[MusicTlk] Two quick questions about learning piano pieces and getting better at Braille music

Tue Apr 20 16:04:43 UTC 2021

Hi Joe,
I am going to butt in here. I play sax and guitar but no piano. The reason
for practicing scales,  arpeggios  and other patterns is to get your fingers
and ears trained to recognize certain sounds.  My guitar teacher used to
make me learn different scales then he would show me a piece of a song that
fell right over that scale.  He made me practice the dorian scale then
showed me the first solo of a santana song and I picked it right up as it
was just right there. Also you need to know the notes in a particular key in
order to know how to construct the chords of that key etc. I know its not
fun but if you want to get to the point where you can pick things up easily
and can usually guess where they are going you need to know the notes and
how they fit.
Sorry for butting in but the email just jumped out to me.
Best
Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of jovian3--- via
MusicTlk
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 11:40 AM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians' <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: jovian3 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Two quick questions about learning piano pieces and
getting better at Braille music

Hi Mike and all,

You mentioned in your email below that it is important to practice scales.
Can you tell us why that is? I had teachers saying that as well but I always
wondered if this was truly useful or it was just a stall tactic. I mean
instead of practicing scales why not go and practice the piano piece itself?
It is not like you will be performing scales to others...
Regards
Jo

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mike Jolls via
MusicTlk
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2021 12:54 PM
To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Mike Jolls <mrspock56 at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Two quick questions about learning piano pieces and
getting better at Braille music

Dear Jennifer

I can't speak to reading Braille music, but I can speak to playing
classical.

First, find a good method book series that can prepare you with some simpler
music, give you theory, etc .  I studied the John Thompson books (I would
suggest avoiding the Shuam books . too juvenile).  And while you're doing
that, make sure you study your scales, keys, and exercises such as Hannon.
I have the book with all 60 exercises.  Hannon is good for stretching your
fingers, and there are some exercises that you will use in classical pieces.
The Trill (covered in Hannon) is a critical skill, for example.  I've found
other skills in Hannon that I practice on a regular basis to keep the skills
up.  Starting off with the method book and Hannon and other exercises will
give you a background when you eventually get to the classical works.  And
it won't take you that long to get through this prep work if you're serious.
I think I studied for a couple of years before starting to tackle my first
classical piece (Chopin Nocturne 9 No. 2).  And I really NEEDED to do that
prep work.

Make sure you have a good teacher.  If you don't have one, get one.  A good
teacher is worth their weight in gold.  They will save you time.  They'll
show you fingering patters that will be important when learning certain
pieces.  They will correct mistakes from becoming bad habits that have to be
broken.  And trust me on this . ALL TEAHCERS ARE NOT CREATED EQUALLY.  The
teacher I had before COVID was a teacher of blind students.  He knew how to
teach me to play by feel.  That was important because with my poor vision,
seeing to hit the keys rapidly was a bit beyond my visual ability.  Playing
by feel and using muscle memory has been key to my success.  My first two
teachers didn't have a clue about helping me with my vision problem.  My
third teacher really cut through the problem and helped me a lot.

And let me say, if the teacher that you find that works for you is more
expensive, PAY IT.  My third teacher was $35 a half hour, but he was SOOOOO
worth it.  The first two teachers were less money, but they couldn't help me
deal with the vision problem in the way I needed help.

Also, if the teacher tells you all you need to learn is to play chords in
the left hand and melody in the right (which is what my first teacher did ..
who worked at a music store) .. and says you don't need Hannon, find another
teacher.  I improved so much with learning Hannon, and I wasted a year with
him.  Well, I did learn SOME THINGS, but I eventually left.

When playing classical pieces, repetition will be key.  Take it a line on
the page at a time, or maybe even a couple of measures at a time.  Play
hands separate, and a bit slowly on each hand until you get it in your
brain.  Then when both hands can play their part and you know the timing,
play hands together slowly.  As you get the passages you're working on, you
can speed it up.  Remember what my third teacher told me.  If you can't play
it slowly, you can't play it fast.  SO TRUE!!

In your case with Braille music, you'll be reading it a measure or two at a
time and learning each hand and putting them together.  I'm a low vision
sighted player.  I play off of sheet music and read it with a telescope, and
I have to do that too.  The only difference is that I'm reading sheet music
and you're reading Braille.

I hope that gives you some tips.  So far I've learned how to play (with my
third teacher's help)

Scott Joplin . Maple Leaf Rag, Easy Winners, The Entertainer Claude Debussay
. Claire De Lune Chopin . Nocturne in Eb major

Each of these pieces took about 3 months at minimum to learn.  It takes time
and dedication and practice on a regular basis but it is sooooo worth it as
you're going along and you get it.

I've been on my own for about a year because of COVID and I'm learning Franz
Liszt's Liebestraum.  It's definitely challenging.  Maybe I can get back to
my teacher.  I miss working with him.

Good luck.

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
10

From: Debra Baxley via MusicTlk<mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2021 4:23 PM
To: Jennifer Bose via MusicTlk<mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Debra Baxley<mailto:debrabaxley330 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Two quick questions about learning piano pieces and
getting better at Braille music

The Dancing Dots series of books is a good resource.  Though an older
resource, try Primer Of Braille Music by Bettye Krolick. Also, How To Read
Braille MMusic is a good one.

Debra

On 4/17/2021 4:13 PM, Jennifer Bose via MusicTlk wrote:
> Hi, listers.
>
> I hope you're all well. Two quick questions here for anyone interested 
> in answering:
> 1. What are good strategies to learn complex classical pieces (besides 
> practicing, of course): A combination of Braille music and playing by 
> ear? Any apps helpful with this?
> What are the best current resources for getting good at reading 
> Braille piano music?
>
> Thanks, everyone.
>
> Jen
>
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