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Learning to play piano and to read music notation

When you learn piano, you inevitably learn how to read music. The piano might be the friendliest instrument when it comes to learning to read music. Its layout is so logical that when faced with the notes on the page, its translation to the instruments becomes very intuitive.

One thing that you may not realise, though, is how learning these symbols and signs and applying them in your playing will improve your piano playing and your musicianship. First is rhythm and tempo. Tempo is simply the speed to which the piece of music should be played at, and throughout any piece it can change from normal to faster or slower.

You could find the word Accelerando, which translates as speeding up or increasing speed. Other examples of this are Rallentando (slowing down), Ad Libitum (play freely), Animato (animated), Più Mosso (more quickly) or Senza Tempo (no tempo or no strict tempo).

Other indications such as Maestoso (majestic), Cantabile (easy to sing), or Con Anima (with soul) can be found at the beginning of the piece and they are meant to point out the spirit and attitude meant for the piece.

Dynamics is another great aspect of music. The softest you can play a note is called Pianissimo and it is usually abbreviated with a double P (pp). A soft sound is called Piano (p), a not so soft volume or Mezzo-piano (mp). Mezzo-forte (mf), Forte (f) or loud, and finally very loud or Fortissimo (ff) are three levels of loudness for any note or passage.

These are just a few examples of how elastic and expressive your interpretation can become by following the different indications of a particular piece of music. Then the goal is to find your unique expression, your unique way of playing the different indications and making the piece your own.

Learning music in Nelson

Nelson is the birthplace of a great number of musicians, artists and bands in a great number of styles. In the world of Classical Music, the name David Childs is the most prominent when it comes to classical artists. David Childs is one of the finest brass soloists in the world today and the highest regarded of his  generation.

In Rock and Alternative Music there are a great number of bands and solo artists: Graeme James, Minuit, Rhian Sheehan, Robinson, Tex Morton and Sharon O’Neill are just a few examples of band and solo artists that have reached a great audience in New Zealand and in the world.

Nelson has been the place for the beginning of musicians and bands and the number of exponents that have come out of the city is just extraordinary.

If you are a music student, having classes regularly and striving to find your connection and creativity in the art of music, the City of Nelson and its many exponents of successful musicians can be a great inspiration to you and to your journey in discovering music and your voice.

The benefits of learning piano with a teacher

The benefits of learning piano with a teacher or private instructor are several, but the two principal ones are consistency and specificity. Learning with a teacher means learning with someone who will see your improvements and your shortcomings.

This person will meet with you at a consistent scheduled time and that schedule will organise your time more efficiently. The teacher will also address the challenges and difficulties that are specific to your  progress and relationship with the piano or any other aspect of music in general.

The teacher will guide you then through what he or she will consider to be the better path for your improvement, and he or she will pinpoint the improvements for you to continue engaging in your practice while feeling motivated.

The teacher will make you realise your errors in order for you to correct them. Learning with a teacher will give you another reason to be consistent in your instrument practice and it will give you the chance to interact and to get to know someone who will guide you patiently through your journey of learning music.