When you have a small child and you’re enticing them with new hobbies, it’s natural to sign up for classes and have them participate. But for adults, we prefer to do things ourselves. When we start up a new hobby, many times, we do research online, watch a few YouTube videos, possibly invest in a workbook or other type of guide to help us along. 

A new hobby is meant to take away stress, not add to it. And a lot of times scheduling regular lessons away from home is more stress than it’s worth. 

Which is why in many cases, it’s easier to learn piano all by yourself. 

But is that possible? Can you learn piano all by yourself and do it justice? 

Yes. You can learn piano with a little determination and a whole lot of practice. Take it at your own pace. Here’s how. 

Invest in a piano

When you think about piano lessons for your kids, you’re likely to invest in quality materials to ensure they have a chance to get it right. But when we invest in things for ourselves, sometimes we put quality on hold, and search by price alone. A piano isn’t something you can skimp on. If you buy a cheap keyboard at your local big box store, you won’t truly learn how to play, and will only grow frustrated throughout the process. 

Spend some time finding the right piano for your needs. Why not make an investment in something nice, something that will add to the decor of your home? You’ll be more likely to play it. Others in your home may pick it up too. 

An acoustic piano will give you all you need to learn this new skill. You can select vertical if you’re short on space, or maybe now is the time to go all in and select that grand piano you’ve had your eye on for years. 

Learn the skills

Once you have your new piano in place, it’s time to learn the basics of the keyboard. Sit down and learn the major keys, where middle C is, and how the keys flow. Learn the differences between tones, what sharps and flats sound like. See how each of the notes looks on music. There are many ways you can accomplish this, both with video training and with apps and games. Have fun with it; you’re more likely to stick with it if you enjoy it. 

This is also when you should be learning about chords. Basic chords work together to play several notes together to create one harmonizing sound. Again, you can find a variety of recourses to help you learn the basics. 

This is also the time to learn correct finger placement and correct posture. If you don’t sit right at the piano, it can cause muscle problems, and make the entire process less enjoyable. This is about training all muscles for strength and helping you become a better player. While you can do this on your own, through online resources, it may be wise to check in with instructors periodically so they can help ensure you’re doing this right. It really does have a big impact on the way you play. 

Reading music

After you get the mechanics down of how to play the piano, it’s time to start reading music. Again, there are a wide variety of online tools ready and waiting to help you along. Start with basic music and learn in a straightforward way. Select more complex music as you advance and understand the basics. 

There isn’t a right or wrong way to learn to play the piano. Go at your own pace. 

But the one thing you should always implement is: practice, practice, practice. 

It’s the best way to ensure your love of playing the piano grows.  

A lot of people add “learn piano” to their resolution lists each year. Yet only a small number succeed. Want to change your odds? 

Try giving yourself even better reasons to learn to play. There are many benefits to learn to play the piano; it will change your life in more ways than one. 

Encourages creativity

Playing the piano takes a lot of thought and an equal amount of hand-eye coordination. It triggers the part of the brain responsible for creativity. When you activate your mind by playing and practicing, you’ll see it carry over into other areas of your life. 

Increases organization

If you want to learn to play the piano well, you have to build it into your life. And that takes both time management and organization skills. It’s a fun way to develop lifelong skills. 

Improves concentration

Scientists have proved that it takes discipline to play music. It activates different parts of your brain every time you sit down at the keyboard. It increases your patience as well as allows you to be more focused on everything you do. 

Improves coordination

It takes a lot of skill to play the piano well. Your left hand plays one tune while your right hand plays another. Your eyes watch the music as your brain takes in the notes. 

Prevents hearing, processing, and memory loss

Continued research shows that the auditory skills required to play the piano slow down things like hearing, processing, and memory loss. Piano has also been used successfully in a wide variety of music therapies, including use for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s or neurological disorders like autism. 

Improves learning

When piano lessons are taken in conjunction with regular school activities, there is increasing evidence that it improves abilities such as reading, language skills, math, and reading comprehension. 

Increases self esteem

It takes a lot of work and dedication to play the piano well. When you master new songs or put on a performance, it can raise your confidence levels and make you more sure of your abilities. 

Is this the year you learn to play the piano?