I'd like to start introducing my almost 6-year-old to the piano. What are some good books or new techniques that are designed to teach young children how to play the piano, basics on music theory, etc.?
posted on Jun 2, 2008 - 13 answers
Classical Music Filter: Can anyone recommend pieces of classical piano music in a similar style to the Sonatica by Bear McCreary from Battlestar Galactica? I have some Olivier Messiaen stuff in a similar vein but would love more in the same mellow, slightly offkilter and whistful piano style. Thanks!
posted on May 8, 2008 - 18 answers
Given that I have a somewhat substantial history playing the piano, how difficult would it be to take up lessons for the piano again after years out of practice AND start, for the first time, lessons on the Violin? How beneficial would such "cross training" be? How difficult would it be to find a teacher who could guide me on such a hybrid path? Other Thoughts? [more inside]
posted on Apr 8, 2008 - 5 answers
A piano, a viola and a jungle book. Music assistence, please. [more inside]
posted on Apr 4, 2008 - 1 answers
What are your favorite songs featuring piano? [more inside]
posted on Mar 5, 2008 - 80 answers
In search of: dramatic, sinister, or fast music. Disastrous, villainous, swift and dexter melodies best set to chaos, tragedy, or discovery. [more inside]
posted on Dec 20, 2007 - 24 answers
The piano music of Yoko Kanno in this solo blew me away. Where can I find more of it? Similar artists? [more inside]
posted on Dec 19, 2007 - 12 answers
Recently I've realized that I enjoy listening to piano music, but I'm not really familiar with it. Can you recommend CDs/compilations/pieces that I might like? [more inside]
posted on Dec 16, 2007 - 29 answers 
Anyone care to take a guess at the chords in "the kiss" by Judee Sill (youtube link inside)? [more inside]
posted on Dec 12, 2007 - 9 answers
Help me find a keyboard/synth with these specifications. [more inside]
posted on Nov 28, 2007 - 9 answers
Please help me find my piano muse! [more inside]
posted on Nov 17, 2007 - 10 answers
Assuming no musical talent, which would be better for a n00b to try to learn - piano or guitar? [more inside]
posted on Oct 23, 2007 - 38 answers
I love the piano in Piazzolla's "Oblivion" -- and I like arrangements/recordings that focus on that part of the piece. I'd like to find an MP3/CD with such a recording. This is the closest thing I've been able to find so far.
posted on Sep 24, 2007 - 2 answers
Creating/editing Yamaha midi files? [more inside]
posted on Aug 27, 2007 - 3 answers
Piano Playing Filter: I play the piano at what I believe is considered the early intermediate level. I enjoy playing the Burgmuller op 100 pieces. I am familiar with Mikrokosmos. I have an easy piano complete beatles book that I LOVE. But, there is [more inside]
posted on Aug 21, 2007 - 1 answers
What are your favorite rock/folk/alternative piano ballads? [more inside]
posted on Aug 8, 2007 - 28 answers
What's the relationship between this recording of Leroy Carr I'm listening too, and the solo piano arrangement of "How Long, How Long Blues" that I'm looking at? [more inside]
posted on May 31, 2007 - 5 answers
What wedding songs (ceremony, not reception) would music lovers here suggest to be sung by a skilled, classically trained soprano accompanied by a not as skilled, works-for-a-small-church pianist? [more inside]
posted on May 26, 2007 - 7 answers
MIDI-playback on a Yamaha Digital Piano: How do I get downloaded midi files to sound good? [more inside]
posted on May 24, 2007 - 3 answers
SheetMusicFilter: I need sheet music for the theme from Schindler's List, by John Williams, for violin plus piano accompaniment. If you find only the piano acompaniment, that works too. [more inside]
posted on Apr 14, 2007 - 3 answers
I'm re-teaching myself piano and need suggestions for drills, scales and other practice material. [more inside]
posted on Feb 15, 2007 - 12 answers
I’d like to look at a full-length piano arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty ballet (Op. 66 – La belle au bois dormant). I could buy one, or find a music library, but do you know whether any edition is freely accessible on-line? For future reference, are there any particular sites that you like as a source for pdf’d classical music scores?
posted on Jan 9, 2007 - 4 answers
Anyone have recommendations for some great jazz pianists that I could look into? [more inside]
posted on Dec 16, 2006 - 36 answers
Can someone please help me identify this (clip 1 & clip 2) song from a recent ("Post Mortem") episode of CSI. It sounds very familiar to me but I cannot place it. [more inside]
posted on Dec 1, 2006 - 5 answers
does anyone know the piano chords to coughing colors by tilly and the wall? thanks!
posted on Nov 15, 2006 - 2 answers
Can you recommend to me some good piano-driven music? [more inside]
posted on Oct 2, 2006 - 52 answers
Help me play the piano like the Edge plays guitar. Or Eddie Van Halen. Or... [more inside]
posted on Aug 26, 2006 - 17 answers
In our search for a reasonably priced baby grand piano, we keep coming across the Chinese-made Pearl River brand. Are these pianos worth a serious look? [more inside]
posted on Aug 25, 2006 - 8 answers
Can anyone tell me the name/composer/artist of the piano music used in a Microsoft TV ad?
[more inside]
posted on Aug 19, 2006 - 5 answers
What's the best digital keyboard for $500? What about for $1k? I'm not a hard-core musician, but I enjoy sitting down at a piano and just screwing around. I took some lesions when I was a kid. I'd like to be able to hook it up to a computer and use it with training software, as well as for composition, but I'm assuming that's a pretty standard feature these days. [more inside]
posted on Aug 6, 2006 - 10 answers
Many pianists I know know many of the popular songs -- moonlight sonata, chariots of fire, piano man, the "Peanuts" song, fur elise, etc. Is there a list of the most popular piano pieces out there, both contemporary and classical? Even better if there is a songbook with the sheet music? Even better if it's available online? I'm looking to learn a few dozen songs with my free time in the Fall.
posted on Jul 17, 2006 - 8 answers
How do I sell a piano that could possibly be worth a bit more than I know? [more inside]
posted on Mar 7, 2006 - 8 answers
I want to get better at composing music. [more inside]
posted on Mar 1, 2006 - 15 answers
In Nina Simone's "Love Me or Leave Me" she plays a piano solo that incorporates a bit baroque* classical piano. Makes sense, since she was trained as a classical pianist, and the effect is wonderful. Please recommend some other songs or artists that use this kind of jazz/baroque combo.
* Disclaimer: I'm not a classical music expert, so I may have the terminology wrong. I welcome your corrections.
posted on Dec 10, 2005 - 24 answers
Seeking violin and piano duets, preferably old recordings. [more inside]
posted on Dec 8, 2005 - 6 answers
Really good piano driven jazz? [more inside]
posted on Nov 18, 2005 - 44 answers
Is anyone learning piano (or planning to)? If so, can I ask you some questions? [more inside]
posted on Sep 26, 2005 - 25 answers
For the next few months, I would like to learn to play on a keyboard. [more inside]
posted on Jul 6, 2005 - 8 answers
ComputerMusicFilter: Is there a good piece of OS X software for learning to play the piano? I'd like to buy one of those inexpensive USB keyboards and noodle around in GarageBand, but my actualy musical skills are sorely out of practice, and I don't think they're going to just come back to me, either.
posted on Feb 16, 2005 - 3 answers
Music Practice: I recall someone describing to me a book that describes how to get into the proper mindset for practicing your instrument, and discusses the psychology of performing, stage fright, and how to achieve the right mindset before a performance. The person who described it said it had helped them greatly in practice and performance. This may not be enough to nail down the specific book, but does anyone have a book or method that has helped them with these things?
posted on Jan 31, 2005 - 8 answers
Can I (re)teach myself to play the piano? How about just one really great song? [MI]
posted on Jan 4, 2005 - 6 answers
Unauthorized piano-playing [+]
posted on Dec 17, 2004 - 17 answers
I find myself in a Run Lola Run-esque situation: I can get a piano free (and it's pretty nice, and (!!!) well-tuned) if I can transport it. I have, however, (1) a small japanese car and (2) no money and (3) a cool liberal nonconformist circle of friends with nary a pickup truck among them. If I don't take the piano before the next-week deadline it gets destroyed. (No, really. That's not a Lola embellishment .) Brainstorms?
posted on Jun 17, 2004 - 22 answers
[MusicFilter] Three questions on opera and piano music inside.
posted on Jun 13, 2004 - 5 answers
I'm a piano music neophyte, which, along with not speaking French, leaves me unable to guess the correct pronunciation of this composer's name: Erik Satie. Can anyone help?
posted on May 10, 2004 - 10 answers
Looking for suitable songs to be played on unaccompanied piano at a wedding engagement party. Ideal requirements include one or more of the following: romantic, classy, lounge/cocktail, film soundtrack, 1920s-1960s. Thanks!
posted on Apr 29, 2004 - 11 answers
As I begin to learn the piano again, there are some songs I'd love to try to play but for which I cannot find sheet music (I definitely want to learn to play by ear at some point, but I don't think that point would best be now). I can however obtain guitar tabs for the songs, and so I'm hoping to try to translate those into rough sheet music for the piano. Can I just translate it note by note (and chord by chord), or are there some specifics about guitar tabs I should be aware about and take into account (it seems that way, a quick direct translation didn't seem to turn out quite right)?
posted on Feb 29, 2004 - 15 answers
I'm looking to buy a music keyboard for up to £300. I basically want one that's as near to a proper piano as I can, but my needs are: 61 keys (preferably weighted), connectivity to a computer (therefore not much need for extra bells and whistles on the actual keyboard), touch sensitivity, option for pedal/sustain, and a really good array of spectacular sounds. Can anyone help with a make/model? I can't find anywhere that gives an unbiased view of buying a keyboard...
posted on Dec 26, 2003 - 10 answers
I'm diving back into playing the piano again after 4 to 5 years of not playing. By my nature, I don't want to take lessons right now; I just want to teach myself. The piece I've decided to jump in with (La valse d'Amelie by Yann Tiersen) probably isn't the best to start with, but it's one I've picked. I can learn to read music again, but I'm looking for other pieces to work on which aren't too hard, but aren't laughably simple either. (Oh, and any ideas on how I can make my fingers not feel like lead bricks besides just playing more?)
posted on Dec 14, 2003 - 7 answers
