With more information on the internet than ever before, there are more people taking the approach of self learning piano, taking it upon themselves to find the information needed. YouTube, online courses, and blogs can all be good sources of information.
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Learning the Basics
It’s true that more people self-teach than ever before, however, it is a good idea to learn from a qualified teacher. Qualified piano teachers will know how to structure your knowledge properly, starting with the basics and building from there.
There is no harm in taking it upon yourself and learning some of the basics of reading piano notes or playing chords before you go for piano lessons. This isn’t a replacement for piano lessons, but it can give you a good grounding before you start.
Following a guide on the easy way to learn piano in Singapore before starting lessons means you can move forward with more advanced techniques when you do meet with a teacher.
Downsides to Teaching Yourself
Certain aspects of learning the piano alone will probably not be as effective as being taught by a professional.
Following tutorials or even a full online course can definitely build your knowledge, but it doesn’t give a system for feedback. For example, if you are making mistakes and not noticing, there is nobody to correct you and help you.
This is the problem with written or video lessons. It might not be as obvious an issue as playing chords incorrectly. It can be something subtle like piano posture or finger positions. It’s easy to develop bad habits if there is nobody there to give you advice.
Some people also struggle without having the structure of a teacher to tell you the next steps. Piano teachers have probably taught hundreds of people, and have a wealth of experience. Good teachers even have COVID-19 safety measures in place so you can feel safe while you learn.
Everyone Should Self Learn (To An Extent)
Everyone combines lessons with an element of self-learning. It is important to learn on your own as well as in lessons. This is what practice is all about. You can continue to learn in between lessons and to keep learning new songs and styles. Lessons may give you the framework to learn, but that doesn’t stop you from finding information elsewhere, watching tutorial videos and reading books to enhance your knowledge.
The best pianists never stop learning, and you might find yourself obsessed with finding new songs and techniques. All of this is a form of self learning, so every pianist does this to an extent.
Conclusion
If you want to learn the piano in a thorough way and ensure that you aren’t leaving considerable gaps in your knowledge, a piano teacher might be your best option. The experience of a qualified teacher cannot be understated, and while combining some self-learning with this is an excellent way to reinforce the knowledge, it is easy to see why so many people still give themselves the structure of a piano teacher.
