Play piano, play anything. Most instruments can be tuned from the piano. Not to say that if you can play piano, you can play anything, (any instrument). But, if you can play the piano and know the notes and keys, you can tune and learn to play most instruments. Most instruments share the same scale and note patterns. Instruments usually are read and written in treble or bass clef. Where the piano writes and reads them both. Treble clef being the higher tones played with the right hand, and the Bass clef being the lower tones played with the left hand. Drums and percussive instruments are the only instruments I can think of that are not tuned and translates easy from the piano. For example, if I play the piano well enough that I know my notes and the corresponding keys. I can then figure out the notes and finger placements for the electric guitar and the bass guitar. The electric guitar is a Treble clef tone making instrument and the notes will be written in the treble clef on sheet music. Whereas the bass guitar is a deeper tone sounding instrument and the notes are written on the Bass clef of sheet music. So, knowing my notes from the piano, which makes treble and bass tone sounds, allows me to translate that knowledge to more than one instrument. Knowing piano helps to know what parts other instruments are playing in a particular song. Having the knowledge learned from studying the piano will allow for understanding and reading other band members song parts or instrument arrangements.
With drums, the theory learned in piano will help in reading drum arrangements. But the notes written on the staff are written differently. Note as the c-d-e note we are used to form piano, but rather as symbols to represent the corresponding drum to be played when symbol is read. Understanding the music staff and the lines and spaces notes are written on will allow and aid in the teaching and the playing of drums.
Learning the piano can also assist with vocal training. How many know the music training song, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do. The tones of music scales used in singing. Playing a note or key on the piano and vocally matching the tone from the piano to the vocal tone is vocal training. You can teach someone else to sing the correct vocal notes or you can teach yourself as you play along.
To me, the piano is the foundation instrument all other instruments are based around, but hey, I’m partial. However, the knowledge learned from studying the piano, knowing notes, both the treble and the bass clef. Knowing what the music staff is and how to read it, understanding rhythm and counting in music, will allow you to easily transition to different instruments and different experiences in the language of music. Let’s Play Music!
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