Learning piano - what exactly do you learn

[cheap_piano_a]

Hi!
So, I am thinking about starting to learn piano. I would like to know what exactly do you learn apart from remembering keys/chords etc.?
What things do you learn? Can you please list them like what first, and then, and then? Just a summary will be helpful.
Thanks in advance.

[anacrusis]

Do you realize how broad a question you are asking?

Of the top off my head, beginners learn things such as:
- The names of the keys
- Finger numbers
- Rhythm and feeling the pulse
- Learning simple pieces
- Learning exercises to develop control over the fingers
- Learning to read sheet music

The last step takes some time because there are many things that go into it, and you can get bogged down if you focus too much on reading at the expense of playing music and getting comfortable at the instrument. It's not good to neglect reading either, however.

[arda152]

I find it really cute how you say "apart from remembering keys/chords" because you seem to think very rational about the piano. Maybe the most beautiful thing about learning to play the piano is that there is no certain order of things you go on learning one after the other. Logical thinking will eventually fail. The dizzying number of piano methods with sometimes very contradicting approaches is a proof of this: Everyone thinks they figured it out, however they are just writing about how they learned it, (or much worse, how they believe they learned it)

What improves with time is your repertory and your ability to add new pieces to your repertory. You will learn to be patient and keep up with the times where the piece seems to be stuck. You will learn to understand music as a way of describing the senses and experiences we have.


Come back here after one year of lessons and tell us how you think the order of things for you are.