Unit 37 the functional music keyboard - 3

posture posture

 posture is very important because it allows you to more easily play songs and change from one chord to another, it also means that you will put less strain on your hands so after playing. the correct hand posture for playing piano is to keep you wrist higher than your fingers while playing and keep you fingers pointing down, like you are holding a ball in your hand.

Unit 37 - The functional music keyboard - 2

Learn a song that uses 2 hands on piano

as part of my unit i had to learn to play a song on piano that uses two hand, the song i chose was twinkle twinkle little star which is a very simple song to play but still uses two hand. the right hand plays a melody while the left hand plays single nots along to the melody. the following link goes to a video which shows you how to play twinkle twinkle little star

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mSBD9LReH8
my target is to learn to be able to play twinkle twinkle little star fluently using two hands.

Unit 37 - The functional music keyboard - 1

What can you do with MIDI and a MIDI keyboard?

Playing with a band-

Midi can be used to do lots of things such as playing with a Band; this is because midi can be used to replicate any instrument so it is possible to use a midi controller to play a drum kit along with a band. After you have finished playing

Midi correction-

Midi also allows you to correct you performance, put the notes in time and at the correct pitch using quantization

Composition-

Midi makes it easier to compose music because midi is different to audio as it can be altered and changed after you have finished playing so if you change you mid you can either re-record over the track or just click on the correct not with your computer mouse.

Tracks-

Midi allows you to use as many tracks as you want using the single midi device and they can all have completely unique sound such as different synthesizers and drum kits

Midi controllers-

Usually when using midi a midi keyboard will be used which is just like a normal keyboard that has controls at the top such as pitch bend octave transpose and a modulation wheel. Except midi controllers do not generate sound on their own and have to be used with either synth module that have a midi input or a computer that has VST instruments on that can be controlled with the midi keyboard. 

Five finger piano exercises-

Piano exercises are very important because if you do not exercises often you will lose strength in your fingers and your playing ability will not improve.

Some of the best exercises are five finger piano exercises which involve all of your fingers. 

This is a finger exercise I made which can be quite hard if you are a beginner so a preferable exercise may be to simple play 543212345 with both your hands repeatedly, or you could play chords with your left hand and then play a melody with your right hand. 

R: 53214235

L: 13245241

If you do this exercise regularly then your playing ability will greatly improve.

another way to excerise while playing piano is to learn legato the following video tells you about it. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3XDpc2WBeI

Another way to improve your piano playing ability is to learnt chord progressions such as the 12 bar blues chord progression.
doing this exercise will help your finger positioning and help you be able to play much quicker and smoother.

the next exercise is a to handed Hanon ascending piano exercise that will help you play better with both hand and will strengthen your fingers and even make you better at playing different parts with each hand. it is recommended that after this Hanon exercise is completed you move on to the second exercise.

these exercises are intended to strengthen the 4th and 5th fingers of each hand because they are naturally weaker than the 1st, 2nd and 3rd.