Learning to play piano/keyboard

I'm learning how to play now as it's something I've always wanted to do. Ever since I was young I wanted to learn but lessons were only ever accessible to middle class kids with money, and being in a poor household in a rough hood It was beyond my access. Maybe that's why I got into hip-hop? It was a way to rebel and vinyl was all over!

Doing the ABRSM exams was impossible without cash and mum could never afford £20 a lesson (the British way of learning instruments is pretty different correct me if I'm wrong?). Poor kids seem to have better access to instrument tuition in school today, but the same class problems are there with middle class kids dominating music lessons as music lessons in my experience of education always expect the young person to come in and have the ability to play already.




Anyway... I'm a grown man now with a job and I really want to start. I've learned basics and could just about manage to play chords and all that, but I'm really interested in improvisation. I've put away the mp and been self learning for a while.

I can't read music very good and therefore can't play and read off sheet. I have realised that whole shit turned me off learning before with the whole 'learning to play other people's songs before I can create shit' process. Being forced to play shit I didn't want to play like Wonderwall and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I wanted to hear the beautiful sounds i hear on my favourite soul, jazz and hip hop records. I just like to go to a piano and express myself.

Anyone know of any good sites that might be up my alley? I really like this guy's tutorials. I've only checked the free ones (saying that I did have knowledge before so I'm not entering a total noob).
http://pianobreaks.com

Also should I invest in a teacher instead of self learning?

GarageBand got some good, easy to follow tutorials. In sure you can view somehow even if you don't own GB.

Search youtube for this dude, Bill Hilton. Good, easy ti follow piano tutorials for all skill levels.

jnorth wrote:
Also should I invest in a teacher instead of self learning?

I'd take a few lessons, make sure your technique is good.

Hate to do it, but you've got to practice those scales & get the mechanics right. After you've got the proper mechanics, you can teach yourself anything you want.

But forget websites. Those wonderful sounds you want to recreate, those old jazz records, tackle those. Check out programs like riffstation, slow those tracks down, learn them note for note. That should provide you with a lifetime of learning.

& when you've trained your ear to accurately hear what you hear & your fingers are capable of reproducing what you hear in your head, you'll be able to fluidly reproduce what you hear in your head... improvise.

CjSantana wrote:

jnorth wrote:
Also should I invest in a teacher instead of self learning?

I'd take a few lessons, make sure your technique is good.

Hate to do it, but you've got to practice those scales & get the mechanics right. After you've got the proper mechanics, you can teach yourself anything you want.

But forget websites. Those wonderful sounds you want to recreate, those old jazz records, tackle those. Check out programs like riffstation, slow those tracks down, learn them note for note. That should provide you with a lifetime of learning.

& when you've trained your ear to accurately hear what you hear & your fingers are capable of reproducing what you hear in your head, you'll be able to fluidly reproduce what you hear in your head... improvise.

Thanks for the feedback.

Is Riffstation worth the cash? Never thought about slowing things down and learning that way. I've downloaded Transcribe! at the moment and that seems to be a useful program

Em.p.cee.j wrote:Search youtube for this dude, Bill Hilton. Good, easy ti follow piano tutorials for all skill levels.

As Em said....

http://www.youtube.com/user/billhiltonbiz