How to Begin Piano Lessons for Adults

Anyone of any age can learn to play the piano

Maybe you took piano lessons as a child, but didn't want to continue and ended up quitting. Or maybe you never had the chance to take lessons, but have always wanted to do so. Perhaps you did take lessons when you were young, but now want to refine your skills. No matter the reason, beginning piano lessons as an adult can be an easy, and fairly painless, process.

Things You'll Need

• Piano

Instructions

1. Buy or rent a piano. A keyboard is fine for the first three to six months of lessons, but if you're serious, you'll need to have an actual piano in your own home. Needing to go to another location every day in order to practice can become burdensome after two or three weeks.

2. Look at your calendar and make sure you have time to learn to play the piano. Learning to play piano requires time and dedication. You must be able to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day, and preferably 60, to practicing. Waiting one or two days after a lesson severely decreases your ability to retain the information from that lesson. Waiting five to seven days will require relearning the concept.

3. Find a reputable teacher. Not all piano teachers are willing to teach adults, but many do. Piano stores often keep lists of piano teachers. Check the classifieds in your area for piano lesson advertisements. Ask friends and family if they know any teachers. A good teacher will meet with you for free before adding you to her roster. She'll want to make sure that it's a good fit for both of you.

4. Alternatively, find a book or online course to teach yourself. While having a teacher to motivate and troubleshoot your problem areas is the best way to learn to play the piano, there are many options available for teaching yourself. Go to your local piano store and ask for course recommendations. Read reviews of courses online in order to find the best fit for your goals and abilities. Remember that even if you start a course on your own, if it isn't working you can switch to another course or find a teacher in your area.

5. Ask friends and family to encourage and help you. Playing the piano is not easy. Eventually, you will hit a roadblock in your progress and may want to quit. Set up a recital in your living room to play for your spouse, roommate, best friend or whomever will listen. Their positive feedback will motivate you to keep going.

References

• Andrew Furmanczyk Academy of Music
• Dr. Brent Hugh: Piano Practice Methods