It’s a good idea to follow a system or curriculum when learning a new skill and the piano is no exception. While resources like you-tube are excellent, jumping around from one video to another may not necessarily improve your playing.
It would be better to follow a progressive system that starts with the basics and builds on them once you have mastered each.
Every single piano player started at the same point. They had to learn the notes on the keyboard, learn how to sit properly, position their hands properly, learn their first scale, chord, song and so on.
Jumping straight to a song or technique that is difficult may discourage you from continuing. I delved into trying to play Moonlight Sonata several years ago and gave up. My knowledge of the bass clef and the C# minor key hindered my progress (my music reading is still too weak, but I will go back to this piece one day).
Learning from a book is better than nothing, but there’s no substitute to a good teacher. Failing that, the next best option is to learn from an interactive course such as those reviewed on the website.
Most courses have similar characteristics to those mentioned above. There is a progression of skills, techniques and songs. Some courses are better structured than others. Everyone is different, so some may respond to one system better than another.
Before making a decision to take the piano more seriously a few years ago, I was a book junkie. I bought many books (some with CDs). I would give each a go and then find another book hoping that this would reveal the magic formula. None of them did and you will not find the perfect book, course or teacher. While I don’t advise buying many books and only taking a shallow dive into each, learning from different teachers is helpful.
However, follow one course at a time and aim to finish it unless you are completely unhappy with it. The aim of this website is to show you good courses and other resources that will assist with your playing. Luckily some courses give you the chance to try before you commit to buying.
For review purposes, I may not have completed the whole course, like the “piano for all” series. This course is split into several books, some are quite large. I have completed several, but not all. I do aim to go back to some of them – some styles may not interest me enough to go back. I have completed the “Learn and Master” course and “Shawn Cheek’s” 50 lessons. That doesn’t mean to say I won’t go back and play certain songs or go back to review lessons in these courses.
At the time of writing I am pressing on with “Yousician”, which I am enjoying. Also with the little time I have to practice, I am spending one week on “Yousician” and the following week learning a song or two depending on the difficulty.
I have benefitted from all the courses I’ve taken and while spent some money on other books, I have at least taken something good from all of them.
I will recommend the odd You-tube video and channel as there is a wealth of material out there, but these should be an enhancement to a good course. A course will also offer direction and as you note your progress you will hopefully be encouraged to continue.
I’ll further add my views on goals and systems in further posts. Please feel free to add your comments.
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