| Up until only recently most piano teachers all taught the | | | | to master. If you were to learn the 'classical' style |
| same style, how to read music and play so called | | | | without a teacher is will be more difficult. It won't be |
| 'classical' pieces. The typical lesson formats consist of | | | | impossible but chances of success are lower. To learn |
| learning to read music, playing exercises for finger | | | | other styles with out teacher is somewhat easier and |
| training with scales and arpeggios, mastering set | | | | quite possible especially as most of the other styles |
| pieces and preparing for exams or recitals. | | | | are traditionally self taught anyway. |
| The piano player who learns in this way will | | | | The perfect solution to learning to play the piano at |
| undoubtedly in time become very proficient and will | | | | home is to get an audio visual home study course. |
| develop a very technical and correct style of playing. In | | | | These are a fairly recent innovation which has the |
| my opinion this clinical form of learning can at times get | | | | effect of putting a piano teacher into your home who's |
| in the way of creativity as the performer is forever | | | | knowledge can be used as and when is convenient |
| concentrating on the technical perfection of what ever | | | | for you. With the majority of the home study courses |
| they are playing which will shine through in any | | | | you will get taught how to read music, improvise and |
| performance. | | | | play by ear and how to play in multiple other styles at |
| There are many more pianists or keyboard players | | | | once. |
| who do not play in the 'classical' style, their learning | | | | You can advance on through the lessons at your own |
| process is somewhat different. Firstly there are far | | | | pace and without the confines of a strict schedule of |
| fewer teachers and most are completely self taught | | | | lessons. The only disadvantage I can see after having |
| by listening to the music they like and attempting to | | | | worked through several of these courses is the fact |
| imitate it. Most of the piano or keyboard players of | | | | that you do not have anybody there looking over your |
| other styles do not learn to read music until they are | | | | shoulder to point out and bad habits or incorrect |
| much more advanced and some never learn at all. | | | | postures that you may be developing. This can be |
| Most can read chord charts, play by ear and improvise | | | | easily overcome if you get really serious about your |
| with no problem at all. There are as many different | | | | piano playing by attending a single piano lesson with a |
| styles of piano playing as there are musical genres, far | | | | professional teacher once every two or three months |
| too many to mention here but each has its own way | | | | as a sort of check up on your progress and to nip in |
| of learning. | | | | the bud any bad habits you might be picking up. |
| To learn to play the piano or the keyboards yourself at | | | | In conclusion I would have to say that in my opinion it is |
| home with out a teacher is very possible and it will be | | | | perfectly possible to learn the piano at home without a |
| more or less difficult depending on the style you wish | | | | teacher. |