Andrew Furmanczyk Piano Academy :: Learn How To Play Piano

Christian - Who? No not the religion. The pianist!

Christian — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:56:51 GMT

Hello hello.

My name is Christian, I live in a basement in a very cold country with people who talk weird. But you don't care about that, what you care about is thus:

I started playing around with the piano around november last year, and by that I mean playing around. A girl in my class showed another girl what the notes where, and I picked it up to. I then learned to play the melody for "colors of the wind" from pocahontas. I also evertually started to learn from the tutorials ...

Angela & Thomas song disscussion

Thomandy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:14:05 GMT

Angela wrote:Thomandy wrote:That was many favorites. Im going to check some of them out!

I also hold Moonlight Sonata very high!

But M2 is like just another song. but M1 and M3 Is Awsome!

Yeah it sure IS a lot of favourites! And that isn't even ALL of them!!!! haha! Yeah Moonlight sonata was my first complete sonata I learned. Yeah the third movement is crazy awesome and the second is beautiful too! it's harder than it looks! By the way, were you the one who wanted to learn Turkish ...

What songs are you currently learning?

Admin Andrew — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:04:27 GMT

Hey guys, I was wondering what songs might you guys be learning? Or, what songs would you like to learn in the future.

I'm learning a Beethoven sonata at the moment, once it's finished I'll be making a video of it for youtube! ^_^

How does someone play a song well?

LizaTRENCHCOAT — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:24:06 GMT

Is it if you play it relaxed... or if you do exactly what it says to do on the sheet music?

Minor scales, Just to be sure

karax268 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:47:23 GMT

Allright, I've learned Natural Major scales in the past few days and now I want to learn their minor counterparts. I think i know how they work but I'm not certain.

So just to be sure:

When I play a minor scale I play it in the same key as it's major counterpart right?

So C major's Minor (A minor) is played with all keys natural

and B major's minor, (G#Minor) is played with CDFGA raised

and so on

Is this correct or am I way off?

Key Signature Problem !!

Amro — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:50:29 GMT

Hello Again,

Just wondering what is this Key Signature ??

2 Flats & 1 Sharp ??!

Thanks,

A nice site for leaning how to play famous songs

donidoni1981 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:21:39 GMT

Hi People!

I Just found a website that has a lot of free video and tutorials for piano.

The site is about teaching how to play famous songs. I was learning yesterday how to play Apologyze by Onerepublic using one of their videos.

The sound quality wasn't really good by it was very helpfull.

The link is : www.purelessons.com

Melodyne, amazing music-program!

VictorCS — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:43:25 GMT

Ever wanted to correct a recording if you played 1 not wrong while recording it not as midi? Or just grab a CD of your favorite artist,

and get a sheet at once ( you should be able to convert to midi )?

This program let you open up and show recordings and adjust each key, pitch and time. This was only possible by midi before.

Ever tried those programs who turns a mp3 to midi? That usually dont work at all...

If it's how they tell it is, Melodyne Direct Note Access should be great...

Melodyne ...

How to practice scales

Jussi — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:57:50 GMT

I've got a scale book that has fingerings for all scales in parallel and contrary motion plus parallel motion in thirds and sixths. It also contains major/minor triads, cadences and arpeggios for each key. The question is: should I take one scale or key at a time and learn it really, really well, including all the different versions of that scale plus other stuff, maybe practice a song in that key and then move on to next scale? Or would it be better to get a general idea of all the scales first ...

Position/main faults of different players

Benoit — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:16:56 GMT

Hello,

I would like to know if you could make a lesson about the position like how to ajust a piano bench, what is the correct position of the fingers and so on.

I do not know if it would be possible to show the main faults of people playing piano. You could ask volonteers to play on your piano (or picking some videos on youtube) of pianists showing their main faults.

Regards,

Benoit

Thomas's Performances - !!! - NEW Piece - 14 August! - Page 17 :))

Thomandy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:03:21 GMT

This is me playing a shorter and easyer verson of Scott Joplins: The Entertainer

My first learned song actually after I got my Piano three days ago =)

The tempo in this verson varies a little from the tempo in the original.

Hello from New Zealand.

Admin Andrew — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:59:32 GMT

I recently got an e-mail from this guy in New Zealand, and it just made me want to post it, mainly because of what he said about my attidude towards how I teach theory and music instead of just songs like most people do. I've been tryign to find a great way to explain this to people, but FINALLY someone said it perfectly! So I'll just let him take care of the rest. (and yes I did ask him if it was OK that i posted this, so no worries here!)

The e-mail is as follows:

Hi Andrew,

Hello ...

About the site

BiVOL — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:12:06 GMT

Hello.

First of all I'd like to congratulate you Andrew for this site, it looks really good

Second of all, is anyone else having trouble with mozilla firefox ? i can't click the buttons also I can see the subcategories for "about andrew" and "piano info" and they are flashing like crazy

It works fine with IE though (except i can't see the videos).

Nathan did a great job, keep up the good work guys

Mario vs Japanese music = this! :)

Thomandy — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:25:48 GMT

This must have taken some time to make. And it was awesome, every single little sound fits the music perfect

Enjoy

What is this scale called?

Mraan — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:49:59 GMT

I'm working on a rather modern sonata that contains this rather strange scale; what kind of scale is it?

It goes like this:

D flat, E flat, F flat, G flat, A double flat, B double flat, C flat, C natural, D flat, E flat, E natural, F natural,

G natural, A flat, A natural.

Any idea whatever it's called in proper musical language?

The time signeture of one crochet per bar

Mraan — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:01:48 GMT

How does one interpret the "1-4" time signature? The piece doesn't have bar lines since it's mostly written in crochets and higher note values

M.

Hello there

karax268 — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:38:12 GMT

Hi, I'm Joost and I'm 19 years old, I live in the Netherlands and I'm new to playing piano

Last thursday I've finaly, after months of putting it off, bought a keyboard and am now sorry for those wasted months

Almost the first thing I did after buying the keyboard was looking on youtube for instruction video's. The first one I found was one of andrew. I've watched all 11 of his new video's and I must say they are a great help for me.

I hope I can get to know you all in time and learn ...

Minor scales (three different scales?)

Benoit — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:07:12 GMT

Hello,

I wonder why there are so many differences between the different minor scales. There are:

-The harmonic minor scale

-the melodic minor scales (going up)

-the melodic minor scales going down.

Why are there so many different minor scales?

In a music in the mode "A minor" how does the composer decide if the F and G will be sharp or not as you always go up and down in a music, it is not regular like in a scale. Do the "A minor melodic mode" and "A ...

Introduction

Mraan — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:21:22 GMT

OK. I'm not very god at this, so let's stay to the basics. I'm almost as old as maestro himself( 21 this year). Have been playing piano for 5 years, so this is my sixth. I must say I still lack the fundamentals of practise; such as: Tone colour, touch, timbre, posture( I'm worse than Glenn Gould :-P). In time I wish to learn this. I DO have a real life piano teacher, but she isn't the best you'd get, even she admits that there are thousands like her. She isn't the pushy type either. Just lets ...

Software for writing music notations as well as text

jeanne.supermum — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:25:23 GMT

Hi,

need help. does anyone know if there is a writing software available for writing both music notation (barlines, notes, dynamics) and text ?

want to create some simple revision for biginner theory and music.

So it would work like say Microsoft Word but with music notation in it as well.

I already downloaded Finale notepad but this is more for writing music, not for simple one page revision Qs and As.

Thanks in advance!

My own Goals

Admin Andrew — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:02:07 GMT

I have many goals for myself.

One of them is to be a great teacher I want to impact people in a positive way as much as I possibly can.

I love you

I also want to develop my own skills and become a better pianist and better musician in general! I love to learn so I want to make sure I never stop learning something new everyday

Also another goal of mine is to one day play Chopin's e minor Concerto with a full orchestra! I think that'd be amazing!

I want to have ...

question about key signature (almost ashamed of asking xD)

Rykaerdoe — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:43:31 GMT

Just to be sure, when i play something that is in say, G Major, while on the staff there will only be 1 sharp (the #F3), i still play "all" the Fs sharped (and not only #F3) right? (unless told otherwise by some other sharp before it or smt).

Thanks

Youtube, high quality.... ^_^

VictorCS — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:26:33 GMT

I figured out this yesterday, new videos actually got a high quality version too..... If they are uploaded high...

So I had to watch some of Andrew's new videos, and it's so, I cant describe it, but look at the keys...

It's like the piano is 3D

Anyone else than me discovered the high quality thing? Or is it me being late again?

how to play triads and major chords

Benoit — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:00:10 GMT

hello,

In the second or third lessons, Andrew explains the triads (major chords and reverse major chord in fact). Could you show us the fingering for the triads in all the major scales? I think that practising triads help with the fingering to play chords.

Thank yous,

Benoit

Can I use the sport pen spinning (pen mawashi) to improve my left hands?

Adelbert0923 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:39:25 GMT

I always spin a pen on my left hand thinking that it could improve my left hand movements....but do you think it really helps me?...if your not familiar with the pen mawashi try to search on the internet!!...

Why a grand? Why a digital?

VictorCS — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:07:54 GMT

Lets talk about digital vs "analog" piano here instead, and not in "Whats the best song/music for a beginner to learn"

I dont have a grand, never played a grand, but I've like "touching it" close. I've played several different piano's.

What I really miss on a real piano/grand is the ability to bend strings, most digital piano's got a pitch bender.

Maybe not usefull for the average pianist, or classical, but I couldn't possibly play Canon Rock without ...

Keyboard Pedals ... How Does This Work ??

Amro — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:29:16 GMT

Actually a friend told me that he has a keyboard pedals ...

So how does this work ??

How to efficiently practice octaves

Fryderyk — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:48:34 GMT

I have a question, what would be the best way to practice octaves, since The Hungarian Rhapsody N 6 has a pure octave destruction with the Right hand and i can play the octaves but not very efficiently and not as fast as it should be and it tires my hand to do it

Hanlon: fingering development

Benoit — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:05:24 GMT

Hello,

I would like to know if I should only move the fingers when I play the Hanlon's exercices or if I may press the keys from the arms. Which muscles should I use to press the keys: the fingers muscles and keeping my wrist-elbows-shoulders steady or the arms shoulders and only resisting with my fingers to press the keys?

Trying to learn a new song

calumisdead — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:22:41 GMT

Andrew, I'm trying to learn this new song, but Its been giving me alot of trouble.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBFXJw7n-fU

Its Avril 14th by Aphex Twin. I realise that after awhile some of it does become impossible to play, but that's only about the last 20 seconds. I even downloaded the sheet music, it either complicated or I have not got my head around sheet music yet

I did watch an instructional video on Youtube, but its very hard to follow and the only one up there

Any ...

What does this mean?

Phi — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:22:18 GMT

Hi.

I came across this sign in a piece...

I'd be grateful for any input.

Thanks.

Three Word Story! One(Max 2) post pr person pr page.

strokemymouse — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:02:31 GMT

You have to make up a story, each post has 3 words to follow from the last post.

You can post as many times as you want

What bizzare out come will this make

Ill start:

Once upon a time...

..Hello...everyone!!...

Adelbert0923 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:43:59 GMT

...uHm... I think it's been a week since I last login.....I just like to say hello to everyone....

Maybe I'm going to spend again a week for my studies then login to this forum....

.....(Adm. & Mod)..... Zdravstvuite!!!....Al salaam a�alaykum!!!... Ei Je!!... Selamat pagi!!

How to do scales technically?

Benoit — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:41:05 GMT

Hello,

I have watched the first video by Andrew, explaining how to do scales. I could not understand everything as I am not a native English speaker. Does the wrist have to stay steady? I think I bend it too much on the side. Does it have to stay in the same line as the forearm? If the scales require to move the thumb under the fourth finger, is it possible to do it without moving the wrist?

I think I will have to go to the gym!

Beginner from Brussels Belgium (have a stammer?)

Benoit — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:44:25 GMT

Hello,

I am a beginner in piano. I started music lessons in september 2007 and I like the theory. I have played trumped during one year but it's too hard for me (physically) so I've decided to learn the piano by myself. I think that it is a good instrument to improve my knowledge in music theory (scales, apergio, etc).I have singing lessons.

I am looking for a teacher to check me about once a month (I can't afford more lessons and I think a few lessons is better than nothing at all).

Have ...

Hand injury :(

Kjetil — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:11:35 GMT

I seem to have gotten a hold of a hand injury... I do not think it's piano-related, more work related. It's between the thumb and index-finger on my left hand.. It hurt and is a bit swollen..

Anyways, I just wonder if anyone has any tips on how to make this pass as quicjly as possible ?

Thanks

Kjetil

Sharp note Question !!

Amro — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:32:47 GMT

I just wondering if this sharp for both notes or only for the G ??

Same thing here ??

Thanks,

Explination of this new area.

Admin Andrew — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:56:30 GMT

Hey Guys,

I was sifting through my e-mail the other day, and read this AMAZING e-mail from this guy. Then I found myself thinking...wow! this e-mail really explains the style I want to teach through teaching music and not so many song tutorials. I WISH I could share this with the people at the forum. Then I thought, wait...I coudl just create a new forum to post the e-mails I want to share with you guys! ^_^ So, Ta da! Here we are!

Anyway, so if you're interested in reading some of ...

beginner song to practise

dbz441 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:36:11 GMT

i really need a good beginner song to practice please! im really determined to get better and have watched up to half or more of adrews videos,so far wat ive been doing is practicing scales for about an hour a day and have improved alot...still having trouble reading notes and playing but i was wondering if anyone can reccomend a song for me thats easy yet will improve my skill

What was the last movie you watched?

VictorCS — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:33:02 GMT

I bet musicians like us watch movies sometimes.... Did you go to the cinema/theather or did you relax at home?

I havent been at the cinema since Turtles was running, 5 months or something, I usually watch at home.

I watched The Fly, it was made in 1986, about a scientist and a fly...

Actually one of the better I've seen this year...

Big super duper news

Fryderyk — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:27:41 GMT

Hey guys i dont know if this is the place to post this or something but im so overjoyed that i have to announce it

Next year im going to give my first concert, yep sir, my teacher says that next year i will be completely ready to give a concert

My repertoire for the Concert is:

Hungarian Rhapsody N.6 (Franz Liszt)

Scherzo N.1 (Frederic Chopin)

Capriccio N.1 Opus 76 (Johannes Brahms)

Encore: Chopin Sonata N.3 3rd movement "Marche Funebre"

i want u tp play one song

ruLOo — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:43:00 GMT

i want u to play a song the song is called TONG HUA(fairy tale) i love that song please play it

Why I started playing piano again (seriously) after more than 20 years!

jeanne.supermum — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:58:03 GMT

I bought a piano from a friend whose mother-in-law's daughter had only used for a few years. That was in 2001.The piano had been in the hall for at least 10 years before I bought it! It was Korean made - a Dresden.

At the time I was doing shift work and the piano had been an instant source of relaxation for me.

I used to take my old dusty piano books out to just play thru the pieces I had learnt as a child, but never thought about playing seriously. I used to play a lot of Richard ...

Answer this Test!

kwesifriends — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:51:56 GMT

Hello guys I saw this site and I was shock when I saw the answer just follow the instruction...

http://memoriter.net/flash/test.html

My goals for the piano

Kjetil — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:02:47 GMT

Just thought I'd give a short version of my goals with the piano.

I want to be able to read sheet music well, to be able to read any piece and play it, maybe not play it perfect but atleast be able to read and play it so I can practice it.

I also wan't to be able to hear a song and copy it on the piano in a reasonable amount of time without sheet music and also be able to just sit and play something and write it down.

My current first goal is to be able to play F�r Elise, cause ...

Sheets vs Memory

Thomandy — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:09:17 GMT

I wonder:

What is actually most impressive or if I put it deifferently. What is easyest??

To use sheets while playing or memorizeing the piece and practice it?

There reason I ask Is because sooo many on youtube think that I use sheets when the see some sheets in front of me, and when I say I dont use it, its like they dont belive me. But the truth is that I feel that its WAY harder to use the sheets at the same time as playing. Atm it is impossible for me to do so.

So what ...

Where you at ?

Kjetil — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:15:19 GMT

I might have missed something in the forum but I'm waiting for lesson number 10, but no lesson has yet to appear !

Gone on vacation ? hehe

How Could I Play this Turn ??!

Amro — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:34:55 GMT

So I'm asking about this turn

It will be played : C,D,B,C ??

If yes why there's a turn if the notes are simply visisble ??!

Thanks

Where/how to learn tablature

penguino — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:48:52 GMT

This has probably been posted OVER 9000 times, but what is the easiest way to learn tablature?

I recently took guitar lessons, but failed miserably at the tabs.

The notes without head... Answer.

VictorCS — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:59:47 GMT

Headless notes indicate pure rhythms in contemporary music, either because a previous note or chord is being repeated,

or because (like the cross notehead) the pitch is indefinite or is improvised.

Headless whole-notes (semibreves) are hard to see.

I couldnt find the post, so I made a new topic