Bought my first piano, what next?

I have always wanted to learn how to play the piano, and bought my first piano yesterday. My question is, what is my next step? Are there any good books out there I should buy? I want to learn how to read music so I can pick up a song book and play some day.

Amazing you will progress faster with a teacher, I did the same thing as you, bought a piano and wondered and waited and I have learnt so much in 3 weeks with a teacher. Its an amazing journey. I wish you every success.

I couldn't agree more. I learned more in my first month with a teacher than I did in five years of noodling and doodling on the keyboard, working through 'Teach Yourself' books and software... If fiddling with technology is your thing though, enjoy. (Or use it as a supplement to your formal instruction)

Cheers,

Get a teacher, and practice EVERY DAY without exception for at least 2 hours; more if you can.

It about 10 years, you'll be able to play the piano.

Hopefully, you've already identified a type or style of music you like. With that in mind, assuming you are a beginner, take some lessons. Go to some live performances, perhaps just spend time socially with other pianinsts/musicians.

Brian

Gregory Coats asked:

You have received some good advice about finding a teacher.

You should also find a good piano technician and have your piano tuned and serviced on a regular basis. He or she may also be able to recommend a few piano teachers. In my experience, a piano teacher who has his/her piano serviced regularly is 'usually' a decent teacher.

Eric Gloo Piano Technician

Get a teacher, use the book or system he recommends. If you don't like the teacher, he or she has halitosis, or whatever, find another one. If you can't afford one, many community colleges have a piano class, which would be ultimately much cheaper (though not as good as the one on one as private lessons provide, but better than nothing, much better).

That IS your next step, period.

'Nuff said.

Patrick L.

Everyone has a different way of practising. Different people require more practise of different areas than others. Some people have better concentration spans. I never practise more than an hour unless absolutely necessary, because any longer and my brain starts to wander, and I do not take things in as much. I gain much more by stopping and doing another hour later in the day.

Just because 2 hours a day works for you, does not mean it will work for everyone. Everyone forms their own method that works for them.

Not that I am saying you do not have to practise, but everyone is different.

Well, I don't do more than 1 hour in a sitting. Usually one in the morning (I'm an early riser) and one in the evening.

But I stand by my original point. It takes YEARS and a lot of HARD WORK. If you start taking lessons at age 8 and keep with it, you'll probably be playing OK by the time you graduate high school.

So if you're 30 and just starting, figure daily practice + 10 years MINIMUM before you'll be able to sit down at a party and entertain people who aren't stupid, deaf, or extremely polite.