Description
Play the piano today with an easy-to-use instruction set!
Piano For Dummies, 3rd Edition is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking fundamental piano instruction. Whether you're brand new to the piano or have been at it awhile, Piano For Dummies will soon have you tickling the ivories like a pro! This book contains all the information you need to start playing today, including clear instruction and supplementary materials. Learn different musical styles, like classical, rock, blues, and country, and how to find the perfect teacher should you decide to expand your instruction.
With the widest tonal range of any instrument, the piano is versatile enough to produce melody and accompaniment at the same time. This standout feature is also what makes mastering the piano such a complex affair. Piano For Dummies, 3rd Edition breaks it down into simple, easy-to-follow instruction, written in the characteristically accessible Dummies style. For the beginner, the book serves as a complete introductory course. For the more advanced player, it becomes a handy reference to keep around for periodic refreshers. Topics include:
- Finding the perfect keyboard, and caring for your piano
- The intricacies of reading music, including notes, rhythm, and change-ups
- Melody, harmony, and the building blocks of sound
- The role of individual technique, and finding your own groove
The book also includes advice on practicing efficiently and improving your performance, as well as tips on how to pursue more advanced experiences. A great piano player is always the life of the party, and in high demand. If you're looking to become one with the "88," Piano For Dummies, 3rd Edition is the resource you want!
Chapter
Starting to Play the Best Way
Being Aware of What You Already Know about Playing the Piano
Chapter 2: Meeting the Keyboard Family
Looking at the Acoustic Ones
Identifying the Electric Ones
The nuts and bolts of electronic sound
Chapter 3: Finding the Perfect Keyboard
To Hum or Not to Hum: Electric or Acoustic (Or Both)?
Picking the Perfect Acoustic Piano
Taking location into account
Getting all the pedals you deserve
Finding good buys (and avoiding scams)
If you’ve heard one, you haven’t heard them all
Looking at some specific piano brands
Selecting a Digital Keyboard That Lasts
Digital pianos and organs
Knowing the digital features you want
Browsing some specific keyboard brands
Before You Drive It Off the Lot: Sealing the Deal at the Store
Refusing to pay the sticker price
The MIDI Places You Can Go
Chapter 4: Taking Good Care of Your Keyboard
Providing a Good Place to Live
Making It Shine: Cleaning Your Keyboard
Calling In a Pro for General Checkups and Serious Repairs
Tuning acoustic keyboards
Keeping digital keyboards happy
Dealing with serious keyboard problems
Taking the Worry Out of Moving Your Acoustic Piano
Chapter 5: Eighty-Eight Keys, Three Pedals, Ten Fingers, and Two Feet
Finding the Keys, Easy Peasy
Discovering What Your Parents Never Told You about Posture
To sit or not to sit: That’s the real question
Sitting down: Chairs versus benches
Paying Attention to Hand Positioning
Arch those hands and fingers
Giving your hands and fingers a rest
Pedal Power: Getting Your Feet in on the Action
Part II: Deciphering Squiggles on Paper to Create Sound
Chapter 6: Reading Lines and Spaces
Your Guide to a Piano Score
Employing a staff of five lines
Double Your Staff, Double Your Fun
Grand staff and ledger lines
Climbing up the staff and beyond
An octave above, an octave below
Punctuating Music: Bar Lines
Continuing to Read: Don’t Stop
Chapter 7: Joining the Rhythm Nation
Eyeing Tempo: The Beat Goes On
Measuring the beat using tempo
Grouping beats in measures
Serving Some Musical Pie: Basic Note Values
Quarter notes: One piece at a time
Whole notes: The whole pie
Faster Rhythms, Same Tempo
Listening for the Sound of Silence: Rests
Counting Out Common Time Signatures
Playing Songs in Familiar Time Signatures
Chapter 8: Changing the Beaten Path
Getting a Jump on the Start: Pickup Beats and Measures
Adding Time to Your Notes with Ties and Dots
Extending notes using dots
Playing Songs with Challenging Rhythms
Part III: One Hand at a Time
Chapter 9: Playing a Melody
Let Your Fingers Do the Walking
Getting into the Right Position
Shifting your hand position as you play
Crossing Your Fingers and Hoping It Works
Playing Melodies in the Right Hand
Chapter 10: Scaling to New Heights
Building a Scale, Step by Step
Stepping Up to the Majors
Understanding major scales
Trying a major scale exercise
Exploring Minor Variations
Trying minor scale exercises
Showing Your Rebellious Side with Blues Scales
Playing Songs Made of Scales
Chapter 11: Hey, Don’t Forget Lefty!
Exploring the Keyboard’s West Side
Getting used to the new neighborhood
Tackling Some Left-Hand Melodies
Practicing Some South-Paw Scales
A, E, and D natural minor
A harmonic and melodic minor
Trying Accompaniment Patterns
Adding the Left Hand to the Right Hand
Sharing the melody in both hands
Melody plus three-note accompaniment pattern
Playing Songs with Both Hands
Part IV: Living in Perfect Harmony
Chapter 12: The Building Blocks of Harmony
Measuring Melodic Intervals
Combining Notes for Harmonic Intervals
Playing two notes together
Adding intervals to the melody
Harmonizing with the left hand
Playing Songs with More Harmony
Chapter 13: Understanding Keys
Leaving and returning to the “home” key
Playing Songs with Key Signatures
Chapter 14: Filling Out Your Sound with Chords
Tapping into the Power of Chords
Dissecting the Anatomy of a Triad
Starting Out with Major Chords
Branching Out with Minor Chords
Exploring Other Types of Chords
Tweaking the fifth: Augmented and diminished chords
Waiting for resolution: Suspended chords
Playing with Chord Inversions
Putting inversions to work
Flipping the notes fantastic
Playing Songs with Chords
Part V: Technique Counts for Everything
Chapter 15: Dressing Up Your Music
Starting with basic volume changes
Making gradual shifts in volume
Articulating the Positive
Interpreting articulation symbols
The power of articulation
Putting the Pedal to the Metal
Getting the hard facts on soft-pedaling
Dazzling Your Audience: Gliss
Chapter 16: Great Grooves
Great Left-Hand Accompaniment Patterns
Applying Great Intros and Finales
Playing Songs with Left-Hand Grooves
Chapter 17: Perusing the Aisle of Style
Taking Aim at Classical Music
You’re a Little Bit Country
Playing Songs in Favorite Styles
Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Improve Your Practice and Performance
Be Comfortable at All Times
Shut Off the Distractions
Make a Schedule and a List
Rehearse Your Dress Rehearsals
Know Your Performance Piano
Preempt Post-Performance Syndrome
Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Supplement This Book
Working through Method Books
Arrangements and transcriptions
Where to buy printed music
Exchanging music with friends
Exploring Piano Sites on the Web
Enjoying Pianos on the Big Screen
Realizing You’re Not Alone
Chapter 20: Ten Questions to Ask Prospective Teachers
Whom Else Have You Taught?
How Long Have You Been Teaching and Playing?
How Much Do You Expect Me to Practice?
Would You Mind Playing Something for Me?
What Repertoire Do You Teach?
How Do You Feel about Wrong Notes, Mistakes, and Slow Learners?
What Methods Do You Use to Teach Piano?
Where Will the Lessons Take Place?
Do You Have Student Recitals?
Appendix: About the Website: Audio Tracks and Video Clips
Wiley End User License Agreement
Piano For Dummies
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