What To Expect From Piano Lessons
If you are starting the piano and are considering taking piano lessons, you may be wondering what playing the piano and taking lessons will actually be like, and how the learning process will go. While all teachers teach the piano in slightly different ways, I can describe the way I teach piano and what to expect.
Finding a piano - Before you can take piano lessons you will need a piano or keyboard to play at home, if you don’t already have one. An acoustic piano is often a good choice, either an upright or grand piano, because it provides the best sound and feel for playing. Whether you get a new or used piano, make sure that it is in good condition, that all the keys and pedals work properly, and that it has been tuned regularly. A digital keyboard can be another option. Although keyboards usually don’t sound and feel quite as good as an acoustic piano, they offer other benefits, such as that they never go out of tune, the volume can be adjusted, they can be played with headphones, and they usually have many other sounds available at the touch of a button. If you do get a digital keyboard, I recommend getting one with a full 88 keys, weighted and touch sensitive keys, and a sustain pedal.
Piano lessons - When a student first starts lessons with me, I ask them what their goals in playing are and what type of music they want to learn, and I adjust my teaching curriculum to the needs of each student. If a student is new to the piano, the first lesson consists of learning how the piano works, proper playing posture and technique, the names of the keys, and learning how to play some beginning pieces of music. Later on, students will learn how to read and play music, learn scales and arpeggios, learn some music theory, and gradually advance through the piano repertoire. Some students may also choose to work on improvisation as a part of their lessons. If a new student has been playing for a while, we can continue with learning more repertoire, more theory and exercises, and continue advancing as a pianist. Learning the piano takes time, so spending enough time practicing at home, and being patient with the learning process are the most important things you can do when taking piano lessons.