Piano is hard.

Skropi

As per the title, piano is hard, really really hard. I have no problems playing guitar, the violin, or whatever, wind instruments I never tried, but the piano is the hardest for me.

I played till now in a synth action, and all was well. A week ago I got the p515 and, well, I just cant vary my touch consistently. I am better now than I was at the first day, but still…

Dont get me wrong, all the other instruments have other difficulties, which the piano doesn't have, but as far as dynamics are concerned, it gives me the most trouble.

Aaah, at last a real challenge 😁

Deleted

Skropi As per the title, piano is hard, really really hard. I have no problems playing guitar, the violin, or whatever, wind instruments I never tried, but the piano is the hardest for me.

I played till now in a synth action, and all was well. A week ago I got the p515 and, well, I just cant vary my touch consistently.

Consistently playing piano requires piano technique, just as creating proper tones on the violin requires violin technique. Synths and digital pianos are not that great for learning piano technique, though a folded hammer action is huge improvement.

You are already experienced with performing on other instruments, so you notice your dynamic shortcomings, while most beginners don't even hear them. That's the reason why many people like the keys so much while they usually avoid fretless string instruments. With keys you can type in notes and in the eyes of the layman that's all what making music is about. (Someone on PW once told me, that there is no reason to learn to play guitar, because all you need is to type the notes into a synth with a guitar sample.)

So you got a foretaste of what it takes to master an orchestra of hundreds of strings through a double-escapement action. Once you move to a grand piano, it will just feel like starting over again.

cassidybole

Skropi I hope you can share some of your works in the violin at least.

MHirsch

Skropi I just cant vary my touch consistently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=189Zm69kt10

MHirsch

Skropi but as far as dynamics are concerned, it gives me the most trouble.

For never was a story of more woe than this of the piano and its dynamics.

QuasiUnaFantasia

Life would be too boring without challenges. 😄

Irmin

Having played violin and trombone. Initially piano is easier. After all as long as you hit the right note it sounds more or less ok. Not like a violin where it sounds like a dying cat for the first year or so.

But later on… 10 fingers, different dynamics and rhythm per hand and finger, pedalling, legato, staccato the list goes on and on. The better you become, the more challenging it becomes.

MacMacMac

Irmin Not like a violin where it sounds like a dying cat for the first year or so.

So true!

vagfilm

But on the other hand, it is easier to get satisfactory results… Compare what kids can play after, let's say, one year of dilligent practice? In violin, you want to run away from their practice, in guitar they sound like a kid playing with a toy, and in piano they fill up a room with a booming sound. After 2 years of practice, the difference is even larger.

I played classical guitar (not dilligently) for many years. I could play fairly well the course materials of the first 4 years of guitar school; I can play (not very well) a few Tarrega, Albeniz, and the likes… But even Bach prelude c maj is very difficult to play in a pleasing way.

My daughter is now 4 years old. Next year she will start piano lessons, and will not touch a guitar until she goes camping with friends…

vagfilm

Deleted You are already experienced with performing on other instruments, so you notice your dynamic shortcomings, while most beginners don't even hear them.

So true… This is a world of difference and that is reason why self-taught applies differently to people that are moving from other instruments (although a teacher is always better).

David B

On one had the piano is the easiest instrument to create a pure sound on. Any child can walk up and play a perfect middle C. Try having a child do that with any other instrument. Not easy.

On the other hand how many instruments involve using all 10 fingers independently, both feet independently, and is able to play bass, melody, and harmony all at the same time?

For me there are certain things I'll never be able to accomplish on the piano because I didn't start when I was young. However, what I can accomplish is enjoyable enough for me to keep playing.

God bless,
David

Skropi

David B Exactly that. And this enjoyment is the reason we are all into music, isn't it?

Del Vento

David B On the other hand how many instruments involve using all 10 fingers independently, both feet independently, and is able to play bass, melody, and harmony all at the same time?

My youngest kid used to play the piano and now switched to the clarinet. She said piano is easy. On the clarinet, just to get a note she has to use the breathing muscles very strongly and very accurately. She needs to use the lips and checks and tongue. And all 10 fingers somewhat independently. I like the clarinet (and sax) sound very much and when she started I though, well I'll be at her lessons so I'll learn some too and do her exercises. Forget it, just putting out any sound on the softest (easiest) reed is an exercise in frustration.
I guess reading is easy as I am discussing in the other thread 🤣

My other kid plays both the violin and the piano. She says they are equally difficult.

TomLC

Let me tell you a story my friend Gregg liked to tell about when he tried out for the Air Force band. Now Gregg played trumpet in our high school band, but his main instrument was piano. He had a jazz trio that played in clubs for two years. (I played drums.) After high school he decided playing in a band for six years was better than being drafted. At the tryouts he watched a guy playing lights out on the piano. Gregg told the Sgt. that brought him "Holy Cow! No way can I beat him!" The Sgt. responded: "Oh don't worry about him, he's the trombone player."

Gregg made it and spent those years traveling with the USAF band playing jazz in officers clubs. He later became a music teacher and was proficient in many instruments.

SouthPark

cassidybole 2 years later (or so) since the first post.

The topic of instruments and instrument playing (or pretty much anything) requiring some learning, effort, skills, practice -- is an interesting one. For me, playing piano is about a balance of knowing how to read sheet music, having 'adequate' hand/finger independent skills/control, and working towards being at one at the piano, to convey some music in your own way, in a way that you like and want - which also means working on a bit of music composing and basic self-expression (theory - and some counterpoint - and some accompaniment/backing).

And I'm expecting that in general, some hard yards will need to be involved. And however long it takes - as long as one keeps at it - and keeps learning and developing, then something that is certainly 'challenging' at first will most likely seem to become easier or much easier or even 'second nature' (maybe even 'first nature').

And I think that - when it comes to playing music in the way you want - and you put your own stamp/mark on it, then that sort of thing can be a combination of what you have been taught and something from within your own self. A combination of experience and whatever other factor is inside you.

cassidybole

SouthPark Thank you for that wonderful insight, I do believe that "hard yard" is the key to mastering anything.

pianow

Skropi i think it's because you have experience with plucked and bow instruments

they made your mind in a very specific way and now learning piano is hard for you

it's the exact opposite for me… i've learned piano in the first place and then went to learning the violin and it was difficult as F

but hang in there… it'll be fine very soon

SouthPark

pianow True. I very very clearly the recall the times (stage) when I was just playing melody with my right hand. No problem with that - as I have good relative pitch and fairly good musical memory. But my left hand was just pushing like one note, or sometimes one chord -- sometimes only - and most of the time doing absolutely nothing.

But I didn't actually care at all, as my aim would be to just stick with it, and keep working and learning what to do with the left hand - to liven things up a bit. So from those baby steps times, which I remember so clearly, and compared to now - where I have come a fairly long way, and will absolutely treasure those early days. I actually love the experience and feeling of being totally new (with no experience) at something, and enjoying the journey of getting the experience.

I guess that another thing that helps me is that I'm very self-confident. But that's also because I'm fortunate, and brought up in one of the various fortunate parts of the world, and fortunate surroundings and situations. And as we know - in the news and media - not everyone in the world is so fortunate. And here we have, on some forums, some idiots - superficial/materialistic etc - on missions to continually broadcast nonsense such as 'acoustic piano is superior, and digital pianos are simulations and will always be inferior, and I need vibrations from the keys and and body from acoustic pianos in order to produce the highest quality music, etc'.

SouthPark

pianow i think it's because you have experience with plucked and bow instruments

Another consideration is whether they have a piano teacher that can start them off in the traditional ways, step-by-step. A piano teacher can usually help a heap, which is generally the case for lots of activities - eg. snow skiing, ice skating, tennis, playing other music instruments, and lots of other 'disciplines'. And for sure - things can be hard or challenging. And one person said - they do it not because it's easy, but because it's hard - or something along those lines. And others do it for enjoyment and passion etc. And maybe - some others are forced to do something. But at the same time, in life - there are many examples where people are forced to so something - such as there is no other choice but to do particular sorts of work in order to 'survive' etc. But then there is the other choice of not doing something - regardless of situation - in which case, it's just going to be a case of going down a particular path, to see what happens.

Johnstaf

SouthPark And here we have, on some forums, some idiots - superficial/materialistic etc - on missions to continually broadcast nonsense such as 'acoustic piano is superior, and digital pianos are simulations and will always be inferior, and I need vibrations from the keys and and body from acoustic pianos in order to produce the highest quality music, etc'.

People have different tastes. What has being superficial/materialistic got to do with it?

SouthPark

Johnstaf People have different tastes. What has being superficial/materialistic got to do with it?

It's their 'mission'. That's what is all to do with it.

Johnstaf

SouthPark It's their 'mission'. That's what is all to do with it.

No. Some people don't like digital pianos. You can project all kinds of motives onto them, but some people just don't like your piano. Some people don't like mine. It doesn't matter.