As an introduction, I've been playing music a lot longer than I've been playing starcraft. I'm a fairly high-level jazz saxophonist, and hope to go to conservatory/become a professional in that area. As a capable musician, I have the ability to play around with a piano some (for anyone who understands music theory, piano is not very difficult to do basic things with). Recently, though, I've been getting more into the piano, trying to teach myself how to play it as a fourth instrument (sax, flute, guitar, piano).

Being a sax player, the hardest part of teaching myself the piano is left-hand/right hand independence. Playing different melodies or rhythms on each hand is discombobulating and hard as hell. Props to drummers for being able to do four appendages. In the last couple of weeks, I've practiced starcraft a ton, and my APM rose from around 115 to around 225. Suddenly, my left hand on the piano feels a LOT easier. Thank you starcraft, for helping me become a better musician.

deth

Australia1757 Posts

February 10 2010 03:25 GMT

5/5, starcraft teaches your hands life skills ftw :D

Badjas

Netherlands2038 Posts

February 10 2010 03:28 GMT

Cool

Next step, foot pedal interface for starcraft ^_^

Xeris

Iran17695 Posts

February 10 2010 03:32 GMT

fast apm = better at fingering a girl (true) ... ;p

mikeymoo

Canada7170 Posts

February 10 2010 03:32 GMT

I bet you if you practiced piano a lot you'd play sc faster, too

KrAzYfoOL

Australia3037 Posts

February 10 2010 03:32 GMT

I used my guitar the other way around, I used to play guitar before jumping on iccup to warm-up my hands :O

unionbank

Australia666 Posts

February 10 2010 03:35 GMT

I think to say Starcraft helped you become a better musician is a misunderstanding. Starcraft is only masking your hard work and effort to become a better musician and so in turn you are misinterpreting your diligence and initiative to become a better musician.

Its not what Starcraft taught you but rather what you learned playing Starcraft.

Raz0r

United States287 Posts

February 10 2010 03:41 GMT

Starcraft is truly an awesome game! That is why sc2 must give such rewards when playing at such high levels.

[NyC]HoBbes

United States803 Posts

February 10 2010 03:42 GMT

On February 10 2010 12:35 unionbank wrote:
I think to say Starcraft helped you become a better musician is a misunderstanding. Starcraft is only masking your hard work and effort to become a better musician and so in turn you are misinterpreting your diligence and initiative to become a better musician.

Its not what Starcraft taught you but rather what you learned playing Starcraft.

I guess I see it as developing certain skills that are beneficial to both, whether by practicing the piano or practicing SC. The comment that playing starcraft can directly make you a better musician was made mostly tongue-in-cheek

Saturnize

United States2473 Posts

February 10 2010 03:50 GMT

#10

Starcraft is addicting. Don't know how that is helpful.

prOxi.swAMi

Australia3091 Posts

February 10 2010 03:51 GMT

#11

Similar story for me too. I only recently (2 months ago) started to play the guitar and people who have watched me have told me how shocked they are at how quickly I have improved and how comfortable I am with the chords. I attribute my early success to StarCraft.

MaReK

Australia446 Posts

February 10 2010 04:11 GMT

#12

On February 10 2010 12:32 Xeris wrote:
fast apm = better at fingering a girl (true) ... ;p

Pure.Freedom

United States114 Posts

February 10 2010 04:21 GMT

#13

Whats that quote... all i ever needed to know i learned from starcraft ... actual quote is kindergarten or something like that

GreEny K

Germany7312 Posts

February 10 2010 04:53 GMT

#14

So with all that apm what rank are you?

nosliw

United States2716 Posts

February 10 2010 05:30 GMT

#15

what is a good place to start learning jazz? I've had classical music theory, but i'm interested in jazz's music theory.

[NyC]HoBbes

United States803 Posts

February 10 2010 05:49 GMT

#16

On February 10 2010 14:30 nosliw wrote:
what is a good place to start learning jazz? I've had classical music theory, but i'm interested in jazz's music theory.

Do you mean just learning the theory behind it or actually learning to play jazz?

nosliw

United States2716 Posts

February 10 2010 06:03 GMT

#17

like jazz chord progression, and basics about improv

[NyC]HoBbes

United States803 Posts

February 10 2010 06:24 GMT

#18

Learning improv is all about listening- listen to as much jazz as you possibly can, familiarize yourself with the rhythms and the sounds. Listen to a solo you like, try to learn it by ear, and, once you have it completely down exactly as played, start fooling around with changing the articulations, changing the rhythms, playing it in different keys, etc. Improvisation is less spontaneous than people think, it is more like speaking a language built on a vocabulary of things people have played before you. I learned the entire Charlie Parker Omnibook as part of building my vocabulary, and I tend to play solos in a style reminiscent of him. Learn Jazz standards, and learn them in multiple keys. Taking any song, and learning to solo over it in all 12 keys is a great improv exercise.

As for chord progressions, there isn't really a set rule for what makes a "jazz" chord progression, pretty much anything can, and probably has been used. Generally, however, Major and minor 7th chords are very important pieces of the jazz sound. In terms of a specific progression, ii-V-I is probably the most "standard" jazz progression, but Jazz is not really defined by one chord progression in the way that, for example, 1950's rock is. Learning blues scales and pentatonic scales is also always helpful.

Soloing over chord changes can on its most basic level be summed up as "hit the notes that are in the chord more often than not, they'll sound better." In more advanced jazz theory, one gets into chord substitution, Coltrane changes, and other fun things like that, but I wouldn't advise anyone to dive into that kind of stuff without a firm grounding in jazz basics.

In terms of materials, any book of standards is great, I'd personally recommend the Real Book, and, in terms of theory, taking a lesson is probably the most beneficial thing, along with listening to a ton of jazz.