Some people need teachers to guide them into a new instrument, while others learn by doing. Some of the greatest musicians of all-time are self-taught. Even something as challenging as the piano can be learned independently of a teacher. What’s even better is that you can learn how to teach yourself piano at any age.
If you’ve decided to learn how to teach yourself piano, here are some beginner’s tips to help you get on the right track. Follow these simple suggestions and you’ll surprise yourself how quickly you’ll get comfortable on the keys.
Find The Right Tool For How to Teach Yourself Piano
The first step to getting acquainted with playing is to find a setup that you’re comfortable with. If you’ve got a small living space with neighbors close by, you may not want to go for the baby grand just yet.
Get Yourself a Piano
There are all different kinds of pianos and lots of uprights available on craigslist every day. The hidden cost will be hiring someone to come to your house and tune your piano. Also, you may incur fees if you need to pay to have the piano moved from its location to your home.
If you’re new to piano types, you should get acquainted with the variety of options available. The type of wood and the age of the piano will give it a different tone. If you’re investing in a piano that you hope to be in your home and in your family for many years to come, choose wisely. If a piano is too big of an investment for you right now, there are still other options.
How About a Keyboard?
There are keyboards for every budget with options for a hobbyist or an aspiring concert pianist. If you plan on playing for many years to come, you should consider a full-range 88-key keyboard. There are samples of most keyboard ranges online.
Are you looking to play a traditional sounding concert piano or are you planning to play in a band? If you think you’ll be playing more experimental music or would like to use your keyboard for creating non-traditional piano sounds, see what patches are available for a keyboard before you buy one.
Keyboards have greater flexibility than a piano when it comes to creating more complex arrangements. If you anticipating playing with a rock or experimental group, you may want something with programmable sounds or modules that can be loaded into the firmware.
Try a Piano App
If you’re on a budget or not sure if you want to invest in a keyboard yet, try an app. Technology is a great learning tool for piano. Many of the best keyboard manufacturers make apps using the same patches and engines their high-end keyboards use. Nothing will match the sound of an acoustic piano, but getting a feel for the instrument will help you decide what you’re looking for. If a virtual piano piques your interest, you’ll know you’re ready to commit the time to learn piano.
Be Kind To Your Body
Playing piano puts your body in tune with the instrument. Sitting for long periods can be uncomfortable and make practice more difficult. Find the right balance so that you can focus on your playing and not feel sore after an hour of practice.
Good Posture
Posture is more important that you might think when it comes to playing the piano. Keeping your back straight can make it easier how to teach yourself piano.
Don’t slump or slouch. If you’re struggling to reach the keys, you’re sitting too far back. If your stomach touches the piano, you’re too close. Some players suggest the “cat rule”. If a sleeping cat could fit between you and the piano, then you’re at the right distance from the keys.
Hand Positioning
Your next challenge in how to teach yourself piano is where you put your hands. It can make playing challenging if it’s hard to reach the keys on certain songs. Start with good habits because they can be hard to break later on.
Start playing with one hand. It’s easier to add your second hand when you know the fingering for what you’re trying to play. Since every keyboard and piano is a little different, it could take time to adjust.
The proper placement of your hands means that your fingertips start on the keys before you play. A curved hand is the ideal starting position.
Pace Yourself
Find the right pace for your practicing. Overkill will keep you from enjoying your adventure in how to teach yourself piano.
Be sure to pick out pieces that you enjoy playing. It will be easier if you know where the next note is supposed to land and you’ll have more fun.
And don’t forget to take breaks. If you’re getting frustrated, it’s okay to step away for some tea or a breath of fresh air. You’ll come back to the keys refreshed, relaxed, and focused.
Practice Smarter, Not Harder
More than just taking breaks, time management is essential to building up a constructive piano practice. If you want to see results, you need to put in the work. You must also remember that being challenged is good. There is no one way how to teach yourself piano.
Prioritize
You need to make practice a priority, but don’t let it become a chore. Find time in your schedule when you’re not too tired. Ensure that your tasks for the day are finished and you can focus on the task at hand. If possible, work it into your daily routine. Short practice sessions, about 20 minutes each, every single day can be more useful than a couple of hour-long marathon sessions spread throughout the week.
Short practice sessions, about 20 minutes each, every single day can be more useful than a couple of hour-long marathon sessions spread throughout the week. You will be able to see your playing progress quickly. You will also have an easier time looking forward to learning how to teach yourself piano. That short 20-minute getaway from your day will be easier to find time for than an hour that might seem like a pain on busier days.
The best thing about learning how to teach yourself piano may be that you can work with your schedule. A teacher may have set hours and set goals but being able to work independently is valuable. If you decide later that you want to work with a teacher, you will be able to bring a level of skill and dedication that teachers rarely see in students. Learning on your own will set you up for success with any teacher.
Set Goals
Why do you want to learn how to teach yourself piano? Are you obsessed with “Moonlight Sonata” or a certain pop group? Are you trying to get comfortable enough to play that dusty old standup that people set their drinks on around Christmas time at grandma’s house? Have you learned the benefits that playing piano can have on the brain? Or are you exploring mastery on a musical instrument?
Different goals will entail different practice methods. Break your big goals up into smaller, manageable achievements you hope to see, week-by-week, month-by-month. If your goal is to learn to play some of your favorite pop songs, you could
If your goal is to learn to play some of your favorite pop songs, you could set one song a week and at the end of each month, see if you can play them without any mistakes. Invite friends over and hold a mini-recital on a Saturday night over tea or wine. Your friends will be impressed with your progress and will encourage you to keep at it.
If your goal is to learn to master the piano, make friends with local players who you admire. Ask them tips and tricks to improve your playing. Once you build up enough confidence, ask to play for them. Most musicians want to help other musicians succeed. A seasoned player is sure to offer helpful advice that you may not realize when you’re in the thick of playing.
Play Songs You Enjoy
Once you’ve gotten the basics down, find music that’s fun to play. There’s no point in banging your head against a sonata that you find repetitive and boring. If you want to play Bach, play Bach. If you want to play the Stevie Wonder, play Stevie Wonder. There is sheet music available to appease just about every level and taste.
If you struggle with a certain piece, put it aside until you’ve gotten a little more experienced. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll play that once-challenging piece after you’ve got more time at the piano under your belt. Difficult chord shifts or challenging fingerings will seem like a breeze even just a few weeks down the road.
A Little Help Goes a Long Way
If you get stuck, you’re not alone. There is a big community of players to draw from. Between teaching apps, friends, neighbors or an online community, someone else has encountered your problem before. In all likelihood, they’ve got a solution that they’re more than happy to share with you.
Learn from an App
Learning how to teach yourself piano? You can bet there’s an app for that. It’s a cost-effective method of learning that more and more smartphone users are taking advantage of. Hours of teaching can add up to exorbitant bills, while there are free apps that help in how to teach yourself piano.
Apps are useful in finding the right approach to learning. Instrument instruction apps now include games, videos and a wide variety of sheet music from just about every genre. An interactive app that connects to your keyboard can keep learning how to teach yourself piano fun and engaging while keeping you at the pace you want to be learning.
Video Tutorials
There are plenty of amateur channels where people are willing to teach you how to play your favorite song. These can be useful for certain techniques or chord changes specific to a certain song. You’ll need a focused lesson plan to learn how to teach yourself piano.
Several free apps contain video lessons which give you an efficient and directed path to achieving your playing goals. More users, especially millennials, are learning a variety of skills through video tutorials. Learning to play an instrument is no exception. Learning through video tutorials means you can move between a variety of teachers until you find the right instructor who works for you.
Ask a Friend
You’re surely not the first person in your social circle to learn piano. If you’ve never asked, you will be surprised to find out how many of your friends took piano lessons as a kid or have memorized a couple of songs to play at parties or during holidays.
Play for your friends. They’re sure to be able to offer suggestions as to how they learned to play. They will be impressed that you’re learning how to teach yourself piano in the first place. If they can’t retain all of the knowledge they learned many years before, they could certainly help point you in the right direction.
It’s always more fun to play for an audience. Your friends will encourage you even through your mistakes. They want to see you succeed.
Keep It Fun
You decided to learn how to teach yourself piano because you were moved or excited by something you saw or heard that connected to you. It’s a challenge but the rewards are great.
Whether you aim to join a band, play solo, or entertain friends, playing the piano is a social activity. Keep it fun and you will inspire and wow others. The right help will keep you on track to learning fast and efficiently. Contact us or download our app if you want to see how easy and fun it can be to teach yourself piano.