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

Tue Apr 20 16:10:05 UTC 2021

Hello There,

I certainly can't speak to practicing scales as a piano player, but as a 
bassist I can assure you they are pretty important. That isn't to say 
they're necessary, however they are quite useful. I've been playing for 
seven years, and have been dependent on the musical ear God blessed me 
with for most of that time... I never knew theory or scales or any of 
that. I just knew what sounded good, and if not, why it didn't... wrong 
notes, off timing, etc. Like you, I saw little use in practicing scales, 
for your exact reasoning. Unless I'm gonna try getting into a music 
school and need to audition, when will I ever need to play them to 
anybody? I knew what they were, that should be good enough. But one day 
I came to a realization as I was playing a blues bassline... that it was 
primarily composed of notes from the E major scale. Just because, I 
started plucking that out, and it matched right up. Then I continued to 
move up the frettboard, and match the blues line to each scale from e 
all the way back around to D flat. And I quickly came to understand that 
scales were very useful.

The lesson here is that scales are the foundation of music, more or 
less. If you know them, you will be better able to play patterns and 
melodies that are derived from the various ones across the board. When 
you start to play a song and notice that "Hey,, part of this feels like 
the A minor scale," you'll be much better able to understand the flow of 
the song, and your hands will much easier be able to find the notes you 
need because you've practiced the scale.

Put another way, there are only 12 notes in music, more or less. 12 
notes across all the different octaves, and there are only so many ways 
to combine them. Scales offer one easy way to understand multiple 
combinations of those notes. Also, when playing a piece and you 
understand what scale it primarily follows/is derived from, it's easier 
to embellish a little and add a couple notes into your performance that 
might also sound good and spice it up a little bit.

Very broadly, this is why I would recommend practicing scales, but don't 
let anybody ever tell you you can't play music without them. Generally, 
they are helpful but not essential. You'll be a much better musician 
with them but nonetheless of one without.

Hope that helped you

Mason

On 4/20/2021 11:40 AM, jovian3--- via MusicTlk wrote:

> 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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