Piano FAQ

I'm sure you have some questions before getting started, so I came up with some basic questions. A lot of these questions address finding the best methods of learning the piano, so hopefully these help you in starting out! If I have not answered a particular question of yours, just let me know!

What is the average cost of piano lessons?

When I took private piano lessons, it was $30 per lesson. I had 1 lesson every week, which adds up to $120/month, or $1,440/year. I've heard of lessons being slightly less than $30 per session or even much more than $30 if it's a really good teacher.

Private lessons can really add up, especially if you've been playing as long as I have. That is why I started looking into alternative methods of learning piano.

If I am a beginner, what is the best method for me to start learning piano?

The most important part in learning how to play the piano, or any instrument for that matter, is to learn the basic fundamentals first. This will give you a good foundation on which you can build upon in the future. The best thing to do would be to invest some money into a course like Learn and Master Piano, which will develop the fundamentals, improve your playing, and use that knowledge to start teaching yourself your own songs.

I find that my hands get really sore really quickly when I play, how do I fix this?

Trust me, I have tiny hands, so I know what you mean!! Starting out, your hands will get a little sore as they get used to the proper piano technique. The best thing to do is to warm up before you start playing. For example, when you first sit down to play, warm up one of your hands by doing a slow C scale all the way up, then all the way back. Do the same thing with your other hand. Then, use both hands at the same time. Do this a few times, getting slightly faster each time. This will help to warm up your hands and fingers and get them nice and loose before playing.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of private lessons?

The advantages of private lessons are that there is a set practice time every week. Your teacher expects you to be there and your parents expect you to be there. This guarantees constant practice. You won't forget to practice every week or feel too tired to practice or have something else that takes your attention away from practicing, you have a set time every week that you know you must go. And, if you have any questions, your teacher is right there to answer them. Also, a lot of teachers put you in recitals and you can win certificates, awards, even trophies. It's really neat.

The disadvantages of private lessons are, firstly, the cost. $30 a week/$120 a month/$1,440 a year really adds up. Second, depending on the teacher, you can't learn piano in the privacy of your own home. When I took private lessons, I was absolutely terrified of dogs, so I was always scared to go to my lesson. My teacher would have to lock up her dog in a room for the time I was there. It was a pain. Also, if you are one who asks a lot of questions, that can take up your valuable 30-minutes, which cuts down on your playing time. Online courses offer the same step-by-step instruction as a lesson would and you can even ask the instructor questions online, for just a fraction of the cost.

The keys all look similar, what's an easy way to remember which is which?

The easiest thing to do is to find "Middle C". Middle C is the C note in the center of the piano. Have a teacher or a DVD course show you Middle C if you can't find it. You can put a little sticker in front of the Middle C key to help you remember where it is, and before you know it, you'll be able to recognize Middle C without the sticker, and you can work from there.

What do the foot pedals do?

Some pianos have 2 foot pedals and some pianos have 3 foot pedals. The very left pedal of all pianos softens the sound of the notes. The very right pedal of all pianos is what sustains the notes, or makes the note ring out longer and merge with the sound of other notes. The middle pedal has different functions with different manufacturers. Some middle pedals sustain certains notes while the other notes sound normal, and other middle pedals make the notes sound short (opposite of the right pedal).