| Don't you hate it when you spent a lot of sweat and | | | | your exams depended on how good your high school |
| tears learning something, only to discover a shortcut | | | | teachers were, not on the syllabus. Similarly, how well |
| the next day? How did this make you feel? | | | | you play the piano also depends on how good your |
| Unfortunately, many old-fashioned, out-dated | | | | piano tutor is. Unfortunately, even with |
| educational techniques from the 19th and early 20th | | | | recommendations from friends and family, this can be |
| centuries are still going strong, even today. This is | | | | a hit-or-miss affair. |
| despite the fact that secret accelerated learning | | | | 3. Traditional piano education is expensive. Depending |
| techniques developed during the Cold War have been | | | | on where you live, and how good is the tutor, as well |
| declassified for decades. These techniques were | | | | as how many competitors she has, the price can vary |
| originally developed to train diplomats and spies to | | | | from $50 a lesson to $200 or $300 a month for 4 to 8 |
| speak new languages quickly and easily, and were | | | | lessons. Contrast this with the $50+ for a book + DVD |
| used by both the Western powers and the USSR. | | | | combo on Amazon or $100 for one of the complete |
| From this early beginning, innovative educators refined | | | | internet piano courses. |
| the existing techniques, discovered even more new | | | | 4. Trying to fit in your (or your children's) piano lessons |
| learning technologies, and branched out from | | | | into your schedule can be a real nightmare. You have |
| languages to fields like music and maths. The best | | | | to juggle your job, your housework, spend time with |
| online piano courses of today are the continuing result | | | | your family and socialize with your friends and |
| of this evolution. | | | | neighbors. Going for traditional lessons means trying to |
| People who want to learn the piano today are | | | | find a two-hour block of time (not including transport) |
| fortunate. There are so many good piano programs in | | | | once or twice every week (on the same days). On |
| the market, using some form of accelerated learning | | | | the other hand, self-training from books and DVDs or |
| technology to make things easier for the student. The | | | | online learning only require about 15 minutes to |
| cheapest are books sold on Amazon, some with CDs, | | | | half-an-hour of your time, when you have time. If you |
| and others with DVDs. You can also search the | | | | couldn't understand the lesson the first time, you can |
| internet to find online courses for learning piano. What | | | | do it again and again until you master it at no extra |
| is best for you partly depends on how much money | | | | cost. Imagine doing that when you are paying your |
| and time you have. Objectively, the best are the | | | | piano tutor $50 for every lesson. |
| complete courses taught over the internet, though the | | | | 5. Traditional lessons assume that you can only learn |
| books with DVDs are a good blend of price, ease of | | | | from a human teacher. They have never been |
| learning and thoroughness. | | | | updated to take into account modern technologies like |
| Here is a list of seven reasons why you should learn | | | | video, CDs, DVDs, computers and the internet. |
| online (or from DVDs) using accelerated learning | | | | 6. Kids love playing on the computer and the internet. |
| techniques rather than the old-fashioned piano teaching: | | | | They don't like dry, boring lessons reading from books. |
| 1. The old-fashioned piano teaching techniques weren't | | | | The best online piano courses cater to children. Piano |
| actually designed to quickly teach you how to play the | | | | lessons use a lot of interactive games to help children |
| piano. They were, at best, an offshoot of complete | | | | learn faster. And let's face it, adults enjoy these |
| musical education programs, partially derived from the | | | | games too. |
| Renaissance apprenticeship programs. They may | | | | 7. If you have received lessons before, you probably |
| have been great for producing the great composers | | | | remember that you were taught to sight-read but not |
| like Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, but are definitely | | | | to play by ear, and only learned the classics. Some |
| overkill for someone who just wants to play the piano | | | | teachers teach students to play by ear, but this seems |
| for fun. | | | | to be rare. And while classics are nice, sometimes you |
| 2. Conventional methods of teaching piano relied on | | | | just want to play a modern, fun pop song on the piano. |
| having a good teacher. Yes, there is a syllabus, but | | | | These are the advantages of the best online piano |
| how useful was your high school syllabus in teaching | | | | courses over the old-fashioned piano curriculum. |
| you how to pass your exams? How well you passed | | | | |