How to Play the Piano for Dummies
- 1). Purchase or get access to a piano to practice on if you do not have one already. If a piano will take up too much space in your home, you can buy a keyboard instead. Keyboards are small and portable, compared with a full-sized piano. They are also significantly cheaper. Digital pianos from such manufacturers as Roland and Yamaha let you control the volume. Before purchasing a piano/keyboard, make sure you are seriously committed to putting in the effort to practice.
- 2). Find a teacher to teach you proper technique. Learning the right technique is the key to becoming a good piano player. A teacher will correct your mistakes and bad habits. If you let bad habits continue, they will become harder to fix.
- 3). If hiring a teacher is not feasible, you can still teach yourself piano. But be aware that the piano, like any instrument, takes immense dedication and practice. Get a timer and make sure you practice for at least 30 minutes every day. Find sheet music that looks easy and practice it until you can play from memory. Sheet Music Plus's website is an excellent place to find sheet music (see Resource).
- 4). Practice songs that you actually enjoy playing. Learning how to play songs you are not interested in will get boring after a while. Compile a list of songs you would like to learn how to play. Once you have mastered a particular song, cross it off your list. Having a visual record of your accomplishments and progress will make learning the piano a lot more satisfying.
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