can i learn to play the piano by myself?

[littletune]

HI! i'm new here. And I'm also new at playing the piano  . I have had piano lessons for about 15 months now... When i first started learning i thought i would just try and i never thought that i could love it sooo much! So i would really like to keep learning but the problem is that we (my family) have some problems with money now and so we can't afford piano lessons anymore  . I'm really sad because of that.... and i was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how i could keep learning to play the piano by myself. I'm afraid that i would learn it the wrong way or something... and i don't know what i should learn next and i don't even know if i play in the right way...  . Well and the other problem is also that i dont have a real piano, i just have keyboard... and the teacher said i should start playing on a piano, but of course we don't have money now for that either... Is that a big problem? Do you think it is possible to learn to play well by yourself (on the keyboard ) ?? If anyone has any suggestions or advise or whatever i would be really glad! Thank you!

[Bob]

I've heard of people teaching themselves as beginners.  It works to some extent.  But if you're a beginner a teacher would really help -- There are things they can tell you off the top of their head that are basic things you should know.  I don't know if everything is in a book.  Although too, when you have a teacher, you're still teaching yourself, learning how to practice.

I suppose a teacher almost always is a plus.  I don't have one now, but I don't want one.  But I've been through college already.  I know what to work on, etc.  I just don't want a teacher interfering with how I work on things.

[richard black]

Since you evidently have access to a computer, use it - YouTube has lots of videos of great pianists. If you don't know whether they're great or not, the internet will pretty soon tell you that too! Indeed, if you search around you'll find all sorts of information you can apply to your own playing.  Let us know how you get on!

[arumih]

If you're going that route, you basically have to become your own teacher! In your time away from the piano do a lot of reading, searching through this board is a good way to start. Have a read of Chang's online piano book (can't remember the exact name of it now). Another good site is the piano home page (https://www.datarealm.com/marbeth/piano.html). This has a lot of questions and answers and general advice from a piano teacher.

Also, have a look at exam sllyabi. Maybe have a look for now at grades 1-3 (I don't know your level!). See what are the requirements in terms of scales, arpeggios, broken chords etc. If you've been doing hanon or other technical exercises with your teacher, continue them. If not, have a look at some technical exercises and see if they'd be of use to you. Look at the exam pieces to get an idea of music at your level. Listen to A LOT of music to gain ideas about what you like etc and what you'd like to learn. Maybe at this point you already know what type of music you like and want to learn.

Search for theory sites on the net and keep up your music theory. Get some books for sight-reading. I think the main way to be successful (perhaps in the medium term) without a teacher is to develop a high level of self-discipline. Imagine that you still have a teacher and when learning a piece, think about what they'd say, and how you'd want to play for them. Also, if you can, get another pianist friend to watch and listen to you play and give advice. Also, take things VERY slowly. There's no rush!

I started out without a teacher and the above was my modus operandi. Eventually I did get a teacher, but now almost 3 years later I've been teacherless for the past 2 months...hopefully I'll be starting back lessons pretty soon! I can't tell you if you'll reach the upper echelons of playing without a teacher (even with a teacher it's still going to take some work!), but for the short-medium term, not having a teacher might not do a lot of damage. You're still early on in your piano/music development so any little mistakes you pick up can be corrected at some point.

Good luck. I hope you get out of your difficulties soon!

[gyzzzmo]

Depends on the person. If you have a good self-reflection, are consequent and have enough love and feeling for the piano, you can come quite far. But you really have to understand what youre doing, else you'll adapt too many mistakes wich are hard to unlearn.

But your biggest problem currently isnt the lessons, but that you dont have a proper piano or even digital piano. I myself never encountered a decent keyboard for practising, unless it was a pretty expensive one (and i dont suppose you got that one).
Maybe you can monthly put abit of money aside to save up for a digital piano? And maybe your parents can help abit, as compensation for your lack of lessons

Gyzzzmo

[littletune]

thank you everybody so much for  your answers!  i will try to do like you said... and i will try to save up for a piano!! does it has to be an expensive piano to be good? i guess the cheapest pianos are not good?    oh and im not really sure at what level i am  (maybe i will record myself and post it, if maybe someone could tell me then). well thanks again! 

[mezzo piano]

Is your keyboard dynamic (after touch)? That is important. I learned on a 66 note unweighted keyboard (No I did not - I am still learning) but when I worked in a music store I would always go practice on the 88 note weighted boards. Weighted boards feel good. When I visit my parents I always find time to sneak away to play their piano. It all seems to blend together.

I know professionals that will not play a weighted 88 on stage because they say it slows them down, something about trills.

Lots of musicians have learned to play without teachers. Remember Yanni? You end up very stylized because you have learned what you want and not what people have made you learn.

[gyzzzmo]

thank you everybody so much for  your answers!   i will try to do like you said... and i will try to save up for a piano!! does it has to be an expensive piano to be good? i guess the cheapest pianos are not good?    oh and im not really sure at what level i am   (maybe i will record myself and post it, if maybe someone could tell me then). well thanks again!  

The price of a piano doesnt say much. You only know how good an (accoustic) piano is if you know its background (maintainance, age, tuning history) and have played it for some time.
If i were you i'd go for a digital piano, they're far more practical in most situations: Easy to move around, hardly any noise if you use headphones and dont cost money on tuning.
More expensive digital piano's usually arent really better, they just got more extra's in wich youre not really interested anyway as a pianist, and the mechanics are pretty much the same.
Brand does matter quite alot though. I'd advice you going for a piano from the yamaha clavinova series. Ive been trying out ALOT of digitals myself, and to my opinion they came out quite alot better than the other brands. You should go look yourself in a big piano dealer and play just a bunch of them, with headphones (!!!)

good luck,

Gyzzzmo

[littletune]

yes my keyboard is dynamic, and its yamaha. i guess i will go in piano dealer and try playing . i already did that once but just quickly, because i didnt have headphones so thats a really good idea! thanks....

[tromboneal]

I usually recommend that people get a good digital keyboard, but something to note is that there are a lot of free pianos out there.  Keep an eye on Craigslist.  Sure, some are terrible, but you could get lucky.  Of course you have the problem of transporting it to your house, and getting it tuned or fixed, but perhaps you can cross those bridges when you come to them.

Another idea: could you get a piano lesson every six months or so? 

[Bob]

Some people do do lessons every other week.  I've heard of that.  I don't think it's ideal for a beginner though, but... Once a week could be argued against too.

[littletune]

thanks again for all your good ideas! i will talk to my parents about the piano and the lessons...

[rmbarbosa]

Yes, I think you can without a teacher, though it seems more dificult. Today, I received a e-mail from Mr. Chuan Chang: you may download free his "Fundamentals of piano practice" (www.pianopractice.org). Do it. Try also, if possible, a video: "Freeing The Caged Bird" or the https://alexandertechnique.com/ you may download. Best wishes.

[loonbohol]

Yes you can learn piano by yourself if you have already a good foundation.

[littletune]

Well i don't really think that i already have a good foundation...  
Today i found out that i might be able to go to music school (i dont know how that is called in other countries, i dont mean music school like college or university, but music school for kids), but i would have to go in the first grade and there are moslty 6 and 7 year olds there... so... im kinda old . and i would have exams... so im worried... what if i do really bad and the 7year olds do better than me  , that would be really embarrassing!  and also I HAVE TO get a piano... well i dont know yet.... we will see..... But in any case i know i will have to do a lot by myself (especially if i do two grades in one year like they said), so im really glad that you gave me so much advise and many suggestions and everything.... thanks! (and if someone has some more it would still be great:)  or if someone thinks it is useful or not to do exams  ). thanksthanksthanks everybody!

[slobone]

I suppose it depends on where you live, but where I live people practically give away old pianos for nothing (if you will come and get it yourself). Save up a few dollars and then get a friend to help you move it. It's always better to play a real piano whenever you can.

As for what you should be doing while between teachers, I agree that technique exercises are a good idea. Hanon is good, especially because his book also includes scales and arpeggios. They're really basic to piano technique and even some professionals still practice them every day.

And you can also work on developing a good ear. Listen to a song you like (one with a melody -- no hip hop) and then try and play it on the piano. Go back and forth until you can play the melody by heart.

[pianist7]

Maybe for the first 2 years at the most. Then you need a teacher if you want to really improve.

[mezzo piano]

Thanks for the free piano tip! I am going to jump on that.