First, you need to find a program of study that is age appropriate. For children, formal lessons are usually recommended. It's important for kids to take at least three or four years worth of formal lessons. It usually takes that long to get a good grasp on the basics of technique, sight reading, and chord theory. After that, children will have a good foundation in music. They may choose to continue on, branching out in piano studies and honing those basics. Or, they can use that foundation and apply it to learning another instrument.
Formal study with a piano teacher is usually recommended for children older than six. A wide variety of methods is directed at children. Some have different emphases. Therefore, it's important to research various methods to decide what type will be best for your child.
Younger children (ages three to six) usually do not fare well with formal lessons. If you want to start your children off early in piano, enroll them in a program developed specifically for preschool children. These types of piano programs take into account the physical and mental development of young children. They are less overwhelming and more engaging for the younger learner. Often they are group-style sessions rather than one-on-one.
Sometimes parent participation is encouraged or required. This helps to ensure that parents are able to reinforce the concepts that their children are taught. It also fosters the parent-child bond, strengthening it with a mutual appreciation for music.
For adults who are beginning piano there are a few options. Adults may choose to take formal lessons one-on-one with an instructor. Be sure to find a teacher who specializes in teaching adults or has at least worked with adults before.
Another option for adult beginners is group lessons. Music stores, community groups, educational institutions and even some private instructors may offer group lessons for adults. Students learn in a classroom-style setting with several other adults. Each person typically has his or her own keyboard on which to learn during class. Concepts are taught from the front by the instructor.
Another option for adult learners is to take a correspondence course or self-paced study. These types of programs are available for a fee in music stores, from a college or music school and on the Internet. In fact, many of these programs have DVD or software components to help visually reinforce the concepts taught in the manuals. In some ways it's like having your own private piano teacher. Some curriculums even have live-study components via the Web in real time with an instructor.
If you are an adult beginner, set your goals. If you hope to pursue a higher level of study or want employment in the music business, then formal lessons are best. If you simply want to enrich your own personal life, correspondence studies or group lessons may be adequate. An added bonus with correspondence courses or self-directed study is that you are able to work at home at your own pace. This can be especially advantageous for the busy adult who can't commit to regular, ongoing lessons.
Some are designed for kids and some for adults. Some offer a series of downloadable e-books, some have e-books and videos while others offer an online teaching scenario. They vary in their particular emphasis - it might be classical, jazz, pop, gospel or traditional. The cheapest is about $20. The best is $39.95, going up to two hundred dollars or more.
So can they be said to offer value for money? You're keen to learn the piano and realistically, there are three different alternatives: The ebooks referred to above, traditional teach yourself books that you'd buy in a book shop and, of course, a walking, talking human being. By the way, it's essential that the ebooks have embedded sound clips. These usually take the form of a button on the page that you can click to hear a proper rendition of what it is you are supposed to be playin.
As far as I'm concerned, the traditional type of book has been completely eclipsed by the ebook, because it is mute. You need to hear the music played as an example. As a novice though you really do need to listen to a piece of music being played so that you can copy the style and the emphasis. As you become more experienced, of course, you can begin to read the musical notation of a piece and hear in your mind what it should sound like. Beginners can't do that and hearing the piece played properly is an essential part of the learning process.
So what about piano teachers? There's a big variation across the country but you can expect to pay between $30 and $40 for each lesson. Let's say $35 on average. Most people would opt for a lesson per week. So if you deduct a few weeks here and there for various reasons the number of lessons each year is approximately 45. That's $1575 per year. Of course, human nature being what it is, it's always possible that you and your teacher don't get on together very well!
Even the mots expensive of the courses provides more bang per buck, so to speak, than a human teacher could ever provide. And in most of the piano tuition courses I've ever seen there is more than enough material of one sort or another to keep you learning for well over a year. In fact some of them have such a vast quantity of material that it can be somewhat bewildering.
Well, it is up yo you, of course, but I know what I'd rather spend my money on. I know piano teachers need to make a living, especially in these difficult times, but as far as I'm concerned it's no contest, the software wins every time!
Both Duane Shinn & John Richards are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Duane Shinn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Music and Keyboard Synthesizer. A free email newsletter on exciting piano chords and chord progressions from Duane Shinn is available free at . Duane Shinn's top article generates over 201000 views. to your Favourites.
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