I am going to get a grand piano for my chldren very soon. I like the one I am going to get very much and am thinking I have to play it with my children. However, I want to learn how to play Piano myself because I do not have any budget for my lessons after paying a teacher for my children.

I need an advice where I will start since I consider I am too old to learn, and if I did not have a good start, I would not be able to play well.

Thanks.

Hi,
You can learn a lot from just following them through their practice routines. Eventually you will want to get a teacher for yourself, or have one of your kids teach you after they have got a few years of lessons under their belts.

My children are at advance level now and it is hard for me to catch up with them. Their teacher wanted to teach me from the beginning since she said that it was easy for her to teach and for me to have a good start. However, I want to have learn myself first for at least one year then I will find a buget to pay for a teacher (since the new grand will cost a lot).
Do you suggest any book that I need to learn now as a very beginner. Thanks.

Tina, you might want to browse the Adult Beginners forum here on PW and post the question there. There are quite a few self-learners there.

Don't EVER think you are too old to learn, Tina. I took up the piano again just a couple of years ago after a hiatus of 40 years. And I'm having a blast.

The easiest way for you to learn, IMO, would be for you to work your way through one or two of your kids' beginning piano books. If you're an average adult with a reasonable amount of spare time, it ought to take you maybe a weekend or two to get through something like the John Thompson Teaching Little Fingers to Play, which is geared towards kindergartners. It's a good introduction to the basics (do you know anything about music at all?) And that way you don't have to fork over any more money for yet more piano books. Just spend some time fooling around with the kiddie books, see how it goes. If you get hooked on piano, then you can branch out into regular beginner adult method books.

Tina,

I was in the same position as you about a year ago. My daughter was starting lessons, which got me interested in playing though I couldn't afford lessons for myself at the time. (I just started a couple weeks ago.)

I taught myself the basics by using the "Piano Adventures for Adults" books. These books are excellent for self study. Many people also recommend the Alfred books for adults.

It's possible to learn on your own, though if you're like me, you'll probably get stuck at some point. The biggest danger is that you'll pick up a bad habit without realizing it. If your children are at an advanced level already, they might be able to check up on you to make sure you are headed down a wrong path. Also you might try having a one-off lesson as a kind of checkup once you get started. I never did this, though I had the opportunity a couple times. Looking back, I can see it would have been a really good idea.

Good luck.

Best,
Matt