Piano lessons are one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of this instrument. For some, they always seem to play but are never actually able to play it nicely. Which is why taking piano lessons are truly a great way to enjoy the sound of music. There are many benefits to getting professionally taught, and can be a great way for young kids to learn the value of discipline, art, and music. Understanding chords all on your own is quite a tough task, especially if you have no idea which sounds are what notes. That is why piano lessons are needed to ensure success at playing the piano.

•What are the benefits of piano lessons?

One of the main benefits is the more time you are able to spend on learning. Most of the time, all we ever do is simply play the piano and touch all the notes at different times. This is actually very normal when you are just starting out. However, when you actually take piano lessons, you won’t have to do anything just to play the piano nicely, as you would know exactly what to do whenever you play. Taking lessons can also help you from gaining any bad habits from playing on your own. For example, some people play the piano with very hard hands, so it could be hard to adjust once it develops. When you first take lessons, your coach could always remind you to relax and not be so stiff whenever you’re playing. So it’s pretty useful to get lessons, as you could become a much better pianist if you are just willing to accept other peoples advice. Playing the world’s hardest songs won’t be accomplished immediately, but with the right coach and the correct foundation, you can be on your way to playing the songs you’ve always wanted.

•How to find an instructor.

You can easily find a reputable coach by utilizing the Internet. Go to Google and type in your area, along with “piano lessons”. You should see several websites or music schools pop up showcasing their amazing piano lessons. Despite the many instructors to choose from, try going to a music school who specializes in teaching the piano. Music schools are great to visit, as the teachers are very well trained at these schools. Remember again the results aren’t exactly instant and will take some time, but your hard work will definitely show in the end when you’re playing your favorite songs on the piano.

Playing the piano can be a great asset whether you want to do it for fun or you need it for school. Whatever the reason may be, taking piano lessons can be the best way to see yourself play at your fullest potential. Learning this instrument is quite a tough process and requires lots of work. So don’t give up if you don’t master your favorite songs quickly. Finding a teacher may be hard at first, but can easily be done once you use the Internet.

(Note: This article is not by Duane, but is a guest article)

For a cornucopia of great piano courses click on PlayPianoCatalog

Piano practice for adults — how to help your piano teacher make the most of your piano lessons.

Any truly positive change takes a lot of time, dedication, and patience - and that includes piano practice. Anyone who tells you differently, is trying to get some fast money out of you. You know how it works. You start with a dream and you jump in and get started. Then reality comes roaring back. You have a job, you have kids, you’re tired, and after one week of work, you don’t feel like you’re getting any better so you start playing less and less.

That doesn’t mean that your hard work has to be tedious and boring. Far from it.

When is your prime time?

For some people, they do all of their “chores” when they wake up so real life doesn’t pull them in all directions before the essentials get done. Others do their piano practicing at the end of the day after everything is done and they can relax. When is your prime time? Whenever your mind is most focused and ready to engage in your practice, that’s when you should do it. If you have a bad attitude towards practice, often it’s not because you don’t like the piano. It’s because it’s the wrong time of day. Often the things that drain most of your energy and drive are the highest on your priority list, right?

Play Something You Like

Don’t spend all of your practice time playing material you already know but maybe do 10 or 15 minutes of scales and other technical exercises and then play something you enjoyed learning. Remind yourself that at one time this piece was just as bad as other music you’re learning now but you got there and now it sounds beautiful. Everything you’re practicing now will follow the same path. Play something you like to remind yourself of how the journey ends.

Consistent Standards

How’s your posture? How do your fingers look? Where’s your head? Are you using proper piano fingering? It’s ok and highly appropriate to focus on improving one thing at a time but your standards should never change. Bad posture while you’re learning teaches you two things: the piece you’re learning and bad posture. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between good and bad habits. You have to teach it and the only way to teach it is to keep standards consistent. That’s why your teacher may tell you to practice with a mirror next to you so you can see your posture.

You need a metronome

Metronomes used to be these big clunky looking things that cost a lot of money and looked like they were straight out of Beethoven’s day. Now, they cost as little as $15 and are about the size of a credit card. No musician is considered good if they can’t play at a consistent tempo. It will be annoying at first but quickly, you’ll get used to playing with it.

Bottom Line

Your piano lessons will help but they won’t make you a good piano player unless you make it happen. Your piano teacher will guide you down the road to being great but only your practice time will truly give you your dream of being a great pianist. Remember, positive change doesn’t come easy so hunker down and expect small changes over time but it won’t take long for you to look back and be amazed at the progress you’ve made.

For more good ideas on practicing, see Power Practice.

Copyright 2011 by Duane Shinn. Do not use without permission.

Learning to play the piano is about more than learning the names of notes. Students and parents have a variety of different piano methods to choose from. All teach the basics of playing piano. The differences lie in their respective emphases and their suitability for particular age groups and learning styles. While there are many methods, here are a few of the most common.

* The Suzuki method: This method of teaching piano originated in Japan in the mid 1900s. Shin’ichi Suzuki realized that children have the innate ability to learn whatever language is their “mother tongue.” This includes languages that are considered very difficult to learn when taken on in adulthood. Suzuki reasoned that children can learn to play an instrument in the same way. Like being immersed in a language from the moment of birth, immersion in music could also be instilled this way. Suzuki developed his piano curriculum in a manner that addressed the whole child. He desired to develop children who were not only skilled musicians, but noble citizens as well. In addition to formal lessons, the Suzuki method focuses on immersing the child in a musical culture. This includes listening to quality music at home, attending professional concerts, and meeting with other musicians. Of children who grow up learning the Suzuki method, a large percentage enters into careers in the music industry.

* Music for Young Children: This method is unique in that it incorporates parental involvement. Rather than merely dropping off a child at a lesson, parents actively participate in the child’s lesson. MYC builds upon the natural curiosity of a child by exposing children as young as three to different musical styles. Children are guided in exploring differences between types of music. Children are also encouraged to create their own compositions. Listening skills are stressed in MYC. It uses a multi-sensory approach to reinforce the concepts taught in class.

* The Bastien method: This method contains curriculum for both the child and the adult beginner. This is advantageous for those who never had the opportunity to take lessons in childhood. This method is not generally recommended for children younger than seven. It emphasizes good technique from the very first lesson. However, some professionals have criticized this method because of its over-emphasis on the five-finger method of playing. Students who study Bastien exclusively tend to learn to read notes more slowly than with other methods. The Bastien curriculum does incorporate graphics and colors that appeal to children.  Students who are exposed to this method should also be taught other methods as well.

* The Alfred method: Similar to the Bastien method, there is curriculum for both the adult and child beginner. The method has been around since the early 1900s.  Alfred has kept up with the times by expanding its curriculum to include software and CDs. Like Bastien, this method isn’t suitable for very young children. The method emphasizes intervals and chord progressions. Like Bastien, the tendency for students is to lag at learning to read notes. This curriculum may be best combined with other methods for a more rounded piano study.

* The Schaum method. This method has been around since the early 20th century.  John W. Schaum began teaching piano during the depression era. Eventually he founded his own music school. His teaching method focuses on sight reading, theory and proper technique. It also encourages music appreciation and introduces classical music beginning at the very earliest levels. The Schaum method is more suitable for older children.

All of these methods are available to most all piano teachers, so when you choose a piano teacher for your child, be sure to ask him or her which method they prefer, and why. Knowing where the teacher is coming from and the logic used to select a method will give you a strong hint about the compentency of the piano teacher.

When you think of piano lessons, the mental picture you get might be of child sitting at a keyboard. The instructor is probably sitting next to the child, tapping out rhythm with a baton or pencil. While many do start as children taking piano instruction from a teacher, far more options are available today. Often this is good news for adults who never had the opportunity to take formal lessons as a child. If the idea of being scrutinized by a piano teacher makes you cringe, consider these other forms of piano instruction:

* Group lessons: Piano instruction takes place in a classroom-like setting. You’re usually in a group with several other students. Every student has their own keyboard, and the instructor teaches from the front. Group lessons are sometimes offered by music stores, community centers or schools. Often with group lessons, you sign up for a certain length of time (several weeks to a few months). With no pressure to sign on for long-term lessons, the commitment level required is low. Prices tend to be somewhat less expensive than private lessons too.

* DVD instruction: A plethora of DVD piano instruction curriculum is available for adult beginners and even advanced players. Topics range from learning basic notes and scales, to chord theory, specific music genres and more. Techniques are clearly demonstrated, making it easy to follow along. DVD piano curriculum ranges in price and often works out cheaper than taking private lessons. Plus, you can work at your own pace and on your own timeline. This method is not recommended for a child, as kids need a warm flesh and blood person sitting by them to help them with fingering and answer their questions.

* Internet lessons: There are a couple of options for Internet piano instruction. First, students can view video demonstrations and download curriculum and sheet music via an online music company. As with DVD instruction, you can work at your own pace. There’s no pressure to commit to anything long term. Another method is receiving live instruction via the Web. It’s similar to traditional piano lessons, except you see your instructor through a webcam. For this type of piano instruction, you must have a computer, or access to one, with Internet access. You’ll also need a webcam and an electronic keyboard or piano that is MIDI compatible. With either type of Internet lesson, you work in the comfort of your own home, and cost is usually less than traditional lessons.

* Instructional software: Similar to DVD instruction, you may also choose to purchase instructional software. This can be installed directly onto your computer. Piano lesson software is cost-efficient. And of course, you can work at home, at your own pace.

The type of piano instruction that you choose is largely dependent on your musical goals. Most piano instructors argue that traditional, one-on-one piano lessons are the only way to go. This is especially true if your goal is to become a professional musician or obtain some type of musical certification. It’s also important to note that one-on-one piano lessons are usually recommended for children over other methods of piano instruction. However, for adults who simply wish to enrich their personal lives or can’t afford regular lessons, these can be great alternatives to traditional piano lessons.

There are literally millions of adults today who took piano lessons when they were growing up, but at some point along the way gave them up. Some couldn’t care less, but many have an urge down deep to take up piano playing again someday.

Over the years I have never heard anyone say “I’m glad I never learned to play the piano”, but I have heard hundreds say something like “I sure wish I had paid attention when I was a kid”, or “My piano teacher was too strict (or too boring), but I would love to get back to the piano some day.”

And most people that feel that way have the “round-tuit” problem that we all have; they mean well, but the busyness of life distracts them from starting to play again. And they really don’t want to take lessons again from the little old lady down the street who can’t tell the Beatles from Beethoven. Plus it’s hard to work regular lessons into their already-packed schedule.

So what’s the solution?

There are two inter-related factors that when combined create an opportunity for adults such as this unlike any in history.

1. For the first time ever there is the world-wide web and all its endless and growing sources of information. Up to nearly 2000AD an individual was limited to the piano teachers of the region in which he or she lived. But it’s not so anymore. Many piano teachers have moved their teaching into the cyber world of the internet in the form of online lessons. Others have DVDs and CDs available in all aspects of piano playing, from the basics of a beginner to the improvisations of an advanced player. And they are easy to find, too. Simply type in phrases such as “piano lessons for adults” or “how to play the piano” or “I want to learn piano chords” into any search engine such as Google, and up pops a vast array of intriguing possibilities. (Try it — you’ll see!)

2. The second factor is one that has always existed, but until recent times has not been articulated well so that the average person could understand the concept. And that is simply that there are 3 different ways to learn to play the piano, and adults can pick one of the three, two of the three, or all three in any combination, and come out with a synergy far better than any one method alone.

The 3 methods are:

1. Reading music from the printed score. Well over 95% of all piano lessons revolve around the ability to read a piece of sheet music, and the technical facility to make your fingers do what your mind tells them to do. This is the traditional method of piano lessons; scales, drills, finger exercises, and practice reading endless pieces from the very first “Left thumb, right thumb” piece to the most advanced classical piece such as Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” or Rachmaninoff’s “Prelude in C# minor”. And there are teachers online who can teach music reading. Search for them by typing in such phrases as “learn to read music” or “classical piano lessons online”.

2. Playing by ear. There are a very few individuals who can really play by ear, but they don’t need our help — they can play what they want any way they want. Playing by ear can be taught to some degree, but anyone who thinks they can end up playing like Ray Charles is kidding himself or herself. Still, normal individuals can learn to pick out a tune by ear and then match a chord to that melody, and eventually entertain themselves and others while having a ball.

3. Playing from chord symbols. Many professional pianists — especially jazz pianists — use “fake books”. Fake books are collections of songs in a “lead sheet” format, which means the melody of the song plus the chord symbols that go with the melody. To learn this form of playing you will need to learn chords — at least enough to play the songs you want to play — and you will need to learn to read the tune of the song in the treble clef — a skill much easier than learning to read masses of notes in both the treble and bass clefs.

Most people don’t even know that this form of playing exists, or if they do, they thing it is limited to pros. Not so. It is a straightforward process and produces good results after a relatively short period of time. In other words, you’ll be playing enough to enjoy yourself and maybe amaze your friends in a matter of weeks instead of years.

All of these methods are viable, and all can be learned from piano teachers online. But probably the best way of all is a synergy of the 3 ways: learn to read sheet music, develop your ear, and learn chords and how to use chord symbols to create your own styles of music.

Which ever method you pick is fine — just pick one and get going. A world of fun and satisfaction await!

For more information on the 3 methods adults can learn how to play the piano, watch my free short 5-minute video titled “I want to get back to piano playing!”

To get started come on over to the Play Piano Catalog

Does the idea of taking piano lessons make you cringe? Does it make you remember some old lady beating you over the knuckles with a ruler when you were eight years old for not practicing your scales enough? Do you think back to the old woman with thirty-three cats that stunk of urine and cheap perfume that your mother made you learn scales from when you were a child?

Now that you are an adult you don’t have to be traumatized any more. Simply dissociate your bad experiences and learn how to play piano online. That way, you’ll never have to smell a smelly piano teacher again.

Know that you are not alone out there. I remember taking the piano lessons from Hell when I was in elementary school — about the 2nd grade or so. My instructor, we’ll call her Wilma (mainly because that was her name) was in her eighties — at least it seemed that way to me — she might have been much younger than that. She reminded me of the wicked witch of the West, with her long crooked fingers and a sharp nose. Looking back, I’m fairly certain that she ended up teaching piano lessons to children because she needed the money.

My piano lessons took place in a music shop that seemed ordinary enough from the selling floor. Once you entered the back room for lessons, however, you were overwhelmed by the stench of urine and cigarette smoke. Apparently, Wilma wasn’t so hot at keeping her area neat and tidy. If she only knew that a little bit of Lysol goes a long way, my nose would have been so grateful!

After a few minutes, I would get used to the smell. At least, I would become less horrified by it the more I was forced to breathe it in. What I simply couldn’t get over, however, was the giant growth on Wilmas’ hand. Yes, a huge tumor-like growth joined me and Wilma every Tuesday afternoon for lessons. It was about the size of a quarter, and since she was my piano teacher, I was forced to stare at it for a hour every week. There was simply no avoiding the sight of that awful, purplish thing that seemed to be getting larger every time I visited. How any 7-year-old can be expected to concentrate on music lessons while being forced to stare at an anomaly straight out of a medical textbook - or perhaps even a science-fiction show, considering the size of it - I have no idea. And she used that hand to slap my fingers when they didn’t play the correct note, or I didn’t have them in the shape she wanted.

But, I really wanted to learn to play piano. So, I suffered through the piano lessons from Hell for a little under a year before my folks switched me to another teacher. What do I remember from my lessons from Wilma? I most remember the trauma of being forced to play music that seemed old and boring to me at the side of an old crotchety lady whose goal in life seemed to be to make the lives of little boys miserable

Perhaps your piano lessons from Hell were a bit less traumatizing. But still, who wants to make the effort to leave the house when you can teach yourself by studying online? Such a luxury would have made my 7-year old musical life immeasurably more pleasant, and perhaps I’d even be a better piano player for it. (Presuming, of course, that I had the discipline to take advantage of it!)

So, if you’ve had bad experiences with piano lessons in the past, you can still learn to play without that weekly feeling of dread. With the advent of the Internet, you no longer need to hunt down an expensive instructor. Simply look for a great course online, and start plunking your way toward your true destiny as a piano virtuoso. Even if you only end up a virtuoso in your own home, you’ll be amazed by how quickly and easily you can learn to play piano online at your own pace.

Enjoy the comforts of your own home as you learn, and trust me, your knuckles will thank you for the absence of piano teachers slapping them around if you miss a few practice sessions.

PS Having been a piano teacher for many years, I am well aware that there are many wonderful teachers who lovingly teach kids. But I also have heard a few horror stories over the years…

Does anyone still doubt that the Internet has deeply changed practically every aspect of modern life? Even people who usually resist technological change have to admit that this is true, even if grudgingly. I am one of those people who had been hearing the words “email” and “website” for years before I even had a real idea of what they meant. As a piano teacher who has, more recently, greatly benefited from these new technologies, I can now admit that I should have paid attention to these new technologies much earlier.

Of course, I still have misgivings about certain aspects of the Web. Still, as far as music is concerned, we have no choice but to accept the changes. Anyone can see that the revolutions which have taken place in the music recording industry, thanks to mp3s, file sharing software, and social networking websites are huge, and that there is now no going back to the old ways.

Thanks to PDFs and other Web-based publishing formats, the same is true of music instruction and notation. Like the recording industry, the world of music instruction is changing dramatically. It’s not my place to say whether these developments are good or bad. Whatever they are, they are here to stay, so it’s best for us recovering Luddites to accept these changes and move on.

The PDF format has been around since the mid 1990s, but as a format for music notation and instruction, it has only recently arrived. Whether or not we are completely familiar with what a PDF is, thee format is the future of online music publication, and countless music instructors and students alike are even now using PDFs for a variety of musical purposes.

In short, PDF stands for “portable document format.” It was created by the Adobe software company in 1993, and its purpose is to resemble, as closely as possible, real-life documents. Unlike programs such Microsoft Word, which is basically a word-processing program, Adobe’s software focuses on the two-dimensional presentation of words, pictures, symbols, and other graphics on a page. In this light, it’s easy to understand why PDFs are perfect for music notation. Obviously, it’s practically impossible to create music notation in a word processing document; PDFs provide a highly functional alternative.

Piano PDFs are a story unto themselves. As one of the most popular instruments in the history of the world, piano is at the center of the current boom in music lessons for adults. Naturally, many busy adult pianists have turned to the Web to provide instructions and guidance through the difficult process of learning piano. In an overwhelmingly large number of cases, PDF is the preferred format for Web-based music instructors, as well as those individuals whose hard work is giving us rapidly growing databases of music that was previously only available in real-world books. Instead, now there are PDF’s that have video and audio embedded, so it is in essence just like a web page.

So, when you are looking for an online piano instruction service to use, any instructor who uses PDFs is a good bet. This shows that he or she has kept up with emerging technologies and cares about providing a high-quality learning experience for students.

At the same time, if you plan to continue your piano instruction to advanced levels, it becomes more and more important to familiarize yourself with the PDF format. After all, soon you will be proficient enough to seek out pieces to play that are not directly related toy our music instruction. When this time comes, you will want to use one of the many vast online databases of musical pieces, many of which use exclusively piano PDFs.

If music in general and piano in particular interests you, then now is the time to begin. When it comes to learning the piano, age is no barrier. If you truly desire to learn the instrument, you will apply yourself accordingly no matter what your age.

While we do absorb information like sponges in our formative years, we do not necessarily have the deep interest and sense of commitment that we do as we mature. That’s why adulthood is a great time to learn a new activity, such as the piano. Think of it, you are making a conscious, independent decision to develop a new skill. No one is telling you, or making you, take lessons. You are studying the piano because you want to study the piano.

We tend to throw ourselves with verve into activities that interest us. That’s why, if you have the interest, you can learn the piano from scratch in adulthood. Music is a great avenue for creative expression. In our fast-paced lives, learning to create music may be exactly what you need as a break from your daily routine.

The approach you take to learning the piano is important when you’re an adult. In our jobs, we tend to work at a harried pace and often expect immediate results. This attitude can spill over into our music study. If you desire to learn the piano, you have to take a systematic approach and set reasonable goals.

Decide whether you want to take private lessons or self-teach. You might want to take a few lessons to get the basics down and then continue study on your own. You may choose to do web-based studies. Whatever learning method you choose will only take you as far as your attitude does.
To succeed at learning the piano from scratch, as an adult, consider these suggestions:

* Have fun. You didn’t decide to take piano to add extra stress to your life. If you miss a day of practice, big deal; it means you missed a day of practice. Besides, you don’t want to practice seven days a week. Piano is an interest, not your career.

* Take the first step; don’t try to take five steps at once. Learn a concept or element, practice it, and then move to the next step. Trying to leapfrog steps because you’re in a hurry to get to Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven will only get you frustrated. Frustration leads to giving up your dream.

* Set reasonable goals. Remember, you’re new to this and you may feel overwhelmed with all that piano playing entails. Set a daily goal and focus on that alone. Do the same the next day.

* Get tips and ideas from other adults who successfully undertook piano studies. Ask them what worked best for them and what pitfalls to avoid. You will gain valuable insight into proper study methods. You will have someone you can bounce ideas off who can relate to what you’re doing.

* As you progress beyond the basics, make sure you gravitate to music you enjoy, not just music the lessons tell you to play. You will continue with a lifelong study of the piano if you learn to play your favorite music.

Learning to play the piano is not just for children and teens. It is a creative pursuit for all ages. Decide today to begin your study of the piano – it will be music to your ears for tomorrow and beyond.