Hi everyone,

My name's Joe. I'm only 16, but I've got a question, and I couldn't find any other place to post... 16 qualifies as an adult, though... right?

I would go through the whole spiel about how I have always loved the piano, am so moved by piano music, etc... but I have a feeling that there are quite a few people on this message board who feel the same way, and know exactly what I'm talking about. So I'll cut to the chase: I'd like to learn how to play the piano.

I've been playing violin for 12 years, so I understand how important it is to have a good music teacher. Unfortunately, my family can't afford to pay for piano music lessons. I've decided to save up all the money I make while playing at weddings in my string quartet in order to afford to pay for lessons with a teacher at my local university... but it may take an upwards of six months for me to save up enough money. Since I'm hoping to major in music theory in college, and I have high aspirations for playing piano, I don't think I can wait that long to start learning. So I'd like to get a jump start by teaching myself until I can afford to pay for lessons.

I know a lot about violin method books, but nothing about pianos. I wonder if one of you could direct me to a good piano method, etude book, and scale system for a beginner. I'm already pretty good with music theory, but I'm interested in getting a really solid technical foundation before I start tackling any major works. Although one day, I hope to be able to play serious works by Beethoven, Ravel, Prokofiev, etc., I have too much respect for these composers to start playing them without having a really solid foundation. So I'll take the most rigorous system you can recommend, please!

For those of you who were kind enough to tolerate my frustratingly long post, thanks, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Hi Joe and welcome to the forum!

I've been pondering how to advise you and confess I'm a bit stuck. From your violin studies, you clearly must have a good grounding in music, notation, reading and theory. Therefore most of the "beginner" method books would be completely below your level.

However....

You've never played the piano so you've no ability to play even the basics (scales, arpeggios, etc) so a book of etudes (e.g., Clementi) or similar would probably be beyond your technical ability to play.

And...

Physical technique (hand position, fingering, movement up/down the keyboard, etc) is what you most need to learn but there aren't any method books I'm aware of that attempt to teach it - that's where a teacher who whacks your hands with a ruler when you do something wrong comes in (just kidding!).

So, like I said, I'm stuck on how to advise you to proceed so I'll content myself with welcoming you to the forum and hope that others are better able to get you started.

Good luck!

Joe... welcome to the forum.

I am guessing most people learning piano use a teacher, and your 12 years of prior music study in violin complicate the matter, and.... I understand money is short, so maybe just buying a few books and doing the best you can is your only affordable alternative, but let me suggest what I am doing ATM.

I bought some PC software, the Adventus Piano Suite Premier(about $80 inc. shipping), and a Casio midi keyboard and have been using that to learn the basics without using a teacher. Naturally you would zip thru some of the early theory lessons, but it also has about 500 pieces at various levels that you can learn at your own pace and the software helps you learn the piano fingering, timing, etc. It would be a one time expense until you can afford a teacher and could augment the program with some instruction books like Hanon's scales, etc. Just an alternative to consider. Here is their site just FYI:

http://www.adventus.com/

On a larger note (pun intended), have you talked to your parents about your plans, about balancing the time needs of continuing violin (I am assuming you intend to do that after 12 years of it), adding piano and all that entails, your studies at high school (and good grades, more important than music of any kind in my opinion), and activities that 16 year olds might be interested in (dating, school activities, etc.?

Good luck Joe as you add piano into your studies, but be sure to allow enough time to enjoy ALL that being 16 has to offer!

....just my 2 cents worth

/Scruffies

Welcome to the forum, dtrucks45!

I'm having much the same reaction as Greg. You can read treble clef fluently (and the bass clef will come eventually). You know music notation and theory.

What you need the most help with are the things that are hardest to self-teach, e.g., playing with the proper relaxed hand movements, using arm weight, playing without tension, posture, pedaling, and the like. Maybe the best way to put it is that you need more help with the mechanics of playing than the content/theory.

My advice would be to save up some of your earnings, and/or make puppy eyes at your parents, and invest in a few piano lessons up front... then once you have the basics of technique down, go ahead and self-teach until you get to college.

If lessons are just plain financially out of reach, perhaps you could find a piano student somewhere who wants to pick up violin and work out a bartering arrangement.

Dtrucks45

you might try this book

it is very thorough and should be very accessible if you do not have the opportunity to take lessons. You should be able to go through it fairly quickly i imagine.

Monica, That is a GREAT idea about bartering with someone who wants to learn violin!

Joe, This may be easy to bring to fruition. You can start by putting a post at all the university music departments in your area. All the best, and welcome to the form. At 16, you should be here until you are a concert pianist. Don't forget us when you become famous.

Hmm... If only I new a music teacher that would trade for statistical analysis or structural engineering services.

Dtruck45,
There is an organization called Musiclink that helps students who cannot afford lessons to find a teacher that will give them lessons at a reduced price (or sometimes even free) as well as help to pay for books and help them find an instrument. Check out http://musiclinkfoundation.org/ to find a teacher near you. You don't mention what country you're in, but I think this only counts for the US.