| The beginner piano lesson is an exciting prospect, but it | | | | Take your time and absorb the material fully. |
| can be overwhelming as well. | | | | Be sure to read the introductory material as well. That |
| The key is to keep things simple and take one step at | | | | usually includes information about how to sit, how to |
| a time. | | | | hold your arms, and how far away from the piano you |
| Start with a good method book. This will present | | | | should be. |
| concepts one at a time and build on them. | | | | Many popular piano instructions series include |
| Check your music store for piano instruction series. | | | | companion books on different musical aspects, |
| The staff at the store can recommend a particular | | | | including music theory, piano technique, and solo pieces. |
| method that is right for you. | | | | All of them will help you learn more about playing the |
| If you are an adult beginner, there are adult piano | | | | piano and music in general. |
| methods, but it can be fun to use the children's | | | | Your music store will probably also have piano |
| versions. They are colorful with fun cartoon-type | | | | instruction videos that you can purchase. Think of |
| characters. Who says adults can't have fun? So feel | | | | these as a teacher in a box. |
| free to bypass the stuffy adult piano course for the | | | | You can play the video or DVD over and over, watch |
| kids books. | | | | close-ups, and "schedule" your lesson at your |
| These days the piano method books are available | | | | convenience. |
| with a CD to play along with. Get one of those--it's a | | | | Once you have worked through book 1 and possibly |
| lot of fun! The simple melody you are playing sounds | | | | book 2 of the piano instruction series you have |
| simply grand with a full orchestra behind you! Blast into | | | | chosen, you might also want to consider an on-line |
| space with the sound of a rocket and strike up the | | | | course. These are many on-line, and many are geared |
| band with a march! | | | | to particular styles of piano playing, including gospel |
| The CD features two version of each piece, with the | | | | music and jazz. |
| piano playing and one without the piano solo line. In | | | | If you are fortunate enough to be taking private |
| addition, there are usually two speeds, slow when you | | | | lessons, having a background of working through a |
| are learning the piece, and fast for when you have the | | | | piano method book will help you immensely to get |
| notes down. | | | | more out of your lessons and make faster progress. |
| Don't feel like you need to rush through the books. | | | | Have some fun learning a new skill--playing the piano! |