If you have a child that you believe is musically gifted, but you are not sure if they are too young to test, you might want to consider some of the options that are available. There are some that believe that you should start testing your child, allowing them to play different musical instruments to test their skills as early as the age of three. There is no harm in allowing a child to try to play a musical instrument, but there is a definite difference in letting them have fun and to test their actual aptitude. Some people will wait and tell their children gotten through grade school you will often see kids going to band with their favorite instrument. However, there is sometimes a proper age to learn certain musical instruments, and this is most certainly true with the piano.

When Is Too Early?

The piano is an amazing musical instrument, one that is often the top choice for many parents that are wanting to help their children learn to play a popular musical instrument. You will often see kids being dropped off at a home where an ex-piano teacher is giving lessons, and they can go there a couple of times a week to become better at playing the piano. Sometimes the kids are as young as five years old, whereas others may be closer to middle school. The key is to determine if they have an interest, and then consider their level of maturity. For example, some kids are very attentive, willing to listen to the instruction of others, whereas other children may have problems within a classroom. They may not be able to sit still, perhaps suffering from hyperactivity, and this is not going to work well if you want them to learn how to play the piano. There are certain requirements for readiness that you need to consider before finding a piano teacher to teach them how to play.

When Is The Best Time To Start Learning?

The best time to start learning, according to many experts is between the ages of five and eight. There are several reasons for this, and it also depends on some of their physical characteristics. For example, a child that has very small hands is going to have significant difficulty hitting all of the proper keys independently, each one with a single finger. There is also the problem of finger independence, whether or not they can identify more than one finger at a time. Regarding their age, if they are mature enough to have a solid interest in learning how to play a musical instrument, and they can read, these are all prerequisites that you need to consider before signing them up with a piano teacher in your area.

Is It Ever Too Late For Them To Learn?

This is a similar question that many people ask when they are thinking about teaching their child a second language. It is recommended that you start them as early as possible because of the brain, then, can process many different things, coalescing them into a structure. This is why children that are in bilingual homes from an early age will have no problem learning both languages, but a child that is a teenager will have great difficulty. Therefore, in the same sense, it is important to try to get your children to a piano teacher as early as you can as it will be much easier for them to learn how to play, read music, and use their fingers on the piano.

If you do have a child that is older, perhaps 12 years of age and going into middle school, giving them piano lessons at this point is probably questionable. However, if they have shown some promise with the piano, perhaps an interest at home that you have never pursued, they will likely be able to benefit from lessons even at this later age. However, some adults take lessons, and they become very good at playing the piano. There is no time where there is a definitive cutoff. It’s just better to teach your kids at an earlier age, so it becomes a part of who they are, and allows them to progress and become much better players in a shorter period.

The piano is one of the most popular instruments to learn, and of course, it can also be considered one of the most complicated instruments. Don’t let that deter you from diving in and learning how to tickle those ivories, though. As a piano player and a former piano teacher myself, I can give you plenty of advice when it comes to taking on the piano. Here are seven tips you need as you learn this instrument, no matter your goals.

It could be that you’re a young student, or maybe you’re an adult. Perhaps you have aspirations to join a band or write your music. You could just want to learn an instrument as a new hobby. As mentioned in the introduction, these tips are geared towards helping you no matter who you are and what your goals are. One thing you do need to know is that the earlier you start, the better. It’s much easier to take in all the knowledge for learning an instrument when you’re younger, and adult responsibilities aren’t crowding your brain.

That being said, anyone can learn how to play the piano. These days, it can be a little different learning the instrument than it was when I was younger. I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, and I was teaching piano in the early 2000’s. Even when I was teaching, it was more about sheet music and traditional methods. Nowadays, there are much more online resources available to help you learn and practice.

In essence, the resources that the Internet provides means you have all the answers and instructions you need, even when you’re not in front of your piano teacher. In fact, you don’t even need a piano teacher. However, I suggest that you do have one, but that you may not have to meet with your teacher as often as some people suggest. Once a week would be fine, but you can even have lessons once every two weeks or once a month. However, the main reasons I mention the fact that you need a teacher are for direction and accountability.

Some of the material you learn at first may not seem like it’s so important. However, those scales are important. Make sure you learn and memorize the scales, and you also need to make sure you take hand placement seriously. You’re going to need to know how to keep those hands moving properly as you play more complicated pieces. Beginning to learn how to play the piano is all about the foundation.

The terminology you have to learn may not seem as important to you at times. I know it was like that for me when I was a kid. However, you see those musical terms time and time again as you play new songs. Sheet music does get to be quite advanced, and there is quite a lot to learn. Playing a few treble notes and learning scales is one thing, but see what happens when you throw in the bass clef notes and begin learning songs in different keys. Playing the piano takes great coordination.

While there are plenty of people who have a natural talent for playing the piano, anyone can learn. You will know if it comes easy to you, and you will know if you want to continue to learn. If you’re excited about playing the piano, you’ll keep going. It’s a fun instrument to play, and you’re going to enjoy it for sure as you learn to play different songs.

Don’t feel overwhelmed as you get started. Everyone learns at their pace. Pick your piano teacher wisely. Make sure you have somewhere to practice that is comfortable for you. Do you have a piano at home? I highly suggest that you practice on a piano and not on a keyboard.

It’s going to be best if you do practice daily, especially as you first start learning your instrument. Give it at least 30 minutes each day for practicing. That’s not that much time, and you will be glad you did as you try to retain all that knowledge. Enjoy your new hobby, and soon you will be showcasing your talent.

Piano lessons that you obtain from a professional retired piano player or those that you get from a music teacher that is currently at a local Manhattan school are going to vary in price dramatically. You may be able to find someone that once took lessons before, but has never played professionally, or taught in an elementary school, but they are also willing to give lessons for a minimal price. There is a certain amount that you should expect to pay depending upon the caliber of the individual that is going to be providing you with the lessons. The same is true for the lessons in NYC that will be provided for your children, if this is who you are getting these for, and let’s take a look at what you can expect.

How Much Are Average Piano Lessons?

In a rural community, the prices are going to differ from what you would expect to pay in New York City. This may have to do with how the community is, or how busy a music teacher is that is going to provide you with the lessons. For example, $10 an hour might be an average price for a music teacher that is just making a little bit of money on the side, a price that is often charged for people that know you and your kids. However, a professional that makes a living giving piano lessons will often charge $30 or more per hour, depending upon their level of skill. You can get discounts if you pay in advance for multiple lessons at one time. On average, $20 an hour is what you will expect for an average piano teacher, someone that could be right down the street from your house.

Why Would You Pay More Than That?

Other piano teachers are going to charge far more than that. For example, you could pay $50 an hour for piano lessons if you are working with someone that has just retired from playing piano professionally. They are going to have skills that you may need to advance. If your children have already taken lessons for several years, and they have a good solid foundation of how to play the piano, working with one of these professionals could be an investment into their future. By showing them how to use advanced techniques, ones that the professional has learned over the years, this could help them follow in their footsteps. They might even be able to introduce your child to somebody that will recognize their talents, and this could mean something substantial regarding what they can do with the piano skills that they possess. In essence, you are paying for the person that is giving the piano lessons, based upon their contacts, and also based on how much they know. You could pay more than, but it’s an investment into either your future or your child’s future, by working with someone of this caliber.

How To Get Discounts On Piano Lessons

As mentioned before, if you can pay for multiple lessons at one time, you can get a discount on the hourly rate. However, you may meet a piano teacher that will charge for a specific group of lessons. If they do this for a living, they will likely have what would be a class, one where your child would have homework on a regular basis. There would be a designated starting point, lessons that must be learned, and at the end, they would have to play a song to show their proficiency. These can be expensive because of how detailed they are, but you can also get discounts on them so that you are paying for advanced lessons at a regular price.

Once you have found several candidates for providing your children with cattle lessons, or perhaps lessons for yourself, you should be able to choose the right piano teacher in NYC. You will want to begin with lessons that are from someone that has worked with beginners before, that has the patience to teach them, and charges a reasonable price for these beginning lessons. Finally, you will then want to advance to higher levels and potentially switch to a completely different person. Just remember that you get what you pay for, and there are always going to be variations in how much piano teachers will charge.

PianoLessonsNYC.org has recently teamed up with a local New York City music school to provide some of the best piano lessons in all of Manhattan. Music To Your Home is now our partner in all piano lessons. With over 30 teachers who now teach the piano, we’re confident we can match you with the best teacher in NYC.

If you want to learn to play the piano, or you have a child who wants to start playing, finding the ideal teacher can be a challenge. The right choice can make a big difference to how quickly you can progress and so it is advisable to take your time in making your decision. If you do your research, you will give yourself the best chance of finding a good match based on your individual requirements. Here are some tips to help you find piano lessons in New York City that are right for you.

Know Your Aims

The needs of an adult wanting lessons can be very different to a child, and so your decision will be influenced by who is going to be the student. Also, what you aim to accomplish will be an important factor as there are many reasons for wanting to learn to play. It may be that you just want to enjoy playing music you like or, your goal may be to take it more seriously and perform at a higher level. If you consider what you want and the type of budget you are prepared to pay, you can then start to research what teaching is available.

Personal Recommendations

An excellent starting point is to consider if you know anyone who is already taking lessons which could provide a recommendation. For instance, if you were looking for a local teacher for your child, another parent may be able to point you in the right direction. They will be able to talk from their experiences of how good the lessons are and the characteristics of the teacher. A personal referral is often a good way to be introduced to someone although you should still do your due diligence to make sure a particular teacher is a good fit for you.

Online Reviews

There is plenty of information online that can help you to discover what lessons are available in your area. A local search on Google will help you to find any reviews that have been posted by other students, and this can give you an idea of peopleís actual experiences and results. In addition, you can look at any websites that belong to different teachers to see what type of lessons they offer and how they may fit with your schedule and requirements.

Social Media Sites

It is also possible to find recommendations on social media sites, in particular on Facebook where people like to share their experiences whether they are good or bad. Local New York City Facebook groups that are set up to allow businesses to promote their services may be worth a look as you may see lessons advertised on one of these with possible introductory offers to attract new students. As a member of a group, you could post a question to see if anyone can recommend a good piano teacher.

Speak To Potential Teachers

If you have carried out this type of research, you may well have a small list of potential teachers to contact to ask about the lessons they offer. It is a good idea to speak to each of these in person as you can put any questions to them that you want to answer and also get a feel for their personality as you want to be comfortable with anyone who you or your child may be spending time with in the future. This gives you an opportunity to find out how they structure their lessons and the amount of flexibility they have with bookings.

Contact Existing Students

If you speak to potential piano teachers in Manhattan, you may want to ask if they have any students who would be happy to be contacted for their opinions. This will give you a chance to ask questions that may not be easy to put to a teacher. For instance, you may want someone who is particularly patient, and this can only really be answered by an actual student. It can be reassuring to have this type of conversation and help you to make a final decision on the options available to you.

If you follow these tips and do your research, you can find the right piano lessons for you.