How to Play Popular Piano

How to Play Popular Piano in 10 Easy Lessons by Norman Monath is a fine example of a user-friendly book. Step by step instruction takes the novice through the basic chords and scales and explains the concept of harmony and melody. Soon, the budding pianist will be able to play simple tunes and there is information on how to play in a specific style. Keyboard diagrams make everything understandable. There’s also a section on improvisation. The instruction is suitable for playing by ear or from following sheet music.

How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons

How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons: What Music Is and How to Make It at Home is written by Ward Cannel. The author understands that some people have struggled with beginner piano lessons in the past and he sets out to demystify music. The book’s ten sections chart the pupil’s progression with notations and keyboard diagrams. Scale exercises are avoided, to the delight of all those people still having nightmares about doing their scales as a child!

Piano for Dummies

The Dummies series of books is very popular and Piano for Dummies, written by Blake Neely, is a welcome addition to the series. It’s an ideal format for teaching the fundamentals of music theory and it doesn’t require the novice to read music. There is a play along CD to accompany the book with favorites from childhood, blues and classical tunes. Chapters also include advice on buying a piano, maintaining a piano, a history of piano styles, and a Top 10 List of Pianists. This book is also suitable for anyone who has played piano in the past but needs a refresher course.

It’s Never Too Late to Play Piano

It’s Never Too Late to Play Piano by Pam Wedgwood is a tutor book with a CD. The book explains playing technique and music theory, a history of piano music, fact files, technical information and a recommended listening list. Pupils learn how to play familiar classics, pop songs, show tunes and the author’s own jazz tinged compositions.  The CD contains more than 90 backing tracks and there are interactive activities. This beginner piano lesson book has been revised and updated.

Lisa Child’s Piano 1

It shouldn’t be a chore for anyone to learn piano and children can be encouraged by making lessons fun. Lisa Child’s Piano 1 is the first in a series of four books, designed to be used on its own or with the help of a teacher. The book is respected by piano teachers and the series is often used in schools. Usborne is a popular publisher of children’s material and the First Book of the Piano, by Eileen O’Brien is in a fun cartoon presentation, suitable for any age. The book comes with a CD.

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Selling the image

In rock music in particular, you need to be fresh and a tiny bit outside the box for people to listen to what you have to say. You need to be accessible, yet you need to promote this image of an elite coolness that not everyone can have. This makes your fans feel like they are part of something special. Remember, with popular music fans, you are selling an image as much as you’re selling music.

Myspace

One of the most important steps to band promotion nowadays is getting a Myspace music page. Everyone has to do this. It is easy, straightforward, and essential. You don’t even need to set it up that well. It just gives people who like your music a convenient way to check out what you’re doing, see dates for upcoming shows, and link to your page to feel like you are a part of their life.

Official band web site

You should also have an official  band website. My space pages are alright, but having your own well-made website can take your band promotion to the next level. You can sell merchandise, show live videos, and do it all in a style that is more unique and expressive. This can really help you give your band a certain look.

Merchandise

Another important band promotion step you can take is to get some good merchandise. The fact is, people won’t buy shirts they don’t like even for bands they do. On the other hand, I know a lot of folks who will buy a rock band t shirt just because they like the way it looks. Having band patches, pins, and posters is also important. You don’t need to print out a lot of merchandise at first. Just having a few on hand so that people can buy a piece of the show to take home with them is enough to get you started.

Networking

Many bands have made it to the top through networking. You need to meet a lot of local bands, music organizers, and other people in your scene, and find ways to work with them. You will get your start opening for other local bands,so be sure to always be nice to people and make connections with your scene. Ultimately, the more you connect, the easier it will be to get your music out. After all, playing in front of an audience is the best kind of band promotion there is. If you are good enough and know how to put on a live show, you won’t have to worry about promoting your music for long.

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“Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm.” Wikipedia.org

Everybody can learn to sing

Reading the lines above you might be thinking that often singing is rather “the act of producing awful sounds” and that the person exalting this noise would never be able to sing a clear tone. However, I assure you that with the correct practice, over time, anyone and everyone can learn to sing.

First things first, you have to want to sing and you should probably like to sing. If you don’t like to sing because you sound terrible, that is ok as long as you are willing to learn. Second, remember that while I recommend that you use every chance you have to sing, like in the shower, in the car, while you clean the house, this should not substitute your daily, or every other day, practice.

Note: The goal in this article is how to learn to sing as cheap as possible. If you can afford regular singing lessons, that would probably be the best path to go. Be sure to read the advice on singing teachers at the bottom of this article though.

Getting started

Getting started is easy, and you probably already have if you like to sing. Get out your favorite cd and sing along. If you are not used to singing at all and find it embarrassing, wait until you are home alone and put on the cd loud so you, or at least your neighbors, can’t hear you sing.

Try to get in at least 30 min. of practice in every other day. Do not practice every day when starting out, you might strain your voice and cause you problems from the get go.

Now, as the weeks pass by, decrease the volume on the stereo so that your voice gets louder in comparison to the cd. This way you will hear more of your mistakes and be able to adjust, as you get used to hearing it.

After 1 month

This could easily be the first thing you do, and if you have sung  for some time and are used to your voice, be free to skip the Getting Started advice. Now it is time to practice more effectively, and what I recommend for this stage is to open the yellow pages, search for singing teachers and schedule one lesson. Ask that you be able to record the session, if the teacher says no call a different teacher. Remember, this article has been to those that do not want, or can afford, regular song lessons by a teacher.

Now, when you have this practice session with the singing teacher, bring along a tape recorder, or other recording device. Set it up so that it records best records the song teachers piano and the instructions he or she calls out.

If the recording is a success you will be able to practice to this tape every day if you like, and it is free. Remember, what you don’t get when you follow this route is correcting instructions, so pay extra attention to your own voice while practicing.

Singing like a super star

Every, or every, other month

Book a session with a singing teacher so that you can pin down your weak spots. Do this once per month, or every other, if you can afford it. Bring your tape recorder and tape these sessions so that your warm up practise’s reflects your increasing reach. 

Things to look out for when choosing a singing teacher

Just like in any other profession, there are good teachers and bad teachers. I want to give you two main advice that you should look out for when reviewing your first lesson.

1. Chemistry: Do you feel comfortable with this person? There is always a bit discomfort in the first session, after all you are singing to someone that is judging your voice, it can be scary. But, is this a person that gives you constructive feedback or hard, cold, criticism? Are you a person that perhaps prefers the cold reality? Find someone that matches you, but can still push you to do better!
2. Pedagogy skills: Too many good vocalists/singers turn bad singing teachers, because their pedagogy skills are weak. Look for a teacher that is specific in their instructions and feedback. Look out for teachers that try to teach you trough vague phrases like “think big” to get a larger volume in your voice, or “let your lunges guide you” (I made that one up) to better your performance. If the teacher can’t explain the mechanics of the voice, lungs, neck, and how they work together (or against each other), this might be a weak teacher. Since the vocal cords aren’t visible to you, it can be frustrating some times to figure out what you are doing wrong. Choose a teacher that is able to “force” you to do it right through specific practice lessons for that particular weakness.

Thats about it for now. Remember, sing to have fun!

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