Hi folks,

After much agonising over how best to get playing again after quite a long lay off, I've now been persuaded, by various people in these forums as much as anyone else, to look at piano lessons.

Trouble is, I'm not sure exactly what to look for. Presumably, piano teachers these days are a bit more adventurous than when I learned as a child. Back then, everything was geared towards classical music and exams. and I'm not interested in either of those.

I've also been looking at online music lessons and wonder if they offer more flexibility than a conventional lesson, with a teacher sitting next to you pointing out all your mistakes. Or, is it the case that there's no substitite for the personal 1-to-1 attention a teacher can offer?

I'm really confused, so any advice anyone can offer would be most welcome.

Thanks.

Bluecondition.

Since I don't have an option getting a teacher where I live, and not really into classical music, I use Willie Myette's online site. He post lessons every month. Not sure if he does 1 on 1 online. I find it to be very good and have learned alot. There is a free trial period and some lot's of outakes on youtube aswell if you want to check it out.

Best book I ever bought was Tim Richards "Improvising Blues Piano". If you read notes I don't think there is any better way to learn how to play the blues. He also has 2 books on Jazz that are great, and build on the Blues book.

As a person faced with a similar dilemma, I solved it by writing on one sheet of paper what it was that I wanted to achieve. For example (not my personal sheet):
I want to be able to play standards for informal gatherings at my home and club. I want to be able to improvise, using altered chords, runs, fills, etc. I don't want to sound like a student; I want to sound more like a professional. I want to be able to take most requests. I want to be able to play this way from a fake book, and maybe even by ear.

This way, your potential teacher can either eliminate you from his prospect list, or can explain to you how he will help you achieve your goals. Some teachers of the more traditional classical methods may choose not to add you to their roster. Ultimately you should wind up with a teacher who can and will help you get to your destination. But you must be explicit as to where you want to end up.

Hop

Thanks for your feedback on my search for the right kind of piano lessons.

I've been looking at Willie Myett's site and I'm quite impressed, so that's a possibility. I like the idea of online piano lessons and lessons on DVD's, although I guess it's not as useful as having someone looking over your shoulder and commenting instantly on your playing, be it good or bad.

And, on the subject of writing down your goals, I just found a really good report on piano lessons which outlines a complete A to Z of how to track down the best kind of lessons.

If anyone else is interested, you can find it on www.doyouneedpianolessons.com

Hope you find it as useful as it's been for me.

Now, it's Friday night and I'm going out to find a local band.

Take care folks.

Bluecondition

I agree with the "Willie Myette" site/DVD, he explains
the material well.

Getting a good teacher is the most effective way to learn if it fits your budget. If there is a local band with a piano player with a style you like you might want to tell that pianist that you like their style and ask them if they know of a good teacher for someone at your level. They may say "I teach myself" or they may give you a recommendation. Teachers who specialize in classical music don't usually know how to teach how to improvize.

I second the recommendation for the books by Tim Richards, "Improvising Blues Piano" is the best book of his to start with.

Hi folks,

Thanks for the feedback following my last post on the 5th. I've been following Willie Myett's free online lessons and tinkering around with them and I've ordered the Tim Richards book on 'Improvising Blues Piano'.

But after thinking long and hard I've decided to take up lessons with a local teacher. I've found a guy who teaches jazz and blues quite close to where I live and I had my first lesson the other night.

I sat there watching him play his piano, a beautiful grand with the most wonderfully mellow tone I've ever heard, and thought, 'I'm never going to be able to play anything like as good as that', but then thought, ' ... but I'm going to have a damn good try'. So he played, 'Lover Man' and I played, 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' (just kidding).

It was a really good experience and taught me that I need to start at the beginning again, back to practicing scales, making sure I know the difference between a major and a minor triad and so on. And, yes, some sight reading exercises too. But it's the only way to get back playing again. At least it shouldn't be as hard as it was last time. And I'm going to be playing on this amazing grand piano.

I probably shouldn't mention this again, but the report I downloaded from the internet was so helpful in clarifying my thoughts on where to start, it may be able to help others in my position too. So here's the link, www.doyouneedpianolessons.com

I'll let everybody know how I get on with my piano lessons.

And thanks to all those who have helped me so far. If I can help others in any way, please let me know.

Bluecondition

Hey, Bluecondition, it sounds like you hit the jackpot in finding a good teacher who is enthusiastic and compatible with your goals for piano.

Please do keep us posted, and feel free to post recordings of your progress in the piano bars and quarterly recitals over in the Adult Beginners Forum (it's for restarters, too).

I'm a little late posting here, but, for future use I can give my experience learning to play piano. I too started on classics as a kid but on clarinet. Later in life in my sixties I decided I wanted to learn piano. I took lessons from a professional performer in the local area. I ask him to teach me the songs the way he played them song by song. So each week for our three hour session he brought one fake sheet and we went to work. When I needed more formal type training he just threw it in with the lesson. Since I had played music off and on all my life I read music well when I started. Two years later I could do what you want to to except I don't play by ear. If I can humm or sing the song then I can play it chords and all. In my opinion this is the way to go. Look around and find some one who plays like you want to play and go for it. John

Hi folks,

Thanks for the replies to my last post. Monica, I've had a look on your youtube link at some of the brave souls who have posted videos of themselves playing. Good grief, what courage, and examples of some really good playing too. I think it's going to be some time before I'm ready to post a video of my playing, if ever.

But, my lessons are going quite well, although it's still too early to report any earth shattering progress I'm afraid. But I'm beginning to get to grips with a few major scales again.

Also thanks John for your comments. Are you saying you have a 3 hour lesson every week? I'm not sure I'm physically capable of playing that long, but I know I'd be emotionally drained long before the end. You must be a very serious man and I'm full of admiration. And, yes, I can see the sense of finding a teacher who's playing you really want to emulate. It must be the best way to start. Good luck with your playing.

Hopefully, will speak again soon.

Take care folks.

Bluecondition

You are lucky getting a teacher. No teacher close to where I live. Live in a small place in a small country You won't regret getting the Tim Richards book.

Cheers

Hi Bullitt,

Thanks for your reply to my last message. I see from your profile that you're from Norway. Now there's a country that conjures up images of spectacular landscapes ... but not many piano teachers if you're fortunate enough to live close to them ... the spectacular landscapes that is!

I've now managed to get hold of the Tim Richards book and it looks really good, if only I could get my hands around some of the arrangements. All in good time, hopefully. I'm beginning to realise I'm going to have to start right at the beginning again, but my teacher seems to be very patient ... and he's going to need to be!

If you can't get access to a piano teacher, have you tried any of the new style online piano lesssons packages? I've been monitoring these over the last few months and it does seem that the quality of lessons is getting better all the time. Have you explored any of them?

Take care.

Bluecondition

Hi

Yes, lot's of fjords and mountains here so I'm not complaining about the landscape I'm a member on an online site run by Willie Myette and it's brilliant. Off course it would be nice with a teacher giving pointers and getting rid of some of the mistakes and bad habits, but it's fun figuring it out by yourself aswell.

If you like New Orleans Blues you should look forward to learning "Happy Blues" and "Syncopated Boogie" in the Tim Richards book. Two big landmarks for me when I finally managed to get them down. I also found "Happy Blues" a good song to use for learning other scales/chords since it only uses 5 first notes of the scales.

Keep us posted.

Google Homespun Lessons. They have what you're looking for, I bet.

I have quite a few of their DVD's. Learned my first blues from the David Cohen series. Use the Dr John teaches New Orleans Piano for inspiration