Hi All!

 

How's everybody doing?

 

Please, in the comments below this post, let us know what you're working on and how the playing is coming along!

This week, I'll be handing you a very handy, time-saving and fun tip for learning even better and faster: Training piano, without a piano. Wha?!

What are the reasons this is such a good idea, how does it work and how can you start using this method to learn Pop-Piano? Read on and find out.

 

 

Travel practice, re-using time.

 

This concept involves a three-part method. I'll explain them point by point (how do they work) and indicate each of their benefits (why is it a good idea, what will you gain). This week I'm starting with the first one and continuing with number two and three in the coming weeks.

 

 

Method A. Listening for profit.

 

Where does it work: train, bus, subway, tram, airplane or any other form of public transport and while walking.

Also: car, bicycle BUT to be used with care, since it requires a bit of concentration that should of course ALWAYS stay on the road too. Safety first.

 

Benefits: Remembering / learning songs and musical phrases without actually playing / rehearsing, musical focus, -understanding and concentration enhances, inspiration (more here).

 

Also acts as the very important first step in the learning curve: listen, imitate, understand, practice, master. More on this here.

 

Possible scenario:

 

Picture yourself using one of the above mentioned forms of transport. iPod (or your form of portable music player) in your pocket, headphones treating you on your favourite record of the moment. And what a great record it is!

You might not like -or even hate- traveling, but the pain is significantly reduced by the sweet sounds of music, right?

 

Suddenly, a great idea: "How awesome would it be if I could play this on the piano?".

 

Well, I'll tell you what. When you know your Pop-Piano basics, by LISTENING to the song, you're taking decent steps towards actually learning it.

 

Ever noticed the 'strange' fact that when you hear a song a couple of times, suddenly you become able to sing or whistle it, without ever actually 'studying'?

 

Could we 'transfer' this phenomenon of 'effortless' learning to our hands on the piano, actually learning how to play a song by listening to it? Well, yes m'am.

 

The only thing you might just need to do, is slightly adapt your 'way of listening'. Let me tell you how.

 

 

Steps 1 to 3 (preparatory):

 

Step 1: Find the chord-progression of the song (this can be done in many different ways, for example: google, youtube, look if it's here on Piano Couture, post to the forum, or email me).

Step 2. (optional / beginner note): Make sure you know how to play each chord (of which notes it consists).

Step 3.: Either try to remember (highly preferred) or write down / print the chord progression.

 

Goal of preparatory steps 1-3: Know the chords and their order (the progression) of the song you want to learn.

 

 

Listen to learn.

 

This can either be done with a totally new song, a song that you just started learning or a song that you already play but want to improve or learn by heart.

 

Whatever your level in this particular song is: make sure that before you go any further, you know the chord progression by heart (or have a printed / written 'cheat sheet', which is option 2, where option 1 is HIGHLY preferred).

 

Now listen to the song again, but in stead of your 'normal' way of listening, where you'd just let the 'cloud' of sound flow all over you without paying any significant attention to any of the different parts, you're now going to try and listen HOW THE SONG IS PLAYED. The first step in doing this is to listen WHEN THE HARMONY CHANGES. i.e. when a chord changes into the next.

How to do this?

 

Try to focus on the INSTRUMENTS in stead of the (vocal) melody. Do you HEAR when the 'carpet' of harmony changes (depending on the song and production: this could be a single piano/guitar or a wide array of instruments, together forming the total harmony, read more here)?

 

GOLDEN Tip: Try and listen to the bass, for as I told you before, it defines the harmony.

 

The harmony change is where the CHORD changes into the next, so the first change in harmony is where you'd go to chord number 2. If you're not comfortable hearing this, do, or repeat step 4:

 

Step 4. (optional): Play the song on your stereo or any form of speakers at home or where your piano is, and try to PLAY ALONG to find out which chord is played where (more on this here).  When you think you hear the harmony changing to the next chord, try by playing the next chord along with the change. Does it SOUND good? Great. That's where that chord comes.

 

As your hearing advances (which it will by doing this exercise), you'll notice getting better at hearing where the harmony changes into what, without playing along.

Although you might not exactly hear which chord it changes to, hadn't you known this, now that you DO KNOW which chord comes (you already found that out with preparatory steps 1 - 3/4) your mind will start 'linking' your knowledge to your hearing.

 

Because normally, you would only listen to the melody-part of the song, the result would be: you being able to reproduce the melody (by singing or whistling).

However, when you follow the instructions above and change your way of listening to listening to the 'carpet' of harmony, now that you know what is actually happening there, you'll be 'learning' that part: remembering, getting the feel, you'll start hearing and noticing small instrumental phrases being played that can be used in your piano part (inspiration), learning the rhythms and patterns and how and when to play each chord.

 

In a later stage, you can even become skilled enough to find out the chords to a song yourself, by ear (skipping preparatory steps 1-4).

 

Combine this technique with Method B, which I'll get into next week, and you'll be well on your way in turning your traveling time, into highly effective learning-time. Efficient, eh?

 

Try it out on this weeks tutorial!

Locked out of heaven - Bruno Mars.

 

This guy is surprising me more and more. Great track. Hadn't seen one of this caliber coming from him. No offence. 🙂

 

Have fun!

 

 

See ya next week!

 

Cheers, Coen.

 

Questions? Remarks? Show me how you play this song! Please leave a comment below!
I'm also very curious which tutorial you'd like to see next!

Begrijp je niet wat hier gebeurt en wil je dat wel graag?
Leer zelf spelen, -alles wat er gebeurt op deze community en de piano echt begrijpen met Piano Couture's Basiscursus Pop Piano.