Counting the Time

Time Signatures; let’s get to know them better. In the last entry, we tacked a portion of the piano sheet music; the piano notes. Now in this entry let’s discuss more this time about time signatures.

Time signatures play a vital role in proper piano playing. It helps pianists count the music. Count the music? Yes, it’s possible to count the music. Music counting defines the speed and the music rhythm that should be played in a certain piano sheet music. This is the responsibility of Time Signatures.

Time Signatures are like identifiers. It tells what a measure as to both the number of beats and the value of each beat because we divide music into beats. Confusing? Not at all! Just think that time signatures are the pulse or the beat if the music.

So where are they on the piano sheet music? You can read and see them at the beginning of the piano sheet music just after the clefs. They’re signified by numbers or some symbols depending on the time signatures.

The top number represents how many beats is in a measure while the bottom number represents what type of note gets one beat.

You can see a lot of variations of time signatures. All of them have different counts. One of the most common time signatures are the 4/4 count and the 3/4 count. Most piano music and many kinds of music use either of the two as their music rhythm.

The 4/4 time signature is the most popular and most used time signature that you can here in almost every genre of music. It means there are four quarter notes (or any combination of notes that equals four quarter notes) in every measure. Most of the time it is represented by a small bolded letter C which means common time.

The 3/4 time signature is another common time signature that you can see in many piano sheet music. It means that there are three quarter notes (or any combination of notes that equals three quarter notes) in every measure.

A piece in six eight (6/8) might have six beats in every measure, with an eighth note getting a beat. This is also a very often-used time signature. To count  the beat try this: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.

There are also other variations of time signatures. In most cases, they are rarely used or too traditional like a 7/4 count, 8/4 count and even a 5/4 count.

Time signatures are very important in terms of knowing the beat of the music. It will help you understand it more and put more emotions in it. Learn how to play the piano better and easier.

Piano Sheet Music Unraveled

On one of our old entries, we discussed already the piano sheet music. It was all about the Clefs, piano accidentals and time signatures. If you missed it then clickà HERE.

But in this entry we’ll tackle something you always see in a piano sheet music. Some may see it as unique drawings or codes but they’re actually musical symbols. These musical symbols determine something on what you play in a piano sheet music. It is called piano notes.

Piano notes have different beats or counts. It tells how long you will play a certain note. Piano notes are always together with time signatures. They both determine how you play a certain piano sheet music. But in this entry let’s familiarize ourselves on what each easy piano notes beat have.

A whole note or also called a semibreve means you have a piano note will have 4 beats.

A dotted half note or a dotted minim will have 2 beats.

While a crochet or a quarter note will have one beat.

There is also the eight note or a quaver. It means a piano note will have a half beat.

So there you have it. Without these piano notes that determine the beat or pulse of the music, we will be lost while piano playing so be thankful. Understand them because once you do, piano sight reading will be a breeze.

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Reading the Piano

One of the basic steps in your piano lessons is how to read the piano.

Learning and understanding how to read the piano and the easy piano notes are vital keys for success in any piano lessons whether it’s private or online piano lessons.

We’ll start with something simple. Let’s review the piano keys.

The piano keys are the white and black keys in a piano or a keyboard. By hammering or pressing or stroking down your fingers you will be able to create sound. These sounds are definite and exact in terms of reading it. For example, no matter where you play the key C in the piano it will always be a C, be it a lower C or a high C.

The black keys are often called as ebony while white keys are called ivories.

Common pianos have 88 keys. Grand and upright pianos are mostly available in 88 keys. There are other piano and keyboards that have lesser keys. Keyboards are known for having only 76 keys or 69 keys.

Having lesser keys limits what you play on the piano.

If you take a closer look at the image above, you’ll notice that it follows a certain pattern. This pattern is definite and it never changes whichever piano or keyboard you play.

The pattern as it follows: 5 white keys and 7 black keys. This makes up an octave. A piano with 88 keys usually have 7 octave and extra 4 keys.

These piano keys have a designated easy piano notes on each. It’s easy to remember on each octave because it will never change.

It is as follows; A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

There is no H on the piano. When you stop at G just go back to A.

Get to know your Music Sheets

One of the most important things in piano playing beside the piano itself is the piano sheet music.

The piano sheet music determines what kind of music or what a pianist will play in a piano.

Did you know that some pianists are not capable of piano sight reading? That’s true. They can play piano by ear. It’s a talent that not all pianists have. But what they commonly forgot to learn is to read piano sheet music. It is essential if you’re planning to become a known composer, accompanists or musician.

So let’s get to the basics of a piano sheet music and will tackle piano sight reading next time. So stay tuned.

The staff consists of five lines and five spaces. In here you will see sets of easy piano notes written all over. This allows you to read them correctly and easily.

Most of the times when you download free piano sheet music you can see two sets of staffs and at the beginning of each staff are symbols. These are called clefs. Clefs determine which hand should play the sets of easy piano notes.

The G clef or also called the treble clef is played by the right hand

and while the C Clef or known as the bass clef is played by the left hand.

Beside the clefs you’ll notice some numbers. In most cases you see them as 4/4 or 3/4 or maybe 6/8. These numbers are called time signatures. They indicate the beat or the music rhythm of a piano music. This is often neglected but if not properly understood can hinder your piano playing skills and piano practice.

Now next is a more confusing side of the piano sheet music, the piano accidentals. Piano accidentals are the sharps, flats and the neutrals on a piano sheet music. Sharps keys means a half step semitone higher while flat key means a half step semitone lower and neutral means it should return to the original key tone.

For now, this is what you should know about your piano sheet music. These are the essentials and will allow you to move forwards with other piano lessons.

Piano Lessons: Online or Offline

There are many ways to learn how to play the piano. You can either choose private piano lessons or self-learning through online piano lessons or piano dvds.

Both different methods of piano lessons have its pros and cons. In this entry, let’s try to differentiate them and see which piano lessons suit you.

Private Piano Lessons

Having private piano lessons are perfect for toddlers and kids. It teaches them the essential and basics of piano playing. Teaching piano students at home help both the teacher and the student to focus on the piano lessons. Also learning this way allows the student to ask questions regarding the lessons. Piano beginners can easily understand the lessons because it is real and on the spot.

Although that is said, there are a lot of disadvantages with private piano lessons. First are the distractions. Lessons done at home can be distracted even by just a simple phone call or a dog barking. Another thing, with private piano lessons you could either study at home (with more distractions such as television) or at your piano teacher’s home (less distraction, boring experience).

Another downside of private piano lesson is if you are already an adult. Of course no adult would want to be taught piano sheet music like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. Too childish. Also private piano lessons can be really expensive. It’s almost $100 per month. You can buy groceries with that already.

Self-Learning Piano Lessons

If you don’t have enough time to commit on private piano lessons or don’t have enough money for private piano lessons then there is always an alternative. You can always try self-learning piano lessons trough some modern methods. When you’re already a grown-up these adult piano lessons for beginners will be you solutions.

One of the best things you can try is online piano lessons. A lot of people and companies are now posting free online piano lessons everywhere on the internet. You can always try YouTube piano videos for starters. Or websites that offers free online piano lessons. No matter where you go online piano lessons are a sure hit. It’s free, easy to understand and you can control anytime you take the lessons.

Maybe you want something more reliable, then you can try buying or borrowing from libraries piano dvds. Piano dvds are available on Amazon or on websites that offers piano lessons. You’re just going to pay extra for lifelong piano lessons on your own home.

You can also try piano lesson books. It also has extensive explanations of the lesson without the visual aid which is in most cases very important.

Or you can try something you can always listen or watch wherever you are, PODCASTS. Yes, the great invention of ITunes can now be used as an easier way of learning free piano lessons. Piano podcasts can be played anywhere using your iPhone or iPod devices or even on your own computer.

Conclusion

So what’s the verdict? If you have the time and the money and a quiet place to learn, you can always try private piano lessons.

But if you are an adult already with no free time and enough money for private piano lesson, you can always go for self-learn piano lessons. Same results minus the expense, the pressure and the money.

Learn by yourself! It’s easier and cheaper. Online piano lessons are a great answer to adult piano lessons for beginners and toddlers’ first easy piano notes.