Are you learning piano?

September 26, 2005 4:51 PM

Is anyone learning piano (or planning to)? If so, can I ask you some questions?

I'm taking a tech writing course that requires each student to write a manual on whatever topic -- I'm writing a Learning Piano as a Second Instrument thingy. But I need some questions answered for audience analysis. (When it's finished, I'll send you a copy of the manual for your troubles, if you want):

What instrument (if any) do you currently play?
Do you have access to a piano or keyboard? Where? (And, if applicable, what kind of keyboard?)
What kind of music do you want to play, and in what context?

The Optional Personal Question *thunderclap*
How old are you?

posted by Tlogmer to Media & Arts (25 answers total)

I play guitar and woodwinds. I've been trying to pick up piano for about a year.

I bought a rather inexpensive keyboard that I use by itself or in conjunction with software synthesizers. It's a middle-of-the-line yamaha, a few years old.

I bought the keyboard, and am trying to learn piano, to work with composition, primarily for jazz.

I'm 28
posted by RustyBrooks at 5:06 PM on September 26, 2005

I play the clarinet.
I play the piano at my school's practice room.
I want to play some classical and a lot of piano rock.

I'm 24.
posted by amandaudoff at 5:26 PM on September 26, 2005

I currently play a bunch of stringed instruments, these days mainly banjo and lap steel guitar.

I have an inexpensive Yamaha keyboard with too small keys, darn it.

I am interested in boogie woogie and country piano. And a little jazz of the standards variety. I could potentially play piano in my band, but only if I have a sudden flash of insight. I have noticed that my general understanding of music theory has improved a lot since I started messing around with the keyboard. Still can't read music, though.

I'm 37.
posted by smartyboots at 5:36 PM on September 26, 2005

-Piano since I was about 6 years old, and guitar since sometime in high school.

-Yes, a Baldwin upright. And yes, a Korg digital with great sampled sounds and weighted keys. And yes, an M-Audio keyboard that plugs into my Mac via USB for recording purposes.

-I've always been able to play the piano by ear (and the guitar too, to some extent, but I'm not at the same technical level on that instrument as I am on the piano. On the guitar, I still can't get my fingers to do a lot of the things I hear in my head.) I've gigged around in various bands and plan to continue that when the opportunities come up, and I also do some composing of instrumental piano music — most of which I'm too chicken to play in public. As far as styles, I'm into jazz/blues/rock. Influenced by folks like Cyrus Chestnut, Oscar Peterson, Bruce Hornsby, Elton John, Ben Folds, etc.

-I'm 31.
posted by emelenjr at 5:52 PM on September 26, 2005

I play flute, bass and guitar.
I have a console piano (small upright) in my home.
I play jazz, classical and pop music on the non-keyboard instruments, and would like to play these styles on the piano, if only for compositional purposes.

I'm 39.
posted by al_fresco at 5:55 PM on September 26, 2005

I'm a drummer and bassist.

I have keyboards and a piano at the studio where I record (all Yamaha).

Instrumental jazz and fusion.

I'm 29.
posted by peewee at 6:00 PM on September 26, 2005

[derail]

You might enjoy reading NPR's Noah Adams' book 'Piano Lessons' about his learning to play the piano at age 51.

[/derail]
posted by ericb at 6:02 PM on September 26, 2005

I play the violin, trumpet and piano.

There's a grand piano in the music room here in my university halls of residence, and more pianos in the music department, all of which I can use.

I play a wide variety of stuff - Classical (in its broadest context), Jazz, soul/funk/pop. I like playing chords to old pop songs on the piano and singing along.

I'm 18
posted by Lotto at 6:19 PM on September 26, 2005

I play guitar.
Yes. In my living room. Korg synth.
I let the moment dictate.
46
posted by mischief at 6:22 PM on September 26, 2005

for my wife:

What instrument (if any) do you currently play?
   Piano

Do you have access to a piano or keyboard? Where? (And, if applicable, what kind of keyboard?)
   Piano. At home. Top-end Roland digital piano.

What kind of music do you want to play, and in what context?
   Classical. Working on Royal Conservatory of Toronto Grade 10 certification.

The Optional Personal Question *thunderclap*
How old are you?
   Heading to 40.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:25 PM on September 26, 2005

I've played piano since I was little, and violin since I was 12, although due to lack of money for lessons I've not done much of either in the past few years.

I have access to some practice rooms with [old and somewhat beat up] grands, but they're often in use, and and I found it much easier to practice when I could do so in the privacy of my own home.

I'd like to become good at classical piano again, although that may have to wait until I have digital piano or an old upright or something to practice on at home - for some reason I hate going to practice rooms. I'd like to learn how to play the traditional Irish fiddle - I've had only classical training in piano and violin, and I'd like to learn something different and a little more improvisational. I'm currently looking for teachers...
posted by ubersturm at 6:49 PM on September 26, 2005

My voice, guitar, concertina, didgeridoo, some violin and piano/keyboard (by ear only - meaning - I just know what sounds good together, but I've had no formal instruction - no idea about chord formations, etc )

I grew up playing with a Wurlitzer upright (note "playing with"..I never had any formal training) I had a Yamaha CS6x until recently (Tomorrow I'll have a M-Audio Keystation 88es - much better action).

I'd like to learn a more structured style to apply to my current experimental endeavors, so I would probably say something along the lines of classical piano, just to get the roots in.

I'm 32.951
posted by zerokey at 7:07 PM on September 26, 2005

Have been playing piano since I was five, but not nearly as much since I started college, and even less now that I've finished all the studio requirements for a music minor. I still have a practice room key, and every so often I go and mess around for a couple of hours. Lots of classical stuff, and some attempts at improvising/arranging other songs and tracks for piano, which I'd like to get better at when there's more time. I'm 22.
posted by casarkos at 7:12 PM on September 26, 2005

I currently sing and play guitar.

I have access to a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano in a practice room on my campus, and a horribly out-of-tune upright piano in my house.

I play indie pop/rock. I write music and play shows at clubs and such.

I'm 20.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:15 PM on September 26, 2005

I play the oboe.

I used to play the piano but quit after grade 5 (elementary school) and grade 6 (royal conservatory)/grade 4 (suzuki). I'm trying to re-learn but aiming mostly at blues/jazz/lounge and just noddling around.

There's an upright at my 'folks place and a digital grand at the lab.

27.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 8:00 PM on September 26, 2005

I play no other instruments.
I have been taking piano lessons off and on for the past 3 years (I just moved to Portland, OR -- anyone know of any teachers here?).
I had a cheap upright piano before, now a nice high-end Yamaha digital piano. Before that, I'd practice on the baby grands at UT Austin.
I like playing classical and would like to maybe learn some jazz/pop.
I'm 36.
posted by j at 8:04 PM on September 26, 2005

1. I play the violin and viola and am working on being a career opera singer.
2. I took a 1 semester group piano course at my university. It was terrible.
3. At home, I have a 2/3 weighted keyboard in my closet that I haven't managed to set up yet.
4. I'd like to play classical music, and know how to read a lead sheet.
5. I'm 22
posted by sdis at 10:57 PM on September 26, 2005

I play ("French") horn. It's one of my majors at Virginia Tech, the other being electrical engineering.

I have access to Yamaha Clavinova pianos in the "CAL/C" lab in the university music department, and Yamaha and Kawai uprights in the practice rooms.

I'm under no illusion that I'm going to get very far with this piano thing; I'm doing it because passing a basic piano proficiency exam is a requirement for the music major. I've had two semesters of a group piano course (as unpleasant as sdis's) and am currently in the first of two semesters of a much less unpleasant course sequence that includes piano as one aspect of the syllabus. I'm interested mainly in classical music.

I'm 19.
posted by musicinmybrain at 11:22 PM on September 26, 2005

I'll answer for my sons, if that's okay:

Son #1:

1. What instrument (if any) do you currently play?
Percussion (drums).

2. Do you have access to a piano or keyboard? Where? (And, if applicable, what kind of keyboard?)
Yes; console piano in home.

3. What kind of music do you want to play, and in what context?
Classical, theatrical, jazz. Perhaps professionally.

4. How old are you?
15 (started piano at 13 I think)

Son #2:

1. Viola and clarinet.

2. He has access to various pianos in the music department of the college.

3. Classical, classical, classical. Because learning to play piano is a requirement for music majors.

4. 18 (started piano this summer prior to leaving for college)
posted by Doohickie at 6:52 AM on September 27, 2005

Oh... I forgot to mention that Son #1 is already attempting to compose some of his own music. He started out as a percussionist but now considers piano is primary instrument.
posted by Doohickie at 6:55 AM on September 27, 2005

I currently play...my voice. Took piano lessons (and violin and flute) as a child and would love to get back to piano.

I don't currently have access to a keyboard or piano, but plan to purchase a keyboard if I ever actually get back to piano.

Would like to be able to play pretty much everything...have always wished we'd be one of those families who sings carols around the piano at our holiday parties...

I'll be 29 in a few days.
posted by suchatreat at 7:39 AM on September 27, 2005

Currently play: Air drums
Access: Piano in basement.
Age: 30.5
posted by unixrat at 8:05 AM on September 27, 2005

I used to play bass.
I play piano in my study. It's an M-Audio MIDI controller.
I play exercises from the instructional book, mostly easy classical.
I'm 37.
posted by captainscared at 9:40 AM on September 27, 2005

I play the trumpet and (less competently) the upright bass.
I have a Yamaha PSR-273 keyboard at home, and access to a variety of pianos at the practice studios near my apartment where I practice the trumpet.
I'd like to be able to play jazz - something I can do in theory, piecing together chords very, very slowly, but I'd like to be able to do in practice, with less laborious thought.
I'm 26.
posted by thomascrown at 6:38 AM on September 28, 2005

I play trumpet. To try things out I have a little electronic keyboard in my music room at home. (At school there are pianos in the practice rooms.) I play jazz, and some "classical" -- I feel I can concentrate on technique much better with baroque trumpet pieces (and transcriptions). I'd like to sit in on various jam sessions around town.I'd like to take piano lessons for composing, transcribing others' solos, trying out harmonies, and possibly to help out as accompanist for fellow students' recitals.I'm 40.
posted by phliar at 3:45 PM on October 31, 2005