Posts Related to: Piano/Keyboard

I recently received this question from a reader: I play a little bit of piano and a little bit of guitar, but I’m a beginner on both. I want to write my own songs that others can sing, and I want to get the songs down on paper. Do you suggest I take piano lessons or …

A reader recently asked me what instrument they should take up if they want to play with someone else as a duo, rather than in a larger group or band setting.
Duos come in many shapes and sizes. A keyboard is always a contender because it is perhaps the most versatile of the instruments. This is …

Here are some tips on how to approach music that’s technically difficult or otherwise hard for you. I’m referring to the piano in this post, but the tips can be used for any instrument or voice. Music may be hard to play because it needs to be played fast; has complicated fingering; multiple parts must be played …

The wonderful thing about playing music is that – as you get older – you often get better. Although playing music is physical, the greatest demands are mental: your patience, endurance, creativity, and emotions are constantly challenged.
At 74, Ramsey Lewis is one of those artists that was not only great way back when, but he keeps getting better. I was …

This past weekend, I got a chance to preview They Came to Play, a recently released documentary about the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, an adjunct to the Van Cliburn competition for professional pianists. The film will soon be shown in several cities, including: Bryn Mawr, Pa., Washington, DC; Rochester, NY; Portland, Ore., Atlanta, and others.
The amateur …

When people begin piano, they generally find that they have better coordination with one hand – usually the right – than the other. Don’t fall into the trap of favoring your “good” hand and neglecting the weaker one.
It certainly can make sense to work on each hand separately to develop piano skills. However, in order …

When people starting piano lessons ask me if they should buy a keyboard or a real piano, I generally recommend that they purchase a real piano, if possible. The feeling of the keys and the sound is usually preferable. Barriers to such a purchase, however, can be money, space, and portability.
As far as the money is concerned: …

Beginning piano as an adult is no different than beginning piano as a kid – except that you can discuss your options with a teacher. These include what style of music you’d like to play, and what your goals are: to play in a group; to accompany other instrumentalists and/or singers; to accompany yourself singing; to participate …

Chord voicings are the arrangement of notes in a chord (ie, which notes are on the top or in the middle). Piano and guitar are the instruments that play chords and are, therefore, the instruments concerned with voicings.
Every style of music has to deal with chords just as every style of music has to deal with …

I am often asked whether guitar or piano is more suited to late-life beginners.
How you want to use an instrument is always important in making a decision about one over another. In the case of guitar versus piano, if you want to sing Folk, Country, Pop or Rock songs, guitar would be a good choice.
On …