Piano Man anyone? Choose the Best Piano Teacher for Your Adult Lessons

Piano Man: a good beginning for your first adult piano lesson.

I love meeting people who enjoy playing the piano whether they are children or adults.There's just something about hearing yourself create lovely sounds that leaves you with a good feeling.Want to play "Piano Man"? Me too, what a great song to learn.It sounds good, everyone enjoys listening to it and it is simple to learn. Piano Man is a great beginner song which makes you feel like a pro in no time.Piano Man uses only 5 fingers of the right hand in the opening bars.This is just one of the many easy arrangements available online.

Put yourself first.

Everyone is talking about mind/body health these days and how important it is to see to your own needs so you can attend to the needs of others. Learning piano is the perfect excuse to have some time all to yourself. Annette tells me that when she plays the piano it like she is in another world...all her cares simply disappear for the moment.Even if no-one else appreciates your efforts, the music you make is yours and no-one can take that away from you.Learning piano as an adult can be challenging but enjoyable.You may think of lessons differently than when you were a child. You may have more time, more interest and more commitment now.

Find a teacher who empathises with learning as an adult.

I feel that it is important to find a teacher who understands what learning an instrument is like as an adult. Your teacher will not only help and support you in choosing the music you love to learn, but will have a great deal of empathy for the physical skills needed to play.Some teachers have never learnt an instrument as an adult. Some may have never tried any other instruments except piano. If you can find a teacher who has done both, you will be far ahead in confidence levels during lessons because you know they have utmost empathy for your situation.I am not a psychologist but I do know the value of true empathy.I have to confess to being an on-going music instrument junkie...currently returning to clarinet playing. I have also learnt guitar, other woodwind instruments and the drums as an adult. I know the issues you will come up against and I know how to fix them before they frustrate you.

There are quick ways to learn piano.

You will most likely have a high level of commitment to learning, and you want to get the very best value out of your time and lesson fees.There is a slow way to learn and there is a fast way to learn. Many internet websites offer free and good value learning possibilities. There's no reason not to try some of these out. In the long run you will need a teacher simply because of the issues arising as mentioned previously.As an adult you already have many "prior learning" abilities and skills which have been picked up along the journey of life.A good piano teacher will take this into consideration and will always be thinking of ways to use these skills at the piano.For instance, if you are a proficient typist, I would not be spending hours on basic finger exercises. I would take you straight to the fun "Dozen A Day" series of technical exercises specific for extending fingering and movement skills. If you prefer to memorise or learning by ear, you will not be overloaded with written music. Working with your strengths is the way to go.

Intelligent practise saves time and money.

Your practise sessions in between lessons are the key to your playing well, sooner.Intelligent practise saves time and money. These methods are learnt, just like any other skills. This link is very interesting if you want to retire early and it's a bit of fun reading it. Seriously, though, the ideas that rich people follow are basically the same as successful piano players. Choose your goal, plan your work, work your plan, enjoy your rewards...they will come!Much time can be saved by following what I call a practise tricks. It's not all about saving money; it's about saving effort by not repeating unhelpful habits over and over in between lessons.A teacher who is also an adult learner will have already found this out by trial and error and can save you much frustration by helping you set realistic and time sensitive goals.For instance, you might like to learn the Jingle Bell Rock by Christmas!

The modern approach to lessons makes everyone feel good

Confidence and feelings of inadequacy or anxiety about playing in front of a teacher may stem from negative childhood experiences. I have heard of students in their younger years being slapped in the wrist by teachers...unbelievable!Gone are the days when you feel judged by your teacher. Say goodbye to lack of confidence and embrace feeling good about your efforts.There's a whole new communication method for engaging children these days and smart parents are using it every day with outstanding results.It's this same style of communication methods a good piano teacher will use in class, without making you feel like a child again. I put you first and make you the centre of learning...your agenda, not mine.A compassionate teacher who has or still is learning music will be sympathetic and non-judgmental, and will do his/her best to make you feel comfortable at lesson. A teacher who understands the physiological aspects of anxiety, which are common to all of us to a greater or lesser degree, will allow you to have your feelings and never underrate them.

Set some achievable goals and go for them

Your personal goals are paramount, over and above anything the teacher may secretly want you to play. Whatever your reasons for taking up piano lessons, they are yours and yours alone and it is a goal of mine to help you kick your goals when it comes to piano playing.So why don't you pick up the phone and call me right now?I'd love to share music lessons with you.Just give me a call on  0418 563226 and we can start straight away by spending some free time with no charge over a coffee to chat about your preferences in music and lessons.