...So the musician would have a place to put his beer.

June 25, 2007 7:36 AM

A lovely free online text on the Fundamentals of Piano Practice. (Tuning, too.)
posted by Wolfdog (18 comments total)

I just started to look at this, but it really looks good. This budding pianist thanks you!
posted by TedW at 7:44 AM on June 25, 2007

Looks terrific. I've just returned to studying the piano, so, for me at least, this is timely. Thanks.
posted by adgnyc at 7:47 AM on June 25, 2007

Ah, 'HS', 'HT', my old lesson notebook friends. How long it has been!
posted by chrismear at 7:48 AM on June 25, 2007

Where was this site 8 years ago, when I was trying to teach myself piano? I've moved on since then. Much to the world's loss, let me tell you.
posted by DU at 7:53 AM on June 25, 2007

Looks fantastic. Thank you, Mr Dog.
posted by chuckdarwin at 7:54 AM on June 25, 2007

hmmm, the part about sweaty fingers seems to take my mind (the following link may be NSFW-) to other places

Youtube is also a great resource for piano lessons & many other types of lessons (dig that soundtrack - obviously played by someone who took many piano lessons!).
posted by janetplanet at 7:55 AM on June 25, 2007

I have a question for the pianists. I mangled the little finger on my right hand a few years ago. I have no mobility in the top knuckle or the second knuckle, and the latter is "frozen"at 90 degrees. The third knuckle is fine.

I used to dabble in playing the piano, but never had any formal training, can't read music etc. Is there any point in me trying to learn how to play, or would it be akin to a one legged man auditioning for the role of Tarzan [YouTube]?
posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 7:58 AM on June 25, 2007

thanks, this has been highly desired by myself for years.
posted by nicolin at 8:13 AM on June 25, 2007

yay! can't wait to use this! thanks!
posted by milestogo at 8:43 AM on June 25, 2007

To The Ultimate Olympian: After seeing Rahsaan Roland Kirk play a couple of saxophones with one hand and one side of his mouth (after his first stroke in 1975) I have to say that anything is possible. Improv/jazz would give you more space to work around your limitations than would classical, I think.
posted by kozad at 9:22 AM on June 25, 2007

When I first read this post I thought it said Fundamentalist Piano Practice. This is much better!
posted by the other side at 9:28 AM on June 25, 2007

Uh-oh, I think we broke it. In the meantime this askme has some piano resources for anyone who is interested.
posted by TedW at 10:06 AM on June 25, 2007

I used to dabble in playing the piano, but never had any formal training, can't read music etc. Is there any point in me trying to learn how to play.

Ultimate - you won't be a great concert pianist, but even without perfect technique, who knows - you might become a genius. (This guitarist had the full use of only 2 fingers - he did all right too. Music belongs to those who enjoy it.
posted by QuietDesperation at 11:14 AM on June 25, 2007

Working link: Chapter 1.
posted by surrendering monkey at 12:11 PM on June 25, 2007

For anyone serious about learning the piano, resources like this are great, but you'll eventually need help with more subtle issues of whole body movement that only a teacher can really give...but the closest you can come if you're self-teaching is this book. The FPP link in combination with that will probably be a lot more valuable than either on their own.
posted by invitapriore at 12:32 PM on June 25, 2007

Music belongs to those who enjoy it.

Is that an original statement, or a quotation?
posted by davejay at 2:17 PM on June 25, 2007

This section has nothing to do with pianos.
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:27 PM on June 26, 2007

Looks like there are some audio clips here.
posted by primer_dimer at 9:26 AM on June 27, 2007