Ask me about piano. Jazz, classical, any.

[Rainman]

Hey I'm a concert pianist, and a jazz pianist. I study both still, and I still actively play. Ask me about it! I love to talk about music, and I could go on for ages, so have at it --rain

[wendylove]

Why is practing scales improtant? Is the hand over the other hand when people play pieces improtant or just to show off? Why does jazz suck? Why is their tons of asian pianist? Do you have pushey parents? What composer do you mostly play? What the hardest piece of music you learned? I have some more questions, but this would do for now.

[Rainman]

Glad to answer for you. I'll answer the questions in order Why is practing scales improtant? • Practicing scales is a good way to warm up, and it's also helpful to building stamina and technique. It's not really about playing scales in particular, but for classical piano, playing the same thing over and over again is the best way to get stronger hands, and scales are the most common. There's also the Hannon book. For jazz piano, familiarity with scales is critical, because you'll have more choices to improvise with. Is the hand over the other hand when people play pieces improtant or just to show off? • Hand over hand..it depends on what they're playing. Some pieces are written in a way where it would be impossible to play certain parts if you didn't cross your hands over. So most of the time, it is necessary, but I cant say that's true for every time someone has done it. Why does jazz suck? • I don't know if that was supposed to be insulting, but it was. Be more specific in your questioning. For now all I can say is that to you, "jazz sucks" because maybe you aren't used to sophisticated music, and advanced theory. Either way, that was an ignorant statement, and wasn't really necessary. Why is their tons of asian pianist? • I'm not sure about that either. There are a lot of Asians many also play cello. That one is a mystery to me. Do you have pushey parents? • Nope. I chose to play piano, although they are musical also, just not classical, per se. What composer do you mostly play? • Chopin. He is my absolutely favorite, although I do play a lot of debussy as well. What the hardest piece of music you learned? • The hardest that I have learned so far is "Ballade no. 4 in F minor" by Chopin. It's very difficult, but probably my favorite piece ever. But the one I just started now is much harder. "Sonata in B minor" by Franz Liszt --rain

[Riff]

Where could i start to learn jazz for a guitar?

[Rainman]

Well first off you should start with music theory. It is quite possible to play jazz by ear, but you'll never get past a certain point without learning theory. If you already know theory, then find a class somewhere that teaches jazz theory. Piano and guitar are probably the two most related instruments in western instrumentation (as far as theory relation and in the roll of it in an ensemble). It may be harder to find a guitar jazz course, but I know of an online sort of tutorial for PIANO and its free. Look up William Mayette's jazz piano lessons. He teaches about piano for the first few lessons, but then he starts getting into chords later on, and its not instrument specific, but much of it will be greek to you if you don't have a basic understanding of music theory, which I can't stress enough. I hope that helps! Let me know if you need more info. Also feel free to throw a PM my way if you are having problems with theory. --rain

[QwinsepiaSquared]

When did you start taking lessons? Do you still have a teacher, or did you ever have one?

[Rainman]

I've only been playing piano for two and a half years, and I picked it up, technique and all very quickly on my own. I started taking lessons this past january. I still have the same teacher, and plan to keep taking lesssons from her. The speed I accurately learn things at has doubled since I started taking lessons.