Advice Needed for a Piano Player

[Marlowe01]

I turned 19 recently (freshman in college) and I guess you could say I'm a "struggling" piano player. This is probably my 6th year of playing. I didn't really start taking it that seriously until probably the middle of high school. I feel like no matter what I do I never really get any better or seem to improve. On this campus, it's hard to find people to play/jam with, so that's probably one of the focal points of my struggle...that experience. There's a friend/guitar player down the hall who I jam with from time to time: whip out a real book and either play through or learn a song from it or make up our own instrumental little number. Guess I'm wondering what I should be practicing when that isn't happening...learning real book songs/chord changes and such, practicing scales, or what. Basically trying to get the most out of my practice time. I know I'm being kind of vague about this but I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice here.

[DrMaddVibe]

Roll it off the top of a building and learn how to play a guitar.

[Hardrock69]

Well, just do what I do in the absoence of musicians...just get a cd with some great piano riffs and jam!

[BrownSound1]

Soak up different styles and techniques...don't just stick with one thing. For instance learn some classical stuff, then go play some Ray Charles.

[fuckhowardstern]

In addition to the extremely sound advice above, practice the basics, join your school jazz ensemble. Listen to different players, and if you really want to get better: play all the time!

[ashstralia]

just play firsts and fifths, dude!

[Hardrock69]

Yer best bet is:

1. Learn Jazz tunes to improve your chops.

2. Learn the following for the definitive rock piano stuff:

A. Little Richard
B. Jerry Lee Lewis
C. Billy joel
D. Elton John
E. Jon Lord (not necessarily piano, but still he is a keyboardist).

[Soul Reaper]

Learn from the great masters, such as....

Liszt
Chopin
Mozart
Beethoven
Rachmaninov

take in the compositions...use anything to come up with your own ideas....

[ELVIS]

Get a Moog!

[Marlowe01]

a Moog would definitely be nice

[LoungeMachine]

You've been "playing" for 6 years, and now are looking for advice in here???

You never get better or improve?????

My advice?

Sell it and take up knitting.

Do the world a favor

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine

You never get better or improve?????

He never said that...

[Eyes of the Night]

Originally posted by DrMaddVibe
Roll it off the top of a building and learn how to play a guitar.

:D

[LoungeMachine]

Re: Advice Needed for a Piano Player

Originally posted by Marlowe01




I feel like no matter what I do I never really get any better or seem to improve.

Dear, ELVIS


:D

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by ELVIS
He never said that...

sorry, but......

he DID