Category Archives: Piano

Aug 29 2011
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General, Music, Piano

Where’s my organ?

Sitar: not an organ.

I lost my organ last night. It had been there a few days before but, last night, it inexplicably turned into a sitar.

This wasn’t convenient. Partly because a sitar doesn’t sound anything like a Hammond organ but mainly because it chose to morph into the twangy ethnic instrument during the two bar count-in to Crocodile Rock. I needed my organ back quite badly – this was only the second song I’d ever played live. In a busy pub. With half my family watching on. A Bollywood version of an Elton John classic wouldn’t have gone down well.

After much fumbling, I found my organ, eventually, but a little later I couldn’t find my brass section either. Instead, I inadvertently triggered a drum and bass groove. This surprised everyone – not least the drummer who looked twice at his kit and hands to check they hadn’t started bashing out the manic 4/4 rhythm without him knowing.

If truth be told, these instances of sweaty-fingered patch scouring were simply a couple of minor mishaps amongst an evening of quickly brushed-over Les Dawson incidents which, I think, went largely unnoticed by those watching. From my point of view, forty-five minutes of music seemed to pass by in an enthralling, sweaty, panic-fuelled adrenalin rush. Six months of work for what felt like ten minutes of performance time. But worth every second.

If, like me, you’ve spent the best part of ten years playing an instrument to yourself, your dog, or the potted plant in the corner of the room, get out there and play live. Trust me, there’s nothing quite like it. Regardless of how many mistakes you will make.

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Mar 24 2011
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Music, Piano

My brain is amazing

Right. It’s only March and this postaweek thing is getting decidedly difficult. Must. Carry. On. Even though I’m not entirely sure why. It’s not as though someone’s going to hand me a fat cheque on December 31st for doing so. Is it, WordPress? Is it?

I thought I’d post a very quick muse on my brain. I’ve never paid a huge amount of attention to it and I think the feeling’s probably mutual. It’s rarely there when I need it and flat-out refuses to remember anything more than 24 hours old.

However, a few weeks ago I mentioned on this very blog that I have started learning a number of songs on the piano for a performance with my dad’s band in September.

When you first start learning a song it’s inevitably hard work. You stumble over chords, forget which key you’re in and at times feel like flinging the increasingly meaningless collection of ebony and ivory keys out of the window.

Then, you stand up and walk away from the piano. For an hour. A day, even. During that period, something magical happens, because by the time you sit down again, the music flows out of your fingers like you’ve been playing it for years. It’s that much of a step up from your previous ham-fisted attempts that you would be forgiven for being a little shocked by it. I am, constantly.

I’ve concluded that during that period of rest, my brain is playing catch up. Silently, like a task running in the background on your PC, it computes the myriad of information you fed it earlier, and, without any cursing, shouting or head bashing to distract it, practices. Without a piano. How cool is that?

There’s probably a more scientific explanation for this process and if you know it, please let me know. I just think it’s fucking amazing, my brain.

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Feb 25 2011
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Music, Piano

The road to live performance starts here

On Wednesday night, for the first time ever, I played keys alongside my dad. Granted, it was in the living room and we were simply doing a dry run of Crocodile Rock; me playing the Farfisa organ part which supplies that iconic intro, him playing the piano… but it was something I didn’t realise quite how much I was missing until it took place.

It’s all in preparation for a gig with his band later this year (a week before my wedding, in fact). I’ve never played live anywhere before, and I’m tasked with learning eight songs. Eight. Scary? Slightly, but also a brilliant challenge I’ve always wanted to tackle.

I’ll track my progress on here where I can, as those learning the piano or with a keen interest in getting out of the studio and playing in front of people may find it interesting.

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Jul 28 2009
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Music, Piano

Oh god, I’m learning how to read music

Bugs on the pianoSo, firstly, I’ve slipped up. NaBloPoMo started off fantastically. I managed fifteen posts in as many days and most of them, I think, were not complete drivel. A couple of ‘album fillers’, maybe, but at least I kept it up.

Then, inexplicably, I failed to post anything last Thursday. I knew I hadn’t. It wasn’t a case of forgetting. It was a conscious choice. I just couldn’t be arsed.

So I tried and failed. I’m not entirely sure of the benefit of getting myself listed on NaBloPoMo’s website, as it seemed to provide very little in the way of referrals. None, in fact. The visitor numbers certainly crept up but I have a feeling that was more to do with this site suddenly becoming more active due to the increased concentration of new posts.

Anyway, onto the topic of this post. Anyone that cares to follow this blog (if you do, please let me know, I’d love to hear from you) will be aware that I am embarking on the no doubt long and frustrating journey of learning the piano proper. Having tinkered for over ten years in my home studio, I am now pretty desperate to learn the instrument properly. It’s an instrument I’m instantly familiar and comfortable with, yet completely clueless about. That ambiguous last sentence will hopefully make sense to people in a similar position to myself.

Last night I had my first piano lesson. I’d been debating about what I wanted to get out of this over the last few weeks and had come to the conclusion that I must learn to read music. Theory is, generally speaking, as dull as Eastenders, regardless of the subject. But when you think about it, it’s an essential element of anything you wish to learn properly. Sure, there are some pretty big names in music who profess to being unable to read sheet music (namely Paul McCartney) but that shouldn’t be reason for us all to declare it a pointless waste of time.

Once you can read music, you can pick up pretty much any score and play it, unhindered. And that’s where I want to get.  I’ll be better than one of the Beatles! Awesome!

I’ve already taught myself a couple of ‘real’ songs and going so far back to the basics was at first a little unnerving. Very unnerving, if I’m honest. Suddenly, I was faced with treble clefs, bass clefs, crotchets and quavers. The latter I have only ever associated with a form of crisp-based snack, so adjusting myself to this new way of playing the piano was like being thrown in at the deep end. I relished it, though, even if it did feel a little bit like my first day at school.

For any aspiring pianists reading this in the Northampton area, please feel free to get in touch by clicking the ‘Contact’ button at the top of this page and I’ll happily pass on the details of my tutor. Although I’ve only had one lesson so far, I instantly got on with him and his relaxed, no hassle approach certainly made me feel at ease. It’s a wonderful skill to have as a teacher and one I simply can’t relate to. I would end up smashing the key cover on someone’s flailing hands after their second poor attempt at Silent Night.

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Jul 19 2009
7 Comments
Music, Piano

YouTube Piano Lessons

YouTube piano lessons: pause, rewind and abandon your teacher at will!

YouTube piano lessons: pause, rewind and abandon your teacher!

With my first ever piano lesson rapidly approaching, I’m spending as much time learning pieces as best I can, so that I have a semblance of piano know-how to demonstrate to my teacher come July 27th.

For any other aspiring pianists out there, I can’t recommend YouTube enough if you want an intuitive, no-hassle introduction to learning technique and specific songs.

It can, however, be a frustrating search; lots of lessons mean well enough but usually make one of three critical errors:

  1. The camera is placed at such an obscure angle that it is impossible to work out what keys are being pressed.  Sometimes, the camera has adopted that much of a 1970s Batman villain angle, the only reason you know it’s a piano lesson is because you can hear the familiar sound of tinkling ivories.  This is particularly prevalent with female ‘tutors’ who seem far more concerned that the camera picks out their best side.
  2. Sound quality comparable to a 1930s grammar phone.  Occasionally, it’s so tinny and devoid of any harmonics that every note sounds the same.  This does not a good music lesson make.
  3. They don’t talk.  I’ve found 9 minute videos where they just sit there and play the piece out slowly without muttering a word.  This is about as intuitive as a teacher after nineteen double whiskeys.

In fact, many of them commit all three crimes above simultaenously making the learning process, well, fucking impossible.

Not to worry, though.  I can recommend two fantastic examples of how well it can be done.

Lypur – I believe this young chap is a professional teacher but he is clearly an incredibly acomplished musician.  He covers theory and technique very well and his teaching style is relaxed and inspiring.

Pianojohn113 – My absolute favourite for learning real, living, breathing songs.  If you’re keen on taking up the piano, you can’t ignore The Beatles, Billy Joel and Elton John.  This guy has all three covered and teaches them with no-frills aplomb.

Give YouTube a go.  While it can’t be as intimate as a real one-to-one lesson, the ability to rewind your teacher, pause them and return a day later when you get frustrated is fantastic.

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Jul 09 2009
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Music, Piano

I’m going back to school

Well, day two of my ‘blog a day’ NaBloPoMo (that’s incredibly frustrating to type) contribution and what do I bore you with today?

Piano.  That’ll do.  It’ll give me chance to explain the title of this post, too, which isn’t a play on words.  I am indeed going back to school.  And no, I’m not referring to the ruler-flicking, head-down-toilet haven we all took for granted as kids – I’ve finally booked some piano lessons.

Having purchased a Korg SP250 a few weeks ago, I have finally summoned the energy to get my ass in front of a teacher and receive some tuition (I considered rephrasing that sentence but will leave it in its ambiguous, inuendo-strewn state).

It does feel like returning to school, though.  I’ve not really been ‘taught’ anything since I left formal education in 1998.  Admittedly, back then I was being forced to dissect awful pieces of literary dirt such as ‘Sumitra’s Story’, or being incorrectly placed in the top set for design and almost vomiting when presented with the task of designing an innovative CD rack in the final exam.  Therefore, this time around, it’s something I genuinely have an urge to learn and become proficient in so, in theory at least, it should be enjoyable.  In fact, I can’t wait.

For any aspiring musicians paying attention this, I will update occasionally on my progress.

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Jun 01 2009
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Music, Piano

Korg SP250 Has Arrived

Korg SP250 digital piano

Korg SP250 digital piano

After weeks of deliberating I finally put my hard earned down on a Korg SP250 last week.

Having spent many hours fantasising about owning a Nord Stage or one of the top of the range Rolands, I had an unsual bout of sensibleness and realised that I neither required nor could afford such extravagance.

A trip to the local music shop rammed this fact home even harder as the assistant suggested I try out the Korg which was a quarter of the price of some of the previously mentioned digital wizardry.

Suffice to say I was knocked out enough by the sound and feel of the keys to place an order.  And now it sits comfortably in my home studio.

Having spent most of the weekend learning the intro to Pink Floyd’s Great Gig in the Sky I can honestly say the £559 I paid for the piano was an absolute bargain.  If, like me, you dont possess a fantastic knowledge of pianos and their individual nuances and tonal qualities, the SP250 will do you perfectly.  If the reviews on the web are to be believed, it isn’t that far off the RD700′s of this world.

Inbuilt speakers are handy, as is the metronome and while many will be dismayed at the lack of USB connectivity, it can be hooked up to your PC or Mac via MIDI, as you’d expect, if you wish to use it as a controller keyboard for your software synths.

As previously mentioned, the piano sounds come highly recommended and the electric pianos are more than adequate offering the enevitable Rhodes clone along with a few other punchy patches to boot.  Strings ain’t half bad either and complement the piano sounds nicely when used in tandem.

The organs are probably the weakest of the lot but still perfectly useable.  If truth be told, I have little interest in the other instruments, as my studio already contains everything from full orchestra sections to burning piano samples (courtesy of Omnisphere), therefore everything is covered and it’s not really the reason I bought the piano in the first place.  Those that are expecting a wealth of general midi sounds will be disappointed.  But then, GM is so 90s, isn’t it?

On the learning side of things, I’m still engrossing myself in some of YouTube’s tutorials and, in particular, as mentioned above, The Great Gig in the Sky.  Rick Wright, god rest his soul, wasn’t Mozart which makes his pieces quite a nice way of easing yourself into piano.  He uses relatively basic albeit unusual chord structures which are a joy to play.

Next up – it’s time to book some real lessons.

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May 25 2009
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Music, Piano

Joanna is Calling

burning_pianoFirstly, I must point out that the photo to the left has no bearing on this post.  Well, very little; please disregard the fire and storm trooper pianist.  It was in fact the fourth result in a Google Images search for ‘piano’, therefore: amusing.

After 15 years of tinkering in my home studio and the unavoidable knowledge that time is passing me by at an alarming rate, I have decided to learn the piano.  Properly this time, not keying in random four note chords into Logic and hoping quantisation will do the rest.

I very nearly didn’t bother, worried that the sudden realisation that, with a bit of time and effort, I could sit in front of those black and white keys and know what I was playing, might cause me to slip into a great depression.  Mentally torturing myself for not having started at an early age while my piano-playing dad finally admits he wished I’d done so.  In reality, however, I have never, until now, had the urge to learn, nor the passion.  And my dad certainly isn’t the pushy parent type.

So, I’ll try and keep any aspiring musicians reading this blog up to date on my progress.  I begin this journey (ouch) with some basic knowledge of the keyboard and a couple of little riffs I’ve picked up along the way.  My next step is to purchase an 88-note piano this coming weekend and book my first lessons.

One imediate recommendation I have is a chap called Andrew Furmanczyk who has some fantastic lessons on YouTube.  Check him out, I’ve been through the first six or so and he’s already got me playing some simple scales and has taught some very useful theory: http://www.youtube.com/user/Lypur.

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