Body Positions | Everything Piano

Do You Need A Piano Teacher?

July 29th, 2009

There is no doubt that anyone can teach themselves how to play the piano on their own. However, unless you already have some knowledge and experience in reading music, a complete beginner would most definitely benefit from the company of a piano teacher, at least for the first 6 months to a year or so.

Why are piano teachers needed for piano players at least in the beginning? Essentially, your teacher can show you the most effective body positions for playing the piano, such as hand position, sitting position, hand and finger movements, and so on. If you start out on your own with the wrong body positions, you could easily adapt to some bad habits or even injure yourself without even knowing the right hand and sitting positions.

Likewise, a beginner who sits down at the piano and starts playing is usually making at least 20 different mistakes simultaneously. These include things like coordinating the right and left hands, controlling dynamics, rhythm problems, timing, speed, finger positioning, learning certain things in the wrong order, and lacking a sense of musicality.

The right teacher can help you pinpoint all of these problems so that you can work to improve them. Your teacher will also know the basic skills needed for beginners so you can learn them in the right order. He or she can provide you with the right learning materials and they provide you with s structured learning environment, which is essential for beginners.

You should try to avoid teachers who are unable to teach you what you want to learn. For example, say you want to learn jazz improvisation but your teacher only teacher classical piano for conservatory examinations. Also, teachers who are too strict may not offer you the flexibility needed for your personal style of learning.

Elise’s Musical Tip For The Day:

I was a beginner piano player at the age of 8 and getting a piano teacher was definitely a cost effective alternative, not only in a monetary sense, but in a timely sense as well. If you are a beginner piano player looking for a piano teacher, I’d advise you to check out local music stores first. Check your local directory or Yellow Pages for stores like these and contact them to find out if they offer lessons. You can also find private teachers who teach from home. My piano teacher structured her music business this way. You can find private teachers through advertisements in your local newspaper, through referrals, or sometimes advertised on information boards in your community. Finally, you can search PrivateLessons.com and click on “Piano” to try and find a teacher in your area.

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