This is my first post so, Hi everyone!

I am thinking of learning the piano soon. I am 26, I have wanted to learn since I was about 17 but with going to uni and then saving for and going travelling it just never happened. Im back now and in a stable job so think it is now the perfect time to start fulfilling my dream.

I have a couple of questions. What should I look for in a teacher? Do they have teachers who are trained specifically to teach adults? I would like to think I would not be playing nursery rhymes for the first year or so lol. How often do you guys usually have lessons?

Also any advice on looking for and buying a used piano. What to look for? What to watch out for? etc etc.

Any help would be great

thanks

Dan

Hi Dan - welcome to the forums!

I don't think training specifically targets adult or child students - most of us either do both or whatever we are most comfortable with. I guess a few choose to specialise and do more specialised courses too.

Finding a teacher - ask in your local music shop if you have one, maybe they have a list of tutors. Personal recommendation is often the best. Or there are lists of teachers online - in which case I'd probably want to meet or at least talk with two or three and see what kind of responses your questions get. Many teachers will include you in the 'choose a book' process and won't simply impose what they use most often.

Your main decision with an instrument is between acoustic and digital. Your new teacher will usually advise on this - but I have an information sheet and I can send you a copy if it might help to get you thinking - don't simply go out and buy an instrument though in case your teacher turns out to have different ideas on what is recommended.

Just a few thoughts - I'm sure others will chip in too.

Welcome Dan

I started learning the piano last Sept ish and love it. As I work and study my choice was a good digital as I can plug in the headphones and play until the small hours but I do get a couple of hours a week on a "real" piano which I understand is a must to progress. It also helps at exam time as the feel, touch is very different between the two. But I suppose it depends if you just want to play for fun or want to do the grades.

I do both, play for fun for the main and use the grades as a measure of my progress and personally I do like the deadline entering an exam gives you.

As for teachers well I can't really advise as I don't have a choice in the matter - my mom is a piano teacher!!

Lois

Hi Dan

Hello from a 47 year old violin learner of seven months. Enjoy your music studies.

I'd say look for somebody YOU can relate too. Somebody who you get on with and feel comfortable with - and they with you. It is all very, very subjective, but you will know when you have found the right one.

I'm a teacher who's specially trained to teach adults. My teaching qualification is a general one and governs the way I present information and react to feedback in whatever I'm teaching - which is often piano. I think I'm probably a bit unusual though and you're unlikely to find an adult specialist (unless you live in my town), like others have said, you need someone you're comfortable with.

I'd be looking for somone who belongs to a professional body - such as the ISM or EPTA. This shows the teacher is A- qualified and B - involved in the latest developments in their field. If you are certain you want to take exams then ask questions about how many pupils they are preparing and for which grade at the moment.

Hi Dan

I recently started learning too, and have been taking lessons for 10 weeks now. First of all, sounds like you have already decided to take lessons, and I'd defintely recommend this. I started teaching myself for a few months before I decided to take lessons. Trouble with this was that I developed a few bad habits which I then had to work out.

I obtained a list from my local music shop. There was little to distinguish most i.e. just a list of names and numbers, so I (more or less) picked someone from the top of the list and checked how local they were. I then had a free lesson, in order to establish whether we we're both happy to continue. Turns out my teacher also learned as an adult, which may assist as an adult learner.

I explained that I wanted to attempt grade 1 and she imediately questioned why. For me, having something to aim for will help me improve. I think if I didn't have that, then I'd stop learning at some point. Maybe there'd also be a risk of giving up at this point, since for me one of the enjoyable things is the fact that there is always something new to learn.

My teacher also said that most of her pupils pass with distinction or merit. I like this as passing the exam isn't really the goal for me, it's passing it well.

Good luck.

Hi Dan,

You"ve made a very good start by joining the Forum

Good luck, making music

Hi Dan - welcome to the forum!

If you have a look at this link, you'll find further links to various articles which give advice on buying a piano.

Have fun

There is a website called music teachers UK which is pretty good for finding music teachers. I didn't find my violin teacher on there but she is listed. You can get a feel for the teacher by what they write to be honest. Look at what qualifacations that they have etc.

There are two or 3 routes you could go. I would wait until you have a teacher first before chosing an instriment. Howver, you can get a grand, an upright or an electrical. If you live in a town house I would surgest a regular piano for day work and an electrical for night time. I have to stop practicing violin around 9pm because I live in a town house and the neighbours would probably complain.