You can thank your parents and past generations for the natural gifts you possess although that does not mean the gifts are automatically yours without any effort on your part, mostly. There are some exceptions such as the ability of a person who can play the piano by “ear” without ever having even one music lesson. It’s a natural gift, yet it does require effort on the part of the performer to develop this inherent talent. I know of one such person.
The standard piano has 88 keys, 36 black keys (sharps or flats depending on the scale) and 52 white keys. The average (amateur) piano players generally uses the white keys with an occasional black sharp or flat located in the middle of the keyboard. Typically the black keys are used less than the white keys since the traditional music (especially hymns) are written in the keys which include mostly white keys such as the keys of c, f, and g major. Beginner piano students usually begin learning these keys/scales first and then progress to other signatures. Most beginners find these keys easier to perform probably because they are most frequently used. As a rule the more “black” keys (notes) the more difficult the piece is for the average piano student unless you are “gifted” by being able to play the piano by “ear” and then it does not matter greatly which keys are used. The fingers seemingly just go where Mother Nature somehow directs them to go. It’s like being on automatic pilot. The performer is essentially a “bystander.”
Growing up in a family that had the advantage of music education and influenced by a very talented sister, I had an early interest in playing the key board and could play (“pick out”) simple melodies finally getting to the point of “playing with both hands.” I still remember the first song, The Marines’ Hymn. My version had only three chords, but for me it was quite an accomplishment. I proudly played it hundreds of time. Piano lessons came later.
My father was remarkably unmusical. I never heard him sing a single word although he would hum a tune occasionally, but my mother evidently is the source of what inherited talent I have. She never had any lessons, but she could play a few hymns. My earliest goal was to play as well as she played but as time went by, my goals changed. Her piano playing was different.
While most pianists hardly ever play more than an occasional “black” key, she hardly ever played anything else. She also had an unusual style of play because of her early keyboard experience. She learned to play using a reed or “pump” organ which meant that there was no way to sustain (hold) the notes except to keep the note depressed with the fingers which meant having to develop a different performing technique. It was carried over to her piano playing. She kind of “rocked” her hands hardly every moving them from their original position except to change chords. I used to tell her that she played the most difficult keys but since she played by ear, she was unaware that most piano players stayed away from the black keys.
Of course for a well trained Bobby MacDonald performer, there is no degree of difficulty too great no matter which key is used for a composition. I do not fit into this category.
To be a good piano player it take lots of practice, dedication, discipline and most of all, God given talent being the most important.
Thank you Jesus.
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Bill Lee, PO Box 128,
Hamer, SC 29547
