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Hello, i'm nearly 26 years old, i've never touched a piano and I want to learn stride piano. I aim to be good enough to be in a swing band within 10-15 years. I'm not really interested in learning any other style of piano. Can any of you please point me in the right direction of how to start this, how many hours of practice a day? can I teach myself and if so what materials can some of you recommend?

Thank you

Hi Slofe

welcome to the forums

No, you're not too late...there are many of us here who started much later...I started in my 40's so you are relatively young

10 - 15 years to get in a swing band?? if you want it badly enough I'd wager 2 - 5 tops .

I've been learning to play off t'internet for 3 and half years so a young gun like you should race past me.

Get yourself a good teacher or do what I did (read my blog )

There are many on here who self teach and I'm sure they can give you good pointers to books and stuff too.


Good Luck


Lee

the point is "too late" for what? it's too late for becoming a concert pianist of course, other than that, nothing you'd expect to achieve in 10-15 years is not reachable, as long as you keep learning and improving and never stop playing.

yes, you can teach yourself, with some method books or video/dvd instructions and even some teaching videos at Youtube.com. but be sure to complete one course (a book or a video course or any basic instruction set) before moving on learning to play some music. most people will tell you to get a teacher first, while i say unless you're bad at self-learning, you can go without a teacher for a while.

By too late I mean being good enough to play jazz, I really love Fats Waller and would love to be able to play like that or even close to that. I just don't know where to begin, there's so many things on the internet, I don't know which is the best place to learn from that teaches that style.

Hi Slofe

Jazz takes a little longer...you have to get the basics down first but, still easily achievable to a decent standard in 2 - 5 years, 10 would be easy IMHO

Stride is taught quite easily by my teacher

regards


Lee

10 or 15 YEARS?

Only if you take vacation for the first 12 and then start playing

The 10-15 years thing was just to make sure I was being realistic but it appears I have overstated that.

By your teacher do you mean that website you use Lee? i've been looking at that and a few posts on here about it and it seems rather intriguing.

slofe,

I sure hope not because if it's too late for you than it's definitely too late for me (I have 10 years on you )

You're going to have to hit the books on theory if you want to play jazz...learn all your keys, all your chords and chord types and all their inversions...and that's just the start (check out this primer on chord voicings):

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/32/1258.html#000000

It's never too late. I think your goal is very reasonable as long as you allocate sufficient time every day for focused practice. You've chosen a very tough style so you are going to need to work hard. If your dream is strong enough, I am certain you will succeed.

Enjoy the journey.

Well, Cozy Writer, if you can teach me to play stride like Fats Waller in 3 years, sign me up for lessons!!! I'd like to play like Horrowitz, too... What do you reckon, five years with your method? :p

ETA: Slofe, you can probably get a reasonable estimate of what it takes to be a decent stride player HERE.

What exactly is stride piano playing? Any famous pieces of music that are good examples of this style?

Try Here for a definition, some names and some samples!

Look for anything by Judy Carmichael for a contemporary exponent of stride piano.

According to Chang's FPP, some people in the 20-35 age group still have a chance of becoming concert level pianists. So you may not be too late even for this goal.

I'm 28 and had my first lesson last Saturday. Never touched a piano in my life and no clue about how to read or play music! It's been so fun so far and I can't wait for tommorow's lesson. I'm learning classical and I hope one day to be able to play some "real" classical music very well! In life, it is NEVER too late. If you want something, it's always possible if you wan't it badly enogh to really go for it!!

Goodluck!

Pastafarian, I checked out that link for Judy Carmichael (first time I've ever heard of her.) Very nice playing!! Thanks for posting the link!

And Slofe, pay attention, if you go to her site and scroll down, she has a few books on how to play (which I might get myself!)

Also, Hal Leonard (sheet music publishing company) has a series on jazz piano which includes a book on stride that comes with a CD.

If you can afford it, why don't you see if there is someone in your area teaching jazz piano? Even if their specialty is not your favorite, a few lessons to start you out would probably take you a long way.

You asked about how many hours of practice a day. Starting with an hour is probably good. What's important is that you practice every day, and you "practice smart." By which I mean you spend a little time reading (you might do a search here) or talk to a teacher and learn some efficient practice methods so that you can be sure the time you spend at the piano is productive.

Hi Slofe,

I'm certain Seaside Lee was referring to the Piano Magic website.

Different approaches suit different people, I suppose, but those of us learning there can't speak highly enough of it. I've been with Piano Magic for 4 months now and am amazed at how much I've learned there and what I can now accomplish.

It's definitely worth checking out.

Nell.

I say, go full speed ahead and don't limit yourself to one style.

Some have mentioned learning keys, chords, inversion, and the like. With me, those things are coming with constant proactice and the growing need for technique to realize the notes on the page and their musical statements.

I do a 30 minute lesson a week and daily practice. I don't know where I'd be without a teacher to show me which door to walk through next. I'd probably be working on the same scales, with the same faulty fingering, had I not started lessons.

Good luck! Don't limit yourself. You can be playing stride in a year! heck, you could work very hard and memorize a stride pattern in a few weeks.

Bryan