Best way to learn the Piano?

[arojas]

Hello everyone,

I am new here. With my 42 years I decided to learn playing the Piano. From scratch. That's something I always wanted but somehow I never actually did it. Now I have some free time and I really want to make the first steps.

From your experience what's the best way to do this and stay motivated? Should I get a teacher, which is kind of expensive? Or does anyone have experience with online programs like this one? https://www.beatmaking.guru/learn-piano/piano-practice-can-be-fun-too/

Thanks for your help!

Alfonso

[outin]

I am new here. With my 42 years I decided to learn playing the Piano.

Great! That's a good age to start
Welcome!

From your experience what's the best way to do this and stay motivated? Should I get a teacher,

Yes, that is absolutely the best way.

[quantum]

Congratulations on making the commitment. 

Starting your studies with a teacher is not only optimal for learning material quickly, it is also the most cost effective means of study.  Buying into the various learn-quick-no-work-required products will end up being far more expensive then studying with a teacher.  Such things will likely start you on a spiral of gear acquisition in some hope that buying more of this stuff will make you a better pianist.  My advice, invest in education and skill and not in gadgets that claim to do the job faster. 

A teacher will also guide you with the purchase of tools (instrument, books, music, etc.) that are suited to your learning. 

[bronnestam]

The best way to stay motivated is to be very kind to yourself. Make the piano the place where you simply cannot fail - that is, never blame yourself for what you achieve at the piano. Always focus on the good things, on your efforts, your progress (no matter how small at the moment) and your good intentions!

You see, an effective way of removing the joy from piano playing is to condemn yourself. You know, be impatient, tired, sigh loudly over yourself ("typically me! There I go again!") and compare yourself with others (you will always find someone who is much better than you).

There is an old and incredibly stupid tradition that says you must be "hard" on yourself, push yourself over your limits, workworkwork until you almost faint, and then you can tell the world how hard you work and expect a lot of oohs and aahs in admiration - in short term, the whole Suffering Marture of an Artist cliché.

No, instead you must seek for the joy. You must be happy. End your daily practice by making a little recaption of what you achieved today, write it down if you like, and if you had some trouble just note it, in a neutral way: "things I need to focus on next time". It should be fun to practice, because it is fun to learn new things. Trust yourself - if you practice with joy and passion, you cannot fail. It is as simple as that. If you don't feel like practicing one day, then don't, just play something for fun or listen to piano music instead or take a walk.

I used to believe in this self discipline sh*t but I don't anymore. I am older now, I know better know. And I play much better piano now than I used to do before, I learn much faster.

[andrytikh]

absolutely agree with previous post

[bernadette60614]

Also, very much agree.

By our age (and I'm allowing for a decade as our age), you've become proficient in a number of areas. Going back to being a novice, can be tough.  However, it can also be thrilling if you go into with the attitude that everything you learn adds to your joy as a musician (and I think if you study an instrument intently, you can call yourself a musician.)

I will never be a concert pianist.  It is a self-defeating exercise to compare my Mozart sonata to Uchida's or my Chopin to Rubinstein's.  I take pleasure in the process of learning...