Begginer, time to get serious..

[m3nd3s]

I got a keyboard about a year ago, for my 15th birthday, after continuously bombarding my parents with 'please buy me a piano, please!' So, I started off small, going everywhere I could to try and learn anything I could, particularly a friend who had been playing the piano since she was 4. I've gone through entire courses online, learned alot, I'm sure, but I have no real way to evaluate myself.

I want to get serious. Is getting a teacher the only way i can? I want to learn how to sight read/play the most at the moment, but I'm feeling really lost.

One year is about to come up at the end of June, and after messing around for a full year, I've decided to get serious. I want to start from the beggining..

So, im desperate (and broke). Please help.  

[JK]

I would say good for you for starting off on your own and you certainly seem very determined to persue this. It is not vital that you get a teacher but this would certainly be the best thing for you to do if you want to progress, there is after all only so much you can do on your own and you do need someone to make sure you're going in the right direction. Maybe your friend who's been playing since she was four could suggest someone? Something else you could do in the meantime, this is in fact one the ways that I started, is to get someone such as your friend to teach you the basics and then to borrow or buy some books of easy pieces and just work through them, this will certainly improve sightreading ability in the future.

Hope this helps a bit, Good luck!!

[Shagdac]

That's great that you finally have a keyboard, and want to develop your skills! I agree with JK that getting a GOOD teacher is imperative. Granted, you can learn on your own to some degree, but if you are really serious as you state, you certainly will want to have someone there to make sure you are not developing bad habits...(believe me, once developed, very difficult to correct), and you are bound to have questions along the way.  It also depends why you have have gotten serious about playing. What do you want to do with it? Do you want to play purely for enjoyement? Do you want to teach one day, or perform? If you are thinking about doing something with piano as a career, you would probably be best starting with an instructer who can guide you properly.

You said your parents bought you the keyboard? Are they supportive of your goals. Have you discussed with them how serious you are about playing? Is it possible that they may be able to afford the lessons for you?

If not, you may consider raising the money on your own, babysitting, mowing lawns, part-time job, etc. It is important to find a "good" teacher, however you may find one that is somewhat less expensive by doing one of the following:

1. Contact a church and find out who the pianist/organist are. Many times these individuals give
lessons on the side and are not as expensive.

2.  Check with the community colleges. Sometimes during the summer they will offer 6-8 week courses on beginning piano I, then II, them III, etc. Even if they do not have an actual keyboard/piano class, almost all of them have Basic Music Theory.

3. Check with your local University's and Colleges....often senior students majoring in piano performance will be looking for ways to supplement their income.

4.  You might even check with local music shools/studios in your area. You may be able to work out some sort of an agreement with them to where you do clerical/reception type work a couple hours, a couple days a week in exchange for lessons! I know if a young person came to me with a desire to learn and wanting to work, I surely would come up with something.

While you are checking these leads out, you are bound to be given names of others who teach.  Hopefully after speaking with your parents and letting them know you are serious, they will be able to help, but no matter what, if this is something you truly want, don't give up!

Best of Luck and let us know how you are doing!
s

[goalevan]

Hey m3nd3s, I am in a similar situation as you - I'm 19 and after fooling around for a few months, decided to get serious. So here's what I did. I didn't choose to get a teacher because I took a Beginners Piano course at my university. I learned quite a bit about piano there but there's not very much I learned that I couldn't have done on my own. I'm not saying having a teacher isn't helpful and you should get one if you have the means to.

Right now I'm currently following Howard Richman's Super Sight Reading Secrets book, only $10 which is probably the best book on its subject (and was recommended to me here). Also I bought a couple other books - The Piano Handbook and Music Reading for the Keyboard: The Complete Method by Steelman. I had started with the Accelerated Piano Adventures series for older adults by Faber and another book that was required for my College Course to learn the very basics.

But before I bought any of these I read Chang's book that you can get for free online here. Definately got me on the right track and I recommend you take a look through it to avoid developing bad habits.

You may be different than me though - technique wise and theory I am learning very quickly, but my sight reading is always lagging far behind. So I'm going to focus mostly on sight reading and learn some music on the side. I just got a new Digital piano so I've been practicing almost double recently.

Since I started with the piano I've learned a couple Chopin Waltzes, Raindrop Prelude, Fur Elise and touched up on a couple Chopin Mazurkas. I'll probably work on some Bach when my sight reading improves.

I by no means call myself an expert on the subject but I would recommend that you 1.) read Chang's book and take notes that you can take with you when you practice. 2.) if you haven't learned the basics, invest in a beginners series (usually pretty cheap) like Faber's Piano Adventures. 3.) get a teacher 4.) if you don't decide to get a teacher, then find a good method book or program to work on (like Richman).

And you should be able to start learning the pieces that you like pretty soon, you can get sheet music at https://www.sheetmusicarchive.net.

Good luck

[m3nd3s]

Thank you all for your advice (and encouragement, it helps ). I guess it's apparent that I will need a good teacher at some time or another, and since our family isn't in the best of financial situations right now, finding a way to save up some cash is definetly a must...

But that brings up another question; how much do lessons usually cost?

My goal really isn't to bring a career out of this (though it is a possibility), but more for enjoyment. Don't get me wrong though, I want to take it seriously.

Meanwhile, I'll be looking for begginers books, and i'll be checking out chang's book.

Thanks for all of your advice, it's nice to see that there are some nice people on the internet  

-mendes

[donjuan]

But that brings up another question; how much do lessons usually cost?

The fee a teacher charges will depend on the popularity of that specific teacher.  It also depends on where you live.  I live in Canada, and my teacher charges 50$/hr.  Why so much?  Well, if he lowered the price, he would get more students than he could handle, and many of the students wouldn't be truly devoted to music.  (You know, those students parents force into lessons).  By raising the price, the teacher doesn't have to deal with a number of silly students, but can focus on the students who love the music and are willing to pay whatever it costs to hear words of wisdom every week.

However, you have stated that money is an issue with you...

Dont bother getting a super cheap teacher- that suggests the teacher is desperate for students and money to pay the water bill..

If you organize a time to see a well respected teacher (preferably a RICH teacher), and plead your case well, you may end up getting free lessons.  Yes, that's right- some teachers not worried about money, or have too much free time are willing to secretly teach you for free.
This is what my teacher does.  He, himself is an immigrant, and knows the difficulty he had to face to get to where he is, so he does teach immigrants (like himself) for free- feeling compassion- It's like doing Volunteer work..
donjuan

[Shagdac]

The fee for piano instruction varies greatly depending on many factors. Not just the experience of the teacher, but also the "going rate" for that area. Also, take into consideration if you go to them, or they come to you. Many teachers also offer different types of lessons, group, individual, and the time can vary from 30min, 45min, 60min as well as 1X a week to more often. I think the best think to do when looking for a teacher is to make a list of what YOU are looking for, and what YOU hope to get out of playing the piano,...what your expectations are, then you can begin to look for a teacher who will also let you know what THEY expect from their students, and their individual policies and rules. Once you have established a list of which teachers you feel will make the best match for a successful and compatible student/teacher relationship, then talk $$$. As DonJuan had written, some may even adjust their fee on an individual basis.  Good Luck.

S

[donjuan]

If you organize a time to see a well respected teacher (preferably a RICH teacher), and plead your case well, you may end up getting free lessons.  Yes, that's right- some teachers not worried about money, or have too much free time are willing to secretly teach you for free.
This is what my teacher does.  He, himself is an immigrant, and knows the difficulty he had to face to get to where he is, so he does teach immigrants (like himself) for free- feeling compassion- It's like doing Volunteer work..

I should clarify something-- I am not an immigrant, and I pay the whole fee..

[Saturn]

Donjuan:
I envy your experiences with teachers!  All the teachers I've ever met seemed like they were just teaching for the money, except for one, which is my old viola teacher.  His policy was that if he felt he had more to teach you (and you had practiced a lot), he would extend the length of your lesson without charge.  Not just a few minutes either, he extended some of my lessons from half an hour to an hour and a half.  He would educate me in matters of theory, music history, we would listen to recordings, all that stuff.  For the last four months of my lessons with him, he didn't charge me at all!  It was great, he was like my music mentor.

But teachers like him are pretty rare.

m3nd3s:
I know how you feel about being broke.  It's a large part of the reason why I didn't start playing until late.

If you can find a good teacher who will give you free or discounted lessons, and you can find a place to practice (like at your friend's house), then go for it.  

Otherwise, save up your money.  You can still learn music in the meantime.  Learn the basics of note reading on the treble and bass clef.  Learn about rhythm, note durations, time signatures.  Learn your scales and different keys.  Before you play, make sure you know the proper way to sit and and all that.

Try downloading the sheet music for some easy, common pieces (like the Mozart Sonata K545), and read through them on your keyboard.  Since you won't be able to do much expressiveness on the keyboard, work on accuracy of notes and rhythms.  Start slow, but be as accurate as possible, and try to hear the tune in your music rather than just individual notes.  Go as slow as you need to (not just in your playing, but your overall learning), and never try to do more than you are able.

Another thing you might try is learning a different (cheaper) musical instrument.  The basics of music learned on any other instrument can be easily applied to the piano.

Anyway, that's what I'd do.  hope I haven't given you any foul advice.

[donjuan]

Another thing you might try is learning a different (cheaper) musical instrument.  The basics of music learned on any other instrument can be easily applied to the piano.

Anyway, that's what I'd do.  hope I haven't given you any foul advice.

NO, that's great advice!! i would suggest learning the Guitar.  It's easier to understand chords, and a Guitar is MUCH less than a piano.  However, if you do choose to go for the guitar, get a nylon string (classical) guitar.  Its much easier to learn on.  Great idea, Saturn!! why didn't I think of that?
donjuan