hi

I`m wanting to learn to play the piano, but I would like to teach myself from using a learning to play the piano software, such as a DVD. I was wondering does anyone know of any products I can purchase in Britain which have been reviewed by other customers as excellent. I have done my own internet search but the only products which are considered very good are available from the USA, and I did not want to purchase any products via the internet in this way.

I would really be grateful for anyones help, I really want to learn how to play the piano, so if anyone has any suggestions I would gladly appreciate them. Cheers.



Zeg

This kind of product almost invariably fails to teach you to play the piano well and you really need a teacher.

Hi Zeg -

I went back to lessons last year having spent a year 'learning on my own' after a gap from learning while I was a teenager. One of the things that I did not realise was just how much I didn't know and it took a teacher to spot the problem, (or the ignorance) in context and provide the immediate feedback. A book, or program might be able to tell you the correct hand position, but neither can check that you have got it right. If you learn it wrong - it is much harder to correct later on - I have had to learn that the hard way.

Having lessons is fun - I really enjoy them, and they are a good motivator - not to make me practise as I would do that anyway but to give me a focus.

Have another think about lessons - music si communication and lessons are communication too.

I completely agree with "superpyroman". A DVD cannot teach how to play the piano properly, for example, if you make a mistake, no one is there to correct you, and you will enforce a bad habit, with will affect your performance. Real Advice - Find a teacher mate!

We've had a few of these 'teach yourself DVD's' none of them were particularly good. On their wind instruments the girls have found Abracadabra with the CD far better. I think the problem is that you don't get enough time to see what's happening and often they move too quickly. The exercises seem short but then there is a big leap to the next one, due to the length it's tempting to keep moving on. Don't know if this makes sense or reflects others opinions?

Thanks everyone,

all good replies, I understand each point you all make, its just that I am a strapped for cash student and I have read some good reviews on software like the Rocket piano and some guy called Ron Worthy. I have taken all your advice, will think about a teacher aswell as software. Cheers