Learn to play keyboard
The first thing when you learn to play keyboard is to realize is that Keyboard and Piano are two different instruments, even though the actual keyboard is the same on both of them! This page has advice for both beginners who want to learn to play keyboard and pianists who can already read music but want to know how to play keyboard in addition to the piano. Please also browse the rest of the site, whether you are a current or future keyboard player as it has some excellent advice on how to make your keyboard practice more effective!
Beginners
If you are a complete beginner then I recommend the Stephen Parry Learn to Play Keyboards course. This is one of the best online keyboard lessons courses I have seen and takes you through a series of progressive stages using downloadable, printed and audio material. Listening to a demo of a piece before learning it helps you learn quicker and more effectively. I always recommend listening to performances of pieces to my students. In fact, listening exercises make up an important part of their music practice each week.
The course is enjoyable and students begin to achieve playing various tunes early on in the course, which helps encourage progress. If you have always wanted to learn how to play keyboard but have never had the time, make time now! The course is downloadable, so you could be getting started very soon! Good luck!
Pianists
If you are a pianist who wants to learn how to play keyboard then the Keyboard Crash Course is designed especially for you! You don't have to wade through lots of stuff you know already at the start of the book such as how to read music. The Keyboard Crash Course book teaches you how to read lead sheets (melody and chords) and work out accompaniments and backings based on the chords. It also teaches you how to work out keys, voicing chords and the role of the keyboardist within a group, plus some information on the different patches (sounds) on the keyboard, which ones to use where, and (more importantly) which ones to avoid!
As a pianist and keyboard player myself, I know how important it is to be aware of the difference between these two instruments. As somebody once said to me "If somebody asks you to play golf, you don't turn up with a tennis raquet!" As a pianist/keyboard play the philosophy is the same… when asked to play keyboards, don't play piano on the keyboard!
Have you used an online music course or a piece of music learning software?
How was your experience? What were the good (and bad) points about the course? Is it a course that isn't mentioned on the site already that others might want to check out? Share your experience with other users by writing a review...
Expert Practice Secrets
Frustrated with your practice? Read Practice Makes Perfect and hack the 10,000 hour rule. Cut your practice time by up to 25%! Make faster progress, learn pieces and scales faster, memorize more easily, and much more. "If you play an instrument you need this book!"
Recent Articles
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How To Speed Up Scales and Improve Accuracy
Oct 13, 24 04:23 AM
How to speed up scales is something many people want to know, but speed should also come with accuracy. Read on to find out how to do both. -
From an opera singer, on her death bed to Leonard Bernstein
Jan 29, 24 03:36 PM
I enjoy reading the music more than hearing it. From an opera singer, on her death bed to Leonard Bernstein -
unknown
Jan 29, 24 02:52 PM
Not happy with your tone? Practice more.