| This short guide is for beginner or intermediate piano | | | | has chosen to play by ear will by now be playing |
| students who want to progress and really master the | | | | melodies integrated into the chord progressions. They |
| art of piano playing or keyboard playing. It will cover | | | | will probably be able to take most songs they hear |
| the journey from beginner piano player through | | | | and instantly play them with full chords and melody. |
| intermediate and advanced and then on to master | | | | To advance on to master level the two different |
| level. A journey where many fall at the first stage and | | | | methods of learning are usually combined. The true |
| never move on to the intermediate level or further. | | | | master be comfortable both reading music and playing |
| The first levels of piano or keyboard playing can be | | | | by ear. Each of the two methods have their |
| grouped into two different types, those who learn to | | | | advantages and disadvantages. It can be that when |
| read music and those who learn to play by ear without | | | | you learn to play by reading music that you are |
| music. The beginner piano player who learns to read | | | | technically very adept but as far as feeling and |
| music will first learn to find all of the notes on the | | | | expression goes then it can be very difficult to |
| keyboard and associate them with the written notes | | | | express yourself. The opposite can be said for the |
| on the musical staff. Then simple melodies can be | | | | person who learns to play only by ear, they might find |
| played by reading the music. The player who learns to | | | | it difficult to be more technical and will lack the discipline |
| play by ear will also learn how to find the notes on the | | | | that makes the student who has learned to read |
| keyboard and might even learn some basic chords at | | | | music. The true master will be able to naturally |
| this time too. | | | | combine these two schools with no real problem. |
| Once the basic notes have been learned then the | | | | If you are just starting out or if you would like to pass |
| student will advance on to a more intermediate level. | | | | on to more intermediate levels of piano playing then |
| This will typically entail learning to play some more | | | | there are many home study courses available on the |
| complex pieces for the pianist who is learning to read | | | | Internet which will help you. The beauty of these |
| music. They will involve reading off two staves and | | | | courses is that with modern technology you can be |
| playing with both hands together. The student who is | | | | taught with video and sound files as if you had a piano |
| learning to play by ear will learn some chord | | | | teacher on hand in the comfort of your own home. |
| progressions and will also be suing both hands to play | | | | Most important of all however is that most of the best |
| more complete chords and rhythms. | | | | courses will teach you how to read music and how to |
| When the student moves onto more advanced levels | | | | play by ear at the same time. This makes it much |
| of playing the music reader will get to play some very | | | | easier to advance on to higher levels at a later date |
| complex and taxing pieces which will stretch their | | | | and ensures for a really solid foundation for the |
| abilities of coordination and dexterity. The student who | | | | beginner piano player. |