D.J.Hough asked:


There are many and varied reasons to have piano lessons. It is a beautiful instrument with a beautiful look and a beautiful sound. It can be a soloist's instrument or a group instrument. It sharpens the mind and body. The gift of music is therapeutic. There are many careers that require piano skills. The list goes on and on.

1.One quality that the piano and not many other instruments share, is that you can play more than one note at a time. It is polyphonic. Thus, unlike instruments like the flute or violin, you can play pieces with complex and rich harmonies when playing alone. That makes the piano a dynamic solo instrument. At the same time, the piano sounds beautiful accompanying other instruments. So, whether you are introverted or extroverted, the piano will suit your style.

2. Playing the piano also develops a high level of manual dexterity. While it may seem very simple to just push the keys, learning to perform complex pieces with precision AND emotion needs a little time and a very human touch. It has also been noted that co-ordination skills increase when you have piano lessons.

3.Research has shown that children who have had piano lessons do far better in scholastically than their fellow students. Not only are their artistic and musical skills above the norm, but also their language and mathematics skills are also improved. While this benefit is sometimes difficult to measure, piano students also receive a very tangible benefit. Many high schools are recognizing the achievements that children make in piano and reward them with high school credits when they pass certain grade levels. (In Alberta, Canada, passing a recognized piano exam level/grade 6, 7, and 8 is worth 5 credits each for a total of 15. When you consider the fact that one needs only 100 credits to graduate high school, this is a huge recognition)

4.Pianists also learn some basics in posture which can reap huge rewards. For one thing, the basic hand position required for the piano is also the one required for the typewriter/keyboard. Considering how vital the computer is these days, learning this technique is invaluable. With the proper hand position, one can avoid carpal tunnel syndrome that is plaguing our modern-day offices now that computers are being used so extensively. At the very least, the basic concept of sitting tall in a chair will help with basic posture and back pains.

5. Anyone aspiring to be an orchestral or choral conductor is required to study the piano. Learning the piano trains the pianist to understand and hear the interplay of the various harmonic lines in each piece of music. This is a vital skill for a conductor who must hear and guide all the instruments of his/her orchestra and voices in his/her choir. If you go to colleges which teach music, or if you are applying towards a degree in music or you want to learn to master an instrument at a university it is necessary to take a year or more of piano. Piano is a really good music classroom teaching tool and is the key and basis to learning music theory.

6.Since the piano differs from the guitar or wind instruments (in which the person usually memorizes finger paterns) the piano uses both hemispheres of the brain, requiring your ten fingers to be controlled independently! This might sound hard but with practice and time you'll be able to even do more than one thing simultaneously. A piano player who decides to play drums, if skilled enough can pick them up more easily than someone who hasn't had the experience to play such instrument.

7.There are many jobs and careers for people who have had piano lessons. One can be the piano player in a lounge, on a cruise ship, in a church (mass, weddings, funerals), or in a band. One can be an instructor with a college or university or teach out of a home studio. One can accompanying vocalists, choirs, violinists, and others as they perform for competition or for an audience. One can compose movie scores or commercial jingles or orchestral pieces.

8.The ability to play a musical instrument and to express one's self with a musical instrument is very healthy and therapeutic. Stresses can melt away. The piano is always there, ready for you to pour out your soul. It is a most patient and agreeable companion. If you're upset, go ahead and thunder away on the keyboard. And when you're done and feeling better, go ahead and pick up a more languid or cheerful piece.

The Internet is the best way to find good piano lessons (no geographical barriers/ no re-occurring fees and no stranger in your house). The best piano lesson learning tool that I have found is here.

Learn piano gospel

David Longo asked:


Piano styling is an art of its own. In a way, it's what "separates the men from the boys" when it comes to piano playing.It's certainly one thing to acquire basic piano skills, such as developing technical versatility, reading ability, and even a decent aptitude for interpretation... it's quite another to be able to improvise at will. In my nearly 30 years of teaching experience, I have made contact with so many people of various backgrounds - those with no piano experience to those with lots of it. Interestingly, even the majority of those with years of playing behind them, who had already achieved a certain mastery of the basic skills mentioned above, viewed improvising on piano (piano styling) as somewhat of a mystery.

The reason? It's pretty simple. They were not exposed to the art. Playing piano and interpreting and performing the music of the "classical" masters is an accomplishment of its own (and a worthy one at that) - but it's what most piano students are taught. Why? It's the "status quo," one might say. It's the most understood. It's what degrees that are earned have been based on for ages. When the art of jazz came along, which is still a new art form, that which wasn't understood by the already so-called "master players" was frowned upon...yet, many of them secretly envied the guy or gal who was capable of playing a pop tune in three or more different ways (would Beethoven have appreciated such an endeavor on his Fur Elise?).

If an art from is not understood by the majority, then it stands to reason that the majority of instructors won't be teaching it, due to their lack or limitation of understanding. Makes sense, right? Yet, if you asked 100 people today who either have no experience or have had a few years of piano lessons what they really would like to learn on the piano, it would be interesting to hear the responses and what most of them point to. People want to create - it's an innate desire. They want to have the know-how to sit down at the piano and play, without having to endure tedious years of "university style" lessons before they have fun. Is this fair on their part? Sure it is! The truth is, you don't need years of lessons before you can play - furthermore, you don't need years of training before you can learn how to play creatively. As a matter of fact, you can (within a very short period of time) learn how the professionals do a lot of what they do if only - yes, if only - you could get them to share it with you.

Thankfully, there are a few out there who recognize this public desire and who share bits and pieces of what they know. If you mix your desire to learn with your passion to play and improve your playing, you can make the kind of progress that will amaze even yourself. I created a program that is aimed at people opening up their minds (and musical ears) to creative piano playing called Pro Piano Chord Secrets. It consists of a weekly program that you receive via email which unveils many of the secrets the piano pros have used for years. It no longer has to be a mystery. The program is free of charge as well. If you have a tiny bit of piano knowledge, this will certainly enhance your understanding. In short, you'll be having more fun at the piano. If you want to learn something, commit yourself to learning it. Investigate the resources that can help you. Don't accept the "status quo" just because others do. Take your understanding to the next level. It applies to learning piano as it applies to any other facet of your life. Just because people you know have been doing the same things in the same ways for years doesn't mean that you aren't meant to go beyond that. If you're a classical musician, for example, and you feel an inner need to be more of a creator than a follower, then by all means be willing to admit that, even with you current abilities (which may be excellent), you still have a limited understanding. After all, the only real way we can ever make any significant progress in any area of our lives is to be open to the idea (or fact) that there is more to learn than what we already know. Face the facts. Take the leap. Learn.

Learn to play piano by ear