We all know that mixed feeling.
The sense of excitement and the sense of uncertainty when we are about to learn something as an absolute newbie.
Not forgetting the amount of questions that we have as we approach it for the first time too.
If you are planning to learn the piano as a beginner, there are certain things that you need to consider in terms of your purpose of learning the musical instrument, your budget capacity for piano and piano lessons, and relevant tips to take your skills to the next level.
In this article, dive deep into what it takes to be a confident and competent pianist when you are learning it from scratch.
Why Is Piano Such A Popular Musical Instrument To Learn Among Malaysians?
First, let's talk about why many of us desire to pick up the piano and hope to be a competent pianist.
Learning the piano definitely opens up a wide range of possibilities and opportunities. But here are three main reasons why the piano remains a popular musical instrument that is widely taught and learned in Malaysia.
Reason 1: Direct production of various melody combination
The moment you press any piano keys, a distinct sound is produced. Once you have identified the black and white keys, you can then proceed to learn how to play chords, and scales and slowly come out with various melody variations.
From there, you can proceed to play a whole piece of pop song or a whole piano concerto on both hands. Of course, it takes time to progress from a beginner to an advanced learner.
Once you have moved past the basic learning stage, you can even take on different challenges such as transposing (changing keys) and even composing.
When it comes to individuals who have a knack for composing, they might even spend lots of time experimenting with different notes to come out with a new song.
Photo by Clark Young on Unsplash
Reason 2: Versatile standalone solo instrument
When we talk about learning the piano, it's something that allows you to play it as long as you have it with you. With digital pianos and keyboards, you can bring them anywhere with you.
Not only that, the piano itself is sufficient to create a complete music experience. It can create a rhythm, it can create a melody, and it can take different roles depending on the context.
For instance, when you are preparing a full instrumental performance in an orchestra, the piano might be the first musical instrument to signal the beginning of the performance. In other words, it sets the "tone".
On the other hand, if you just put a piano somewhere, anyone can just play it freely without having to follow anybody's instructions.
Reason 3: Medium of emotional expression and creativity
The third reason why many people prefer to learn the piano is because it serves as a great way to express your emotions.
Different keys and different notes are capable of delivering different moods and emotions. The piano pieces that you play during a wedding are certainly different from the ones that you play when somebody is retiring, for instance.
Discover these diverse learning resources to take your piano-playing skills to the next level.
What Should You Consider Before Buying A Piano?
Of course, we must talk about the other main character in the picture AKA the PIANO.
It's important to have a good piano when you are committed to learning it.
Here are some important criteria that you should take into account before you buy your first piano:
#1: Your budget
We are all being very honest here. Buying a piano is a huge investment. Depending on your budget, you should decide on which type of piano you are going to buy. Start by asking yourself some of these questions.
Can you currently afford to buy a digital piano or a really big grand piano? Are you comfortable buying a comfortable with secondhand piano or does your budget allow you to buy a brand-new piano?
If you plan to buy a regular piano, do you know of anyone who can provide an affordable maintenance service for your piano? All this matters as your piano definitely needs tuning from time to time.
#2: Your purpose and frequency of playing
Your purpose and frequency of playing will determine whether the money that you have allocated for buying a piano is worth every penny.
For instance, if you are a parent of a young kid who plans to let your child take piano lessons from Grade 1 to Grade 8, then it makes more sense to invest in a regular upright piano instead of a keyboard because they need to get accustomed to the energy that they need to exert when they are pressing the keys.
On the contrary, if you are currently staying in a smaller place and only want to learn the piano to play some covers of your favourite pop songs, a digital piano or keyboard would be a more suitable choice.
Learn more about these famous pianists and their piano performances.
Image by Freepik
Where Can You Find The Right Piano Tutor As An Absolute Beginner?
Now that you have gained some insights on how to buy the right piano, you should now turn your focus on getting the right guidance for your piano learning journey.
As a beginner, we highly recommend you to learn from an experienced piano private tutor!
That's because you would need a longer time to build a strong foundation in terms of practical and theoretical knowledge. Not only that, private tutoring allows you to personalise your lessons according to your requirements too!
Superprof is a great tutoring platform that allows you to learn from a wide selection of piano tutors who are based in Malaysia.
As soon as you head to the homepage of Superprof Malaysia, you can take your time to review and compare the details of the tutors in terms of:
- Their teaching qualification
- Their years of teaching
- Their performing experience
- Their teaching methodology
- Their scope of teaching/ specialisation
- Their teaching mode (home lessons or online lessons)
- Their maximum budget for their hourly rates
- Their past students' reviews
This means you could come across tutors who are seasoned performers or student tutors who are offering their lessons. You are free to pick from any one of them that are listed there.
Having said that, don't miss out on these wonderful benefits of learning the piano!
How Can You Improve Your Piano Learning Skills Accordingly?
Remember, your piano learning journey doesn't stop once you have found a piano tutor. It takes lots of time and continuous effort to hone your skills.
What you do during the gap that you have between your piano lessons is what determines your progress accordingly.
For example, you can refer to other learning resources such as YouTube tutorials or even physical books to explore other ways to improve your piano playing techniques or even read from other learners' experiences through online forums.
Also, it is very important to cultivate a habit of practising the piano on a regular basis. We encourage you to have at least two to three practice sessions a week so that you can remember and apply what you have learned during your piano lessons.
The more you practice, the more you are activating muscle memory for your fingers. It does not mean that you have to continuously practice the same piece over and over again. In between, you can also do other fingering exercises like Hanon, or just practice some scales just to "warm up".
Trust us, other skills such as chord progression, sight-reading and even the skill of playing by ear could also be enhanced along the way.
As cliche as it sounds, practice makes perfect.
Is It Very Difficult To Pursue a Career As A Professional Pianist?
During your piano learning journey, some of you might be thinking of taking this passion to the next level.
Maybe you love the piano so much that you might want to become a concert pianist, or you plan to be a music educator one day. These are amazing aspirations!
Image by Freepik
To do that, you need to go through several stages.
For now, you need to make sure you have solidified all the piano playing techniques before you pursue an undergraduate degree in music. This means, going through and passing all your piano practical and theory examination levels.
Then from there, apply for a holistic music-related degree (local or overseas) that allows you to major in piano.
Apart from studying, it's also important to gain some performing experience, be it through piano competitions or piano concerts. Remember, we all need to start somewhere.
Don't forget to also explore various styles of piano playing as you progress in your piano learning journey. Who knows, you might be a jazz pianist or even come out with your own piano album one day! Truly, the sky is the limit.
The key is to have a goal and slowly work towards that direction.
As you begin your first piano lesson and buy your first ever piano, you are ultimately taking the first step to create a brand new experience in your life!
Enjoy this ride!
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