How to learn to play a piano -A piano tutorial

This is a small tutorial for beginners interested in learning to play a piano. It is not intended to be a complete course on playing piano, but as an introduction on how to learn to play a piano. It will also give you some advice on how to succeed, and what to avoid for failure.

To learn to play a piano is a rewarding task; you feel you are able to create or play music. You can also use it to entertain your family and friends. And most importantly; you can use it to relax yourself from a stressful day.

This piano tutorial will start by looking at the basics. You are not limited to learn piano as described; as there are several ways of learning. These methods will shortly be discussed under “3 keys to success”.

Reading sheet music
You can learn to read sheet music from online, resources teaching you how to read notes, and timing of the music. You can also get books or lessons on how to read sheet music. Understanding the basics will only take you a couple of days as it is a simple system to understand. Most importantly; you don't have to master everything at once. You can start of by understanding the basic notes and timing, and practice playing simple songs. As you gradually learn more as the songs you are practising start to include new symbols. For the first month you might find it easier to learn by writing notes below the music notations for you to easier remember them. But don't make this as a habit; only do it for the first weeks while learning.

Learning the keyboard layout
Learning the keyboard layout might seem both scary and difficult as there are 88 keys, 52 white and 36 black. And not enough with it being 88 keys, but if you have watched pianists playing you will notice they often play several keys at once, in an amazingly fast rhythm.

Don't get frightened by these things; it is simpler than it looks like, and you will most likely only start by using 10 of the keys; and as you gradually learn to play more advanced pieces you will start using more keys. You will be able to play some master pieces yourself; but you first have to master the basics. And you have to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE!

A good for the beginners might be to add stickers to each key, labelling them. When you have played the song a couple of times, and manage to press the keys as you read the sheet music you start to remove the stickers. Please don't keep them longer than you have too, as it will make it harder to play without them later.

Practice with children's song
The best way to start learning to play the piano is to play simple children's song, as they usually have easy sheet music to read, and a familiar tune, making it easier to make the timing right.

Some recommendations
I think most people are able to read sheet music, and know the piano layout by heart within a month. Of course this will require some practice each day. You could start the first day or two to understand how to read sheet music. Don't worry about memorizing everything at once; it will come shortly.

The next day you should spend getting to know the keyboard; at least the most frequently used keys. If you feel you have too; you might add stickers to them; but remove them as soon as possible.

Next you start practising playing songs as “are you sleeping Brother John”, “old McDonald had a farm” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. You might cheat a bit in the beginning, making notes on the sheet music, and adding labels. But as I said; do not keep them longer than you have to.

As you master two-three songs you start making alternating days; one day for practising on songs, and one day to study sheet music, attempting to memorize the notes, and the keys on the piano.

Most people will master reading sheet notes and knowing the piano keyboard within a month (don't give up if you need a bit more time, some need time to process everything – it has nothing to do with talent or intelligence; it's just how we people are; unique and needing our own pace to learn and master). You probably don't have to spend more than 20-30 minutes each day, so it doesn't take all of you time. But you will need to stay with your schedule.

Thus far in this piano tutorial we have covered how to learn the basics. The above structure is mostly advised for those having a piano at home and enjoying to learn the basics themselves. Next in this tutorial we are going to look at key factors for you to continue learning how to play the piano.

1.Understanding your learning style
We it's largely individual for each person of how they prefer learning new things. Some of us enjoy feedback from others knowing the topic, others prefer reading materials, and some prefer learning everything by themselves in their own speed. There are no “right” or “wrong” ways to learning to play a piano. However; if you do not enjoy learning to play by studying a course by yourself you should avoid it. If you can't stand someone telling you what to do; whether it's right or wrong you will fail. There is no point choosing to learn playing a instrument with a method that will eventually make you stop having interest in learning more. This is true for anything you want to learn; find what way is most constructive and positive for you. Let's look at the three ways I usually have learned to study.

a) Classes
Some people need constant feedback on their performance and progress. They also want to be able to ask questions to an “expert” right away; not having to research the topic themselves. Constructive feedback; both negative and positive might be what you need to get motivation to continue learning as well.

b) Self-study courses / Piano tutorials
There are also those who hate lectures; they don't like someone to tell them what to do. On the other hand they enjoy having structured lessons, where you learn gradually how to play a piano. I would advice these individuals to get a course teaching them how to read sheet music, how to play simple songs, and audio example of how the song should be performed correctly. As you have no teacher to give a direct feedback you have only two options; to listen to the song on a CD, and compare your performance with the original, and to ask family or friends to listen and give you feedback to your performance.

c) Learning by study and practice
Some on the other hand would like to learn by themselves; they might find online “how-to” or tutorials teaching them to read sheet music. They are of course not limited to online resources; if you are one of these you can search your local library or online book-stores as Amazon.

Next they might learn the keyboard layout with the same approach as above, and later choosing yourself what sheet music  and CD's you get while learning to play the piano.

2.Motivation

There are several ways of getting motivation. One motivating thought could simply be to recall why you wanted to learn to play piano. No matter what; you will not reach your goal for years. If your objective was to entertain others with something you master; you will still have thousands of new songs you can learn. The point is; only a limited few are masters with the piano; and even they need to practice more. The only way of getting better is to learn more and more. I will most likely never become a master of the piano; but that's no excuse for keep learning if I enjoy making others happy while playing for them; or if relax while playing piano.

I think the largest motivation can be found by mastering one song at the time, either by feeling you master it while playing it for yourself; or by seeing how others enjoy you playing for them. These are motivating factors to help you go on; to feel mastery; and feel it's appreciated you have made the effort to master playing music.

The point is; learn one thing at the time; and don't rush to learn new things before you master the previous lesson or song. And you should never start learning something you are not ready for yet.

The best way to keep your motivation is to slowly progress; and do not set to high ambitions. Instead learn to enjoy mastering one piece at the time.

Just don’t start learning to play piano unless you are really motivated for it, and really want to learn it.

3.Commitment

To learn anything you will need to stay committed to the task. You might start the first month learning for 20-30 minutes each day; but if you know you will get tired if you do something to much or too often you reduce. You might decide to practice each second day; or three times a week. What is important is that you make time at these points without creating excuses for delays. If you have decided to play Monday; Wednesday and Friday you make a schedule for it. Let's say you are committed to play these days at 17:00-17:30; then stick with it.

An efficient way which might help both with commitment and motivation is to create a sheet for the next 10 weeks where you plan each time you are to practice. If you succeed you mark it with green; if you fail you mark it with red. That said; you will need some flexibility for it. There might be time you have to do other things; if that happen you mark the day yellow, and reschedule to another day: and you make notes of when and what time you replaced the schedule. Remember; you have to catch up in the current week to mark it yellow; else you will have to live with shame of being marked red.

Let’s close of this tutorial on how to learn to play a piano with a few words of what could make you fail on learning to play piano.

1.Analysing instead of acting
This is the number 1) reasons we fail to start anything we want to do. We analyse and daydream without making action. If you want to learn to play a piano; find an option to get started today. The only rule is to actually do it the very same week. If you don't have piano yet; find a cheap digital piano, and buy a real one later. If you need lectures; find a course or someone who are willing to teach you. Just don't have it in mind. Create actions to get started. And create actions as often as you feel you need to learn it. I would advice no less than two lectures a week.

2.To large expectations
This is another large reason for us not being able to learn to play piano. We expect to be a able to play great music within a month or two. I think it's far more realistic to set small sub expectations or sub goals as: I will practice three times a week, and within the first months I will understand the music sheet for “Old McDonald had a farm”, knowing the each of the keys I will need on the piano, and being able to play it well. Don't expect any Beethoven or Mozart till you have practised for a reallllllllly long time.

3. Excuses
You will always find stupid excuses, such as:

I am too old for this/young for this
You are never too old or too young to learn anything. As long as you have an average mental mind, and physical capable body you can learn almost anything you want to learn; given you dedicate time to practice.

I don't like the piano any more
Try remembering why you wanted to learn playing the piano in the first place. Of course you still want to learn; you probably just did the mistake of expecting too much, too early, or you choose a way not optimal for learning

I can never learn to play piano
You couldn't swim till you started practising, and to become a great swimmer, being a part of competition you would have to practice on techniques.

I hope this tutorial gave you some taste to start learning to play piano. I know it became a rather large hub. But I really wanted to cover the basics, and at the same time some thoughts on different methods of learning, and of course some keys for success and failure. It would be nice with some feedback on YOUR thoughts on learning to play a piano. Maybe your experience and comment is what other need to stay committed and keep practising. There is really only one secret to learn to play a piano well: to practice!