Can Piano Be Self Taught?

Piano technique is very simple, but it takes years to master. – Glenn Gould

Can piano be self taught? In 2017, half of the students who have learned to play a musical instrument and who are pursuing Professional or Higher Studies at the music conservatory learned to play the piano. Learning music and becoming familiar with the basic principles of the piano can be done in many ways: conservatory, music school, private lessons…

However, these different methods of learning piano have the drawback of being difficult to fit into our schedules or afford. Also, as a beginning adult, it is very difficult to find musical training. So, have you considered learning to play the piano on your own?

Is it possible to learn to play the piano without a teacher?

Starting to play the piano without a piano teacher, unless your name is Mozart, Beethoven, or Bach, takes work! When one is alone, method and organization are paramount. At the same time, one must prepare his piano sessions, practice, and observe oneself correct oneself. And this is not so easy for everyone. Lesson preparation and observation are usually part of the fundamental skills of piano teachers.

Without piano lessons for beginners from a teacher, you risk learning to play the wrong way.

Therefore, it is possible to learn the piano by yourself, but it will be a complex task where you will have to correct your mistakes while learning to play the piano. Therefore, we encourage you to take a look at a piano course to learn our tips. However, if you want to take on this challenge, read on for all the advice you need.

Learn Self-Taught Piano: Where to Start?

To begin with, it is best to choose a piano method. Seek advice from a music store to choose the most suitable method for you. Don’t neglect the basics of solfeggio that you can find in any pamphlet on music theory and also buy a book of easy scores. You can start with the text, but the video is a much more useful format. Take online piano lessons to learn to play in a more fun way.

Evaluate The Difficulty Of A Score

As a beginner, if learning music theory can be tricky, knowing if sheet music is too hard for your level can be too. Here are some tips to know which scores may be more suitable when starting:

How to Continue Progressing?

Having reached a certain level, you will surely feel stuck and won’t know what to do to continue making rapid progress. It would be beneficial to take a few lessons with a private teacher. He will be able to give you new practical exercises, in addition to correcting you on certain issues that may be problematic.

Take stock of your progress to put your mind at ease and give you other ideas. This is a great way to learn nuance and expression; of course, it will help you strengthen your fingers. A new breath of fresh air in your learning so you don’t lose motivation and renew your commitment to the piano! If you prefer to find a teacher, you can take piano lessons online.

Some Accessible Pieces For Piano Beginners

To progress, it is essential to choose songs that you like according to your style of music. Follow this link to receive some accessible sheet music pieces for beginner pianists. To venture into much more complicated pieces, you can choose to learn to play the piano at the conservatory.

Tips For When We Learn To Play The Piano Alone

First of all, it’s best to keep in mind how difficult it is to learn to play the piano and read music alone. But if you have already decided to do it in a self-taught way, it is because your motivation is enormous. Motivation is fundamental, as well as rigor, discipline, and perseverance.

Don’t Buy Any Methods!

First, you should know that the material available on piano will not make you a good pianist. Therefore, the only essential thing to learning the piano is to own a piano or at least a synthesizer or keyboard.

Before you buy the latest modern piano method, sit down at the piano and let your fingers run over the keys. You probably already know some melody without ever having taken a piano or music, theory class. Listen to the different sounds, learn to differentiate between high and low sounds, and try to find simple melodies for the ear like Clair de Luna, the music of Tetris or the Mario Bros.

Beware Of Free Sheet Music On The Internet!

Usually, when you want to learn to play the piano by yourself, you are not looking to become a world-famous pianist, but simply play some songs that you like. The easiest, of course, is to use the Internet to find the sheet music.

However, keep in mind that free sheet music you can find online often contains errors in rhythm, meter, notation, or fingerings. So you risk learning false things based on transcribing midi files. On the contrary, if you pay for a sheet music that has been edited by a professional, that guarantees a quality piano sheet music. Don’t hesitate to go to a music store for professional advice.

Respect The Fingering!

The most serious mistake for a beginner is not to respect the fingerings of a score. Fingerings are the numbers printed above or below the notes. They all correspond to one of the fingers.

Not respecting the fingering is, unfortunately, a common mistake. Sometimes, we don’t pay attention to it, and yet it’s essential! If you are not careful from the beginning, you will acquire some vice and you will not be able to reach the fluidity and speed required in some songs. This will keep you stuck in learning the piano.

Neglect The Rhythm

The metronome is not for decoration! You have to learn to use it as soon as you learn the first piano chords. Rhythm is very important! That’s what will make the difference between a successful performance and any amateur practice. It’s the beat that makes you want to clap your hands and dance when you listen to rock, pop or jazz. It is also thanks to rhythm that we minimize wrong notes. To practice, right?

If you want to work on improvisation, rhythm is absolutely essential, especially if you play in a group! So get into the habit of working any score after reading it, with the metronome, even at a very slow tempo.

Record The Steps

As beginners, we often want to go too fast. Learning music theory and playing songs on the piano takes time, especially as a self-taught person. Don’t try to play overly complicated pieces quickly. You will get discouraged and you will not progress faster. Master one concept well before moving on to the next, and work with both hands.

If you think that self-taught learning is not your thing, check out this article about online piano lessons.

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