In our last article, we covered the benefits and disadvantages of learning to play piano from a book.
This time we'll be looking at piano DVD's and learning on your own - so lets jump into it!
Learning from a DVD
DVD's established themselves as a consumer level format many years back - in fact , its quite rare to find someone who doesn't own a DVD player. The key advantage they had is that they can hold a load more information than the formats that came before it.
The primary benefits of DVD's are that they are able to offer lots more media types than books. While books use print and photos, DVD's can offer this, as well as video and sound to go along with the lessons.
This will truly help students hear and see the way the song is meant to be played and where the fingers should go on the keys in combination with reading piano notes.
Interestingly though, the downsides are similar to books. If you have questions or problems that are not covered by the DVD, then you are plum out of luck and will have to look elsewhere.
Also, a DVD will not remind you to practice or be there to motivate you when you need it when its not currently playing, so keep this in mind.
Learning On Your Own
Whenever you want to learn an instrument, there's always the option of learning it on your own.
You'll be basically experimenting again and again and working out what keys do what and how they sound while playing together.
I'm not going to sugarcoat this, it is a very hard option to take and the results are mixed. There have been cases of folk teaching themselves to play instruments , nevertheless , these folks already have a background in music and usually already know the way to play other instruments and know the way to read music.
While it is not impossible, it will be much tougher to do it this way than any other way. You'll have no way to estimate how well you are going, what you should be practicing or whether you have good methodology or not.
The general public that have taken this option often end up quitting or finding other resources or info to help them with their learning and giving themselves some structure to their lessons.
In the next article we will be looking at music teachers and the way to choose which approach is right for you.
This time we'll be looking at piano DVD's and learning on your own - so lets jump into it!
Learning from a DVD
DVD's established themselves as a consumer level format many years back - in fact , its quite rare to find someone who doesn't own a DVD player. The key advantage they had is that they can hold a load more information than the formats that came before it.
The primary benefits of DVD's are that they are able to offer lots more media types than books. While books use print and photos, DVD's can offer this, as well as video and sound to go along with the lessons.
This will truly help students hear and see the way the song is meant to be played and where the fingers should go on the keys in combination with reading piano notes.
Interestingly though, the downsides are similar to books. If you have questions or problems that are not covered by the DVD, then you are plum out of luck and will have to look elsewhere.
Also, a DVD will not remind you to practice or be there to motivate you when you need it when its not currently playing, so keep this in mind.
Learning On Your Own
Whenever you want to learn an instrument, there's always the option of learning it on your own.
You'll be basically experimenting again and again and working out what keys do what and how they sound while playing together.
I'm not going to sugarcoat this, it is a very hard option to take and the results are mixed. There have been cases of folk teaching themselves to play instruments , nevertheless , these folks already have a background in music and usually already know the way to play other instruments and know the way to read music.
While it is not impossible, it will be much tougher to do it this way than any other way. You'll have no way to estimate how well you are going, what you should be practicing or whether you have good methodology or not.
The general public that have taken this option often end up quitting or finding other resources or info to help them with their learning and giving themselves some structure to their lessons.
In the next article we will be looking at music teachers and the way to choose which approach is right for you.
About the Author:
Dr. Anthony Fernando is the creator of the popular piano software " Piano Is Fun which helps children and adult beginners learn to read piano notes. Visit his website to find out more about reading piano notes.
