It is quite common for someone who is thinking about taking up the piano or the keyboards to be a little bit lost when it comes picking a piano teacher and I regularly get asked the following [questions].

 

Is age important?

This is the question that I am asked most of all and it still surprises me each time I hear it. It seems that a lot of people believe that you can only really become a proficient piano player if you begin learning as a small child.

 

This could not be further from the truth.

There are multiple successful piano players who did certainly begin to play very young but this just isn’t the general rule. It is essentially a lot easier to learn the piano as an adult as you know what you are doing and you learn out of choice and not out of obligation. As an adult you are also more responsible when it comes to doing your well needed regular practice.

 

How long will it take?

A whole lot of people choose the guitar because after only a short time of learning you will be able to get a decent sound and be playing a number of popular song. Traditionally with the piano or keyboards it takes quite a long time and requires a lot of hard work before you can be playing identifiable music. There are nevertheless a couple of home study programs that show you how to play the piano in multiple different styles at the same time. They train you how to play by reading music and how to play by ear at the same time. With these courses you will be playing identifiable music from the very start.

 

Can I learn to play with a keyboard or do I have to use a piano?

Keyboards and organs have a slightly distinct touch to a piano but the basics are the similar. The keys are all identical. It can be more difficult to learn using an organ but a lot of keyboards these days have some very good piano emulations. If you are going to be using a piano later on then you will find it tougher as the piano keys have a harder action meaning that they are heavier to push. If you learn to play on a piano from the beginning then you will find it much simpler to play a keyboard at a later date. See also Piano For Beginners.

 

What is the price of piano lessons?

Piano lessons with a specialized teacher can cost anything from $50 to $100 or more for an hour long lesson. Most teachers give individual lessons in their own homes, in a music center or they will travel to you. Some charge $50 per hour and others will charge you $200 per month giving you a session a week. You can get the equivalent of a good deal more than a full years worth of classes for less than $50 when you download one of the popular home study courses. For up to date and detailed video reviews on the best home study piano courses see the How to learn piano website.

 

Are there places online to learn at no cost?

There are many sites that offer free beginners piano lessons. You will get the beginners lessons but the majority of sites do not go any further than that. The same goes for web based videos. There are numerous videos teaching you the fundamentals and there are quite a few that will show you how to play specific songs. There is no structure here though. It is very tiring to learn correctly this way however you might learn something.

 

Check out the Piano Lessons For Beginners website for detailed assessments on the top home study piano courses.

Filed under: Piano by Markley
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