So you want to learn to play piano and you're excited to get started, but how should you start? Well, there are two learning options available to you. The route many recommend is to find a qualified piano teacher and arrange to take lessons. This is the route that those who seek a professional career in music take. Certainly if you wish to play technically challenging classical pieces, this should be the route you take.
But if you simply want to play popular piano music for your own pleasure, teaching yourself piano becomes a realistic option. Learning to play piano by yourself can be both economical and more convenient, allowing you to learn at your own pace and fit your piano lessons and practice around your lifestyle.
There are many piano learning resources available to you, books, DVD's and a multitude of online training and videos. But a word of warning. Teaching yourself piano requires a lot of self-discipline. Here are some of the qualities you need to be successful.
1. You need to be patient. You can't expect instant results. Your playing ability will improve over time. You mustn't let frustration get the better of you. Commitment and determination will get you where you want to be.
2. You need to be able to practice regularly. It doesn't have to be every day. In fact taking a few days off is good as it is during your resting period that your finger muscles and you brain consolidate what has been learned so far. The next time you play, what you have learned will become easier for you.
3. Do you have enough free time to have a serious go at this? Would you have to sacrifice something to be able to make the time to practice, and is your desire to learn greater than the sacrifice? Will any sacrifice you make, over time, regain it's importance and start to steal time from your learning schedule?
4. This is the big one! You need determination and motivation. Are you the sort of person that quits as soon as you have a difficulty with what you are learning? Or do you look for ways around the problem? When you receive tuition from a professional piano teacher you get help when you are struggling. You are also more motivated as your teacher will have expectations of you and you will not want to let them down. But when you are teaching yourself piano, as soon as you experience problems, your motivation is under attack. With no one to help you, you will be less inclined to push yourself. Time passes and although you keep trying, you see little progress. You become disappointed and less inclined to practice until eventually you give up. Don't let that happen to you. The rewards for sticking at it are great.
As you can see, teaching yourself piano is not an easy option, but it might be the best to fit your lifestyle and your pocket. With the right attitude and the right training materials, you can be successful learning piano by yourself.
But if you simply want to play popular piano music for your own pleasure, teaching yourself piano becomes a realistic option. Learning to play piano by yourself can be both economical and more convenient, allowing you to learn at your own pace and fit your piano lessons and practice around your lifestyle.
There are many piano learning resources available to you, books, DVD's and a multitude of online training and videos. But a word of warning. Teaching yourself piano requires a lot of self-discipline. Here are some of the qualities you need to be successful.
1. You need to be patient. You can't expect instant results. Your playing ability will improve over time. You mustn't let frustration get the better of you. Commitment and determination will get you where you want to be.
2. You need to be able to practice regularly. It doesn't have to be every day. In fact taking a few days off is good as it is during your resting period that your finger muscles and you brain consolidate what has been learned so far. The next time you play, what you have learned will become easier for you.
3. Do you have enough free time to have a serious go at this? Would you have to sacrifice something to be able to make the time to practice, and is your desire to learn greater than the sacrifice? Will any sacrifice you make, over time, regain it's importance and start to steal time from your learning schedule?
4. This is the big one! You need determination and motivation. Are you the sort of person that quits as soon as you have a difficulty with what you are learning? Or do you look for ways around the problem? When you receive tuition from a professional piano teacher you get help when you are struggling. You are also more motivated as your teacher will have expectations of you and you will not want to let them down. But when you are teaching yourself piano, as soon as you experience problems, your motivation is under attack. With no one to help you, you will be less inclined to push yourself. Time passes and although you keep trying, you see little progress. You become disappointed and less inclined to practice until eventually you give up. Don't let that happen to you. The rewards for sticking at it are great.
As you can see, teaching yourself piano is not an easy option, but it might be the best to fit your lifestyle and your pocket. With the right attitude and the right training materials, you can be successful learning piano by yourself.
Post a Comment