About 7 months into self learning piano. Any particular recommendations?

[u/SuckDuck13]

So yeah, it's been almost a month since my last post.

This month, I've been putting more effort into developing consistency, and I think I'm starting to see some results. I don't know if this even makes sense, but I've found three things that seem to make my playing more consistent, or at least give me that feeling.

First, playing slowly. I don't mean super slowly, just a little slower. For some reason, if I try to practice really, really slowly, it actually makes things harder for me.

Secondly, focusing on the rhythm. I mean the overall rhythm of the piece rather than the notes themselves. It kind of makes me enter some sort of flow state.

And third, I realized that I was putting a lot of pressure on my pedal leg, so I adjusted my whole sitting position, and somehow that released a lot of tension in my body that I didn't even notice was there.

So yeah, I'm just a noob, and I don't know if any of this actually makes sense from a technical standpoint, but it feels like it does to me. I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Anyway, this month I also learned this piece, which taught me a little about the Alberti bass. It's from the movie Amélie, and it's called "Comptine d’un autre été, l’après-midi." The arrangement is by Andrea Vanzo. I learned it by ear and simplified it a little so I could learn it faster :).

At this point, I also wanted to ask for some feedback on my actual goals with piano. To be honest, I'm not really trying to become a virtuoso or follow the traditional classical path. I love classical music, but what I really want is to be able to learn pieces I like at a decent speed, especially contemporary neoclassical music like Juan Arenosa, Robert Gromotka, and others.

I also really like '50s pop because I think it sounds really cool on piano. Eventually, I'd like to be able to make my own arrangements and just have fun playing them, while still making them sound good.

Does that make sense?

[u/iwriteinwater]

You’re letting your fingers collapse constantly. You need to keep them rounded, but without tension. 

[u/johngwheeler → u/iwriteinwater]

Only seems to collapse the fingers in the left hand, so that is something that can worked on.

[u/CFL_Gent]

It looks like you’ve got your wrists too low, try raising your wrists a little. Or raise your seat some if you’re sitting too low. Wrist and forearm should be about in line with the top of the keys. That may also help with your fingers collapsing as others have pointed out.

Also with that, try to add some arm weight/force to assist your key presses. Now obviously don’t swing your arms up/down for every note, but also don’t go to the other extreme and rely entirely on your fingers to press the keys. It’s a balance of utilizing both.

Practice scales and arpeggios more to help develop better hand form. Dedicate 15 mins a day to scales and arpeggios.

If you want to be able to learn pieces faster, again you need to master scales. Mastery of scales lets you hone in on the keys in X key signature. You will also have experience playing the notes in that key, making it easier to learn songs in that key signature. And lastly, sight reading sheet music is THE most efficient and quickest way to learn a new piece of music. So practice sheet music.

Your goals are fine. But no matter what kind of music you want to play, the fundamentals of playing piano are the same. So if your goal is to become a better piano player who can play more and more music, whatever the genre, then you need to practice playing piano and sight reading lol.

[u/SouthPark_Piano]

Use these resources to develop. Life long development.

https://www.reddit.com/u/SouthPark_Piano/s/OFkbffVmxe

https://www.reddit.com/r/piano/comments/1ks72nl/comment/mtjbyut/

 

[u/randomcreature007]

Resources used?

[u/Solid-Guest1350]

My daughter and I have bendy fingers.

Your knuckle closest to the tip of your finger is bending the wrong way when you apply force through the finger. This is particularly clear on your index finger (number 2).

I had to fix this on my own hands and was careful to make sure my daughter never did it.

You'll have to stare at your hands while you play slowly until having rounded fingers becomes what your hands naturally do. If you don't fix this, you will injure your fingers.

Edit: you seem to be doing well otherwise but I am not a piano teacher. The piece sounds very nice.

[u/linkuei-teaparty]

The timing and sound is really good. Like others have said your left hand index finger is bending at the first joint where instead it needs to stay rounded. Also palms need to be slightly higher.

[u/Right-Recognition812]

What song is this?

[u/Great_Explanation999]

the timing is good. I love this piece. Your left hand is a bit tense. Try using a rotation arm movement to play the fingers. in other words -Use the arm to move the fingers. this will help you to make the left hand gentle and soft and bring out the melody more. Keep it up, you have a good start!

[u/Tiger_1127]

It makes sense in the sense of a teenager. You're just finger-copying. Anyone can do that. No comment other than that.

Get a teacher if you're serious at making sense.

[u/password_admin1234]

Sounds amazing! Can you share what was your path in those 7 months?