Medieval History Lesson

Piano lessons are very expensive (at least where i live) and i have little time because of the studies and stuff, but i’m earning money to buy a piano keyboard just because i really want to learn how to play piano, so is it possible for me to learn by practicing, watching tutorials on youtube and eventually reading books or i should rather wait till i have vacations and money earned for lessons? I mean, because i learned how to draw by practicing and drawing for life since i was a kid without ever having lessons, so i tough that maybe for piano it should be possible too.

Here’s the deal: You can learn a certain amount by yourself. There will be things you can’t figure out by yourself. If you’re content to stick with what you can figure out on your own, that’s fine. If you ever want to get past that point you’ll need instruction.

I know a really talented kid who mostly taught himself piano, sometimes asking his (non-custodial) dad for help. He played pretty well for a eighth grader. At some point he decided that he really wanted lessons, and that’s when he took off. He made more progress in a year of lessons as he had made in five years of teaching himself.

I don’t want to get piano lessons going to other person’s house or them coming to my house so where would you call a place where I could go to learn with other students?

Some colleges/music schools have group piano instruction in which several students are seated at their own pianos or keyboards receiving lessons from the music teacher. If they are playing pianos, all students may be performing the identical composition at the same time or taking turns playing a work for the other pupils to hear while the teacher makes constructive comments on their playing. If using a keyboard, the player may have on headphones and only the teacher can hear what the student is playing..and thus can make individual comments to him or her.

Sometimes organizations such as the YMCA or YWCA or churches that have pianos available may offer piano lessons. Check them out.

I have a Mac, and I have Garageband of course, but I would have to upgrade to get the Piano Lessons. As someone who hardly knows the basics, do the lessons teach you that? Are the tutorials worth the price?

No

I want to start taking drum lessons, But my mom tells to take piano before drums. Is that necessary?

No. although learning piano will teach you more about music.

I took lessons from about 9 to 15 years old. I’m currently 20. In those last five years of no lessons I only began to get serious about playing the piano again last year. I believe my skill has improved well beyond what I knew when I was 15. But I’m really wondering if taking lessons would be worth it? I know I have some bad technique that I can self-correct, but what about bad technique that I’m unaware of? Do expert piano players still take lessons? Thanks for your response.

You never stop learning!!!!!

I guess it depends how serious you are about it and whether you are wanting to take exams.

If not, enjoy playing at your own rate. Sometimes you enjoy it more just playing for pleasure and not having the added pressure of having to do exams.

Whatever you decide I hope you enjoying playing for many years to come.

I have been DIEING to learn piano. Though when I take lessons I don’t have the money to learn enough/ finish the lessons. Some of my friends have learned piano online and I’m very curious to find out who, what, and where can I get piano lessons that are legitimate. PLEASE help me!

The best way to learn the piano is to find face-to-face instruction. There are many online resources that can teach you piano theory and even give you some basic understanding of the piano and piano notation. They can not, however, provide the feedback you need to improve.

The only way you can really learn to play is to work with someone who already plays.

That said, I recommend finding someone at your church, school or place of business who already plays. Offer a swap - (s)he can teach you how to play the piano in exchange for some skill you can teach him/her. All it will cost you is time!

Either way, you will need a practice instrument if you’re going to learn to play the piano. Unfortunately, that is the biggest expense. Some churches, however, will let you practice on their pianos from time to time in hopes that you will one day play for service.

Good luck!

I don’t have a full on nice piano at home but i have a keyboard (its not a super high tech new keyboard… but its a keyboard…) I have ALWAYS wanted to take piano lessons and if i do start can i practice at home with a keyboard?

Hmm…. well. I also agree with Wayne. You can start with a keyboard, but you need to have a piano when you’re doing higher grades………….. And you also have mentioned that your keyboard is not a super high tech new keyboard. The technology is not the most important thing; but the touch. Although it’s a high tech keyboard or an ordinary keyboard, it has the same touch, unless it is an electric piano. Even on electric pianos, you don’t get the exact touch of an acoustic piano.

I hope it helped……

Greetings from Sri Lanka…..!!
-Sachiththa

My piano lessons will be once a week, but i want to know how many I need before I can do my own thing.

It depends on what you wish to achieve. Could be anywhere between 50 and 1,000,000.
Depends also on how talented you are and how dedicated.

I really want piano lessons but I can’t afford the ones at my school which are £88!

James Gunns
Piano Teacher
Teacher of Piano and Music Theory
Tel: 01784 433257
Email: james@gunns.freeserve.co.uk

Every time I have my piano lessons, I feel stressed and worried because all of the things I know in piano are clumped together in my head! Not to mention how tired and painful I am when I come home before the lessons. I need a exercise, maybe online, to keep the stuff sorted well. Any ideas?

If i understand your question right, there seems to be a few different issues here. Let’s see if I can help.

I remember too well how stressed I was as a young piano student. To the extent of stomach pain and tears before the lessons. One day (Eureka!) I realized something very simple that helped me very much; I realized that I played piano for MYSELF, not for somebody else. I played piano because I WANTED to learn, not to keep my piano teacher happy. And that the lessons were for me, the teacher was there for ME- for me to learn, not to keep up with some imagined - or not - standards of the teacher.

As for organizing what you learn, keep a diary or a piano log. Immediately AFTER each lesson take a few minutes and write down what you remember. Not an essay, just some notes. It helps to have the score in front of you. You might also ask the teacher if it would be OK to audio record the lesson. Some are OK with that, some not.

A third advice is planning and preparation BEFORE the lesson. Decide what you want to achieve until the next lesson- what YOU want. Be realistic, but set a specific goal. Divide that goal into smaller tasks to do each day. Don’t wait until the night before the lesson to practice desperately!

Music is hard work, but learning should be fun otherwise we would never learn anything!
Best of luck to you! Here are some links with some more advice: