrate small victories, and enjoy the musical exploration. If you’re seeking tips or resources, I am sure you can find yourself a community online, for instance in Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/r/piano/
I wish you the best of luck in your journey! 🎹🎶
I absolutely love this!
I started using Simply Piano as well just as a refresher, as i also used to play the piano, and it has done wonders! I hope that you continue to pursue this in the future after the class!
I think your goals are perfect and entirely attainable!