{ "cells": [ { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ "*****\n", "Piano\n", "*****" ] }, { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ "Introduction\n", "############\n", "\n", ":cite:`chang2007fundamentals` is a very long winded book. All the essential\n", "information is nicely summarized in `Summary of Method`_. Some more\n", "complementary resources are `Dr. John Mortensen's Piano Technique`_ and\n", ":cite:`maydwell2007sight`. The former gives concise and very intuitive\n", "suggestions on posture. The latter presents a roadmap on sight reading and\n", "its importance.\n", "\n", ".. _Summary of Method: https://fundamentals-of-piano-practice.readthedocs.io/chapter1/ch1_topics/III.22.html\n", ".. _Dr. John Mortensen's Piano Technique: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL753730BB176690A0\n", "\n", "When starting to learn the piano, it is helpful to hear the correct version of\n", "the music piece. One way to generate piano sounds is to import MIDI from\n", "`MuseScore`_. Note that the default sound samples are limited; some free\n", "decent ones are\n", "\n", "- `Yamaha C5 Grand`_,\n", "- `Salamander Grand Piano`_,\n", "- `Aegean Symphonic Orchestra`_, and\n", "- `Versilian Studios Virtual Instruments`_.\n", "\n", ".. _MuseScore: https://musescore.org\n", ".. _Yamaha C5 Grand: https://sites.google.com/site/soundfonts4u/\n", ".. _Salamander Grand Piano: https://freepats.zenvoid.org/Piano/acoustic-grand-piano.html\n", ".. _Aegean Symphonic Orchestra: https://sites.google.com/view/hed-sounds/aegean-symphonic-orchestra\n", ".. _Versilian Studios Virtual Instruments: https://vis.versilstudios.com/vsco-community.html\n", "\n", "These soundfont (`SFZ`_) files can be `imported into MuseScore`_.\n", "\n", ".. _SFZ: http://ariaengine.com/overview/sfz-format/\n", ".. _imported into MuseScore: https://musescore.org/en/handbook/soundfonts-and-sfz-files\n", "\n", "My ideal setup is a `Kawai VPC1`_ with `Pianoteq`_.\n", "\n", ".. _Kawai VPC1: http://www.kawaivpc.com/\n", ".. _Pianoteq: https://www.pianoteq.com/\n", "\n", "Before attempting this autodidactic method, it is very helpful to acquire some\n", "`initial background in music theory`_. The goal is not to learn everything\n", "about music theory upfront. That is not as effective as getting the minimum\n", "needed to start practicing piano. As one practices at the piano, read up on\n", "more theory. Furthermore, avoid doing exercises such as\n", "`ear training, staff identification, and staff construction`_. That will\n", "neither cultivate your rhythm nor commit the knowledge to long term memory.\n", "You should instead study and complete the exercises in :cite:`laitz2012complete`\n", "via `LilyPond`_, which is superior to MuseScore in terms of typing up scores\n", "and exporting MIDI.\n", "\n", ".. _initial background in music theory: https://www.musictheory.net/lessons\n", ".. _ear training, staff identification, and staff construction: https://www.musictheory.net/exercises\n", ".. _LilyPond: https://lilypond.org/\n", "\n", "The following are my own experience of learning piano from\n", "scratch as an adult:\n", "\n", "- Maintain a proper posture, breathe, and relax at all times.\n", "- Instead of memorizing mnemonics, memorize the notes!\n", "\n", " - Mnemonics for note recognition will hinder your ability to\n", " recognize notes because it's a two step procedure.\n", "\n", "- Always strive for evenness, accuracy, and expression over speed.\n", "\n", " - Play the piece at a speed, such as half of the target speed, that\n", " allows all the criteria to be satisfied.\n", " - Increase the speed until one of the criteria starts to fail.\n", "\n", "- Use a metronome to practice.\n", "- Play without a metronome at the target speed before moving on to\n", " the next piece.\n", "\n", "- Play through mistakes; do not stop to correct them because you will develop\n", " stuttering habits.\n", "\n", " - This will help you develop the quick recovery needed after a mistake.\n", " - Correct the mistakes later using segmental practice around each mistake.\n", "\n", "- Practice hands separate until the speed is faster than the target speed.\n", "\n", " - Research has revealed that proficient instrumentalists read single-line\n", " melodies up to seven notes ahead.\n", "\n", "- Practice hands together slowly and work towards the target speed even though\n", " hands separate is faster than the target speed.\n", "\n", " - The goal is limb independence while satifying all the foregoing criteria.\n", "\n", "- As you practice, you will notice that recognizing the notes is faster if you\n", " use the previous note as a reference.\n", "\n", " - This is a crutch since it breaks down when notes are too far apart.\n", " - More practice will enable you to recognize the note's pitch, your hand\n", " placement, and eventually the pitch's sound." ] }, { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ "MuseScore & Pianoteq\n", "####################\n", "\n", "This configuration requires a user account with real time scheduling.\n", "\n", ".. code:: bash\n", "\n", " # Add the following three lines to /etc/security/limits.conf:\n", " @audio - rtprio 90\n", " @audio - nice -10\n", " @audio - memlock 500000\n", "\n", " # Add user account to audio group that has real time scheduling.\n", " sudo adduser $USER audio\n", "\n", "`QjackCtl`_ is the easiest way to hook up MuseScore with Pianoteq.\n", "\n", ".. code:: bash\n", "\n", " sudo apt-get install qjackctl libjack-jackd2-dev audacity\n", "\n", "After launching it, just hit the :guilabel:`Start` button followed by the\n", ":guilabel:`Connect` button to display a pop-up dialog that contains a\n", ":guilabel:`MIDI` tab. This tab automatically lists MuseScore and Pianoteq once\n", "those programs start.\n", "\n", ".. _QjackCtl: https://qjackctl.sourceforge.io/\n", "\n", "After `installing MuseScore`_, open up the settings at\n", ":menuselection:`Edit --> Preferences --> I/O --> JACK audio server`. Select\n", ":guilabel:`Use JACK Audio`, :guilabel:`Use JACK MIDI`, and\n", ":guilabel:`Remember last connection(s)`. `Do not select`_\n", ":guilabel:`Use JACK Transport` or :guilabel:`Timebase Master`.\n", "\n", ".. _installing MuseScore: https://opensource.com/article/17/4/install-musescore\n", ".. _Do not select: https://musescore.org/en/developers-handbook/google-summer-code/google-summer-code-2014/implementation-full-jack-support\n", "\n", "Note that enabling QjackCtl will prevent :doc:`VLC `\n", "from playing any sound. One fix is to run\n", "\n", ".. code:: bash\n", "\n", " sudo apt-get install vlc-plugin-jack\n", "\n", "and change the VLC's\n", ":menuselection:`Tools --> Preferences --> Audio --> Output module` to\n", ":guilabel:`JACK Audio output`." ] }, { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ "Digital Piano & Pianoteq\n", "########################\n", "\n", "Given the foregoing QjackCtl setup, simply connect the digital piano to the\n", "computer running Pianoteq via the MIDI interface e.g. `UM-ONE mk2`_. Pianoteq\n", "should automatically detect the MIDI inputs without any tweaks to the settings.\n", "\n", ".. _UM-ONE mk2: https://www.roland.com/us/products/um-one_mk2/" ] }, { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ "Level 0\n", "#######\n", "\n", "The best way to waste a lot of time is to practice on ineffective books such as\n", ":cite:`palmer2005alfred,palmer1995adult,faber1993faber`. One should instead\n", "seek out books that actually have produced amazing musicians. There are plenty\n", "of sites that host public domain music:\n", "\n", "- `IMSLP`_.\n", "\n", ".. _IMSLP: https://imslp.org/\n", "\n", "The following are useful introductory practice books that should be completed in\n", "parallel: :cite:`bartoksz107`, :cite:`schaferop45`,\n", ":cite:`mathews1892standard`, and :cite:`manookian2006gradus`. One approach is\n", "to start practicing with a book until you encounter a piece that is difficult to\n", "play. Play that piece (slowly measure-by-measure if needed) until the end.\n", "Move to another book and repeat. The main idea is to cycle through the books\n", "making progress where you can before going back to the problematic piece. This\n", "allows you to improve while reducing frustration. As the pieces get longer, a\n", "one hour session may not be enough to finish a piece.\n", "\n", "By the time you finish the first volume of :cite:`bartoksz107`, you should be\n", "surprised at how much quicker you're able to read music." ] }, { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ ":cite:`schirmer1903` overview of classical works.\n", "\n", "After finish Bartok Volume II:\n", ", :cite:`kunzop14`,\n", ":cite:`gurlittop82`, :cite:`gurlittop117`, and :cite:`loeschhornop65`\n", "\n", "Berens 70 \n", "Kohler 190, 151\n", "Couppey - Op17\n", "Streabbog - Op63, 64\n", "Lemoine - Op37\n", "Gurlitt 130, 101, 113, 140, 228\n", "Bertini Op100, Op29, Op32, 12 Little/Short Pieces\n", "Loeschhorn - Op181\n", "Clementi - Art of Playing on the Piano Forte\n", "Jonas - Master School of Piano Playing & Virtuosity 1\n", "Beyer - Op101\n", "Kohler Op157, 209\n", "Duvernoy - 176, 120, 276\n", "\n", "after level 3:\n", ":cite:`jonas1929master`\n", "\n", "Test yourself with\n", "\n", "https://us.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/\n", "\n", "https://www.yamaha-mf.or.jp/english/grade/\n", "\n", "https://www.rcmusic.com/learning/examinations/academic-resources-and-policies/syllabi-look-for-any-syllabus-below\n", "\n", "Robert Estrin's Living Piano Videos\n", " https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb9dheYKfknSU6X0sK0raACZ8yaszLGBf\n", "\n", " Lifting your fingers is the most strenuous activity when playing the piano.\n", " In order to strengthen your fingers, lift all of your fingers up except the\n", " one that is pressing on the key when practicing scales and arpeggios.\n", "\n", " Piano tone\n", " Play the notes that have a longer duration louder so that their sound\n", " fades away at the same time as the shorter notes. You're trying to\n", " equalize how fast each note fades away.\n", " Play the notes higher on the octave louder than the ones lower on the\n", " octave to equalize their texture.\n", " Stacatto\n", " Play deattached using wrist. It just so happens that you need to play\n", " it quickly in fast music.\n", " Hanon fingering is golden standard\n", " Czerny is also good practice\n", " but pracice music instead\n", " Rubato is keeping the higher level beats and playing in the others faster/slower\n", " Portato is legato on phrases instead of just notes\n", " repeated notes can be legato via different fingers on the same note\n", " Mentral practice can reduce practice time at the piano\n", "\n", "Alan Belkin\n", " Don't bother reading his website, the books are good though? maybe...?\n", "https://outsideshore.teachable.com/p/jazz-improvisation-primer\n", " Not worthwhile to read\n", "\n", "http://openmusictheory.com/contents.html\n", " Better books out there by real composers.\n", "\n", "start with: Laitz - The Complete Musician An Integrated Approach to Tonal Theory, Analysis, and Listening\n", "and if possible simultaneously Ligon - Jazz Theory Resources.\n", "\n", "Once you get to chapter 10 for Jazz, start reading the other two books of Ligon.\n", "\n", "\n", "Caplin\n", "Piston Harmony - Counterpoint - Orchestration\n", " too old\n", "\n", "Persichetti\n", "Schillinger\n", " Incomplete notes, so not worthwhile\n", "\n", "Ligon - Jazz Theory Resources\n", " - Ligon - Comprehensive Technique For Jazz Musicians\n", " - Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony\n", "\n", "Levine - The Jazz Theory Book\n", "Levine - The Jazz Piano Book\n", "\n", "Peterson - Jazz for the Young Pianist\n", "\n", "https://www3.northern.edu/wieland/index.htm\n", "\n", "Abby Whiteside\n", " Don't bother\n", "\n", "Small handed piano\n", "\n", "Disney Fake Book\n", "\n", "Elementary Training for Musicians\n", "Techniques and Materials of Music\n", "\n", "Ulehla - Contemporary Harmony Romanticism Through the Twelve-Tone Row\n", "\n", "Haerle - The Jazz Language\n", "Mantooth - Voicings for Jazz Keyboard\n", "DeGreg - Jazz Keyboard Harmony & Voicings\n", "\n", "qpdfview for the win!" ] }, { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ "violin\n", "https://imslp.org/wiki/School_of_Violin_Technics_(Schradieck,_Henry)\n", "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqTTFPCw1dEEl5NDZE00pUxuBppU2exiN\n", "\n", "https://www.violinmasterclass.com/posts/148\n", "\n", "Sassmannshaus method\n", "\n", "https://imslp.org/wiki/Modern_Violin_School,_Op.51_(Henley,_William)\n", "https://imslp.org/wiki/Violin_Method_(Bang%2C_Maia)\n", "https://imslp.org/wiki/M%C3%A9thode_de_violon%2C_Op.102_(B%C3%A9riot%2C_Charles-Auguste_de)\n", "\n", "\n", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4kkWn2CqsWSUSO1KXk3Eg\n", "\n", "https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:%C5%A0ev%C4%8D%C3%ADk,_Otakar\n", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k8sjq668ag" ] }, { "cell_type": "raw", "metadata": { "raw_mimetype": "text/restructuredtext" }, "source": [ ".. rubric:: References\n", "\n", ".. bibliography:: refs.bib" ] } ], "metadata": { "celltoolbar": "Raw Cell Format", "kernelspec": { "display_name": "Python 3", "language": "python", "name": "python3" }, "language_info": { "codemirror_mode": { "name": "ipython", "version": 3 }, "file_extension": ".py", "mimetype": "text/x-python", "name": "python", "nbconvert_exporter": "python", "pygments_lexer": "ipython3", "version": "3.7.3" } }, "nbformat": 4, "nbformat_minor": 2 }