[Trekkiegirl118]

I'm just curious, how did you learn to play keyboard/piano? And are you able to read sheet music, or just chords?

We had a plastic card that showed all the different chords, and I taught myself from that. So all I can read are chords.

Anyone else?

[s0233425]

I started off learning piano when I was 14. I went to lessons and learned to read music. I got to about grade 5 standard, but was terrible at sight reading.

Then in youth group I got forced to play the piano against my own will The thing is; in our church noone reads music [not even chord sheets!]; so I was put in front of the piano and told to play.... .

Now two years later I'm playing in the main Sunday morning services, and truly have a gift from God. I've never been taught theory, but through listening to a lot of christian musicians [Dino Kartsonakis, Terry Macalmon, Keith Green etc] I've learnt a lot of theory, and can now play by ear in over 8 keys [all you really need is the key G ] I haven't actually played with music for a while now; I just don't have the patience for it.

[Trekkiegirl118]

Originally Posted by s0233425

I started off learning piano when I was 14. I went to lessons and learned to read music. I got to about grade 5 standard, but was terrible at sight reading.

Then in youth group I got forced to play the piano against my own will The thing is; in our church noone reads music [not even chord sheets!]; so I was put in front of the piano and told to play.... .

Now two years later I'm playing in the main Sunday morning services, and truly have a gift from God. I've never been taught theory, but through listening to a lot of christian musicians [Dino Kartsonakis, Terry Macalmon, Keith Green etc] I've learnt a lot of theory, and can now play by ear in over 8 keys [all you really need is the key G ] I haven't actually played with music for a while now; I just don't have the patience for it.

Wow! No music at all? Talk about nerve-wracking!

They want me to play this coming Sunday morning and I'm dreading it... I mean, I've played for the youth group a lot, but, you have to admidt, the sanctuary (in front of all those people) is much different. (at least I have chords!) Pray for me!

[Bass_Thug]

I began taking piano lessons when I was around 6 or 7. I hated every minute of it, although I learned how to read music and some theory. I suppose I kept taking lessons for my mother.

I continued to take lessons from various teachers until I was about 17, when I started playing in our church's worship band. I've learned more about music, playing with a group, songwriting, theory, and chord progressions in the last three years than I did when I took lessons for 10-11 years.

I was used to seeing a piece of sheet music with a bass and treble clef... I was in shock when a chord sheet was placed in front of me and I was expected to know about chordal construction, comping, and various other aspects I never learned from the teachers I learned from.

[violagurl51]

I LOVE playing. I've been taking lessons for a while now like 10 years. It's definetely a gift from God. My mom put me on the piano in hopes that I would worship God and serve Him with my music. I'm not at that point yet (even though I've played for the church before) but I"m still praying about it. Now I have my associates in music and know some theory (want to learn more). I actually want to start teaching children and beginners how to play. That would be way awesome. I can read music and I'm working on my ear . I can play chords too, they're awesome. Right now I'm working on playing some jazz, I have to loosen up lol It'll be fun.

[violagurl51]

fun stuff

[hapa_angel]

Major props to s0233425 for being able to play by ear. That is some tough stuff to do. If I play new songs without music, I can pick out the key after a couple of attempts, but to play completely 100% by ear all the time is not something I'd prefer to do.

Getting back on topic. I "read" chords, since my church is mostly full og guitarists. I learned to play through official piano lessons and the like when I was in elementary school, then picked it back up again in high school when the pastor's wife of my old church began teaching me to read lead sheets after I kept bugging her to help me write out the chords to my songs. I started off slowly but picked it up to the point where I could play a few songs fairly well for altar call. Then I left that congregation... and now at my new church, I'm in Band Ministry, which leads worship on Friday nights since our Sunday service/worship is suppossed to have a more traditional feel to it.

I honestly have learned the most about keyboarding skills from being in Band Ministry these past two years and playing with everyone else. Teamwork is definitely a necessary skill to learn for playing with a worship team, and it is only learned through hours upon hours of practicing together. Even though I've kinda been reduced to only being able to read chords and not lead sheets any longer (for lack of them), I've increased my ability to play arpeggios and a few solos along with the group or even just another musician.

[violagurl51]

That's really cool awesome

[Gwenny]

When I was 11 I wanted to learn how to play, I took lessons for 2 months, then my teacher moved. When I was 14, my parents put me with another teacher, who tried to force me to sight-read, even though I was dyslexic, and i always mixed up the notes, finally she got frustrated, she refused to give me lessons, because i would always end up crying. Finally when I turend 17, i sat down at our church's piano, and stared at the keys for like 20 minutes, one of the keyboard players came up to me, and asked me if i wanted to learn how to play chords. I said sure, she showed me how to play a G chord. I bought a book with keyboard chords, and a diagram that showed me where to put my fingers for each chord from A, to Gaug. After really playing for 5 years, i lead praise and worship. After I learned how to cord, it just came naturally to me, a lot of people come up to me, and say how they wish they could play like me, but they don't realize what I went through to get where I am today. It took 2 1/2 years of practice before people would even realize that i had a gift. In the early days I would practice for up to 4 hours a day. God has really blessed me, because 5 years ago, i couldn't even play a basic song, now I can play by ear, in most keys. I use some sheet music, and now God has even helped me play sheet music.

[JasonLowe55]

Well, I was a worship leader on the guitar for a couple of years when I felt the prompt of God to move to another instrument. I've always been musically skilled but the piano was a mystery to me. One night after church when everyone was gone, I sat by myself in the dark at the grand in the sanctuary and told God that if he really wanted me to play, then he'll have to teach me. Two weeks later, I lead worship from the piano. Not without mess-ups, but I still did it. All thanks to God. I now have been playing for almost 5 years, and I play by ear. I can pretty much pick anything out in almost any key. I thank God every day for the miracle he performed that night. No lessons.

Jason

[sskl]

lol..guess wat?
A person who had 2 months guitar classes only....cant even keep a timing by clapping the hand.....{pray to god}...right after 1 year .... he performing at a competition..... won the grand prize... maybe going on tour with a church in filipine in this discember...now he even know how to play piano...
THAT PERSON IS ME
PS :untill now i cant clap my hand with a right timing.. but i can keep my timing very perfect when i am playing :P

if u wanna learn any instrutments.. just pray to god.
that all

[player123496]

Let's see....I started lessons in 2nd grade and have continued for the last 10 years. I really love classical music, so my chord playing is a little weak. I know most of my chords and I can usually figure out chords by listening to them, but as far as figuring melodies and such, I'm lost. That's why I play trumpet. But anyway, a couple of months ago I switched to bass because our guitar player moved and the bassist switched to guitar (even though he's a much better bassist). It was quite a shakeup, but I think that our praise team is actually better with the new people playing the new insturments because we've grown closer to God as a group.

[Nica Chica]

Well... I have been playing piano ever since i was two sooo... But I can read anything put in front of my face (maybe not always perfect) and I do chords because I am on the worship team. If you can do chording you can do many things! It's also really good that you learn to play songs me hearing it. I go to peoples houses, hear a song, go home and figure it out. But the best thing you can do for a music career is learn the beats and learn how to sight read music notes!

[Laia]

i've been playing for about 3 1/2 years now, i first learned totally by ear...until i realized that everyone else on the praise team went by chords, i learned chords simply to be able to translate what i'm doing into something everyone else can understand and follow.

i've goten now to where i don't play with music in front of me (it's distracting and a crutch) unless it's a new song i'm learning, but that's only for practice.

[PianoMan]

Originally Posted by s0233425

I've never been taught theory, but through listening to a lot of christian musicians [Dino Kartsonakis, Terry Macalmon, Keith Green etc]

excellent choices - especially Dino!

Anyway, i've been playing for a little over 12 years and I have taken lessons for every bit of it - still am. I can read sheet music, but I have yet to be taught enough about chord construction as to go off a chord sheet. That is one thing I hope to learn in college, along with improvisation techniques. At least for now my specialty is playing church music along the lines of Dino. (in other words...flashy stuff )