Beginners piano advice ... useful tips
1. What is a good age to start learning to play the piano or keyboard?
There is no right or wrong age to start playing the piano, but I don’t tend to take students on until they have passed at least their 6th birthday and for me 8 years and upward is better still. This is only my preference and I know of some teachers who take on students at a very early age.
Very often you hear people say “I’m too old to learn the piano” and “I wish I had started playing when I was a child”. It’s never too late to start learning an instrument but one of the important things is finding the ‘right’ instrument for you. As an example, when I was ten years old I asked my father if he would find me a guitar teacher that would give me lessons. After much searching he took me along to my first lesson… Well, I thought I did pretty good.. but..after 3 months of lessons I was pretty hopeless and gave up the guitar.
Two years passed then I started playing keyboard… WOW! I knew it was for me right from the start. I couldn’t wait for the lessons to come around.. It just seemed so natural for me to play the instrument. My teacher was amazed at how quickly I was able to master what he had set me to do each week.
So you see the point here is, don’t give up after just trying out one instrument. It might take you a while to find the ‘right’ instrument for you… some people never do and yet some people are just so lucky like me.
Very often you hear people say “I’m too old to learn the piano” and “I wish I had started playing when I was a child”. It’s never too late to start learning an instrument but one of the important things is finding the ‘right’ instrument for you. As an example, when I was ten years old I asked my father if he would find me a guitar teacher that would give me lessons. After much searching he took me along to my first lesson… Well, I thought I did pretty good.. but..after 3 months of lessons I was pretty hopeless and gave up the guitar.
Two years passed then I started playing keyboard… WOW! I knew it was for me right from the start. I couldn’t wait for the lessons to come around.. It just seemed so natural for me to play the instrument. My teacher was amazed at how quickly I was able to master what he had set me to do each week.
So you see the point here is, don’t give up after just trying out one instrument. It might take you a while to find the ‘right’ instrument for you… some people never do and yet some people are just so lucky like me.
2. Do I need to buy an instrument?
Yes! is the short answer, now comes the BUT…
Q. What happens if I decide after several months of tuition that the piano is ‘not’ for me?
A. The best way around this is see if you can borrow an instrument for a short time either from a friend or a family member, or buy a cheap 2nd hand instrument just to see you through the early stages of your tuition (you won’t lose too much money if things don’t work out)
Q. Can I buy a keyboard instead of a piano?
A. If your budget allows then buy a piano, as a last resort buy a keyboard - but this needs to have full size keys. A piano generally has ‘weighted keys’, this is good because it will help you to build your finger strength. A keyboard tends to have lighter ‘semi-weighted’ keys - not great for building up finger strength.
NOTE: Please be aware that if you do buy a keyboard instrument instead of a piano in the long term this is not good, you really need a fully ‘weighted’ keyboard to enable you to build your finger strength and to control dynamics in the music (how loud or how soft the music is to be played)
The ‘weighted keys’ (simulating the feel of a real piano) are found on digital pianos (electronic). Normal acoustic pianos (pianos with real strings in a cabinet!) are good if you have a room which doesn’t change too much in temperature, and also if your house has enough space to accommodate it!
I hope this wasn’t too confusing!
Q. What happens if I decide after several months of tuition that the piano is ‘not’ for me?
A. The best way around this is see if you can borrow an instrument for a short time either from a friend or a family member, or buy a cheap 2nd hand instrument just to see you through the early stages of your tuition (you won’t lose too much money if things don’t work out)
Q. Can I buy a keyboard instead of a piano?
A. If your budget allows then buy a piano, as a last resort buy a keyboard - but this needs to have full size keys. A piano generally has ‘weighted keys’, this is good because it will help you to build your finger strength. A keyboard tends to have lighter ‘semi-weighted’ keys - not great for building up finger strength.
NOTE: Please be aware that if you do buy a keyboard instrument instead of a piano in the long term this is not good, you really need a fully ‘weighted’ keyboard to enable you to build your finger strength and to control dynamics in the music (how loud or how soft the music is to be played)
The ‘weighted keys’ (simulating the feel of a real piano) are found on digital pianos (electronic). Normal acoustic pianos (pianos with real strings in a cabinet!) are good if you have a room which doesn’t change too much in temperature, and also if your house has enough space to accommodate it!
I hope this wasn’t too confusing!
3. How much time should I give to practising?
When you first begin playing the piano your practise sessions should be quite short (10 to 15 minutes) each time you practise.
As you progress as a player you will find the need to extend your practise to longer periods.
The important thing to remember is to try and get into a regular pattern of practise. It is much better to practise more often than to practice for longer but less regularly.
Also, if you have had a busy day and are feeling tired, or your concentration is lacking, you might find it better to do a very short practise session on that particular day and maybe a little longer on the next practise session.
Sometimes you will be better not to practise at all - you will only end up getting frustrated if you are tired.
As you progress as a player you will find the need to extend your practise to longer periods.
The important thing to remember is to try and get into a regular pattern of practise. It is much better to practise more often than to practice for longer but less regularly.
Also, if you have had a busy day and are feeling tired, or your concentration is lacking, you might find it better to do a very short practise session on that particular day and maybe a little longer on the next practise session.
Sometimes you will be better not to practise at all - you will only end up getting frustrated if you are tired.
4. Am I too old to learn to play piano?
This question is really simple to answer! You are never too old to learn to play an instrument.
Older people also find they have less commitments to make, they have more time on their hands, thus they can dedicate more of their time to learning to play.
Playing the piano can also be very therapeutic! it will build your levels of concentration, exercise your joints and bring out emotions within you!!
Older people also find they have less commitments to make, they have more time on their hands, thus they can dedicate more of their time to learning to play.
Playing the piano can also be very therapeutic! it will build your levels of concentration, exercise your joints and bring out emotions within you!!
5. How long will it take to learn to play the piano?
Learning to play an instrument is a life long study. You can't learn to play after having just a few lessons.
It also depends to what standard you are aiming for. Everyone has different learning abilities, and no two people are the same. If you are aiming to become an accomplished player then this will take many years of study and practise.
It also depends to what standard you are aiming for. Everyone has different learning abilities, and no two people are the same. If you are aiming to become an accomplished player then this will take many years of study and practise.
6. What to expect... your first lesson
OK.. So you set off for your very 1st lesson. You might be feeling a little anxious, you might even have butterflies! Stay Calm!!
Things to do or not to do...
(1) Give yourself plenty of time - you don’t want to be rushing around, don’t forget about the time it might take to find a parking space etc.
(2) If you could bring with you a notepad and pencil - you might want to jot down a few things during the lesson.
(3) The first lesson is an introductory lesson - that is, we get to know a little about each other, what you hope to achieve with your lessons, what styles of music you like to listen to etc.
(4) 30 minutes will be over before you know it. You will have something to take home to practise a short tune or an exercise. I won’t be giving you loads to do so don’t worry.
(5) After your lesson try and do 10 minutes a day practise. Set out a time for yourself. Treat it as your time. NO Kids, NO distractions.
If all goes well I will see you for your 2nd lesson, where you can show me how well you have done.
Things to do or not to do...
(1) Give yourself plenty of time - you don’t want to be rushing around, don’t forget about the time it might take to find a parking space etc.
(2) If you could bring with you a notepad and pencil - you might want to jot down a few things during the lesson.
(3) The first lesson is an introductory lesson - that is, we get to know a little about each other, what you hope to achieve with your lessons, what styles of music you like to listen to etc.
(4) 30 minutes will be over before you know it. You will have something to take home to practise a short tune or an exercise. I won’t be giving you loads to do so don’t worry.
(5) After your lesson try and do 10 minutes a day practise. Set out a time for yourself. Treat it as your time. NO Kids, NO distractions.
If all goes well I will see you for your 2nd lesson, where you can show me how well you have done.