Do You Need a Teacher?

Many beginners would like to start learning piano on their own, and there are valid reasons for this. However, there is no question that, for the first 6 months (and probably much longer), there is no faster way to start than taking lessons from a teacher, even one who teaches the intuitive method. The only teachers to avoid completely are those who cannot teach what you want (you may want pop, jazz, and blues while the teacher teaches only classical), or those who teach strict, inflexible methods not appropriate for the student (one method might be designed for very young children but you may be an older beginner). Why are teachers so helpful in the beginning? Firstly, the most fundamental things that you do every time you play, such as hand position, sitting position, hand movements, etc., are difficult to explain in a textbook, whereas a teacher can show you instantly, what is right and what is wrong. You don’t want to pick up these wrong habits and have to live with them all your life. Secondly, a beginner sitting down at the piano and playing for the first time is usually making at least 20 mistakes at the same time (left-right coordination, volume control, rhythm, arm and body movements, speed, timing, fingering, trying to learn the wrong things first, total neglect of musicality, etc., etc.). It is the teacher’s job to identify all the mistakes and make a mental priority list of which ones must be corrected first, so that the worst offenders can be eliminated quickly. Most teachers also know which basic skills you need and teach them to you in the correct order. Teachers are also helpful in finding the appropriate teaching material for you. Teachers provide a structured learning environment, without which the student can end up doing the wrong things and not realizing that they are not making any progress. In short, teachers are definitely cost effective for beginners.