aaamusic | On 27, Nov 2020

2020 has been a year like any other in human memory. Due to the effects of COVID 19 we have to be confined to our homes, and when we are not confined, socialising in close spaces with others is ill advised.

So if you have always wanted to learn to play the piano, but havent had time, then this year could be the perfect opportunity to do so.

However, whilst we may have more time than ever before, we can’t be in close contact with others, and this can make learning a music instrument more difficult.

Don’t despair however, you can still learn piano from home.

Let’s look at how.

Why Learning An Instrument Is Beneficial

There have been many studies into this question, and the results have mostly been unanimous. 

There is no doubt that learning and playing an instrument is good for you. Learning an instrument increases cognitive function and improves memory recall.

Learning piano teaches patience, dedication and organisation, all good skills for your life.

Playing the piano also helps to reduce levels of stress, which is something all of us need to do  in this fast paced, often confusing, modern world.

It has also been shown that listening to, and playing the piano slows down brain aging, and can even help dementia patients recall otherwise forgotten memories.

So, there are many reasons to learn to play the piano!

Get A Teacher

There is no doubt that the best way to learn to play the piano is to be taught by someone else. A teacher can encourage you, show you where you are doing well, and what areas need to be improved on.

A good teacher will inspire you, and help you to work out a schedule to be able to get in daily practice to significantly improve your playing.

Whilst having a teacher in the same room is preferable, it is not always possible, and many teachers are now making their classes available online.

Sites such as LVL music academy have many different piano teachers and lessons, as well as tips for learning the piano available.

Watch Online Videos

There are many different instructional videos online on sites such as youtube that will show you how to get started playing the piano.

Watching these videos can really inspire you to get started, as well as being very helpful with the piano basics, and you can progress up to more complicated videos as your playing progresses.

Piano videos can be very helpful in learning where to start, and where the notes and keys are on a piano, and from there you can start to join your knowledge together.

Your chosen teacher may also be able to make instructional videos for you, so that you can play them back after your lessons so you can really get the lesson down.

Get A Piano Or A Keyboard

This sounds slightly obvious, but you really do need a piano or keyboard that is accessible to you at home.

Even if you are having lessons in person, you need to have access to a piano to practice at home.

There is little point in having weekly lessons, and then not going home and practicing what you have learned. 

Learning the piano is all about repetition and practice. Learning any instrument requires dedication, patience and organization. Practice really does make perfect.

Although pianos are quite expensive, you do not have to spend a huge amount on your first one. Keyboards are available that have a piano sized keyboard, and these are usually the cheapest option.

Pianos are also available second hand, and it is worthwhile checking out the local second hand shops, or asking in your local online marketplaces.

You could also consider asking in your local piano shop. They may be aware of someone who is looking to sell their piano, and in this way you can get a good deal on a piano to have in your home.

Just be aware that a second hand piano will probably need tuning, so it’s important to factor this into your costs as well.

Listen To Your Favourite Piano Music

Listening to your favourite piece of piano music or your favourite pianist can be really motivational. There is nothing that will inspire you more than listening to some music that you would one day like to be able to play.

As your piano skills increase, you may find you can listen to some piano music, and try to play it yourself, and emulate your admired pianists.

As you learn music more, you will find yourself developing the skill of being able to listen to a piece of music and recognise the notes and composition that go into it, and you will then be able to play some of it at home, and will soon be able to play along with the piece yourself.

As we have said, learning to play an instrument takes time. It is not a quick skill – unless you are unusually talented – and therefore it requires a degree of patience.

It can be easy, therefore, to become disheartened if you are not able to play at the level you want as quickly as you expected, and this is where listening to music can really help you.

Listening to a piece that inspires you helps you to remember where you want to be with your  piano playing, and keep you motivated to keep learning.

It is also helpful to remember that even the most world famous, most talented pianists were not born knowing how to play the piano. They also would have learned to play and spent many hours practicing, and if they can do it, there is no reason why you can’t either.

So, as you can see, it is perfectly possible to learn the piano from home, and there has possibly never been a better time to do so than 2020, when we all have more time on our hands than we thought we would do.

With some dedication and patience, you will soon be playing the piano.