The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #95614 Message #1862353
Posted By: Greg B
18-Oct-06 - 01:30 PM
Thread Name: Playing the piano
Subject: RE: Playing the piano
The problem with using a venue's piano is that it is often about as good as a guitar that's been sitting in the cloak room for 25 years because someone abandoned it there...
I learned piano and 5-string banjo simultaneously, beginning at age 7. Took up guitar in college, at 20.
My 'formal' training (with music theory) was on piano, and about 80% of the 'book learning' crossed right over into fretted instruments, making it easier to do the right things over there.
Just as nearly every 'educated' (meaning formally educated) musician is expected to have at least a passing knowledge of piano, and sight-singing, I believe that it's a great exercise to also have competency on some fretted instrument.
Also great good fun.
So...if you buy a guitar and take some lessons, you may find that your piano skill is absolutely not wasted.