Congrats Marian! Great news.

I was just wondering, does this forum contain any secret piano players that are able to help out a young kid that got a keyboard for Christmas with just basic piano stuff like chords and scales and stuff? :wink:

Sorry, Zoo! Not me, I'm afraid! There must be some musical Zoners, though - we're so talented in most other fields :wink:

How cool that you got keyboards, Zoo. Like Stevie, I'm afraid I'm not musical enough to know how to play. I did try the guitar for awhile, but not much on the keyboards. Fantastic Christmas gift though. Does your school offer any classes? In the U.S., some Cities or Communty organizations or Music Stores offer short term group classes that are not too expensive, but can teach you the basics. Do you have anything like that in your area? I hope someone can help you.

Sounds like a great start. Isn't the internet amazing? Incredible what you can find. Good luck on the playing. And have fun! Maybe someday you can record something you play and post it to share with us.

Wouldn't THAT be super,GG? I so wish that I could have taken lessons when I was little. We always had tenants living at our house, and my parents didn't want to drive any of them bananas---if you get my drift... Anyway, never got around to it after all.......

Zoo, How interesting that you got a keyboard for Christmas, because I got my son a keyboard for our holiday. I bought a couple of beginner books to teach him how to play the piano, because, I know how to play the piano. I have no idea, however, how to teach your on the internet. But from what you say, you seem to have figured out so many of the basics already. Introducing the left hand (with chords or anything else) takes practice. I would suggest picking up a beginning piano book and start working on it. You clearly have the knack. Best wishes, GinaP :cool:

Oh my god GG! My mum used to be like that too, telling us to join the band or no music, she was convinced that because the violin wasn't in the school bands that I'd get bored with it and that is the reason she decided she wasn't going to buy the one we had our eye on for ages when I was 6. She always told me it was because I didn't want to play it anymore, the truth came out! Good thing she changed her mind. And how interesting that you played folk guitar, my friend played that too and got to Grade Four level until she stopped because the teacher was cruel. I had been in choirs too, around three of them before I realised I didn't care for singing. My parents were a little peeved at that one because the last choir they had me in cost a fortune. That is really interesting that you got your son a keyboard as well, Gina! I wish him luck with it, and I will follow your advice and buy a beginner piano book. I'm just wondering, does the smoothness of the pieces come with practise or do I need to adjust how hard I press the keys because right now, my first two hand piece sounds really clunky. I can play the tune but it sounds really clunky and doesn't flow at all, do I just practise at that or do I press lighter on the keys?

No, my small town school doesn't offer orchestra although I really wish it did. Atleast then I could find someone in the area that taught violin without the hefty price tag on the lessons! The thing with my town is, so many instruments are hard to come by in relation to the people who play them. I did a music -*test*-('") and was suited to Oboe or Piano or Violin (something to do with having the ear for melodies) and the only one that was taught at a respectable price was piano because it was a common thing. The music shop jacked up the price of the oboe and violin so much, you'd go to music shops an hour away and they'd be half the price and then the teachers of those two instruments charge a fortune for you to study with them. At the time I did the -*test*-('"), I didn't want to learn piano and the oboe was a tad expensive for my family, upwards of $3000, as the school only had one hire oboe and the Grade Six player took it, that one was out. And violin wasn't played in the band so mum wouldn't let me play it because apparently I'd get bored. So, I get landed with the clarinet which wasn't something I wanted to anyway so I never enjoyed and hate to say it, never tried. It's only after I work 20 hour weeks plus school stuff, that mum has given me freedom with my choice of instrument. I found out a couple of days ago that my sister's partner has played violin since she was like, knee height, and she said she could give me free lessons which I'd love to take her up on only we very rarely see the two of them so it wouldn't exactly work. Anyway, good luck to your daughter and her flute! My friend played flute on and off and she's playing it again, it's one of those instruments that sounds fantastic when it is played properly but at the same time can burst your ear drums when it mucks up; but it sounds like your daughter is having a lot of fun with it and I wish her good luck.

Desire to play does have a lot to do with success. As HilJohn said, lots of practice is important. If you don't like the instrument practice isn't much fun. Sounds like you'll do well with the keyboards. My Mom played piano and organ quite well, but didn't get beyond the simplest songs when teaching us - just too many kids and not enough time.

I played the clarinet when I was a kid. But I'm not muscially inclined so nothing came of it. I LOVE the oboe! But at the recent school concert, the beginning band (6th grade) played sectionals. Since there were only two oboes, they played with the clarinets. One of them (oboe) played so loud and off-key the older kids were dying trying to stifle their laughter! I caught my daughter's eye and mimed that she and her friends need to CUT IT OUT! and they really were trying to behave properly. But this dear child was playing his/her heart out ... it sounded soooooooo bad it was hilarious. I finally looked at the lady sitting next to me. She only spoke Spanish, I only spoke English, so we just looked into each other's eyes then covered our mouths in a feeble attempt not to roll on the floor together busting our spleens. Needless to say, the particular section got the loudest reception from the audience. My daughter's band sounded beautiful! She's in the "honor" band which she made into because of her hard work last year as a beginner. We couldn't afford the private tutor so she followed her teacher's instructions, and she was diligent in her practice. She was awarded "Most Improved" by the band directors at the end of year. I received a call towards the end of the summer from the private tutor who had heard about her hard work and accomplishment and was willing to work with her at a discount. We have since received a small scholarship for her to help with the expense. If she decides to continue, we are going to have to trade her flute in for a better quality one. We are paying monthly for a beginner flute but the step up is about three times more expensive. I'm not sure what options she'll have in high school. She doesn't want to do the marching band, but I don't think the orchestra has wind instruments. I hope they do, we'll have to wait and see. I didn't know this until we visited the music store her tutor recommended, but they now sell sheet music with an accompanying CD so the student can play along with a full band or orchestra. We got the music from the Pirates movies which she loves so much!