Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
at which time should I switch off all helping letters (or numbers) and have notes only? level 50? after 3 months?
yea of course general answer will be "it depends" or "when you feel ready" but what is your experience?
yea of course general answer will be "it depends" or "when you feel ready" but what is your experience?
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Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
To avoid a general answer, I'm going to refrain from answering. Because I don't have the personal experience myself. I already learned piano skills before joining Playground.
I think it's best to open this up to other users. I know some of them will have great experience to share.
I think it's best to open this up to other users. I know some of them will have great experience to share.
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Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
My opinion is that you should do it as soon as possible though, and go back and forth slowly. Then eventually don't use them at all.
- sw1tch73ch
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Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
I do have the personal experience to answer - so I will.
My advice, at least after the first few lessons, and when the question comes up in your mind is to do the lesson exercises initially with the numbers on all the way through Rookie Bootcamp. Play the exercises with the numbers to orient your fingers. As soon as you have a decent feel for the finger positions, switch to the letter names. I would keep the letter names there until you've reached 100% for that exercise at least twice (or whichever goal you've set for yourself - I go for 100%). Then turn the notation to the "none" so neither number or letters are shown, and play that until you've managed at least five 100% plays in a row.
There will be exceptions to this advice. Some lessons are meant to teach you how to "Pivot" (watch for that word in the lessons) so keep the finger numbers on for those until you get the 100% scores - then switch to Letters and then none as described before. Don't be afraid that you're failing if you need to turn the numbers back on now and then. But the goal is to use them only to start the lessons and until your have a feel, literally, for where the fingers belong in that exercise.
Now the caveat - as you progress you should tailor these ideas so that they work best for you. If you find you have trouble getting to 100% without finger numbers - go ahead and keep them on until you do - but then still switch to the letters and then none before you consider the lessons mastered. On the other hand you might be ready to run after only one time through an exercise - so go ahead and switch to letters right away. But study the finger positions for at least the "pre-play" portion of the exercise.
Oh! Did I forget to mention the preplay of the lesson? Yes, look at the sheet music, imagining your fingers working as described at least once before trying to play. I actually play through without the "Play" button the first time, just to make sure I understand where the fingers go.
My advice, at least after the first few lessons, and when the question comes up in your mind is to do the lesson exercises initially with the numbers on all the way through Rookie Bootcamp. Play the exercises with the numbers to orient your fingers. As soon as you have a decent feel for the finger positions, switch to the letter names. I would keep the letter names there until you've reached 100% for that exercise at least twice (or whichever goal you've set for yourself - I go for 100%). Then turn the notation to the "none" so neither number or letters are shown, and play that until you've managed at least five 100% plays in a row.
There will be exceptions to this advice. Some lessons are meant to teach you how to "Pivot" (watch for that word in the lessons) so keep the finger numbers on for those until you get the 100% scores - then switch to Letters and then none as described before. Don't be afraid that you're failing if you need to turn the numbers back on now and then. But the goal is to use them only to start the lessons and until your have a feel, literally, for where the fingers belong in that exercise.
Now the caveat - as you progress you should tailor these ideas so that they work best for you. If you find you have trouble getting to 100% without finger numbers - go ahead and keep them on until you do - but then still switch to the letters and then none before you consider the lessons mastered. On the other hand you might be ready to run after only one time through an exercise - so go ahead and switch to letters right away. But study the finger positions for at least the "pre-play" portion of the exercise.
Oh! Did I forget to mention the preplay of the lesson? Yes, look at the sheet music, imagining your fingers working as described at least once before trying to play. I actually play through without the "Play" button the first time, just to make sure I understand where the fingers go.
== Just keep playing. Just keep playing. Just keep playing, playing, playing! ==
-- jbs --
-- jbs --
Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
I agree completly, ASAP, in my case I realized after 3 months (at Level 53) that I cannot play without letters so now I feel like a newbe. And probably (again) I found another bug. I cannot switch off entirely all letters, see figure: apart from flat symbol, which is hilariously funny after several user reports. But still cannot switch them off, why?andrewwegierski wrote: ↑Fri Jan 25, 2019 4:45 pmMy opinion is that you should do it as soon as possible though, and go back and forth slowly. Then eventually don't use them at all.
Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
sarcastic post (deleted by user)
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Last edited by pavel on Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
I didn't know that either. The chord symbols are not considered letter names. Chord symbols appear in almost all popular and jazz piano music for the ease of playing and understanding it. It's much easier to see Dmaj7 as one concept, as opposed to reading the 3 pitches there.
Also, the flats showing as X's is a Windows 10 system font issue. This will be addressed in an update.
Also, the flats showing as X's is a Windows 10 system font issue. This will be addressed in an update.
Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
no it is not possible, wich is was. I just made picture in Photoshop to ilustrate how cool it would be if you modify it. Really I do not want any help, no letters, no numbers at all. As is written in help:
I am asking you how to swith off completly.
I am asking you how to swith off completly.
Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
Pavel, I don't understand why you chose to post these images. Apart from the chord notation (which I agree with Andrew is a really standard feature and unrelated to fingering or note hints) the third button does just what you want:
There are much bigger fish to fry IMHO. Why they haven't yet pushed a build fixing the font issue is beyond me.
No need for Photoshop.There are much bigger fish to fry IMHO. Why they haven't yet pushed a build fixing the font issue is beyond me.
Re: Time to switch letters vs. numbers vs. none
I bought some books with notes, famous songs etc... there is none description for chords, then I found some old classical music sheet, there is none description for chords ....
all what I am saying, if I have a chord description (letters) I will get use to read it instead of reading notes and once I want to play by a book I am in deep trouble
for same reason I switched off for notes, now I want to hide for chords. Nothing else. I dont want miracles.
Letters are still there even checked NO LETTERS
all what I am saying, if I have a chord description (letters) I will get use to read it instead of reading notes and once I want to play by a book I am in deep trouble
for same reason I switched off for notes, now I want to hide for chords. Nothing else. I dont want miracles.
Letters are still there even checked NO LETTERS