So you’ve made the decision to begin taking piano lessons-congratulations! Like great composers and performers before you, including Bach, Billy Joel, and Alicia Keys, the piano can expose you to a world of creativity and passion. However, before you can prepare for your first concert hall performance, you’ll need to master the basics. And it all starts with your first piano lesson.
At Piano Teacher USA, where NYC residents can receive private piano lessons, the expert piano instructors can set you on the path to success. When you come for your first lesson, explains Michelle Koch, her team will try to introduce you to many of the most basic techniques, including how to sit properly in front of the piano and where to place your hands on the keys to play correctly. Additionally, your teacher will begin to give you a solid understanding for reading notes and rhythms. Many times, she says, most first-time students do not know the basic terminology of music. While this is perfectly acceptable, in order to understand the pieces you are going to play, you need to know how to read them. Therefore, you will be taught how to read and write all of the basic notes, such as quarter notes, half notes, treble clef, and bass clef.
By the end of your first day, you will at least know where to place your hands and how to approach a song. The specific teaching approach, however, depends largely on the student and how fast or slow he usually learns. You wouldn’t expect to master a new language in a day, so you should prepare to learn to play the piano gradually as well. You won’t learn all of the notes on the first day, Koch says, but you will learn enough to play a little song.
While your instructor has the responsibility of providing you with the knowledge to play the piano, the responsibility of practicing and developing your skills lies on your shoulders. One of the most difficult aspects of piano lessons for new students is maintaining a practice schedule, Koch says, but continued exposure to music and playing is essential to your success as a pianist. Even if you can only find the time to play for 30 minutes every day, it will be enough to familiarize yourself with various notes and the parts of a piece that you need to focus on.
For students at Piano Teacher USA, one of the most rewarding aspects of the program is that there is no pressure on you to pay in advance for dozens of lessons if you’re not sure that your schedule and budget allow for it. There are no contracts or added fees, Koch continues. The goal of her team is to enable students to give piano an honest try, and those who find that they like it will continue to come back to build on their new talent.