My First Piano

The Two Things That I learned from My First Piano Lesson

2007-07-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had my first piano lesson. I truly enjoyed the two hours. Here are some interesting stuff that I learned:

1. Piano is alive - well, my teacher didn't really say that but I felt that way after having conversations with her. She said that I shouldn't have someone tune my piano yet because it has to get used to the new environment (my home). She told me to wait about 6 month. I'm sure my piano was crying when my dog peed on her leg. I'm sorry.

2. I have to cut my nails really short - apparently my nails were too long for a piano player. My teacher told me to curve my fingers like I'm holding a ball. This was almost impossible to do with my long nails. I now have really short nails.

Happy Birthday to JM & Beast

2007-06-25T18:50:00.001-07:00

I play this song for two of my colleagues who have same birthdays. Happy Birthday, dawg!

Can You Play Super Mario?

2007-06-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

I grow up with this game and I really enjoyed watching this video.

Show Time: Marry Ann

2007-06-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

This song is page 23 of Alfred's Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1. I had hard time with this song because I had to use my left hand most of the time.

Click on the play button to listen to the song.

The Cat Who Plays The Piano Better Than I Do

2007-06-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

Whisperings : Great Solo Piano Internet Radio

2007-06-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

Whisperings is my favorite solo piano radio (although I only know one solo piano radio...) I listen this radio all the time. In fact, I'm listening to it right now. Anyone with Internet connection can listen to it. Here is how:

1. Download iTunes if you don't have one. It is free. Here is the step by step instructions on how to install iTunes from Sales Evolution Blog.

2. Open iTunes and click on "Radio" navigation located on the left.

3. Click on "Classical".

4. Click on "Whisperings".

Now you can enjoy the sound of piano 24/7.

Show Time: Jingle Bells

2007-06-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

This is my first piano recording. My birds sang along too! Click on the play button to listen to "Jingle Bells".

Brother John

2007-05-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

I am at page 19 of Alfred's Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1. Even though I cannot play "Jingle Bells" perfectly, I decided to move on. Even my dogs are tired of listening to "Jingle Bells".

I now can play Brother John with both hands! If you don't know how the song sounds like, you can listen to it here.

Solitude By David Nevue

2007-05-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

I've got a free music sheet online and I've been practicing "Solitude" By David Nevue. Once you get to the site, you can listen to the song by clicking the play button. I think it is a beautiful song.

The song is a bit of stretch for me but I'm so tired of practicing "Jingle Bells" from page 17 of Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One. No offense to "Jingle Bells" but just because I cannot play the piano, it doesn't mean I like to play children songs. This reminds me 10 years ago, when I first came to U.S. I couldn't speak English very well and people spoke to me like they were speaking to a kid. Just because I cannot speak the language, it doesn't mean I have an IQ of a child! Well, 10 years later, I can speak English and I am in a graduate school. Practice, patience, and positive attitude are all important in learning.

Alfred's Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1

2007-05-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

Because I'm the "piano poor" and I don't have much resource right now (time & money), I decided to buy a piano book instead of hiring a piano tutor.

I bought Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One from Amazon.com. This is a perfect book for a beginner like myself. I like how it teaches basic one by one.

However, I made a mistake of buying this book without a CD. For students who are buying this book, you might want to make sure that you get the book & CD. Amazon.com does not have the book & CD option. I ended up ordering the CD at music44.com.

Currently, I'm at page 17 learning how to play "Jingle Bells" (and outside is over 85 Degree). I cannot wait to get the CD in my mailbox so that I can make sure that I'm on track with rhythms.

[UPDATE]

I've finally received the CD from Music44.com. However, it took forever to receive the CD so I cannot recommend the site if you are hurry.

Piano - Self-Directed Learning Project

2007-05-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

The last time I took music classes was in my middle school. I have to admit that I wasn't good at music in general. I'm 29 and I haven't played any instruments since then.

Then something happened. I've got a postcard from a nearby college. It was having piano sales. I couldn't throw the postcard away. I knew I couldn't afford a piano. I just bought a 70's house last year that I'm constantly working on. I have to pay my MBA tuition too. But I couldn't resist the idea of owning a piano. On the day of the piano sales, I ended up buying a grand piano, Kawai GE30. Yes, my friend can always count on me to do something crazy.

Now I have to teach myself how to play the piano. This blog will be used to document my learning process.

Here are the reasons why I've chosen to blog about this topic:

1. I have to do "Learning Contract Project" for my MBA class that I'm taking this summer (taught by Dr. Beitler). I've chosen piano as my learning project.

2. I need to motivate myself.

3. Piano students and teachers somewhere who come across this blog might benefit from this self-directed learning project.

Here is my beautiful piano awkwardly sitting in my old house.