Looking to take up the piano

[Phantopeth]

I've always had the interest to become a pianist, but I've never had the drive to do so (coupled with the fact that the only keyed instrument I've ever been around was a cheap $100 keyboard bought at BestBuy ). However, I now live in an apartment that, luckily enough, came equipped with a baby grand!

So now is as good a time as any. I was wondering if there were any piano-playing bassers on here that could recommend a good starting point. I'm looking for particular songbooks, or lesson books.

I have enough knowledge and experience with reading music, music theory, and all that to know how piano is played, I'm just not familiar with the instrument's layout.

Should I just go out and pickup a songbook by an artist I like, or would it be better to get some sort of lessonbook that focuses on playing songs of gradually increasing difficulty, and that might have some common exercises? Or should I just man-up and buy a book of Beethoven's work and slowly work at that ?

[Phantopeth]

Sorry, this is a shameless bump.

Anyone?

[AdlerAugen]

look for a teacher.

man I wish I was lucky enough to have a baby grand to practice on....although I'm more lucky than a lot of people I know who've never even played a grand piano before...

I have my lessons on a steinway grand piano, and always perform on grand pianos, typically concert grands by either baldwin or steinway, and sometimes K Kawai.

Don't start with the hardest thing--work your way up and start simple. You can also get workbooks on music theory to help out.

you don't know how lucky you are to be able to practice on a grand....if you're able to be there until you've been playing for a dedicated 10 years, you'll know how lucky you are that you didn't have to pay full price for that baby. D*mn...well once I start college I'll be able to practice on grand pianos...but I've got a yamaha clavinova electronic piano at home...and to think I'm gonna be a music major next year...

[MonetBass]

Hit the local music store and ask someone in the sheet music dept. about beginner piano books. I'm sure they could point you in the right direction.

[Buzzgroove]

Hi, just caught your thread. I've been playing piano for a few years now (since my oldest kid began keyboard lessons) and have been using a course which is a fantastic and constructive introduction to the instrument by a guy called Clifford Evans.
The course is not cheap, it comes on a couple of dvds and book. I'll give you the details and if you're interested it's worth checking out. Hope that helps.

Allan

Marycliff Productions,
www.marycliff.co.uk