how many of you are self taught?

[Kasey]

just wondering. Any opinions on being lessons vs self teaching? I know a lot of guitarists are self taught, but i havent heard of as many pianists that are self taught. I'm asking because i'm not a pianist but i have a piano, and have been messing around with it learning how to play it the past few months and i think i've made pretty adequate progress. Of course I also already knew music theory, and how to play a bunch of other instruments, but yea, what's everyone opinion?

 

[Alexbt]

just wondering. Any opinions on being lessons vs self teaching? I know a lot of guitarists are self taught, but i havent heard of as many pianists that are self taught. I'm asking because i'm not a pianist but i have a piano, and have been messing around with it learning how to play it the past few months and i think i've made pretty adequate progress. Of course I also already knew music theory, and how to play a bunch of other instruments, but yea, what's everyone opinion?

I am self-taught. I can sight read very well, but my technique is what is lacking. I've just started taking classical piano this semester and it's making quite the difference already.

 

[mister_vang]

hmm i think lessons and self taught are both good. ive been playing the piano since i was 4. i learned from people as i grew up and also by exploring on my own. try listening to other ppl and try to play what they play. after you play what they play try to be creative and add some stuff. as for lessons it really helps keep you tuned in to sight reading haha which is something i lack because in high school basically i played so well the teacher just let me pass easier then others. but yea both lessons and self taught can really help a lot in many situations.

 

[Atterion]

Well, mostly self-taught as a pianist as far as technique goes, but I was formerly taught to sight read whilst playing drums and saxophone (ain't touched a sax in about 2 decades). I learn a lot from trying to learn some cover songs, but I try not to put too much energy in learning other peoples music (It wastes time I could be writing my own), so I usually will sit down with an acoustic guitar or my bass, and write riffs with those, and then try to recreate that (or other similar voicings) on the piano.

 

[Dalius]

i can't play piano at all, but i'm going to buy a midi controller anyway and hopefully teach myself...not sure if that's a good or bad idea though, i already have some ghetto electric keyboard but the keys are starting to stick

 

[LfO]

I took lessons for about 12 years, and I think its the only way to learn a lot of technique. If you want to play fast and/or have flexibility in playing style, I think that's the way to go. If you just want basic proficiency, and are already an instrumentalist, you might as well learn on your own.

 

[hoursonend]

I have had keyboard / piano lessons for about 7 years now, but on guitar I am learning on my own. Works great, plus I don't have the money and time for guitar lessons. But it's working out really well. Something that really boosts your skill is experience. When I stepped into the first choir I accompanied on keyboard, there was a huge step up in my playing skills in like 6 weeks. Look at others. Learn from others.
Another example: I knew a guitar player who had this great sound of his own, but I never knew what it was. Until I looked at him playing, closely: I now know the riffs he does, and where he bends notes to make his playing sound that way.

Lessons are very cool too, if you have a good and nice teacher, both musically as well as in person, which is very important too.

YMMV
Stan.

 

[Dogbreath]

Another self taught here. Guitar, keys, drums but had some lessons on sax. I'd been playing guitar for about a year (this was 25 years ago) and set up some lessons but the month before I was supposed to start, I chopped off the middle finger on my left hand.
Really messed with my chord formations...(go figure)
So I blew off the lessons and just poked around until I found what sounded right and called it a chord.
Kinda the same for keys. I just poke around until I find what sounds right.
I still don't know what the names of most of the chords are (not that it matters to me) and all I know on the keys is that the white one between the 2 black ones is a "D".
But...I figure if it sounds good...it is good...

Peace............

 

[punkin]

I teach guitar part time I used to teach piano but I had a better time keeping guitar students...I only carry 6 students...that's my max load as a balance with the other things going on around here. I was also a music performance major back in my first round of college days. But then, I needed a real job after gettin' hitched. N e ways...moving along...

I've had a couple students come to me after having self taught themselves. It seems that they hit the tabs, got some fairly satisfying and quick results but then that the forward progress flattens out. They have a handfull of songs, licks what ever but they really have no idea what they're playing.

I had an older guy who'd done this for years. At our first sit down, he wanted to show me his stuff. I had to admit he had quite a collection of tunes under his belt and he played the quite well. His interest was in writing his own stuff...he had even "written" a song or two but couldn't put it to paper...he had not a clue what any of the notes he was playing was or how they related to each other or the harmonies. It seems people with this approach often miss out on chord structure, progression and other basics which put the progress binders on.

I remember old school piano lessons as a kid...we didn't learn songs...just theory and scales. I have no idea what posessed me to keep with it. There's a balance here somewhere between self satisfaction/gratification and leanring fundamentals and developing art skills.

 

[Alexbt]

I just find that many "piano students" these days are some of both. Taught theory and scaled and forced to memorize songs, and that's all they can do.

I have a friend who is in this boat and I don't know if they can even really sight read, and this is their major instrument.

 

[c7sus]

Self-taught. Guitar, bass, mando, keys, woodworking, mushie cultivation.

Not very good on keys, but you get what you pay for I reckon.

One of these days I wanna get over to the local CC and take a couple theory classes and maybe even some keyboard. Or maybe I'll just stay here and plink around on the Voyager some more.......

 

[pinkerchook]

Learn guitar

just wondering. Any opinions on being lessons vs self teaching? I know a lot of guitarists are self taught, but i havent heard of as many pianists that are self taught. I'm asking because i'm not a pianist but i have a piano, and have been messing around with it learning how to play it the past few months and i think i've made pretty adequate progress. Of course I also already knew music theory, and how to play a bunch of other instruments, but yea, what's everyone opinion?

I would learn the guitar or bass guitar. Its not hard and with a few years of picking, someone will show you your flats sharps minors majors 6 7 9s and dims. Its fun.

 

[noisewreck]

I've studied piano and some harpsichord since I was six, onto college years... 'til I broke my left arm, damaged a nerve and made it pretty much useless for any serious piano work, thus the switch over to electronic music Although what I'd give to be able to play a Rachmaninoff 2nd again!

Well, I've had 6 piano teachers, and have learned things from all of them. I suppose it depends on what level you want to get to. There are things that a good teacher will teach that stay with you forever, be it technique or phrasing ideas, achieving certain tone quality, good posture, staying relaxed even during some technically hellish points. The last two are especially important, if you want to avoid injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome in the long run. There are things that an observer may be in a better position to point out that you might not be aware of, specially when just starting out.

So, in that regard, I feel that having a good teacher is invaluable. However, you're better off being self-taught, rather than take lessons from someone half-assed.

 

[Dalius]

What the best way to teach one's self? A book? If so, any specific books people have good experiances with?

 

[NRS]

Self taught "jack of all instruments" (Guitar, bass, keys, drums) but master of none. (Any non-musician would be none the wiser however).

Full time lessons are obviously great if you can afford them, but if you cant, my best advice would be to take at least one or two lessons early on and then again from time to time (say every 6 months or as needed). Suppliment this by books, software or videos in between if possible. I recommend this mainly because an instructors most valuable function in my opinion is thier ability to identify and correct any bad habits you may be developing before they become permanently engrained in your technique and limit your overall potential. You just cant get that from a book! Once your technique is correct, theres no limit to what other methods you can suppliment your learning with.

 

[VSpaceBoy]

I vote take at least a few lessons. Either now, or after you pound on the keys awhile on your own. I was self taught and did pretty good on my own, and then had one two lessons where the teacher taught me how to hold my hands and fingers and what not. Anything else you can get from a book.

 

[headyrecords]

I learn a lot from trying to learn some cover songs, but I try not to put too much energy in learning other peoples music (It wastes time I could be writing my own), so I usually will sit down with an acoustic guitar or my bass, and write riffs with those, and then try to recreate that (or other similar voicings) on the piano.

Great post. I agree with your view on covers and other peoples music... I hate when ppl judge your talent based on how many of other ppls songs u can play... yes i can play sweet child intro.. but i apologize i didnt take the time to memorize for your enjoyment... the same ppl crumble when you say hey lets just jam something in g major. they enver think for themselves and they never get anything done.. I say a mix of both self taught and lessons is best... self teaching healps you create your own style, train your ear, etc..

 

[shiatzu]

i was classically trained from the age of 5 to the age of 13.. and for the past 11 years i've been learning on my own. I think it's probably the best way to go, i've got solid technical and sight-reading skills from my training but taking time on my own to learn many styles of music has really allowed me to mature as a pianist.

i wouldn't ever recommend self-teaching as a start; you might learn basic piano easily enough but if your technique is imperfect (and it will be), you'll have a *significantly* harder time learning advanced piano.. or if you take lessons later you might end up having to completely relearn your fingering and phrasing.

my 2p
Robert

 

[Sleddog72]

self-taught

I was classically trained as a guitarist and i switched over to a breedlove acoustic/fingerstyle guitar. I have a piano and i've also been messing around with it. I thought years ago that being strict in one discipline was the way to go...but i sure like fooling around, i feel so relieved i don't have to play the rigid classical style anymore. Anyways, I just hop on the piano, learnt chords with me left hand, and i doodle with the right hand with melody. I'm missing lots, but it'll come. !!! hope you have fun!