"Life is like a piano; the white keys represent happiness and the black show sadness. But as you go through life's journey, remember that the black keys also create music." -Author Unknown
Music has the power to transport us somewhere else and, for a moment, forget about the troubles and trials we are going through. Learning a musical instrument requires concentration, yet it has been proven to help persons deal with stress and anxiety since they have an outlet that makes them happy.
Nonetheless, with so many musical instruments to choose from that are worth learning more about, it can be quite a challenge to select just one. For example, some individuals prefer the melodic sounds while others enjoy how portable and convenient the guitar is; there truly is an instrument for everyone.
However, for lack of time, we'll focus on the piano in today's article and analyse critical information such as why it's an instrument worth learning, how many keys there are on a piano, how to learn more about the notes on a piano, and, finally, where individuals living in the UK can easily find piano instructors.
Why Learn the Piano?
Whether you're six or sixty-five years old, there are plenty of reasons why you should take the time to learn a new hobby such as practising a musical instrument. So, without further delay, the following list features four benefits of attempting to learn the piano in your spare time:
- Stress Reliever: various studies from psychologists and mental health experts have shown that playing the piano has contributed to less stress and fewer bouts of anxiety. Even if you're only playing the piano five to fifteen minutes a day, it can help you combat depression and moments of feeling extremely sad.
- Physical Health Advantages: little do most people know, but piano improves the physical health of individuals who practise their instrument regularly. Health benefits may include sharpening fine motor skills, improving agility, and heightening hand-eye coordination.
- Higher Test Scores: teachers and academic advisors worldwide have noticed that primary and secondary school students involved with a musical instrument tend to have better marks on tests and coursework. Therefore, if you're currently a student, start learning to play the piano!
- Added Ability to Accept Constructive Criticism: when learning with instructors or tutors, amateur piano players must listen to their advice and often have to hear constructive criticism. Therefore, even when they are not playing the piano, piano students can accept constructive criticism more quickly than others, which can significantly help them in life.
So, whether you're a music enthusiast or not, the following reasons should be enough to convince you to start practising the piano because who doesn't want to relieve stress, have better physical health, enjoy improved test scores, and more readily accept criticism? It sounds like a slam-dunk!
Discover effective piano lessons here.
What is the Total Number of Keys on the Piano?
Before starting to play the piano, it's essential to become familiar with the instrument and get a feeling for it. You might glance at the interior of the piano, stroke your fingers across the black and white keys, and sit on the piano bench to see whether you can get into a comfortable position or not.
Since the keys are what make the piano sing, you'll need to know them like the back of your hand if you are to play successfully. So, you might be asking yourself, how many keys should there be on a full-size piano? The answer is 88.
It's important to state that all full-size pianos have 88 keys. Therefore, there should be 52 white keys and 36 black keys on your piano. The white keys are natural music notes, while the black keys are sharps and flats.
The longest pianos have a total of 108 keys but they are extremely rare.
While normal-sized pianos have 88 keys, keyboards have 68 keys and sometimes less. Therefore, although keyboards are a great start when learning the piano, we highly recommend investing in a full-size piano to get your money's worth.
But why do pianos have 88 keys? Are there any particular reasons behind it? Check out the following subheading to learn more!
Find good piano lessons London beginners here on Superprof.
Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys?
The piano is a marvellous and highly diverse instrument. It's one of the most prominent musical instruments and boasts the most tones or sounds. As we reviewed in the previous subheading, the standard piano has 88 keys. But, why?
Well, it's important to mention that the standard piano used today has 88 keys because composers wanted to expand the range of their music. Adding more piano keys removed the limits on what kind of music could be performed on the instrument.
Nonetheless, 88 keys on the piano have not always been the standard. How's that? In previous centuries, pianos had more than 100 keys; however, the more keys didn't equate to superior quality. For example, the notes below the lowest A on the keyboard are almost unrecognisable and do not create beautiful melodies.
The primary reason the piano has 88 keys is that there aren't enough combinations in the world of music to warrant putting more keys on the standard piano.
As it is, most beginners struggle to remember the sounds and the placement of the most typical keys.
While there still are some pianos that have stood the test of time and that have more than 100 keys, the standard 88 key piano that we all know and love in the 21st century is not only due to logic but also because Steinway built their pianos that way since the 1880s and set the industry standard.
Though there are 88 keys, don't fret about learning all the keys at once if you're a beginner. Instead, please take comfort in knowing that it takes time and that most keyboards only have 61 keys. Why does that help? Because not all 88 keys will be frequently used for every song.
Find good piano lessons here on Superprof.
How to Learn More About the Notes on a Piano?
So, do you want to expand your knowledge of the piano and its keys? If so, we salute you since it's a brilliant experience. But, who does a person learn more about the notes on a piano? It's important to state that there are many different methods and learning pathways. Such as?
Take a look at the following ways to learn more about the piano keys:
- Downloadable Musical Notations: thanks to the fantastic resources available online, it's now more accessible than ever before to teach yourself the piano and learn about its keys. Many websites feature downloadable musical notations of famous and classical piano songs. Some downloadable PDFs are free, while others cost a small fee. In addition, the sheet music PDFs may easily be printed.
- YouTube Video Tutorials: how do most people learn new things in the 21st century? By consulting YouTube. There are so many educational and engaging YouTube channels geared towards helping beginners master the notes and the keys of their pianos. Furthermore, YouTube tutorials are free, so they are an excellent option for amateur pianists on a budget.
- Classes with a Private Tutor: probably the best option on this list, classes with a private tutor are a brilliant way to sharpen your piano playing skills and master the location of the keys. Most tutoring websites offer plenty of affordable piano instructors for UK-based persons who want to learn online or in person.
Learn more about hiring a personal piano tutor on Superprof by reading the following subheading!
Where Can I Find Piano Tutors in the UK?
So, now that you've decided to learn the piano, the next step on your journey is finding a personal tutor to help guide you through the steps. The advantages of a private piano coach include personalised attention and instruction, the ability to receive valuable tips and tricks, and the possibility to create a long-lasting friendship with a professional piano player.
Nonetheless, although you may recognise plenty of advantages to hiring a personal piano tutor, you may be wondering, where can I find piano tutors in the UK? The answer is simple: Supeprof.
With more than 17 million academic instructors worldwide teaching 1000+ topics of interest, Superprof is a continually growing tutoring community that has helped many individuals learn beautiful things. The list below features some of the most outstanding reasons to hire a Superprof when learning piano:
- Affordable tuition,
- A fantastic tutor/student support staff that is willing to answer all questions,
- An easy to use booking software system,
- A variety of piano tutors for all learning levels,
- The ability to select between in-person and online tuition.
According to our site, there are currently 1497 piano instructors across towns and cities in the UK. And, if you're not convinced yet about hiring a Superprof piano instructor, it's worth stating that the majority of piano teachers offer the first lesson 100% free for new students.
In conclusion, learning about piano keys and the sound they make builds a solid foundation for excellent piano playing.
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