[MusicTlk] Beginner Piano - seeking lead sheet for Christmas Carols

[Mike Jolls]

Hi Robert   …. LTNS from Mike Jolls



So, you’re venturing into the piano world?  Kudos to you.  There’s certainly a lot to know and learn with respect to the piano, and anybody who takes on the beast should be congratulated.



To answer your question, I don’t have any sources where you can find music.  But when I saw your name, I thought I’d take the opportunity to connect and see how you’re doing.



Concerning You-Tube videos, I have to totally agree that these videos, while they can be helpful, DO NOT give all the details on playing piano.  There are so many facets of the instrument that you would be served better by taking private instruction, rather than trying to learn by YouTube.  With Skype today, you MIGHT be able to do remote learning, but even with that, there’s no substitute for having a teacher sitting next to you to show you what is correct.  Plus, having seen many videos, the quality of what you get on the videos vary.  You’re better off finding a good private instructor, especially when you have questions.  If there’s a specific technique I’m working on, I might look at a YouTube video, but even then, I save it for the lesson and then ask my teacher.



In case you’re wondering, I’m taking piano.  I already knew how to play the guitar, but piano is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and couldn’t do it while I was working (my practice sessions at home are usually 2 ½ to 3 hours long each day, and there’s no way I could have taken that time given the workload I had with my job).  I have found a wonderful teacher here in St. louis who teaches blind students.  He’s helping me learn to play by feel, something which is amazing.  I have simply struck gold in finding him.  I’ve been taking lessons for about 2 ½ years, and with him for 6 months.  I’ve learned Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag and Chopin’s Nocturne #9 in E flat major.  These were very challenging to say the least.  It took me probably 4 months of hard, dedicated work to for each one.  My teacher was very encouraging and together we tamed these beasts.  As I say, he’s worth his weight in gold and I’m hanging on to him.



Now that I’ve been playing with my piano, I see that it is not the best instrument.  Don’t know if I’ll be able to do this, but I want to buy a baby grand.  That’s going to require saving some money, to the tune of $10K - $20K.  Not a cheap proposition to be sure.  That’s the problem when you have a good ear.  You want a good instrument.



Well, that’s what has been going on with me, musically speaking.  If you’d like to relate some more of your musical endeavors, I’m all ears.



So how is the chapter doing?  Are you still in the NFB?  As active as you were, I have to think you are.  You haven’t run for President again, have you?  I’m going to guess Bridgit is still President.  That’s a job not a lot of people wanted to take on.  If you’d like to share what the chapter is doing, I’d like to hear about that too.



Well, I’m running out of things to say.  Time to go finish my practicing.  I’m currently working on Scott Joplin’s Entertainer, and Claude Debussy’s Claire De Lune.  Both of these (once again) are not insignificant tasks.  I’m generally not one to be satisfied with easy things (don’t know if that’s good or bad, but that’s just me).



Drop me a line and let me know how things are going in Omaha.



Mike Jolls





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________________________________
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Robert Leslie Newman via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 12:52:24 PM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians'
Cc: Robert Leslie Newman
Subject: [MusicTlk] Beginner Piano - seeking lead sheet for Christmas Carols

Hi You All

I took three one hour courses on learning to play piano while in the first
couple of years of college; back in 170-71. I learned the keyboard, in
respects to all the scales, cording, and did  learn braille music, too (not
touched it since). I did learn to play three short classical pieces (Not
going to spell these correctly but: FeeAirDelese, a Bock praylood, and a
Motsark fewegg.)

At present, I've gotten my keyboarding to be pretty comfortable and
accurate. And so want to get my hands on some lead sheets (cords and simple
melody's) for Christmas carols, and... well, other songs. How and where can
I find these?

Yes, I do some work with "learn to play piano" You-Tube videos. But too many
of them do not give the listener all the info that is shown to a sighted
learner. Is there someone on You-Tube that you would recommend? And still
talking about the computer, what sources are there for me to find lead
sheets that I can down load and read; either a website, and/or what is the
syntax to make the best search?

And so hey, thank you for reading! And if you provide me with the
information I need... I thank you ahead for that assistance.

Respectfully yours,
Robert Leslie Newman


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