Piano Methods – Find out what suits you!
Piano Methods - Now that you have decided to learn to play the piano, it would be worthwhile to find out the various methods that people use to learn this instrument. Though, all these methods would teach you the important concepts, it is the way they introduce their initial lessons and the depth that they go into, which differentiates these various methods. The various piano methods have been in use to suit the needs of various learners based on factors such as - Age, temperament, Time to spare, and Ambition.
So here it is; some of the commonly used piano methods. You just have to figure out what would suit you best.
Personal Teacher
This is a good way to start if you have free time on your hand. Having a personal teacher means the learning curve is faster; all your doubts will be cleared immediately. You can even ask your teacher to teach your favorite song to you. More than that, you will know the various career paths that professional players tend to take up. You may not need it immediately but it will encourage you to work hard on your piano playing.
The downside is that it can be difficult to find a very good teacher. Besides, for children, it can be a challenge if you have to visit your teacher, especially if you have to travel a long distance. For adults, you need to be dedicated enough to take the lessons regularly every week at the same time.
Piano Method books
This is a very good way to learn the piano, especially if you are an adult. Considering the fact that you would be juggling with so many things in life, taking time out for your piano could be a challenge. This is where method books come handy; they are nothing but a series of books covering all the necessary concepts and containing lots of songs for your practice. Almost all the books nowadays have CDs along with it; all the exercises and songs are covered in it so you know how it is supposed to sound. The downside is that it lacks the personal touch of a teacher.
Music Schools
Biggest advantage of going to a music school is that it increases your overall knowledge of music, not just specific to the piano. You will learn a lot about other instruments as well and the way those instruments are used together in a song. You will even be exposed to sound recording and music technology. Besides, you will make some really good friends and it is quite possible that you may work together on some projects in the future. So overall it would be a great thing if you can attend a music school; the downside being the cost associated with it.
Sight reading / Playing by ear
Again, this is your choice, though I feel every player should be aware of the basics of sight-reading. If you intend to make a career in music or if you enjoy playing classical songs, it makes sense to develop your sight-reading skills. On the other hand, if you are learning piano as a hobby, it is okay if you play most of your songs by ear.
Note - I hope you now have a clearer picture of how you would like to proceed with your piano learning. I am sure the Piano methods mentioned above will help you to take the right decision. Have a great time ahead!