So, you’ve decided to take up playing the piano, great! Playing the piano is super fun and a rewarding pastime to take up at any age. So whether your 5, 15, or 50, we commend you! Being a newbie to any instrument or hobby can be a little daunting, so we’ve put together this handy guide regarding what you need to know about playing the piano. We hope this little list of tips will help you get started on your new musical journey.
Playing Piano Is Awesome
First thing’s first, we have to tell you the truth: playing the piano is totally awesome. Everyone knows it. It’s an incredible skill for anyone to be able to share with friends and family or enjoy alone. We spoke to Ebony, a music teacher, and writer from Acoustic Bridge who exclaimed “what moment does everyone remember from the party? When their cousin got up, unexpectedly played the piano, and got the whole room singing, of course!” She’s right. How awesome would it be to be able to jump on the keys at your best friend’s wedding, or at your family Christmas do? Super awesome.
It Takes Time To Learn
So, we know playing the piano is great, but how long does it take to get great at playing it? Truthfully, it varies massively from person to person. If you have previous musical instrument skills in playing guitar or similar, you may find it a lot easier to understand the layout and structure of the piano. With no prior musical bones in your body, it may take a while longer. Whichever the case may be, to play the piano – and play it well – is a skill that can take years to master. You’ll need to be patient before hitting that Grade 8 mark.
You’ll Need A Good Teacher
When learning to play the piano, it is highly recommended that you use a professional piano teacher. Their input will help you develop and learn at an appropriate pace, whilst learning songs, scales, and chords at the right time. You can self-teach songs if you have a musical ear, but a teacher will help you learn good techniques and the theory behind the music at the right time, too. So, we do recommend getting lessons with a piano professional, at least to get you started.
..And Probably A Good Piano
Speaking of good teachers, you’ll want to be able to practice on a good piano, too. Now, pianos don’t come cheap, we know. But, if you’re serious about learning your skills, practicing on a 2-octave keyboard isn’t going to be enough. You’re going to want the whole 7-octave, 88-key piano to really hone your skills. There are, of course, some great electric pianos available too, so if you would prefer to go digital, that’s fine. Just do your research before investing, as a good piano should last forever.
Scales And Chords Are Key
When looking at a piano, you’ll quickly be able to learn where each octave starts due to the pattern of the keys. This is far easier than knowing where every C on the guitar is. From this pattern reading, you should be able to learn simple chords and scales or arpeggios quite easily. This is what a good teacher can show you. The 3-finger chords and 5-note arpeggios become the base of a large majority of music; jazz, pop, or otherwise. Taking the time to learn these from the start is highly advisable.
Expand Your Horizons
Something to consider when learning the piano is that it’s not all classical, scales, and theory. The piano can be found in almost every type of music going, from jazz to pop, rock to blues, there is piano everywhere. If you want to learn piano, you don’t have to commit to one style. Of course, the basics help, as we have already explained, but you can certainly try your hand at all sorts of piano playing types. Spend a day immersed in jazz music, listen to the rhythms, and feel how different it is from structured pop music. Or, spend a day listening to classics, see how they are built, feel how lovely and rhythmic the piano running through it is. Expanding your horizons will not only make you love more types of music, but it will also make you a better player.
There’s a whole host of information that you might want to absorb before or during taking up the piano. It’s super rewarding yet challenging, and super fun yet varied. There’s so much to love about the piano, we hope you fall in love with it too.
