Learning to Play the Piano (or any Instrument)
If you have always wanted to play yourself or are thinking of enrolling your children in lessons, here are my thoughts on how to start learning an instrument.
Take lessons with a teacher
If you are a beginner, a teacher will be invaluable in helping you establish a foundation to build your practice on. Why struggle on your own when someone can help you?
Playing an instrument well is so much more than simply playing the correct notes. A good player is thinking about rhythm, tempo, dynamics, technique, musicality and much more in their practice. A good teacher will have you incorporate these elements in your playing from day 1 in even the simplest compositions.
Yes, there are geniuses out there who are self-taught, but they are extremely rare and most of us need help.
Finding a teacher
Every teacher has their own way of playing and teaching. Many simply continue teaching what they learned from their teacher(s). A safe bet will be to choose a teacher who attended a conservatory or college music program. They will have been trained at a high level and will most likely have been taught by a variety of teachers and professional performers and therefore will have benefited from learning different techniques and practice methods that they can share with you.
Another consideration is what kind of player do you want to be (more on this below). Obviously if you want to learn jazz, then choose a teacher who plays jazz at a high level. If you want to play duets or in a band or with a choir, then choose a teacher who offers collaborative lessons with other students.
Most importantly, you need a teacher that makes you feel comfortable but will also push you to improve your abilities. Going to a piano lesson should be both fun and challenging, not a chore or something to be feared.
Resources:
Cape Cod Conservatory (Variety of instrument instructors)
Association of Professional Piano Instructors
New England Piano Teachers’ Assocation
Royal Conservatory of Music (All instruments; Canada & United States)
What kind of player do you want to be and what do you want to play?
The answer to this doesn’t, of course, have to be one thing that never changes. I started playing classical music and did that for many years but right now I’m focusing on expanding my repertoire to jazz, showtunes and improvisation techniques. Whatever the answer is, it should be taken into consideration when choosing a teacher and shared with prospective teachers so they can tailor their lessons to your needs.
Some questions to consider: 1) how much time are you willing and able to devote to practice, both in the short- and long-term? 2) Do you want to play classical, pop, jazz, showtunes, all of the above? 3) Do you want to play with other musicians or singers?
Take advantage of online resources but don’t learn any instrument from an app!
There has been an explosion of online teaching resources in recent years. None of these take the place of one-on-one lessons but can be useful to explore as you advance. Depending on where we live, we may not get exposure to a variety of teachers or masterclasses, so the internet can be a great way to supplement what we can access locally and get different teaching perspectives.
Here is a comprehensive list of YouTube teachers with a variety of styles at Playingkeys.com.
My personal favorite is Graham Fitch, a British performer and teacher of classical piano. He does have a paid subscription but offers free content and webinars on his website Practicing the Piano.
But please, do not learn from an app. I may be biased but I strongly believe that if you are serious about learning to play, this is no substitute to learning how to read music (which isn’t difficult at all) and having lessons with a human being!
Get a quality instrument
This does not mean going out and buying a Steinway or the most expensive brand of instrument on the market, but you should try to access an instrument that is in good condition and is pleasant to listen to. You will be far more likely to keep practicing on an instrument that you enjoy. This is true for children taking lessons as well. In the case of a piano, it is essential to have an instrument that will hold a tuning to develop your ear as well.
Many music stores now offer rentals which is a great option if the upfront cost to buy an instrument is prohibitive or you are just experimenting with a new hobby.
A little (almost every day) goes a long way
As with anything - fitness, cooking, learning a language, or any new skill - we must do it consistently to improve. There are no tricks; we simply must sit down and put in the time to practice.
However, even the most serious and devoted players sometimes don’t feel like practicing. If you don’t, you are not alone, especially after a long day of work. Some practical tips for fitting in practice are:
Schedule it in your calendar but be realistic with yourself and your teacher about what you can and want to do. 3 hours after a day of work or family commitments is not possible for most people and that’s ok.
Consistency is key. 30 minutes a day, 4-6 days a week is better than a multi-hour cram session on the weekend both for mental and physical reasons.
Just sit down at the piano. If you really aren’t in the mood, just say to yourself “I’ll l just do 15 minutes.” Very often you will do more, and if you don’t, at least you did 15 minutes.
Change your mindset. Instead of thinking, “I must practice”, think “I get to play the piano”. It is play after all.
Do not think there is something wrong with you if you find progress slow or difficult. Learning an instrument takes work and dedication and we all find it challenging. That’s part of what makes it worthwhile.
