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Reading Vs Listening to Learn Piano

I have hacked around on a piano for a few years, mainly learning a few chords and "faking" it a bit but I am at a point where I am stuck and would love to learn more.

Despite protests from traditionally trained pianists and their teachers, I unfortunately do not have the time, patience or inclination to really learn to read music.

Curiously, whenever I have been really moved and inspired by someone playing the piano (most recently by a customer in the piano department at Harrods in London)it seems they RARELY know how to read music but will say things like:

"Oh I just picked it up" (?!?!)

or

"I had a couple of lessons as a kid, but then I just started to PLAY"

With no disrespect to anyone who can sight read Chopin, obviously an amazing skill, that to me seems to be a more technical and analytical exercise.

Musicianship, in my opinion, is ultimately more spiritual and inspirational, than it is technical.

I have had this discussion with one friend who I think can "play" from both parts of his brain, although his intution seems to emerge more on the guitar than the piano.

Despite my protests and references to Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, he basically said I just didnt "get it."

So two questions please:

1) Do any of you have experience, thoughts on the subject of intuition and improvisation vs reading music, especially for piano, and

2) If anyone would encourage me down that spiritual, intuitive path, what jazz, blues, and/or gospel music would you suggest I listen to, in order to just "pick it up" as mentioned above.

Thank you.
cwlondon
fab4fan
41 posts
 
LOL...this reminded me of something that happened to me when I was taking lessons.

Improvising comes very easy to me. Unfortunately, it became a problem when I was trying to learn "the classics."

I was working on "Rhapsody in Blue" and I got to a part that I just couldn't get; partly because it was difficult, and partly because my fingers weren't long enough to do what was written.

So, I just sort of "fudged" my way through the section. My piano teacher didn't say a wrod until I'd finished. Then she said, "That was lovely. Now would you mind trying to play it, this time as it's written?"

My other piano teacher was very big on improvisation. He said that just playing notes on a page is like taking dictation. We'd have lessons where there was no music at all...I'd say, "Hey, I want to learn (song)," and he'd say, "Great!" It was all playing "by ear," I'd guess you could call it.

My suggestion would be for you to try with a particular type of music you enjoy; "pop" tunes would be easiest, I guess. Don't try with things that are really difficult. Do you know all the different chords? Try adding to the chords, like make a 7th a 9th. Fiddle around with the melody. It's a lot of trial and error, at first. Once you get comfortable with it, you'll start to know right away where something will work and where it won't.

I hope this made sense!
tgrisham
1,291 posts
 
I have studied classical piano for 14 years, starting at the tender age of 37 (do the math!). I always wanted to play Jazz, but wanted to learn great technique first. Now I still struggle to find the time for lessons and practice, but without lessons to give you a good foundation (and to make sure you practice!), its hard to be good. Either way you will have to spend at least 30 minutes daily to be able to play. Less than that and most people would not be satisfied with the result. I love playing Classical but wish I had learned more Jazz and improvisation. I am considering switching to a Jazz oriented teacher. I have bought books of Jazz music and I think you can at least get started with some pieces that way. Listening repeatedly to pieces you like and emulating them is one way. Listening to players like Chick Corea and Bruce Hornsby is depressing, because they are so good. Slower pieces that you like are easier to follow. Just a few ideas for you.... I believe that music is the most important part of my life and making it in any way is satisfying, as is listening to reproduced music. I do encourage you to give a good try, at least six months. No matter what happens, you will be better for it. If you would like to discuss it further, drop me a line. Best of luck!
aida_w
308 posts
 
First of all you have to be musically gifted in order to be able picking "something up". Then, still, you need technical skills to put down to a keyboard what you just heard. If you can play a tune after having heard it just once or twice you're definitely in the position to go further.
I would recomend to "invent" own stuff as well, for a start, to find out if you have the skills at all - and, after all, see a teacher. I had good results with adults not being able to read music but trying to "hear-copy" first, then later getting experienced in that "technique". A last thing: I doubt that you get the right chords without any idea of the basics here.
Good luck!
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