Maggie Evans 
The piano is a wonderful instrument, and is played by millions of people worldwide. It is estimated that there are eighteen million hobby piano players in the United States alone.
You can access piano lessons almost anywhere in the world, and with people using the internet far more than ever before, lessons are also available on the internet now.
So, wherever you are in the world, you can access lessons to learn how to play this amazing instrument anywhere.
Why Is Learning The Piano A Good Idea?
Learning an instrument has many benefits. One of the main benefits of playing and learning a musical instrument – in this case, a piano – has, is the reduction of stress.
Stress is a huge problem in the modern world, with many people of all ages reporting signs of stress.
Many studies have shown that playing an instrument reduces stress. Learning the piano requires full concentration on the task, and this allows for no room in your brain for anything else.
It is a sort of meditation, of being present and in the moment, and we well know the benefits of meditation on reducing stress.
Stress can cause all sorts of problems from sleep problems to severe mood change. Stress can also cause high blood pressure and heart palpitations, and can lead to heart disease and even diabetes, so you can see it is imperative we find a way to reduce stress in our lives.
Playing the piano has been shown to reduce blood pressure levels and lower the heart rate, and this can be very helpful in reducing the effects of stress.
Playing the piano also helps to improve brain function. It can improve memory recall abilities, and problem solving abilities. Listening to piano music has also been shown to have a beneficial effect on those suffering with dementia.
How Do You Start Learning The Piano?
The first thing you should do is to find yourself a tutor. This can be in-person, or online, depending on what you need and what you can access.
There are many companies that offer piano tutoring services, such as LVL Music Academy, just have a search of what is available in your local area, and start learning.
A good tutor should be enthusiastic about their chosen instrument, and inspire you to learn as much as you can.
They will also encourage you to learn and practice, and be able to go at a pace to suit you without rushing you, or holding you back.
It’s also a good idea to have a look on youtube for instructional videos to get you started on learning.
Get A Piano
Learning the piano involves a lot of practice. Just having lessons once or twice a week will not enable you to learn the piano very quickly. You will need to practice as much as you can in your spare time.
The best way to do this, is to have a piano at home to practice on, or even a keyboard with a piano sized board.
Pianos can, of course, be quite expensive, however you do not necessarily have to spend lots of money for your first piano.
Grand pianos are by far the most expensive, and take up a lot of space. The best type of piano for a first time buyer is an upright piano.
You could try and look for one that is being sold second hand, as this will make things much cheaper for you. It would be worth taking someone along with you who is familiar with pianos, to ensure that the piano is in good condition.
Another option is to ask your local piano or music shop, as they may know someone who is wanting to sell a piano, and they will also be able to ensure a second hand piano is in good condition.
Another thing to be aware of with a second hand piano, is that you will need to pay someone to ensure it is tuned, so factor this into your budget.
Once you have your piano at home, practice as often as you can. It is a bit of a cliche to say ‘practice makes perfect’ but it really is true.
How To Find A Good Tutor
Finding a tutor that suits you can seem a little bit daunting at first, but it really is important to find a tutor who you get on with, and who inspires you.
The first thing you might want to do is to do a quick internet search to see if there are many tutors in your local area.
You could also have a look at adverts at your local music shop, or in the local college to see if there are any people tutoring.
If there isn’t anyone in your area, don’t despair. In this wonderful age of being connected, you can easily find a tutor online who can organise all your lessons at a distance. Being connected across a distance is easier than it has ever been in history, so take advantage of this to find the perfect tutor for you.
It’s also a good idea to have a look at reviews for the particular tutor or music school that you are looking at.
Reviews will help to give you a general idea of what that particular tutor is like, and you can get a rough idea of if they would suit you.
However, it’s always try to remember to take reviews with a pinch of salt. People are far more likely to write a bad review than a good one. So for every bad review that has been written, there are bound to be many good ones.
Although if there are lots of bad reviews, then it may be a good idea to steer clear and find a different teacher.
So, as you can see, you really can learn the piano wherever you live in the world. Learning the piano is an excellent thing to do for many reasons, and there has never been a better time to get started, no matter where you live, or what budget you have, learning is accessible to you.
