| So, you want to learn how to play piano. So do | | | | teacher! But what about the student? |
| thousands of others around the world. Here's how | | | | Listen, if your goal is to learn how to note-read and |
| they usually go about it. | | | | play other peoples music for fun then that is what you |
| First, they try to find a piano teacher close to where | | | | should do. But if you're interested in a more creative |
| they live. They may or may not know what style they | | | | approach to piano playing, you may want to seek out |
| want to learn, but figure the piano teacher can help | | | | a teacher who will show you how to play piano using |
| them figure this out. | | | | a chord-based approach. Here's why: |
| Next, it's off to the piano teacher for the first | | | | |
| appointment. What usually happens here is the teacher | | | | 1. Time spent learning is greatly reduced. Listen to this... |
| gives the student "an assessment" to see what they | | | | you can learn most chords on the piano within one |
| know. Now, for the most part, piano teachers won't | | | | month's time. You won't be an expert at it, but you'll |
| ask prospective students what they want to learn | | | | know enough to get around on the piano. This puts |
| because they assume it will be classical in nature. | | | | you light years ahead of your classical playing |
| The benefits for the piano teacher in teaching the | | | | counterparts. |
| classical method are enormous! First, students must | | | | 2. Musicianship is quickly realized. Do you know that |
| learn how to read music and this can take anywhere | | | | most classical players don't have a clue how what |
| from 1-month to 1 year depending on how fast a | | | | they are playing was created? That's right! They just |
| learner the student is. Second, students learn classical | | | | play the notes like a typist and never understand the |
| repertoire and this can literally take forever. As this is | | | | mystery behind the music. Now, if you learn chords, |
| happening over time, the student becomes a piano | | | | inevitably, you're going to learn about chord charts and |
| player who can read sheet music and play the music | | | | once you learn how to "chart out music," you'll be |
| of dead composers reasonably well. That's the goal | | | | thinking like a composer. You'll be quantum leaps ahead |
| anyway. | | | | of most classically trained musicians. Look, if you really |
| The student at this point may have spent thousands of | | | | want to learn how to play piano fast, learn a |
| dollars learning how to do this thus increasing the piano | | | | chord-based approach first. You can always learn |
| teachers income. What a great deal for the piano | | | | note reading later on. |