Question about learning to play piano

[stinkynuts]

I am practicing the piano. I already know the basics, and am practicing some pieces right now....

The problem is that I can't decipher the notes fast enough to play them. So what I end up doing is memorizing which keys to play, and then playing from memory. I know this is not very efficient, but is it wrong to learn this way?


Basically, what I'm asking is: is being able to sight read very important? Because I cannot seem to instanteously recognize a note, much less where it is on the piano. Do most pianists know how to play by reading? Or do they have very good memories?

 

[hot rod]

Well it'll be kind of like touch typing ... sure some people get really fast typing with 2, 3, or 4 fingers, but they hit a wall that is nowhere near as fast as true touch typists can type. Then once you are used to the fastest you can type using just a few fingers it's much harder to learn true touch typing. It's the same with playing the piano. Learning to play by memory or ear will only get you so far. Actually reading the music and playing it while you are reading it will open many more doors musically for you. It will seem to take longer to learn in the beginning, but it's worth it in the long run to learn to read the music.

 

[stinkynuts]

Very interesting responses. Thanks, ladyofthenite for your encouragement.

Excellent analogy, hot rod! I was actually one of those people who typed incorrectly. I decided it was embarassing and learned the correct way. Now that I think about it, when I first learned to type is exactly how it is now learning to read and play music. It's slow, laborious and very frustrating, and I'm just very tempted to not learn it. But as you mentioned, it's probably a worthwhile investment of my time and efforts...

I know that learning how to type correctly was an investment that paid off in spades.... Typing this post took only a minute or so...

 

[stinkynuts]

Thanks for the links! Those free lessons look good...

 

[stinkynuts]

lol... That may be a long way ahead... But rest assured, you'll be the first to get tickets!

 

[frankcastle]

I used to play the piano and much like you with a new song I spent time reading the sheet music and memorizing the keys. Think of it like a script for a speech you keep going over it many times until you only have to glance at the sheet music here and there to jog your memory. A person giving a speech or playing a song should not be reading the whole time..... in both cases if they were you would notice it in the performance. Most importantly just have fun with it as that's the whole point if it becomes too much like a chore you won't enjoy yourself.

 

[Roger Melon]

Remember that reading music is a skill that you want to learn just as much as playing on the actual keys. The process isn't much different from when you learned to read in elementary school. Would you have wanted to start off with "A Tale of Two Cities" in first grade? I agree with Ladyofthenight's advice to get some easy method books to practice with, and make a point of spending a little time at each practice session getting used to interpreting the music on the page.

 

[frankcastle]

Oh yeah and break the song up into chunks and learn it a bit at a time.

 

[kramer]

Are there any SPs who can also provide piano lessons during a session?

 

[oral.com]

Sight reading is not easy. Most professional musicians do not read music well, however musicians have extensive knowlege of music structure, chord structure rhythm and melody .Classically trained pianists that have taken the Royal College exams sight read well.

Most beginners (kids or adults) interested in improving their sight reading need to start with real basic music books and increase their proficiency with harder and harder books. This takes a lot of time and work, after all you are learning to read fluently in a whole new language

 

[great bear]

The main thing to remember when playing the piano is not to get keyed up.

 

[VERYBADBOY]

The question is more ... Is it important to you ?

What level do you want to acheive that makes you happy, once you determione that then you have to set your goal and sit down and get to it or be happy at where you are right now.

For myself ... I took 2 years of piano at a very young age before I moved on to other instruments such as flute, violin, trumpet, saxaphone then later on to playing percussion, that is correct drums require you to read just as much as piano however the notes look different at times ... I play Xylophone and Timpani as well as Timbales, Congas and Tablas ... and the teaching method ranges from classical to learn by watching/hearing.

Now given you know my background here are answers from my POV and experience:

is being able to sight read very important?

If you earn your pay then yes, if not then it is a personal satisfaction as to what level you can read at and at what tempo, that is, some can read but they can't at the desired tempo.

Because I cannot seem to instanteously recognize a note, much less where it is on the piano.

This is the struggling stage where you have to gain recognition through practice ... note that practicing what you already know is not practice it is called a warm up.

Do most pianists know how to play by reading?

Most do ... however there are many more who go by watching/hearing method of learning with a little of the theory thrown in ... sort of the hodge/podge players.

Or do they have very good memories?

That also plays a part. Usually when you play a piece you play it enough times that it sticks in your head ... when you perform it your body plays out the part while your ears monitor what you are doing. You probably have the piece in front of you and glance at it from time to time but that is all.

VBB

 

[a 1 player]

The more you sight read the better you will become at it. It can take many years to learn how to play fluently just by looking at music, but it will come. My suggestion is to start with pieces that are below your level so they are not as much of a challenge. Worked for me.

 

[stinkynuts]

Lots of good advice

I think the bottom line is that it's something I have to learn to become a better player.

The time and effort spent memorizing pieces could be spent learning to read, and in the end, the pay off is far greater, as I can then read any piece of music and play. It's very painful, but I guess it's worth it.

 

[papasmerf]

I think the bottom line is that it's something I have to learn to become a better player.

The time and effort spent memorizing pieces could be spent learning to read, and in the end, the pay off is far greater, as I can then read any piece of music and play. It's very painful, but I guess it's worth it.

Hire a teacher and well wash your nuts