No matter what method of learning the piano you choose, be sure NOT to make these common mistakes!

1. You never practice or put in the DVD course.  If you are learning piano through DVD lessons at home, it is important that you have the self-discipline to make time every week for the lessons.  If you are excited and determined to learn piano, then finding the time to do a lesson or two every week should not be a problem.  However, if you have a very busy schedule, or are just not sure about learning the piano, then making time in your schedule to learn piano might be difficult.

2. You pay too much for lessons.  If you are taking private lessons, you are wasting over $1,400 a year.  The average piano lesson costs $30.  For one lesson once a week, that's $120 a month, or $1,440 a year.  DVD piano courses cost anywhere from less than $100 to $150, as a one-time payment.  That is like paying for just one month of private lessons!  Also, online piano lessons cost even less than DVD courses, but DVD courses are recommended more.

3. You spend most of your lesson asking questions.  If you are taking private piano lessons, the lessons are usually limited to 30-minute sessions.  If you are just starting to learn the piano, you probably have a ton of questions.  These questions can really limit the time you have on actually learning songs and making sure you are playing the songs correctly.  For basic piano questions, it is better to look those up in a book or online.  Your lesson should be spent mostly on learning songs, technique, and how to read the music.

4. There are a lot of distractions during your lesson.  If you have the DVD courses, it is best to do your lessons in a private room where there aren't a lot of distractions.  Trying to learn piano in the main room of your house or somewhere with a lot of noise can really lessen the quality of your lesson.  Find a quiet, private place where you can really give your full attention.  You will get a lot more out of your lesson!

5. You only practice the song, not the techniques.  It will be very hard to learn any song without first learning the proper piano techniques.  Working on the correct hand positions and maintaining the "good posture" will help you to play songs quicker and smoother.  Learning how to read music will help you when you don't have a teacher right next to you telling you all the notes.  You will be able to practice more efficiently on your own and will be able to double check the music.  It is very important to learn, practice, and maintain proper technique so that you can play more advanced songs, and have them sound really good!