10 Tips for Adult Beginner Piano Students
This article contains useful tips for an adult, beginner piano and music student.
Adults often fancy learning a musical instrument, or picking it back up for the first time since childhood. Countless numbers of young professionals, middle-aged parents and grandparents have approached me after a performance and said, "I took piano when I was a kid. I really wish I had stuck with it". Peer pressure, sports, dating, finances and sub-par teaching are examples of an infinite amount of reasons why folks stop taking lessons. However, the idea that it is too late for adults to start lessons is a gross misconception. If you have a desire to express the emotions and events that comprise who you are, it is never too late.
Now that you have decided to start piano (or any instrument) lessons, the trick is knowing what to do next. When you were a child, your parents probably chose the teacher for you based on who they thought was the best affordable option. Now that you have a chance to learn music more on your terms and for your own reasons, here is a list of some tips that should help you on your search:
1. Come up with an idea of what place music will have in your life. Understand what you want to get out of it.
2. Allow yourself to dream about how well you want to play, and what that would be like.
3. Take trial lessons with several different teachers. Find the one that has an open mind, good ability at the piano, and who is not afraid to treat you like an adult.
4. Let your teacher or potential teacher know immediately if you desire to learn non-classical music.
5. Learn the music that you really want to learn. If you happen to think playing Chopin is on par with getting a root-canal, you should not have to endure it. You have the right to play what you want, so find the teacher that will get you where you want to go.
6. Be prepared to do some practicing. Playing piano is a complex skill so you should not expect easy results.
7. Try playing for friends and family as soon as you are even fairly comfortable. It might be slightly embarrassing at first, but allow them to see your progress and growth over time. Learning music is a personal journey which is revealed to others when you play for them. It can be a fun, sharing experience for everyone.
8. Try to participate in your studio's annual or semi-annual recitals. Progress at the piano solidifies the most when you have to concentrate on getting ready for a performance. When you know you have one shot to play your piece in front of an audience, you will focus your mind and body in a way that cannot be recreated at home.
9. Be patient with yourself and try to have fun. Smile when it gets frustrating and always remember why you decided to learn an instrument in the first place.
10. Go to concerts and performances. Immerse yourself with live performances in the genre of your choice. Conversely, listen to genres of music you are not familiar with. Go to the symphony for great orchestral pieces, go to your local university to hear student recitals, go to rock concerts, go to pop concerts; feel the unique energy that only a live performance can supply and let it feed your soul.
Now that you have decided to start piano (or any instrument) lessons, the trick is knowing what to do next. When you were a child, your parents probably chose the teacher for you based on who they thought was the best affordable option. Now that you have a chance to learn music more on your terms and for your own reasons, here is a list of some tips that should help you on your search:
1. Come up with an idea of what place music will have in your life. Understand what you want to get out of it.
2. Allow yourself to dream about how well you want to play, and what that would be like.
3. Take trial lessons with several different teachers. Find the one that has an open mind, good ability at the piano, and who is not afraid to treat you like an adult.
4. Let your teacher or potential teacher know immediately if you desire to learn non-classical music.
5. Learn the music that you really want to learn. If you happen to think playing Chopin is on par with getting a root-canal, you should not have to endure it. You have the right to play what you want, so find the teacher that will get you where you want to go.
6. Be prepared to do some practicing. Playing piano is a complex skill so you should not expect easy results.
7. Try playing for friends and family as soon as you are even fairly comfortable. It might be slightly embarrassing at first, but allow them to see your progress and growth over time. Learning music is a personal journey which is revealed to others when you play for them. It can be a fun, sharing experience for everyone.
8. Try to participate in your studio's annual or semi-annual recitals. Progress at the piano solidifies the most when you have to concentrate on getting ready for a performance. When you know you have one shot to play your piece in front of an audience, you will focus your mind and body in a way that cannot be recreated at home.
9. Be patient with yourself and try to have fun. Smile when it gets frustrating and always remember why you decided to learn an instrument in the first place.
10. Go to concerts and performances. Immerse yourself with live performances in the genre of your choice. Conversely, listen to genres of music you are not familiar with. Go to the symphony for great orchestral pieces, go to your local university to hear student recitals, go to rock concerts, go to pop concerts; feel the unique energy that only a live performance can supply and let it feed your soul.
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