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The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

freepianomethod.com

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Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#101

Post by moron4hire »

gjulianm wrote: post #39
sandGorgon wrote: post #18

I just started learning piano in the COVID lockdown. The best and cheapest way to learn is use an app: Simply Piano(android+ios), Piano Marvel(ios), etc and connect it to an el cheapo midi keyboard. this allows you to spend the next 6 months learning without anyone getting disturbed..while the app gives you realtime feedback about which keys you are pressing. you wont miss the lack of a teacher...especially during th…

Sorry but I have to disagree a lot. An app is not the best way to learn piano. Piano is not just about pressing keys. Does the app correct your position (important if you don't want to get fatigue and cramps), your volume, fingerings, etc? Does it tell you how to practice the parts where you're struggling? > connect it to an el cheapo midi keyboard Please don't do that. I mean, if you just want to give it a try to pi…

Uuuugh, classicists are so boring. Not everything has to be classical piano. Thelonius Monk didn't have anyone correcting his finger position.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#102

Post by _jal »

XCSme wrote: post #98
_jal wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To digress a bit, I hate this way of thinking. You're emphasizing boosterism over honesty. If "we" "want" something to be more popular, we should encourage shallow engagement with it, not correct poeples' bad habits, and just shout, "yay! More people in my thing!" Bullshit boosterism chases me off, and I know it chases others off, too. It tells me you have an agenda that treats me instrumentally, which is an excellen…

So if someone wants to play table-tennis I should constantly remind them of the how they should get a $100 custom bat before they can do anything, use the correct technique by using their body and legs and sweating a lot instead of just letting them have fun? I am always happy when someone joins the club, even if they are good or not, it's their decision how much time, money and effort they want to invest in correcti…

There's a difference between being honest and clear and being a jerk.

Most humans are not so bad at figuring that out.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#103

Post by jsilence »

gjulianm wrote: post #39
sandGorgon wrote: post #18

I just started learning piano in the COVID lockdown. The best and cheapest way to learn is use an app: Simply Piano(android+ios), Piano Marvel(ios), etc and connect it to an el cheapo midi keyboard. this allows you to spend the next 6 months learning without anyone getting disturbed..while the app gives you realtime feedback about which keys you are pressing. you wont miss the lack of a teacher...especially during th…

Sorry but I have to disagree a lot. An app is not the best way to learn piano. Piano is not just about pressing keys. Does the app correct your position (important if you don't want to get fatigue and cramps), your volume, fingerings, etc? Does it tell you how to practice the parts where you're struggling? > connect it to an el cheapo midi keyboard Please don't do that. I mean, if you just want to give it a try to pi…

Mostly agreed, but the CP2077 Soundtrack is hard to beat.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#104

Post by alisonkisk »

gjulianm wrote: post #61
mike_h wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This advice is debatable anymore. If your goal is to really go deep on acoustic, traditional piano then sure. But if you just want to make music in a modern way (on the computer), or even just want to try it out for a year or two before deciding this is a lifetime hobby to invest thousands of dollars and hours into, then cheap midi keyboard plus app is more than fine. Especially if the app makes it fun for you.

> even just want to try it out for a year or two If you're already thinking about trying it for a year or two, you're serious enough that a teacher will be far more helpful than an app, and a cheap, small, non-weighted midi keyboard will limit you a lot. > But if you just want to make music in a modern way (on the computer) Acoustic or digital, music is more than a series of button presses. All the things I mentioned…

$100 vs $1000+ is a big deal.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#105

Post by lake_vincent »

komali2 wrote: post #60
c03 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I must agree. op comment is the worst advice i have seen on HN on any subject, it reads like an impatient child wishing to avoid to study just to be able to perform. But then again, it comes down to what you want to achieve. If you just want to mind numbingly press buttons, knock yourself out.

I liked the advice because I always wanted to learn piano but every time I approached stage 1, people were saying similar things. "Oh, just to get STARTED, you're going to need an 88 key weighted keyboard, that'll cost you 600$ and take up an entire wall of your studio. Ok now spend 100$ on books, and now you have everything you need to spend 200$ a month and an hour every week on a teacher. And you better practice f…

Gatekeeping????? That's the most absurd use of that word I've ever seen. It's a hobby. Hobbies cost money. People don't have the god-given right to play piano, just like they don't have the god-given right to fly a plane. Pianos cost money. Pianists need money to make a living. It's not gatekeeping, it's just the plain economics of a highly complex musical instrument.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#106

Post by XCSme »

skeeter2020 wrote: post #70
komali2 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand why you're frustrated to hear someone I suppose cheapen something you're really passionate about, but what is more valuable to you: less people learning piano because the barrier to entry is thousands of dollars of equipment, lessons, and books, not to mention time and space, but when they play they have good velocity management, or, tons more people enjoying the instrument, but not really playing it as…

The former. We don't need more boosters of things done casually, for fun and a short time; we have knitting, duolingo and sourdough bread for that. I want to promote and help people pursue big things that take time and tremendous effort but have huge pay-off. I focus on a handful of people over my life and others can work at the top of the funnel.

The thing with doing one thing and well is that you are missing on all the other cool things in life. What if you chose the wrong thing? Why is being in the top 99th percentile so much better than being in the 90th percentile? Is it worth the extra 10 years spent working on that if you are still not in the 99.99th percentile? I don't think you should focus on the pay-off or the "OMG, I got so good at this!" part, you should just enjoy the journey and learning process. If you are ok with learning very slowly but always progressing it might be better than spending a tremendous effort in a short time just to quickly reach your ceiling and than hate the thing that you do.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#107

Post by squeaky-clean »

gjulianm wrote: post #50
dec0dedab0de wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the same kind of logic that leads to whiteboard algorithm questions. Music theory and musicianship are not the same thing. There are many many great musicians who only enough to make the sounds they want to make. Sure they might be better if they took the time to learn, but not necessarily.

> Music theory and musicianship are not the same thing. No, but it helps a lot to know a language that helps you write down and learn musical concepts. > There are many many great musicians who only enough to make the sounds they want to make. Are there great musicians who don't know what a scale, a chord progression or a key is?

While I agree with your overall point, and these people are definitely the exception to the rule, yes actually.

Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Flea from Red Hot Chili Pepers, Omar-Rodriguez Lopez of The Mars Volta / At The Drive-In / Antemasque

https://twitter.com/davemustaine/status/942528968779096065?l...

https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/flea-returns-to-scho...

https://web.archive.org/web/20080601005441/http://www.signon...

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#108

Post by jhawk28 »

dade_ wrote: post #100
sandGorgon wrote: post #18

I just started learning piano in the COVID lockdown. The best and cheapest way to learn is use an app: Simply Piano(android+ios), Piano Marvel(ios), etc and connect it to an el cheapo midi keyboard. this allows you to spend the next 6 months learning without anyone getting disturbed..while the app gives you realtime feedback about which keys you are pressing. you wont miss the lack of a teacher...especially during th…

People can disagree with you all they want about the app. I figured out how to play with both hands at the same time with Simply Piano. To me, that is magical. Also, it's fun. I am using a M-Audio keyboard, which senses speed and was good to get started, and now I feel proficient enough that I want to buy a digital piano. Looking at Kawai, but can't visit a music store showroom because of COVID lockdown. Maybe in tim…

The Roland FP-30 has the best piano feel at the low end. The Kawai MP11SE is considered to be the best at any price range.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#109

Post by alisonkisk »

skeeter2020 wrote: post #70
komali2 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand why you're frustrated to hear someone I suppose cheapen something you're really passionate about, but what is more valuable to you: less people learning piano because the barrier to entry is thousands of dollars of equipment, lessons, and books, not to mention time and space, but when they play they have good velocity management, or, tons more people enjoying the instrument, but not really playing it as…

The former. We don't need more boosters of things done casually, for fun and a short time; we have knitting, duolingo and sourdough bread for that. I want to promote and help people pursue big things that take time and tremendous effort but have huge pay-off. I focus on a handful of people over my life and others can work at the top of the funnel.

Why is mediocre bread OK but mediocre piano isn't?

Why is people putting a little effort into making something aesthetic and fun such a crime?

Serious piano has no payoff unless you're better than all the professional recordings we already have.

Re: The Mayron Cole Piano Method is now free

#110

Post by gregsadetsky »

modulo42 wrote: post #77

Started learning clarinet in my 30. The internet was full of advice against learning clarinet without a teacher. So I took lessons. It surely helped but it did not feel like a great accelerator. Most gain came from practising almost every day for about three years. After the birth of my daughter I stopped taking lessons because I did no longer have the time to practice and to drive to the teacher's home once a week.…

I started learning the saxophone at about the same age than you. I agree that daily practice changes everything in terms of progress — one trick (suggested by my teacher) is to always have the instrument out of its box/carrying bag and ready to play. You will tend to pick it up (even randomly during the day) much more.

As for teaching, I found an amazingly kind, patient and talented sax teacher before the pandemic and went to her studio once a week. We’ve since transitioned to online teaching and although there are of course things that you need to adapt to (switching from facetime to skype to another device mid class because it’s echo cancelling the song you’re trying to play over), it’s really great.

Her academic / professionaly trained ear picks up all of the problems I’m not aware of. And her guidance and praise keeps me motivated. She comes up with new exercises knowing what will interest me (I’m learning almost exclusively by ear), suggests great new songs, etc.

I highly recommend reaching out to your teacher and asking if lessons are offered online.

And anyone looking for an amazing sax teacher, contact me. (No affiliation ha. Just lots of praise for this amazing person)

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