If you have ever found yourself at King’s Cross St. Pancras in London, there’s a good chance you passed the “street piano” by one of the main elevators, free for public use. There’s also a good chance someone was playing this piano, showcasing the skill they possessed, or wished they had.
Indeed, the piano is an instrument unlike any other, through the invisible invitation it seemingly sends to all who cast a glance upon it. This is not solely the case with the street piano in London, but rather with pianos all over the world.
Unlike the guitar, which requires careful attention to strings and strumming, or the trumpet, with its requirement to correctly purse one’s lips, the piano is openly available to play for all who seek it. All one needs are ears to hear its tune, and a finger or two to play on its keys.
However, while inviting, the piano is a unique beast within its own right. To adequately tame this wooden (and sometimes electric) animal, one needs the proper guidance and instruction that can only be provided by a private piano teacher. “It’s dangerous to go alone,” a certain monster hunter once said, and indeed, by choosing self-learning over instruction, you are limiting your potential as a piano player.
Below are 5 attributes private piano teachers bring to the table and reasons for why you should pursue private piano lessons over self-learning.
1. Individualized Approach
A private piano teacher does more than simply inform their student of the location of notes and how to properly read sheet music; they create an individualized blueprint to instrumental success for the student to follow. A teacher brings with them their own personal experience, their highs and lows as a past student of the piano, and with that, the knowledge of how to succeed in spite of the hurdles that lay ahead.
With an experienced and empathetic teacher at their side, students can feely and confidently pursue their interest in learning the piano, with the safety-net that is their instructor’s guidance. Private piano teachers are able to individualize their lesson plans around the interests and needs to specific students. This ensures that the strengths of their students are maximized, and their weaknesses addressed and overcome. Students’ interests and goals will be set out and met during piano lessons in Atlanta, and they will feel a sense of direction and encouragement when they sit down to play.
2. Accountability
Along with offering direction, piano teachers also provide accountability and acknowledgement of successes and failures. While failure commonly receives a negative connotation with regard to learning an instrument, it is necessary for students to experience this feeling. A teacher will acknowledge its existence, and offer a remedy.
Accountability may be the instructor’s greatest contribution to a student’s success, since it ensures commitment, discipline, and resilience in the face of adversity. Without accountability, it is difficult for students to learn from their mistakes, or to even realize that they are making them. In the long run, accountability enables mastery.
3. Answers to Questions
Simply put, piano teachers provide answers to questions students may have throughout the learning process. As one begins to play the piano, they come to realize not only its beauty, but its complexity (especially with regard to sheet music). A specific question may not be answered with a quick Google search for someone trying to learn this instrument alone. Having an experienced player who can answer every little question is of monumental importance, especially if a student possesses curiosity and a desire for mastery.
4. Problem Solving and Solutions
Sometimes a problem cannot simply be answered with words, but rather requires an example shown through performance. A private teacher will offer problem solving through demonstration.
Sometimes all that is required to solve a problem is simple emulation and repetition of an instructor’s careful movements. Other times, notes are needed in the margins of sheet music to remind the reader of particularly difficult portions of the musical piece, which an instructor can flawlessly provide and explain. It is one thing to answer a question, but to explain and perform the solution is something else entirely.
5. New Musical Horizons
Piano teachers are lovers of music themselves, with their own musical taste and personal experience as a former student. Their perspective is particularly useful in broadening a student’s musical horizon. Whether it is the work of classical composers or contemporary pianists, teachers will inspire students to find their passion.
Without a private piano teacher, it’s likely that a self-taught pianist will have a narrow-view of the musical world, informed by their limited personal experiences. Instructors offer the opportunity for students to experience a broader musical world that wouldn’t otherwise be possible to see.
At Lessons In Your Home, we ensure that our piano teachers will bring these five qualities to every student’s lesson. Contact us to start your journey towards piano mastery.
