I’d like to learn to play the piano. Where do I start?
Many adults who have never played a piano before — or any musical instrument for that matter — decide they want to play. Learning to play an instrument as an adult might seem intimidating at first, but remember — learning to play the piano as an adult should be an enjoyable experience. So, how do you get into playing the piano as an adult? Here are a few considerations to keep in mind! If you would like to learn more about our piano lessons in Queens, or if you would like piano lessons in a different borough, please get in touch at your earliest convenience.
Decide whether or not you want to take lessons.
Having a piano teacher help you with the ins and outs of the keyboard is wonderful, but taking piano lessons is not the only way to learn to play. Depending on your level of self-discipline you can learn quite a bit from online guides, all on your own.
This approach typically doesn’t come close to the benefits of having a teacher, but, depending on your needs, might well be just enough for you! For example, if you’re interested in how to build and play basic chords, you will likely be able to learn how to do that without private instruction.
Get a piano or a keyboard, to practice with.
Whether or not you decide to take piano lessons, if you want to make progress at the piano you will need to spend some time at the instrument!
These days there are many options when it comes to pianos. You can get an acoustic piano (grand or upright; both come in various sizes), a high-quality digital piano, a digital keyboard, or you could even use a MIDI controller connected to a computer.
You can rent a piano, you can buy a piano…the choice is yours.
Acoustic pianos come in a great variety when it comes to brands, not to mention sizes. The major advantage of an acoustic piano is that, when playing, you are producing a real sound!
With time, you can learn to control the sound you produce. You can produce shades of sound, playing more expressively and shaping the music you are playing. Of course, in our opinion, sound and action quality matter deeply when it comes to choosing an acoustic piano, and an acoustic piano that doesn’t sound very good is not a good choice, even if it is in good condition and ‘works perfectly’.
Buying a piano, or renting it, is not the only option. These days there are very good options for keyboards, if you don’t want to go the acoustic route. Some of these keyboards have a great sound, and you can attach a plug-in pedal that looks and functions much (though not entirely) like the real thing. You can score a high quality Clavinova for $5,000 or so, or buy a Casio digital keyboard for under $1,000. A used acoustic grand piano, even a great brand like Yamaha, may only cost $6K-$10K. But buying genuine, high quality acoustic instruments is expensive, whether you’re looking for a Martin ukulele, Baldwin piano, student violin, or something else. Work with a qualified teacher to find a good instrument for your needs.
Where can I get sheet music?
If you’d like to play classical music, much of the repertoire is in the public domain and available for free download, usually in PDF format, all over the internet.
If you’d like a nice, professionally printed ‘book’, these can be purchased on the internet, whether from a specialized sheet music dealer, or any major online marketplace (like the big one that starts with ‘A’).
Interested in popular music? Piano arrangements of your favorite songs can be purchased in book form, or as a digital download (usually in PDF format) via sites such as Sheetmusicplus or Musicnotes. Please note, that these are only examples of some of the better-known companies.
If you’d like to experience the benefits of having a private piano teacher, we offer one-on-one piano lessons for adults in NYC, in Manhattan and beyond.
Whether you want to learn the basics, or take your technique to the next level, you will receive exceptional, personalized instructions. Lessons are available throughout New York City, and now, throughout Westchester County. Get in touch; we’d love to meet you!
