Monday, August 29, 2011

Blues Guitar Lesson From A Blues Piano Legend

Most people interested in the original blues, either guitar or piano, know the names of the �blues legends�. These are the old guys who invented the stuff. None of them had to learn the blues , they lived the blues! Men like Lightnin� Hopkins, Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy come to mind.

We can imagine how the legend surrounding Robert Johnson grew over the years. There are only two photographs left, both very similar, and his bluesmen friends that survived into the 70s talked freely about his celebrated meeting with satan at the crossroads. I didn�t meet Broonzy, although there are some pieces of film left for us to enjoy, all can be seen on Youtube.

I was called by a man who worked in a band that supported Bill while touring the UK in the late 50s. He told me about about a big man who drank too much, laughed a lot and told colorful stories a lot of the time. His masterful guitar style was impossible to copy, and to this day, almost no-one has managed to duplicate Big Bill�s swinging style.

Some years ago, in 1998, I was living in Indiana and was often thirsty for the sound of old-style blues. Someone told me that there was a blues bar called �Buck�s Working Man�s Pub� in a town about 40 miles away in the town of La Porte. At the end of my working day, I eagerly jumped into the car and headed out.

Given directions by the locals, I drove down main street, turned left at the second corner past the town hall and crossed the railroad tracks to the wrong side of town. This is what I was looking for, I�d get to see the real blues. The bar wasn�t up to much. I got myself a drink and made my way to room at the back, drawn by the sound of a loud Chicago-style blues band.

The place wasn�t empty, and it wasn�t full. This kind of blues wasn�t what I was interested in anyway � I liked the old acoustic blues. The old fellow at my table said that the locals had hired the band as it was the proprietor�s birthday today. He didn�t say much after that.

The band finished the number and the singer addressed the audience. �Happy Birthday, Pinetop", he yelled, and then �Ladies and gentlemen, Pinetop has agreed

to play a couple of numbers for us." The old guy at my table got up and walked up to the stage, sitting down in front of a grand piano. He played a slow boogie which became increasingly syncopated with each passing bar. My mouth dropped open as I realised I�d been sitting next to a real master, an original bluesman.

He played just two songs before he shuffled past me out of the room. He didn�t appear again that night. With hindsight, I thought of all the things I could have asked him, but maybe it�s just as well. It was the guys birthday and he might have been bothered by a stranger�s questions. Legends are just normal guys, you see.

Each passing year, the bluesmen are dissapearing, to be succeeded by newer legends. I also recall driving clear across Indiana and Michigan to listen to a modern blues legend, who will remain nameless, because of his words during our encounter. Thrilled, I said what a great way to live, to follow in the path of the old bluesmen � travelling around playing the blues. �Not a bit of it", he replied �It�s a pain and I�d rather be at home doing something else!"

We need to remind ourselves � legends are also human.

Interview with a modern bluesman.

Sunny Choi plays Billboard Hot 100 Songs on Piano

International Piano Artist Sunny Choi is proud to announce the launch of a new YouTube Channel dedicated to her amazing piano covers of hit songs. On Sunny Choi's Hit Music YouTube Channel you will find the top songs from today's artists, as well as the most popular songs ever recorded by the biggest names in music history.

Already known as a successful classical piano musician, Sunny Choi has often pondered the future and relevance of classical music to younger generations. Her love of music has naturally led her to many different genres of music. She has noticed however, that there is a dearth of appreciation among some younger people for classical music and acoustic instruments in general. Understanding that change is inevitable, Sunny Choi has decided to help bridge the gap between beautiful piano playing and today's hit music.

Using her world-class ear for music, Sunny is recording piano-only covers of the most popular songs on the radio. On her new Hit Music YouTube Channel you will find piano versions of Beyoncé songs, piano covers of Kelly Clarkson songs, original piano arrangements of Alicia Keys, Usher, Lady Gaga and many other pop music icons. On a separate playlist, Sunny will reach back into the musical vaults to create piano covers of some of the biggest recordings of all time including song by The Beatles, Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley and Barbara Streisand. All of the piano covers that Sunny Choi performs will be original arrangements for solo piano.

Each week, Billboard Magazine ranks the most popular songs in America by tallying physical sales, digital downloads, and radio plays. This cross-genre list is compiled into the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This list will frame the selection criteria for Sunny Choi's Hit Music YouTube Channel. When a song reaches the level of popularity sufficient to make Billboard's Hot 100 List, it has become one of the most popular songs in the country and has the potential to be recorded on the piano by Sunny Choi.

Fans of Sunny Choi and popular music in general will be able to conveniently view these recordings on YouTube, comment on them, request additional songs and interact directly with Sunny. Those wishing to know more about Sunny Choi are encouraged to visit the Sunny Choi Fan Page on Facebook. Those who desire to follow the musical career of Sunny Choi on an ongoing basis may benefit from her Twitter updates, and information posted on the Sunny Choi Official Website.

Whether or not the Sunny Choi Hit Music YouTube Channel will succeed in driving young people in droves towards the piano as an instrument, or classical music in general, is not the true aim of Sunny Choi. What is most important to her is that music lovers of all ages learn to enjoy the music that they love in as many different ways as they can and become curious about new facets of musical expression.

For while we will never all agree on what type of music is best, or what form of music should be promoted over another, we should all respect the musical tastes of each other and learn to celebrate positive music expression in all of it's forms.

Sunny Choi is accepting private playing engagements in North America and abroad. Seize this wonderful opportunity to have the music of Sunny Choi adding elegance to your next event visit my official site for more information www.sunnychoi.ca.

How To Pick the Proper Piano Brand names

Picking the right piano brand name is crucial when you make this significant invest in. Using the time to understand about what makes a piano fantastic will assist you make a sensible determination. Despite the fact that there are a some major names when it occurs to picking a piano, continue to keep in mind the 3 "T's"...- Reach for- Firmness- TypeContact and ToneTouch and tone are the keys to buying a piano. You want to make certain that you like the motion of the keyboard as properly as whether or not you want a "brighter" sounding, or a piano with much more bass.A piano with a light actions is intending to have a really "touchy" keyboard, you're not heading to be capable to fiddle close to with how loud or softly you participate in. A firmer actions on a key pad keeps enables you to fool close to with the dynamics whilst making up your finger strength. This may possibly not seem really important, but when you go to perform an individual else's piano it will make all the variation.Design of your piano is important too. This will affect the action of the instrument as properly as the firmness. Search within the piano, have the technician on staff clarify the variations involving piano brands. Don't fall victim to beautiful casework when the insides of the piano are junk.As far as sound goes, this is absolutely up to you. Listen to a couple of pianos ahead of you make you selection. This will be a great deal like picking out a t.v. arranged. Discover a piano that has the right come near and the correct tone for to inspire you to sit down and play it.Varieties of PianosWhen it will come to piano brands, the sky is the restrict. Arming oneself with a little understanding before shelling out the bucks will aid you uncover the greatest buy.Be aware that several makers of pianos have various "series" of instruments, each and every of these differ in quality and value. There are a lot of keep make or model pianos, these devices are like the home brand name ketchup you may well locate at your local grocery retailer; they will do the work, but in the extended run they may possibly not be a clever purchase.Don't be drawn in by foreign names. A lot of piano manufacturers that have German or Asian-sounding names are not really created in other countries or by individuals of these descents. Sometimes you will find that American made pianos will be furnished with German produced "guts".Sense no cost to ask concerns about the wherever your piano was created this may possibly give you insight on the instruments good quality. Use the serial amount of the instrument you are considering of paying for as a guide to monitor lower data about wherever it was created. Your piano technician ought to be ready to supply you with the specs on any tool you are shopping more than.Pianos break down into two kinds, uprights and grands. Uprights are the tall pianos that you see in old western saloons although grands are most generally linked with concert halls and well-known pianists. The two kinds of pianos have a handful of diverse sizes in between them...Uprights (from shortest to tallest)...- Spinet. 35" to 39" in height- Consoles... 40" to 44"- Studio: 45" to 47"- Total Dimension. 48" to 52"Grands (from shortest to longest)...- Parlor. 4'5" to 5'5"- Baby... 5'0" to 6'5"- Medium... 5'6" to 6'5"- Expert... 6'6" to 8'0"- Concert... 8'9" to 10'2"That's all there is to it. Nothing as well complex about the method. Fundamentally you will need to familiarize oneself with the names of the kinds of pianos and their measurements. Contact, tone, and kind are the only points you will need to bear in mind when browsing for piano brand names.Web Conferencing** Article must be manually approved before URL is available **http://craig44hardin.typepad.com/blog/2010/05/how-to-get-started-with-the-right-phone-middle-products.html
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978236811

Learn How To Play Piano - In 6 Months

Most people get discouraged today when it comes to learning how to play piano because they think that it is impossible. They think that you have hire a tutor or go to an expensive school in order to learn to play. These people are definitely wrong, because you can learn at home. There's tons of online piano lessons out there. For example, Learn & Master Piano by Will Barrow, PIANOFORALL by Robin Hall and Power Piano Chords by Duane Shinn.
I'm going to go over a few simple and easy tips to help you learn how to play piano at home. You will need to keep a few things in mind whenever you are planning on learning how to play piano. Firstly, you need to get a piano. Any piano will do, just needs to function. Next you need some good material to learn on. You can try to learn all of this on your own by looking up free material on the internet and asking around, but most likely you will struggle with this.
You have roughly 3 different options, get enrolled in a class, learn how to play with a tutor or teach yourself at home with a good online program. Since the first two aren't cheap or very convenient, I think you will end up picking the last one.
You have to be careful because you might end up with a non comprehensvive or boring program that leaves you unable to learn and very frustrated. Make sure you get a good quality program the first time that you end up buying. You will be able to find a good program to use by simply reading any product reviews you can find.
Two of the best piano learning lesson programs online today is Rocket Piano by Ruth Searle and Learn and Master Piano by Will Barrow . Their lessons are very comprehensive, easy to follow and affordable. Imagine being able to learn at your own pace from home. If you want to take your kids to a soccer game, the you can do that. Do you think that you could ask your tutor to take a walk while you take an important phone call. This is not going to happen. Since you are going to get a program anyway, you should just check out the Power Piano Chords Review at ReviewMOZ.org.



Examine Rocket Piano by Ruth Searle. Read the Rocket Piano Review and other piano lessons reviews such as Learn and Master Piano Review and PIANOFORALL Review at ReviewMOZ.org.

Sunny Choi

International Piano Sunny Choi to Visit Toronto Schools



For International Piano Artist Sunny Choi, giving back means going back - to school that is. Since turning her award-winning amateur piano career into a professional venture just over two years ago, Sunny has become a regular piano performer at Casino Ram... Read >



Join the Sunny Choi Fan Club



International Piano Artist Sunny Choi is developing quite a fan following on the Internet. As a world-class pianist this is no surprise, however, it is not only her talent which is driving fans to her in droves, but also her attention to what her fans wan... Read >



Sunny Choi plays Billboard Hot 100 Songs on Piano



International Piano Artist Sunny Choi is proud to announce the launch of a new YouTube Channel dedicated to her amazing piano covers of hit songs. On Sunny Choi's Hit Music YouTube Channel you will find the top songs from today's artists, as well as the m... Read >



Sunny Choi: The Extraordinary Piano Musician



Sunny Choi is an accomplished Toronto piano musician with an incredible gift. Ms. Choi is able to play virtually any selection of music she hears without the aid of written music. This gift coupled with her solid background in classical music is only half... Read >



Live Piano for Toronto Weddings



When it comes to the premier wedding piano musicians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) one name seems to be circulated over and over: Sunny Choi. By providing completely customized experiences, superior client service, and world-class music, Sunny Choi ha... Read >



Toronto Piano Musician for Weddings, Corporate, Concerts & Private Events



Ever since she was a child, Sunny Choi knew that she wanted to be the best at something, but she wasn't quite sure what that was. Like many people who have a passion for excellence she committed herself to studying hard and taking all of the positive oppo... Read >

Piano Tuning...an Untapped Career

PIANO TUNING AS A CAREER

Are you looking for a career that has a tremendous demand? Do you want to start a business where you can set your hours, have a great income yet with minimal start-up expenses?

Well piano tuning is a field that may be right for you. This is a trade that has not done well in recruiting newcomers yet there is tremendous demand for piano tuning and repair services.

Just a few years ago the statistics showed that if no new pianos were being sold, the number of existing pianos that would need continual tuning services would exceed 10,000 per active piano tuner. Considering most people continue to repair pianos from the turn of the century the potential for a new comer is bright.

So how do you begin? It's fairly simple. The first step is to acquire a piano tuning kit. It consists of 4 basic tools and will serve you as you enter into the tuning field professionally. The cost of the kit is approximately $59.00. Talk about low start-up expenses!

The next step is to have access to a piano, preferably one that is not really being used. However there are many old pianos that can be picked up just for moving them. Watch the classified ads in the newspaper, Craig list, Backpage and others for used pianos. Many can be bought cheaply but again many can be had just for the taking. If you pay a piano mover to transport it for you a typical move (not including any steps) will cost between $100-200.

You may want to meet a piano tuner, possibly one who is nearing retirement. Many times these professionals will be glad to mentor you. You probably won't make money if you do offer them a hand in some of their piano work but their knowledge and assistance can boost your learning experience forward much quicker.

With your tools and tuning course you can begin your piano tuning study. Within a few months you should, with plenty of practice be able to tune home pianos. You can expect to earn between $85-120 per tuning, depending on the area of the country you live in.

How to Build Your Business
Now that you are ready to move ahead you will need to acquire customers. To build your business:

Contact piano dealers; offer to tune some pianos at a reduced rate in return for them to refer calls that come in to them requesting a recommendation for a tuner.

Call on piano teachers, let them know who you are, offer them a discount for referrals, or even tune their piano for free. You may offer to tune their student's pianos at a reduced rate too.

Call churches, offer your services. Advertise in the newspaper, Craigslist, Backpage and other publications. Advertise in local music publications.

Set up a system so that you can record your tuning customers. Have a recall system to call and remind them (like your dentist does) a tuning is due. By doing so you help maintain the customer, you build a relationship them and build long-term business.

Piano tuning is a rewarding field of work. You'll find that when people at parties ask what you do that most people will find your work interesting. They usually ask several questions because it is a specialized type of craft.

If you're tired of the daily grind, no job security and would like to build something that's YOURS then a career as a piano tuner may just be the business for you.


Author:
Keith Hutson
The author has been tuning, repairing and rebuilding pianos for over 25 years. If you have any questions or would like to order a tuning kit and course contact him at :

kghutson@comcast.net











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Best Piano Guide for Beginners

Classes that involve piano for noobs would include an intro to reading and understanding the keys, chords and the way to read musical notes. The piano isn't like any other instrument and sounds smashing as standalone music or as a part of a group. The intense sound of a piano is one that captivates audiences with power or soothes them with serenity. Budding musicians always find it exciting to explore the world of piano for beginners. Whether this is their first venture playing the piano or being used as a reminder of forgotten skills, piano for beginners is a terrific way to develop or improve skills.The most popular place to find a piano for beginners class would be a local high school or college university music department. Occasionally, instructors will offer piano tutoring to non-students. Students, on the other hand, will have a variety of choices within the music curriculum. Otherwise, a quick visit to a local specialty music store may provide leads on potential instructors. When learning piano for noobs, it is important to tryouts to choose the best instructor by appraising his / her experience, tutorial background and achievements. The most usually sought instructors will possess some form of music degree or an equivalent quantity of musical experience.A potential instructor should be interviewed referring to their history in music, fee wants, length of classes, policy on missed sessions, etc. If the learner's schedule is particularly hectic, he/she may wish to enlist the help of a private tutor as opposed to a group instructor. Music lessons offered in a group will be scheduled by the instructor and will be less flexible toward each individual learner's schedule. This is not to say that group lessons aren't a superb way to learn piano for beginners because they are. Simply put, private tutors are better for anyone with a hectic or unpredictable schedule.For instance, a personal mentor will have a more flexible schedule and will be prepared to work around that of the learner's daily agenda. Whereas group classes are often held at the same time on a certain night, or nights, each week, a private tutor can be scheduled at any time during the day or evening without having to abide by a preset schedule. Web courses, on the other hand, offer learners with the choice of learning piano for amateurs in the ease of their own home at any point in the night or day. After all, where else could you learn piano in your pajamas?Perhaps that most fun way to learn the piano for beginners is to just start playing. Online music lessons provide a great foundation for the basics of teaching yourself to play. In fact, some of the world's most famous musicians are self-taught, so don't be afraid to go solo to start. Self-taught musicians often develop their own unique style earlier. And, unique style, while having a firm foundation, is what all musicians strive for. After some time, developing your own unique style will get you well on the way to the Grammy awards.

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Yamaha P95 Digital Stage Piano Review

The Yamaha P95 Digital Piano is the replacement for the P85. There are many people who will have had a lot of fun with the P85 and are mostly happy with the sounds and the quality of the keyboard action. For the price it is certainly worth it.

The P95 was launched at NAMM in the USA and isn't yet available in the UK, but retailers should be receiving stock imminently. As always with any new replacement there are varying opinions on whether there is any improvement or not.

There are some people who are quite obviously disappointed that there is no improvement on the action or the piano sounds, but to make advancements on these would require a significant hike up in the price. The P95 will be aimed at the same market i.e. beginners, or players who are not so concerned with the amount of sounds and want to keep it simple - which is why a lot a churches use them. You'll find plenty of people happy with the P85, the action and quality of sounds and the Yamaha P95 digital piano will be upholding this tradition.

Yamaha have replaced two of the onboard sounds with two new ones namely the Jazz Organ and Choir. There are a few people who think Yamaha should have been additional. But hey, you can't please everyone, and if I was playing in a church I would like a choir sound. I'm also sure that the more contemporary churches will appreciate the Jazz Organ.

I haven't tested out the piano sounds yet, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Yamaha have made some improvements there. One feature they have definitely improved is the onboard speakers, which have increased power now. In a live environment you would probably still need to hook up to an amp, which I would recommend doing anyway.

In summary I would say that the P95 will be a great choice for beginners and players who aren't concerned with having a huge choice of sounds, but want a good action, a full size keyboard at a reasonable price. If you aren't convinced, or you don't like the new sounds you could always check for P85's being sold at a discount by retailers.


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Three Best Casio Keyboards (CTK, LK) for Beginners under 200 Dollars

The various Casio keyboard models - CTK, LK series
Read more on 61 key Casio Keyboards
More on Casio Keyboards prices

Best Online Piano Course: An Appeal To Be Fair To Yourself - Alleviate Your Fear Of Learning Piano

Do you feel fear when you think of learning how to play the piano? In the traditional way of learning the piano, you need to spend hours pecking away at the keyboard while trying to pick out faded music notes in the premier. Nowadays, all that has changed! Today's best online piano courses make use of the latest development in learning technologies to make learning a pleasure.

The learning experience is no longer a chore to get through, but a hobby to enjoy. The best online piano course breaks the old and outdated molds of learning music, giving you an exhilarating learning experience and enabling you to learn with unparalleled speed.

Traditional piano lessons are passe. Few people have the time to take these types of lessons these days, especially adults. No matter how much you may like to do so, you probably have too many other demands on your precious time - family, friends, work - all of them competing for every second of your waking hours. If you are like many people, you are probably already sacrificing one or two hours of sleep everyday to meet all your obligations.

Fortunately, the technology of learning has advanced a great deal since those days. It has never been simpler or faster to learn new things, especially online. College courses and higher degrees can be done online nowadays. Even the staid old universities have gotten into the act, often placing course materials online for their students to learn faster. In the past few years, innovative piano teachers have done the same thing for the piano.

Modern children spend so many hours online these days, not just playing but learning new things. Make use of this fact and get your children piano lessons online. Imagine! You no longer have to force your kids to learn the piano. Your new problem becomes competing with them to play the piano.

Old methods of rote learning no longer makes sense. The former Soviet Union, especially, pioneered many new learning technologies during the Cold War, seeing it as a part of their strategy to defeat the United States. Even the Japanese developed new learning technologies of their own. Slowly, many of these techniques are filtering out to the rest of the world. You can now find commercial applications of these technologies in the modern language and music learning courses.

When you say you want to learn the piano, what are you actually aiming for? Sight reading? Play jazz, classical or freestyle piano? Play by ear? You can do all of these things online. The best online piano course has you covered.

Forget the nightmare of trying to schedule your children piano lessons. Forget the frustration of trying to juggle all those different appointments. Let your kids do their piano lessons whenever they have time, wherever they are, whether that is at home or at Gramps' place. Online lessons are very flexible, and give you the freedom to learn at your own pace.

The best online piano course lets you learn quickly and easily at your own pace. You no longer have to pay for piano tutors and recitals. Go meet your dreams online!

Do you want to learn the piano? Visit http://BestOnlinePianoCourse.KelvinMart.com/ to learn more about the best online piano courses.

Learn to Play the Piano the Right Way



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Finger Picking Lesson - How To Play An Arpeggio On The Guitar

Arpeggios are often a challenge for guitar players who are just starting out with finger picking lessons. An arpeggio is sequence of notes from the chromatic scale played on the guitar as a finger picking pattern. Another way to think of arpeggios is as cords that are broken up into separate notes. There is no difficult piece of theory behind finger picking arpeggios and after a day or two of practice you will begin to get the hang of playing the strings on after the other.

Playing any sequence of strings on the guitar can be defined as an arpeggio but let's stick to convention and start with the root note. With your left hand, make a C major chord shape in the first position. The root note is C on the third fret of the fifth string, fretted by the third finger of the left hand, and it's the lowest note on this arpeggio.

The other notes of this finger picking pattern are E played at the second fret of the fourth string using the second finger of the left hand, the open third, or G string, and the highest note is C played at the first fret of the second string fretted by the first finger of the left hand. On the scale the notes are the first, third and fifth steps.

The main point I want to make in this finger picking lesson is that by far the best approach to playing arpeggios on the guitar is to place the fingers of the right hand on the strings they are about to play. Holding the C chord, you place your right hand thumb resting on the fifth string and the first finger lightly placed under the second string ready to play an up stroke when it is needed.

Now play the low C with your thumb, then the thumb drops to the E, continues on to play a down stroke, drops again to play the open G string, and continues down as if it was going to strum the second string but instead you then start an upward motion on the high C with the first finger. Make it an even, natural rolling motion with the thumb dropping from the fifth to the fourth string followed by an up stroke of the first finger on the second string.

Another way to play this arpeggio is to place the thumb on the fifth string and the first finger under the third string and the second finger under the second string as though you were going to pluck those three strings. Then move the thumb down the fifth and fourth strings and the first finger plays its up stroke on the third string and the first finger plays the second string as before.

Another alternative I want to point out in this finger picking lesson is to make a different first position C major shape by using the pinky of the left hand to fret the C note on the fifth string, leaving your third finger free to fret the G note at the third fret of the sixth string. The other notes are fretted as the first arpeggio. Then you add the open E, or first, string. Now you have an arpeggio of all six strings playing the notes G, C, E, G, C E.

Newbie guitar players are flocking to Guitar How-To for the free articles, tutorials and videos on every aspect of guitar playing you can think of. Fast track your guitar expertise now at http://guitar-how-to.com/

Ergonomic Keyboard Design: Laptop Computer Ergonomics

Creating a safe and comfortable computer set up or office work environment has become an increasing focus during the Information Revolution that started in the 1990s. The Information Revolution is best described, as a worldwide shift to information and technology resulting in more computer based job opportunities and home computer environments. The proper office and home computer set up is important in reducing musculoskeletal discomfort as well as work-related injuries.

There are several different components to the computer workstation set up including: the keyboard design, mouse or trackball, monitor, work surface, chair, foot support and work organization factors. All of these components need to be evaluated to assess and improve office workstation postures. This article will focus only on keyboard design.

Keyboard Design
The fundamental ergonomic risk factors that are typically present in a computer set up include: awkward postures, static positions and highly repetitive tasks. Methods of reducing these ergonomic risk factors with an office or computer set up involve maintaining neutral joint postures, alternating tasks, implementing stretch breaks and providing adjustability to the workstation set up. The keyboard is one of the primary components of the computer set up that can result in poor postures, static positions and highly repetitive tasks. The purpose of keyboard design is to promote neutral postures and reduce the strain on the working joints, muscles and tendons.

By improving and promoting neutral arm, wrist and hand positions, computer related injuries can be prevented.

Good Postures
When typing and using a keyboard the good postures involve keeping the shoulders, wrists and elbows in a straight and neutral position. For the shoulder, ideally the arms should be hanging loosely at the sides, with the shoulders in about 0-15 degrees of flexion. The elbows should be at about mid range or between 80 and 90 degrees of flexion. The elbows should be level or slightly higher than the keyboard. The wrists should remain straight and neutral. The hands and fingers should be loosely relaxed, with fingers curved or flexed slightly.

Bad postures
Common postures that are observed with keyboard use and should be avoided include: excessive shoulder flexion or abduction, elbows that are flexed or extended beyond 80-90 degrees of flexion, wrists that are flexed or extended or ulnar deviated due to the position of the keyboard.

Alternative Keyboards
Alternative keyboards can help keep wrists straight and in a neutral position, thus reducing the stress and strain on the joints and muscle and tendon structures. Alternative keyboard designs include:
• Split keyboards: split keyboards are designed to promote a straight position of the wrist. This is accomplished by either separating the key pads and increasing the distance between the right and left hand sides or by tilting the keyboard pads away from one another.
• Tented keyboards: tented keyboards divide the right and left sided key pads and tilt them up like a tent. This position reduced forearm pronation.
• Built-in wrist rests: this feature helps provide additional support to the wrists and forearms; care must be taken to avoid excessive contact pressure onto the peripheral nerves.
• Sloped keyboards: traditional keyboard design uses a positive slope of the keyboard, meaning the back of the keyboard is higher than the front of the keyboard. A positive slope of a keyboard often causes excessive wrist extension and thus an increased pressure within the carpal tunnel and increased strain to the working tendons. By contrast, a negative slope or neutral slope, where the plane of the keyboard is either level or slightly higher in the front, often promotes a more neutral wrist position.
• Key position: the position of the keys is classified as straight, concave or curved. The various positions of the keys allow the fingers to work in a more neutral and relaxed position.

Guidelines for Evaluating Keyboard Design
The following guidelines can be helpful with keyboard selection:
• Verify that the keyboard is compatible with existing computer hardware and software.
• Make sure the individual keys are easy to depress. Additional effort on individual keys can increase effort and strain.
• Verify that the keyboard is compatible with the alternate input devices such as the mouse, pen tablet or trackball.
• Evaluate the workstation design to ensure the keyboard fits properly with the workstation and does not cause more severe or additional musculoskeletal stress or discomfort.
• Evaluate the posture and size of the keyboard user to ensure it is an appropriate fit.
• Assess whether the keyboard may affect the users performance or productivity.
• Verify that all necessary components are present on the keyboard. For example, not all alternative keyboard contain number pads, if the user requires a number pad, select the appropriate model.
• There is no one keyboard that fits all; a comprehensive ergonomics workstation evaluation is necessary to evaluate the individual workstation, keyboard user and postures.

Laptops
As the trend of remote office environments continues to grow, so does the use of laptop computers. The laptop computer does provide lightweight and portable computer access to allow the user unlimited flexibility. However this luxury does not come without adverse effects. The laptop computer keyboard is an ergonomic debacle. The keyboard is concentrated on a single flat plane thus eliminating the ability to separate, tilt, tent or replace the position of the individual keys and keypads. There is virtually no adjustability to improve the positions of the shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands. However there are some guidelines to use that will promote user safety and comfort.

Guidelines for Laptop Users
These guidelines can be used to reduce musculoskeletal strain and fatigue from laptop use.
• Try to set up laptop as ergonomically as possible, some hotels and airports offer docking stations, use airplane food trays or pillows to promote the neutral postures.
• Set up the laptop so that neutral positions of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hands can be maximized.
• Use a chair that is stationary and does not have arm rests, so that the position of the arms can be adjusted.
• Use external keyboard and laptop holder to ensure proper posture.
• Avoid resting the wrist on the wrist rest while typing to avoid compression. Rest wrists while not typing.
• Use larger joints such as the hand and arm to move from key to key as opposed to stretching fingers and wrists.
• If the key touch is light and the keypad is shallow avoid pounding on keys.
• Use or plug in mouse as opposed to using the glide screen.
• Try to maintain a neutral neck position. Avoid looking down for too long, tuck chin and keep head balanced over the shoulders.
• When carrying the laptop, use a padded shoulder strap.
• Take frequent stretch breaks to reduce the strain from awkward postures and static positions.

Summary
The keyboard is only one piece of the ergonomic puzzle. In order to effectively reduce the musculoskeletal discomfort and injuries that result from computer set ups, it is essential to evaluate and adjust all of the components. There is no one keyboard that fits all, careful assessment and evaluation of the individual keyboard user is essential when recommending an alternative keyboard design. Keyboard design principles help to maintain neutral joint postures of the arms, wrists and hands. In addition to improving working posture the keyboard user should always keep the keyboard centered with the monitor, perform frequent stretch breaks and alternate tasks.


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Semi-Tones And Tones On A Piano, Organ And Keyboard

Semitones and tones are distances from one key to another key on a keyboard. For example if we play middle C on the keyboard and then play the next white note to the right which is D then that distance is one tone. For those of you not familiar with a keyboard then get my Lesson 1 e-Book here, which will show a 61 note, keyboard with the correct notes names printed on each key.

The thing to remember when counting semitones and tones on a keyboard is to count the distances and not the notes. A semitone is the closest distance from one note to another note. So again, if we play middle C on a keyboard and want to move one semi-tone to the right the note you should be playing is C sharp that is the black note between C and D. When you first look, at the C and D keys they might appear to be closest to each other but the black notes are placed between the white notes, which make them closer. Now starting from middle C again if you move one semitone to the left, you will notice there is no black key between the white keys so the closest key is B.

Counting semitones on a keyboard is very useful especially for finding chords. For example if you wanted to find C chord which consist of a root, third and a fifth we use distances to find the notes. The distance from the root to the third is four semitones and the distance from the root to the fifth is seven semitones. Now since the root is always the name of the chord in this case C, count four semitones (distances) to the right from C to get E then count seven semitones to the right from C to get G and you have just found your C chord C, E and G and since all major chords (triads) use a root, third and fifth you can find all twelve major chord by counting semitones.

I personally count distances in semitones, that's just my preference. Instead of saying two semitones, you can of course say one tone. It's up to the individual. Remember to count distances and not notes.

About the Author
Michael David Shaw (Mike to his friends) runs websites http://www.mikesmusicroom.co.uk and http://www.keyboardsheetmusic.co.uk

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What Are The White Piano Keys Called On A Keyboard?

The first thing you need to memorise before playing the piano is the piano notes. What are they called? A standard piano keyboard has 88 keys on it including the black notes. The first notes to learn are the white notes, but how do go about learning the names of all those white notes.

Whatever keyboard you are using, the easiest way to memorize the note names is not to look at the full keyboard but at just one part of the keyboard, because there are only seven white notes names to learn. after you have learned what these notes are called you will know what each white note on a keyboard is called.

So here are the seven white notes you need to learn. C, D, E, F, G, A and B. Certain teachers would preferably introduce these letters alphabetically, that is starting with A rather than C. This is just a preference, I favour starting on C because when you start to play the piano C, is going to be an important reference note and most beginners wont even play A on there first lesson, were as C will be an important first lesson note.

The next thing is to find where the notes are on the piano. To do this we will use what I like to call shapes, that is to find sets of three black notes together and sets of two black notes together. To do this you will need a piano, a keyboard, or a picture of a keyboard. We can now look at the keyboard and find the fist shape. You are looking for two black notes together, think of it a shape, if you look at the whole keyboard, you will see lots of instances of two black notes together. Now pick one instance of two black notes together, it doesn't matter which two, and you will notice they are surrounded by three white notes. The first white note is to the left of the first black note, the next white note is between the two black notes and a white note to the right of the second black note. The first white note, that's the one to the left of the first black note is called C, the second white note, the one in the middle is called D and the final note is called E.

The next shape you are looking for is three black notes together and these notes are surrounded by four white notes. Starting from the left again these notes are called F, G, A and B. That's it; you have learned all the white notes on a keyboard. The two black note and three note shapes are repeated on the whole keyboard and so are the notes. With a little bit of practice you should be able to find any note on the piano. Just remember that every two black note shapes are surrounded by C, D and E, and every three note shape is surrounded by F, G, A and B.

To find out more about Piano Lessons visit Mikes website. You can also see a selection of new and used Electric Pianos and Electronic Keyboards

What Are The White Piano Keys Called On A Keyboard?

The first thing you need to memorise before playing the piano is the piano notes. What are they called? A standard piano keyboard has 88 keys on it including the black notes. The first notes to learn are the white notes, but how do go about learning the names of all those white notes.

Whatever keyboard you are using, the easiest way to memorize the note names is not to look at the full keyboard but at just one part of the keyboard, because there are only seven white notes names to learn. after you have learned what these notes are called you will know what each white note on a keyboard is called.

So here are the seven white notes you need to learn. C, D, E, F, G, A and B. Certain teachers would preferably introduce these letters alphabetically, that is starting with A rather than C. This is just a preference, I favour starting on C because when you start to play the piano C, is going to be an important reference note and most beginners wont even play A on there first lesson, were as C will be an important first lesson note.

The next thing is to find where the notes are on the piano. To do this we will use what I like to call shapes, that is to find sets of three black notes together and sets of two black notes together. To do this you will need a piano, a keyboard, or a picture of a keyboard. We can now look at the keyboard and find the fist shape. You are looking for two black notes together, think of it a shape, if you look at the whole keyboard, you will see lots of instances of two black notes together. Now pick one instance of two black notes together, it doesn't matter which two, and you will notice they are surrounded by three white notes. The first white note is to the left of the first black note, the next white note is between the two black notes and a white note to the right of the second black note. The first white note, that's the one to the left of the first black note is called C, the second white note, the one in the middle is called D and the final note is called E.

The next shape you are looking for is three black notes together and these notes are surrounded by four white notes. Starting from the left again these notes are called F, G, A and B. That's it; you have learned all the white notes on a keyboard. The two black note and three note shapes are repeated on the whole keyboard and so are the notes. With a little bit of practice you should be able to find any note on the piano. Just remember that every two black note shapes are surrounded by C, D and E, and every three note shape is surrounded by F, G, A and B.

To find out more about Piano Lessons visit Mikes website. You can also see a selection of new and used Electric Pianos and Electronic Keyboards

Guitar For Beginners - Easy 4 Chords Songs

Most beginners are tempted to learn to play the guitar because they wanted to play songs that they love the most. However, not all songs are suitable or easy enough for a beginner to tackle and any attempt to play a difficult song at an early stage will only lead to frustration. The best way to go is by first learning songs that are easy in a sense that it doesn't use many chords, doesn't need to use 'Barre' chords and doesn't need to use complex strumming pattern. With that being said, here are some songs that fall's into this category and best of all, they all uses just 4 chords!

Zombie by The Cranberries

This is a perfect song for every beginner. The entire song cycle through the chords E minor, C, G and D. Strumming wise, you can get away just by playing down strum all the way through. It's just one of those songs that are fun to play while you're working on your coordination's.

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight is another great song for beginner. The entire song is made out of the chords G, D, C and E minor, with some variation on the chord sequence. There's no need for 'barre' chords in this song and beginners who haven't yet learn many strumming pattern will still be able to play it quite easily.

Last Kiss by Pearl Jam

Another song that uses a chord sequence that cycle all the way through is 'Last Kiss'. The chord sequence of this song is G, E minor, C and D. the only thing to take care about in this song, is the strumming pattern. Here's a good strumming pattern to use for this song:

( D D U U D U…and repeat ) D=Down strum U=Up strum

Learning to play guitar is the most rewarding experience one could ever had. No doubt, it will take some time before you can achieve some level of competence to play more songs but you can progress faster if you have a strong foundation in the basics.

Speaking of the basic, I would like to suggest a guitar course that I think you might like. It's a guitar course develop by Eric Slone, a renowned guitar teacher who is also an experienced songwriter and performer. His 'Guitar Success System' course has been known to help thousands of aspiring guitar players. Find out more here:

http://www.edguitar.com/guitarsuccesssystem

Yamaha P95 Digital Stage Piano Review

The Yamaha P95 Digital Piano is the replacement for the P85. There are many people who will have had a lot of fun with the P85 and are mostly happy with the sounds and the quality of the keyboard action. For the price it is certainly worth it.

The P95 was launched at NAMM in the USA and isn't yet available in the UK, but retailers should be receiving stock imminently. As always with any new replacement there are varying opinions on whether there is any improvement or not.

There are some people who are quite obviously disappointed that there is no improvement on the action or the piano sounds, but to make advancements on these would require a significant hike up in the price. The P95 will be aimed at the same market i.e. beginners, or players who are not so concerned with the amount of sounds and want to keep it simple - which is why a lot a churches use them. You'll find plenty of people happy with the P85, the action and quality of sounds and the Yamaha P95 digital piano will be upholding this tradition.

Yamaha have replaced two of the onboard sounds with two new ones namely the Jazz Organ and Choir. There are a few people who think Yamaha should have been additional. But hey, you can't please everyone, and if I was playing in a church I would like a choir sound. I'm also sure that the more contemporary churches will appreciate the Jazz Organ.

I haven't tested out the piano sounds yet, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Yamaha have made some improvements there. One feature they have definitely improved is the onboard speakers, which have increased power now. In a live environment you would probably still need to hook up to an amp, which I would recommend doing anyway.

In summary I would say that the P95 will be a great choice for beginners and players who aren't concerned with having a huge choice of sounds, but want a good action, a full size keyboard at a reasonable price. If you aren't convinced, or you don't like the new sounds you could always check for P85's being sold at a discount by retailers.


For more information click here

Yamaha P95 Digital Stage Piano Review

The Yamaha P95 Digital Piano is the replacement for the P85. There are many people who will have had a lot of fun with the P85 and are mostly happy with the sounds and the quality of the keyboard action. For the price it is certainly worth it.

The P95 was launched at NAMM in the USA and isn't yet available in the UK, but retailers should be receiving stock imminently. As always with any new replacement there are varying opinions on whether there is any improvement or not.

There are some people who are quite obviously disappointed that there is no improvement on the action or the piano sounds, but to make advancements on these would require a significant hike up in the price. The P95 will be aimed at the same market i.e. beginners, or players who are not so concerned with the amount of sounds and want to keep it simple - which is why a lot a churches use them. You'll find plenty of people happy with the P85, the action and quality of sounds and the Yamaha P95 digital piano will be upholding this tradition.

Yamaha have replaced two of the onboard sounds with two new ones namely the Jazz Organ and Choir. There are a few people who think Yamaha should have been additional. But hey, you can't please everyone, and if I was playing in a church I would like a choir sound. I'm also sure that the more contemporary churches will appreciate the Jazz Organ.

I haven't tested out the piano sounds yet, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Yamaha have made some improvements there. One feature they have definitely improved is the onboard speakers, which have increased power now. In a live environment you would probably still need to hook up to an amp, which I would recommend doing anyway.

In summary I would say that the P95 will be a great choice for beginners and players who aren't concerned with having a huge choice of sounds, but want a good action, a full size keyboard at a reasonable price. If you aren't convinced, or you don't like the new sounds you could always check for P85's being sold at a discount by retailers.


For more information click here

Blues Guitar Lesson From A Blues Piano Legend

Most people interested in the original blues, either guitar or piano, know the names of the �blues legends�. These are the old guys who invented the stuff. None of them had to learn the blues , they lived the blues! Men like Lightnin� Hopkins, Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy come to mind.

We can imagine how the legend surrounding Robert Johnson grew over the years. There are only two photographs left, both very similar, and his bluesmen friends that survived into the 70s talked freely about his celebrated meeting with satan at the crossroads. I didn�t meet Broonzy, although there are some pieces of film left for us to enjoy, all can be seen on Youtube.

I was called by a man who worked in a band that supported Bill while touring the UK in the late 50s. He told me about about a big man who drank too much, laughed a lot and told colorful stories a lot of the time. His masterful guitar style was impossible to copy, and to this day, almost no-one has managed to duplicate Big Bill�s swinging style.

Some years ago, in 1998, I was living in Indiana and was often thirsty for the sound of old-style blues. Someone told me that there was a blues bar called �Buck�s Working Man�s Pub� in a town about 40 miles away in the town of La Porte. At the end of my working day, I eagerly jumped into the car and headed out.

Given directions by the locals, I drove down main street, turned left at the second corner past the town hall and crossed the railroad tracks to the wrong side of town. This is what I was looking for, I�d get to see the real blues. The bar wasn�t up to much. I got myself a drink and made my way to room at the back, drawn by the sound of a loud Chicago-style blues band.

The place wasn�t empty, and it wasn�t full. This kind of blues wasn�t what I was interested in anyway � I liked the old acoustic blues. The old fellow at my table said that the locals had hired the band as it was the proprietor�s birthday today. He didn�t say much after that.

The band finished the number and the singer addressed the audience. �Happy Birthday, Pinetop", he yelled, and then �Ladies and gentlemen, Pinetop has agreed

to play a couple of numbers for us." The old guy at my table got up and walked up to the stage, sitting down in front of a grand piano. He played a slow boogie which became increasingly syncopated with each passing bar. My mouth dropped open as I realised I�d been sitting next to a real master, an original bluesman.

He played just two songs before he shuffled past me out of the room. He didn�t appear again that night. With hindsight, I thought of all the things I could have asked him, but maybe it�s just as well. It was the guys birthday and he might have been bothered by a stranger�s questions. Legends are just normal guys, you see.

Each passing year, the bluesmen are dissapearing, to be succeeded by newer legends. I also recall driving clear across Indiana and Michigan to listen to a modern blues legend, who will remain nameless, because of his words during our encounter. Thrilled, I said what a great way to live, to follow in the path of the old bluesmen � travelling around playing the blues. �Not a bit of it", he replied �It�s a pain and I�d rather be at home doing something else!"

We need to remind ourselves � legends are also human.

Interview with a modern bluesman.

How to Play the Piano - Basic Piano Learning Techniques for Beginners

Learning to play piano is something that was done in almost every household at one point. In days gone by it showed the gracefulness of a lady and it showed that a gentleman was proficient and profoundly skilled. Nowadays, many don't hold it with the same regard but to me, playing the piano is still the same. Those that know how to play the piano well show me that they have something special and that they have patience as not all can pick it up that quickly. Hopefully if you wish to learn how to play piano these simple tips can speed the process along.

First off, try pressing on the piano keys lightly and gently. The anxiety of trying to hit the correct notes all the time may cause stiffness in your fingers which will only make the task a lot more difficult. Try to relax. It is much easier to press the correct notes with a relaxed hand than a rigid one. Besides, nobody likes the sounds someone makes by clomping their fingers along.

When you first learn to play, try playing a jingle that you are quite familiar with so that it will be easier going along with. Do not jump into anything too complicated at first, especially songs that require the use of both hands to play. This will only lead to frustration and it is the reason why many beginners quit so soon into their training. Also, there is just no sense trying to learn on stuff that you've never heard before because how will you know it sounds wrong if you don't know the original tune?

If you are like me and like playing by ear, that is great! Not everyone can do that but it really helps me start off with a song. Yes, there are the notes in front of me but if I know the basic tune I can sometimes pick it up by ear a lot easier. My fingers just seem to anticipate where the next note is going to be, even if my eyes haven't quite caught up. You don't have to become an expert at playing by ear, but if you practice until you can do it a little bit, it will greatly improve your sight reading capabilities!

When you learn how to play the piano you will, at some point in time or another, have to start keeping rhythm. The trick to doing this well is to choose a small piece of a song, and practicing it over and over again until it is in perfect rhythm, then adding another piece of the song to that. You do this a little bit at a time first, making sure each section is in rhythm. Before long, you will be able to get more and more notes included in the chords, or you will learn which notes are optional. In most cases nobody but you will realize that there is a note missing.

Learning how to play the piano is a way to open yourself up to all genres of music. Many who have gone on to do great things with their music generally started with one of two instruments, the piano and the guitar. In my experience, the piano is easier to learn than the guitar so why not give it a shot?


Ron Grand has over 35 years of piano playing experience. He currently plays piano at a Jazz bar and gives private piano lessons during the day. Visit his website, www.how-to-play-the-piano.info, to get some free piano lessons online.

Piano Lessons In London

A List Of Books For Teaching Piano

1. 'Tunes For Ten Fingers' by Pauline Hall - for absolute beginners (kids and adults)

2. 'More Tunes For Ten Fingers' by Pauline Hall - (only up to and including page 27) for students who have completed 'Tunes For Ten Fingers'

3.
a) 'Theory Made Easy for Little Children Level 1' by Lina Ng - for absolute beginners (kids)
or
b) 'Monkey Puzzles set 1' by Fanny Waterman - for absolute beginners (kids or adults)

4.
a) 'Theory Made Easy for Little Children Level 2' by Lina Ng - for students who have completed 'Theory Made Easy for Little Children Level 1'
or
b) 'Monkey Puzzles set 2' by Fanny Waterman - for students who have completed 'Monkey Puzzles set 1'

5. 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 1' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Tunes For Ten Fingers' and 'More Tunes For Ten Fingers' (up to and including page 27)

6. 'Bastien Piano Basics Theory Level 1' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Tunes For Ten Fingers' and 'More Tunes For Ten Fingers' (up to and including page 27)

7. 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 2' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 1'

8. 'Bastien Piano Basics Theory Level 2' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Theory Level 1'

9. 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 3' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 2'

10. 'Bastien Piano Basics Theory Level 3' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Theory Level 2'

11. 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 4' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 3'

12. 'Bastien Piano Basics Theory Level 4' by James Bastien - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Theory Level 3'

13. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 1' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 4' (although some students might be ready after completing 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 3')

14. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 1' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 4' (although some students might be ready after completing 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 3')

15. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 1' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 4' (although some students might be ready after completing 'Bastien Piano Basics Level 3')

16. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 2' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 1'

17. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 2' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 1'

18. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 2' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 1'

19. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 3' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 2'

20. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 3' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 2'

21. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 3' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 2'

22. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 4' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 3'

23. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 4' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 3'

24. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 4' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 3'

25. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 5' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 4'

26. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 5' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 4'

27. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 5' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 4'

28. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 6' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 5'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

29. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 6' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 5'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

30. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 6' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 5'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

31. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 7' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 6'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

32. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 7' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 6'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

33. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 7' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 6'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

34. 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 8' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010 Grade 7'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

35. 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 8' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Scales & Broken Chords (from 2009) Grade 7'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

36. 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 8' by ABRSM - for students who have completed 'ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests (from 2009) Grade 7'. Prerequisite for entry: Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz subject.

37. 'ABRSM Jazz Piano Pieces Grade 1' by ABRSM - For students who have completed 'Tunes For Ten Fingers' and 'More Tunes For Ten Fingers'. This book is for any student interested in learning one or more of the following genres: Jazz, Blues, Rock, Latin-American. This series goes up to Grade 5.

38. 'ABRSM Jazz Piano Scales Grade 1-5' by ABRSM - For students who have completed 'Tunes For Ten Fingers' and 'More Tunes For Ten Fingers'.

39. 'ABRSM Jazz Piano Aural Tests Grades 1-3' by ABRSM
For students who have completed 'Tunes For Ten Fingers' and 'More Tunes For Ten Fingers'.

Copyright © 2009 David Steinberg All Rights Reserved

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Best Piano Guide for Beginners

Classes that involve piano for noobs would include an intro to reading and understanding the keys, chords and the way to read musical notes. The piano isn't like any other instrument and sounds smashing as standalone music or as a part of a group. The intense sound of a piano is one that captivates audiences with power or soothes them with serenity. Budding musicians always find it exciting to explore the world of piano for beginners. Whether this is their first venture playing the piano or being used as a reminder of forgotten skills, piano for beginners is a terrific way to develop or improve skills.The most popular place to find a piano for beginners class would be a local high school or college university music department. Occasionally, instructors will offer piano tutoring to non-students. Students, on the other hand, will have a variety of choices within the music curriculum. Otherwise, a quick visit to a local specialty music store may provide leads on potential instructors. When learning piano for noobs, it is important to tryouts to choose the best instructor by appraising his / her experience, tutorial background and achievements. The most usually sought instructors will possess some form of music degree or an equivalent quantity of musical experience.A potential instructor should be interviewed referring to their history in music, fee wants, length of classes, policy on missed sessions, etc. If the learner's schedule is particularly hectic, he/she may wish to enlist the help of a private tutor as opposed to a group instructor. Music lessons offered in a group will be scheduled by the instructor and will be less flexible toward each individual learner's schedule. This is not to say that group lessons aren't a superb way to learn piano for beginners because they are. Simply put, private tutors are better for anyone with a hectic or unpredictable schedule.For instance, a personal mentor will have a more flexible schedule and will be prepared to work around that of the learner's daily agenda. Whereas group classes are often held at the same time on a certain night, or nights, each week, a private tutor can be scheduled at any time during the day or evening without having to abide by a preset schedule. Web courses, on the other hand, offer learners with the choice of learning piano for amateurs in the ease of their own home at any point in the night or day. After all, where else could you learn piano in your pajamas?Perhaps that most fun way to learn the piano for beginners is to just start playing. Online music lessons provide a great foundation for the basics of teaching yourself to play. In fact, some of the world's most famous musicians are self-taught, so don't be afraid to go solo to start. Self-taught musicians often develop their own unique style earlier. And, unique style, while having a firm foundation, is what all musicians strive for. After some time, developing your own unique style will get you well on the way to the Grammy awards.

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Online Piano Training for the Beginner

It used to be not too long ago that the only way to receive lessons for playing the piano were through a music studio or private lessons through an instructor or music tutor. That has all changed thanks to the Internet and the processing speed of the home computer.

Piano lessons in general were a fright for most kids growing up. Instead of being outside playing with their friends, they were stuck inside practicing their notes on the piano. Luckily this was only once a week as these private lessons were expensive. After some time, the tutoring stopped as the piano was never really grasped by the student due to disinterest. Now that these kids are grown up, they long to be able to play and wish they had practiced more. Still, private lessons from a qualified instructor are expensive, so where do they turn to when they wish to learn the piano but can't afford private lessons?

An online course is much cheaper than a private lesson. If a private lesson costs 30 or 40 dollars per week, just think about how quickly that adds up. You can take an entire online course in piano for a fraction of the costs that you would acquire taking weeks of private lessons. Also, private lessons are only usually one hour per week. If you have questions during the rest of the week, or if you forget something that your teacher said, you will have to wait for your next lesson to continue your learning. However online piano courses are quite different.

With an online piano course, you can work at your own pace. As long as you have a computer to access the internet, and speakers to listen to the lessons, you can learn as much or as little as you'd like. You can also take as many lessons per week as you'd want, or go back and listen to your last lesson if you have forgotten anything. Most adults who want to learn how to play piano enjoy being able to go back and listen to their previous lessons. It can give you a good idea of what you were doing right, what you were doing wrong, and what you should be doing before the next lesson.

Of course, if you need someone to sit beside you and offer you instant feedback as you are playing, you might not benefit from an online piano course. Most people find, however, especially adult learners, that they are able to tell when they are playing something right and when it is wrong, so they don't really need an actual instructor to sit next to them. The lessons online can be viewed at any time, or as often as you'd like, which means that you can get your own type of feedback from an online piano course. If you have the money for a private instructor, you might not choose to go with internet courses. However, most people will say that they benefit from the online courses.

Trying to find an accredited or worthy online virtual piano course might prove difficult if you don't know what to look for. Call around to companies that sell or service pianos; they are sure to have the information you need. Some also operate the online sites and are more than happy to get you online and more importantly into their stores.

There are lots of piano lessons out there. If you want to find the right one for you, we recommend that you check out online piano lessons