What Piano Lessons Can Adults Learn for the First Time Effectively?

It’s never too late for anybody to learn to play piano. The beginner lessons are not for kids and the young ones alone. Adults, including seniors or the retirees too, can learn some lessons effectively. When you consider that there are 88 keys in a single piano, you may not believe that it’s an instrument that you can learn. Acoustic pianos have been in the market since the 1700s. Digital pianos, on the other hand, entered the market in the 1980s. The principles for learning how to play them are similar.

So, what lessons should adults focus on learning effectively at first?

Piano Posture
Playing a piano with the wrong posture can be quite uncomfortable. First, you should ensure that your back is straight. Second, your arms should hang in a relaxed manner from your shoulders. The elbows should remain slightly higher than the piano keys. If you use a bench, you should ascertain that you’re sitting on the front parts of the bench. The bench should also be flat and comfy. At all times, you should take care to keep your feet firmly planted on the floor. In fact, your feet should be on a flat surface.

Piano Basics
Learning the basics is critical for any adult who wishes to be good at playing the piano. The most important aspect to learn is the layout of the keyboard on the piano. Also, learn to be conversant with terms such as ‘half-step’ and ‘whole step’. Learning how to use the pedals, which are at the bottom of this musical instrument, is also worth the effort. Any person who cannot use the pedals well will not play the piano like a pro. Apart from these, familiarize yourself with the 88 keys that are on the keyboard.

The keyboards on most pianos have 36 black keys and 52 white keys.

A close look at the keyboard will show you that it has a specific pattern. The pattern is repeated all through the keyboard. The pattern is quite discernible. First, two black keys gather together in a group. Thereafter are a few white keys followed by a set of three black keys bandied in a group. The groups of black keys are critical. Without them, you will struggle playing the right music notes. Also, it’s worth noticing that the keys on the keyboard appear in an ascending order from left to right. The lowest is on the left while the highest is on the right.
The basics to remember include:
a) the arrangement of the keys on the keyboard
b) playing the pedals appearing at the bottom of the piano with your feet

Learn the Keys/Notes
Now that your posture is good and you’re familiar with the basics of playing a piano, the next lesson that all first-time adult learners ought to focus on are piano notes. Playing the piano like a pro is all about the notes. The most important features here are the black keys. The part you should start from is right in the middle. The part is known as Middle C. It is the piano’s reference point. The black keys help you to locate any key. Apart from the Middle C, the keyboard has other notes too. These include the following:
 White keys that you need to learn to play A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H
 Black keys that you need to learn to play sharp notes or flat notes

Choose the Right Piano
With the basics covered, adults learning to play this instrument for the first time should also learn how to choose the best piano. There are different brands in the market from which you can choose today. You have the option of choosing a keyboard that you can simply play and use to learn right at home. Among your options are acoustic pianos, digital pianos, and electronic keyboards. Each type of piano has its own strengths and weaknesses. Learn them all before selecting something that works well for you and you can afford.

A digital piano is one of the best if you do not want to disturb those around you. It offers you the chance of fitting a headphone in to eliminate the noise. Also, you can connect digital pianos or electronic keyboards to a computer using midi cable. Additionally, digital pianos and electronic keyboards are also portable and require no tuning. Therefore, a learner would be better off getting familiar with playing pianos using a digital or electronic instrument. The cost of the different types of pianos varies. The cost is as follows:

 $6,000 to more than $10,000 for a grand piano
 $4,000 to $8,000 for an upright piano
 $1000 to $3,000 for a digital piano
 $50 to $100 to rent an upright or grand piano

As shown here, learning to play the piano is not like rocket science. You do not have to spend several years in college or a music school to learn to play this instrument. In fact, you can use YouTube videos for guidance too. However, what you should be ready to do is spending some money on the lessons or purchasing literature and the actual instruments. You need all the help you can get to excel, especially if you’re an adult who has never spent a minute before to learn to play the piano.

Please call Maggie Pollio at 832.594.7267 for a free consultation.

No Comments Yet.

Leave a comment