| You may be thinking that teaching yourself to | | | | to play with other musicians, it's important you |
| play piano is the most difficult thing in the world to | | | | can play in time with them, so learn about time |
| do. And you know what? You're right, it is... if you | | | | signatures. |
| have no previous experience of playing a musical | | | | 2. Be realistic and start off learning simple tunes. |
| instrument. Even if you do, learning how to play | | | | You'll only be able to start out by playing |
| the piano isn't necessarily going to be easy. And, | | | | complicated pieces of music if you're a naturally |
| even if you've played piano before, picking it up | | | | gifted musician. And if that describes you, the |
| again can still be very demanding. So, is there any | | | | chances are you won't need this article. |
| good news? | | | | 3. Get hold of some written music that interests |
| Well, yes and this article is all about providing you | | | | you. Start with simple scores of your favorite |
| with the information you need to make that first | | | | pieces or songs. Whether it's classical music you |
| step a bit easier. | | | | want to play, or songs from a whole range of |
| THE STARTING POINT | | | | different musical genres from jazz to folk music, |
| The first thing to do is a little self-assessment. | | | | you can find it all on the internet, and much of it |
| Ask yourself the following questions: | | | | can be downloaded directly onto the hard drive of |
| · Have you played the piano, or any other | | | | your computer. |
| musical instrument, before? | | | | 4. Having learnt the basics, you can start to be a |
| · How far did you get: Did you have a teacher?... | | | | bit more adventurous. You might want to look at |
| Did you learn at school?... Did you play with | | | | more complicated arrangements, or, perhaps, |
| others? | | | | explore different methods of playing, such as |
| · How did you learn: Were you taught to read | | | | playing by ear, or having a stab at improvising |
| music?... Did you pick it up on your own?... Did you | | | | around the chords you've already learnt. Or, you |
| learn through the collective experience of playing | | | | might want just to keep learning more of the |
| with others? | | | | basics, by practicing slightly more elaborate chords |
| Finding answers to these questions will focus | | | | and arpeggios. |
| attention more closely on where you need to | | | | 5. If you feel you need more help, there's nothing |
| start now. For example, if you've played piano | | | | to stop you taking lessons from a teacher. Make |
| before, but didn't take lessons, you need to think | | | | sure you match the teacher you choose to your |
| very seriously before you decide on the 'teach | | | | own personality and the music you want to play. |
| yourself' route. One of the biggest mistakes | | | | If you get this right, your teacher will inspire you |
| people make is they adopt a method of playing | | | | to greater things and will also ensure you don't |
| that feels right to them at the time. They pick up | | | | pick up bad habits. |
| tunes, or a method of playing from the musical | | | | 6. Finally, if you don't find the prospect of a |
| sounds they hear, but don't learn what it is about | | | | teacher very appealing, you can do a search on |
| music that keeps it all together. As a result, they | | | | the internet for a suitable video course. However, |
| pick up bad habits and lack the discipline that | | | | don't make the mistake of thinking you can get |
| would enable them to make greater progress. | | | | the kind of tuition you need from free online |
| If your purpose in learning to play is just to | | | | lessons. You'll need to pay out some cash to get |
| entertain yourself and family and friends by | | | | the depth of training you need. But the costs of |
| playing piano at home, that's fine. But if you're a | | | | online lessons are nothing like as much as paying a |
| bit more serious and want to learn to play as | | | | music teacher and the interactive nature of the |
| professionally as you can, you probably need help | | | | technology is improving all the time. |
| with your learning, although that doesn't | | | | CONCLUSION |
| necessarily mean taking lessons from a music | | | | If you are to teach yourself to play piano, you |
| teacher. | | | | need the time, commitment and patience to do it |
| The following tips should help you decide how to | | | | well. That doesn't mean you can't have lots of fun |
| start the process: | | | | in the process. In fact, many of the tips |
| 1. Learn the rudiments of music, including scales, | | | | mentioned above will give you the edge that will |
| chords and notation. And, especially if you intend | | | | enable you to really enjoy your learning. |