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by OnlyPiano.com
All About Piano Lessons
It's entirely possibly
to learn how to play the piano without
formal piano instruction, but an
experienced teacher can make learning
piano a more rewarding experience for
students. In fact, taking piano lessons
with a compatible teacher will help a
student build essential practice skills
and proper technique.
When Should I Start
Learning Piano?
The answer is different
for everyone, but the rule of thumb is
to learn to play the piano when you're
ready -- that is, when you're willing to
spend the time practicing, as well as
when you can afford the instrument and
piano lessons. Some students start piano
lessons as young as 4 years old, while
others don't learn to play the piano
until their teens or even adulthood.
There is no magic age requirement, just
the desire and motivation to learn
piano.
Piano Lessons for
Children
Young children are very
impressionable, so if you want your
child to take interest in piano lessons,
it's best to expose him or her to music
in the home on a regular basis. Play
piano music on CDs in the house or in
the car -- a variety of styles and
composers is ideal.
By the time your child
reaches preschool or kindergarten, he or
she may express an interest in the
piano. This is a good time to try
renting a piano for a short period of
time and to find a piano teacher who
specializes in young beginners.
Some piano studios offer
group piano lessons for young children,
as well. Group piano lessons teach
students important social skills as well
as piano techniques. Weekly piano
lessons aren't advised for very young
students; instead, start out with one
piano lesson each month and gradually
increase the number over time.
It's best to sit in on
your child's piano lessons when he or
she is just starting out. This way, you
can adequately assess the
student-teacher dynamic and find out if
learning to play piano is a good fit for
your child.
Be sure to give your
child plenty of positive reinforcement;
clapping after each practice session,
for example, helps build self confidence
and consequently the desire to continue
with piano lessons. Once the level of
desire becomes more consistent, you can
seek piano instruction on a more
permanent basis.
Learn to Play Piano as an
Adult
Believe it or not,
learning how to play piano isn't more
difficult as an adult. What is harder is
finding the time to practice and attend
piano lessons every week on top of work
and family commitments. Adding piano
instruction to your adult life can be a
lot easier if you make it part of your
weekly routine. Also, many adult
students say that taking piano lessons
is a wonderful outlet for both
creativity and stress.
Some teachers specialize
in piano lessons for adults, but just
about any qualified instructor can help
you learn to play the piano. You might
have the most luck finding piano lessons
at a local college or music store,
although many teachers will come to your
home.
Unless your work
schedule or budget doesn't allow, you
should plan for one half-hour piano
lesson each week. At the very least, you
should schedule piano lessons for every
other week. Any less than that will
prove very frustrating because you're
unlikely to make much progress in
learning to play piano. Be sure you
practice in the week before each piano
lesson; otherwise, it will be a waste of
time and money.
Regardless of whether a
student starts piano lessons as a child
or as an adult, always keep in mind that
learning to play the piano takes time,
concentration, motivation, and lots of
practice! Piano lessons will help you
reach your goals in a more timely and
efficient manner, but ultimately,
whether or not you learn to play piano
is completely up to you!
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