Piano Keyboard Reviews (2021)

Tutorials

Digital vs. Acoustic Piano (2021): Ultimate Guide for Beginners

By

Digital vs. Acoustic Piano

Credits

Some people take piano lessons, and only are able to practice when they are at their lessons, because they don’t have a piano at home.

If you or someone else in your household is a beginner, or has expressed an interest in learning, it really is best if you can have an instrument at home to practice on.

The problem is, a good piano can cost a lot of money, which many of us can’t really afford. So, is there another option? Well, there is one: a digital piano.

But is this going to be as good as having a real, acoustic piano to learn and practice on?

There are arguments both for and against learning on a digital piano, with some people saying that you need an acoustic piano to learn, and others saying that the digital piano is actually the better option.

In this comprehensive guide, we take a look at the benefits of each type of instrument, as well as how each works, and what beginners really need.

Let’s get started!

Quick Navigation
Digital Piano vs Acoustic Piano Comparison Chart
Size and Price
Digital and Acoustic Pianos: Types and Mechanisms
Sound Quality
Maintenance
Versatility
Pedals
Piano Portability
A Few More Things to Think About
Skill Level
Practice Location
Noise Level
What Beginners should Look For
Number of Keys
Weighted Keys
Touch-Sensitive Keys
Keyboard Stand
Simplicity
Conclusion

Digital Piano vs Acoustic Piano Comparison Chart

Features

Acoustic Piano

Digital Piano

Sound Quality

Warm, clear, rich tones

Sound is derived from digital sound sampling, which comes from an acoustic piano, but will never sound totally like the real thing

Tuning

Requires tuning every year or two

Never needs to be tuned

Maintenance

May require parts repaired or replaced on occasion, must be kept in a room with the appropriate humidity and temperature

No maintenance, unless there is an issue with the electronics

Touch Sensitivity

Better control with true piano mechanisms

Some have touch sensitivity features, others do not

Cost

Generally upwards of $1,000

You can get a beginner model for less than $200

Pedals

Most acoustic pianos have two to three pedals

Some digital pianos come with one or two pedals

Effects and Special Features

No effects or special features on an acoustic piano

Voices (instrument sounds), tempos, record and playback features, volume control, and many other effects and special features

Portability

An acoustic piano must stay in one place, and moving it will require at least two to three people

You can take a digital piano pretty much anywhere as they are lightweight and portable

Required Space

You will need a fair amount of room for an acoustic piano, even an apartment size model

You can store a digital piano in a closet, and play anywhere as it takes up little space

Power Source

There is no need to plug an acoustic piano in

You need to plug a digital piano into a power source, or use batteries

Portability

Size and Price

First of all, let’s discuss the sizes and prices for both acoustic and digital pianos. Anyone who plays the piano would love to have an actual acoustic piano in their home. When you come right down to it, a lot of people, even those who do not play, love the look of a piano in the home. But, is it really feasible?

If you don’t have a lot of room, a piano just isn’t going to work for you. Even an upright can take up a lot of space, and if space is at a premium, you just aren’t going to have the room. An acoustic piano also requires a fair amount of maintenance, such as tuning, which you will have to pay someone to do for you.

On the other hand, a digital piano is small and portable. Even the models that come with cabinets are much smaller than most acoustic pianos. Most digital pianos have a full-size keyboard, so you are getting everything you would with a real piano, but it is smaller and more portable. When was the last time you tried to take an acoustic piano outside of the home? It just isn’t going to happen.

Yamaha PSREW300 76-key Portable Keyboard With Adjustable Stand, Bench & Power Adapter

Yamaha PSREW300 76-key Portable Keyboard With Adjustable Stand, Bench & Power Adapter

Now we get down to prices. There is no doubting that you are going to save money by buying a digital piano instead of an acoustic piano. Sure, you can spend thousands of dollars on a high-end digital piano, but you can also get some fairly decent models, which are excellent for beginners, for under $500.

This is not the kind of deal you can expect to find on an acoustic piano, unless of course you happen to run across a really good deal on a second-hand model. 

Digital and Acoustic Pianos Types and Mechanisms

Digital and Acoustic Pianos: Types and Mechanisms

Now we are going to talk about the make-up of both acoustic and digital pianos.

Let’s start with acoustic pianos. These come in two different varieties:

  • Grand
  • Upright

and then there are sub-types within each type such as:

  • Aoartment-size upright
  • Baby grand
  • Concert Grand, etc.

The mechanics inside an acoustic piano are as old as the instrument itself.

There are hammers and steel strings, which are encased inside a wooden frame. The piano keys are attached to the hammers, so when you press a key, the hammer will move, striking the strings for the particular notes you are playing. This causes a vibration, which in turn produces sound.

The layout of the innards of acoustic pianos are different, depending on the type of piano. For instance, the frame and strings for a grand piano are horizontal, while in an upright model, they run vertically.

Digital and Acoustic Pianos

 This is why the upright is more compact, and is often the preference for home use.

Another difference between grands and uprights is inharmonicity. This is how much the overtone has a higher pitch than the primary pitch. Ideally, you will want a piano that has a sound with lower inharmonicity, because it is a much more accurate sound.

A grand piano is going to have less inharmonicity, and therefore have a richer, deeper tone, because it has longer strings. An upright model has shorter strings, so it doesn’t sound as well-tuned due to more inharmonicity.

This doesn’t mean that an upright piano is inferior to a grand piano, as there are also other factors that come into play when it comes to sound quality, including how the instrument was crafted, and the materials used to make it.

Now, let’s take a look at digital pianos. The first thing to look at is how the sound is made. The digital piano gets its sound from digital samples. These samples originally come from an acoustic piano, but because there are no strings or hammers, the sound just isn’t going to be completely true.

When you press the keys, the digital samples are going to come through the electronic speakers. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to get a great sound quality. Some digital pianos are about as close to the real thing as you can possibly get.

Many people don’t realize it, but there are actually three different types of digital pianos.

  • Portable Digital Piano
  • Grand Digital Piano. Grand is going to have the best sound quality, but it is not going to be cheap, and only a small handful of manufacturers actually make digital grand pianos.
  • Upright Digital Piano. Popular for those who want to have a piano in their homes, but can’t afford an acoustic, or don’t have enough space.
Sound Quality

Sound Quality

Next, we are going to compare the sound quality between acoustic and digital pianos. Obviously, if you are going to be spending any amount of money on a musical instrument, you want it to produce a nice sound.

No matter what anyone tries to tell you, an acoustic piano, either upright or grand, is going to produce the best sound. But, this doesn’t mean that many digital pianos don’t have great sound quality as well.

A digital piano isn’t going to give you that true grand piano sound, but it can mimic the sound of an acoustic piano so it is pretty close. The problem is that even the best digital piano is never going to have the same sound quality as an acoustic model, but some of them can come pretty close.

In fact, there are some low-end acoustic pianos that don’t sound as good as the higher-end digital models. But, all in all, if you are looking for the very best sound quality, nothing is going to beat a good acoustic piano.

Maintenance

Maintenance

Another thing to think about when choosing your instrument is maintenance. This is one area where a digital piano definitely has the advantage, as it requires little to no maintenance (unless of course there are troubles with the electronics, sticky keys, etc.). An acoustic piano requires a fair amount of maintenance.

For one thing, because they are made of wood, they need to be housed in an area where there is not going to be a lot of humidity, or frequent temperature changes. If the piano is not kept in the right environment (room temperature around 20 degrees C and a relative humidity between 45 and 70 percent), you are likely going to end up having problems with the inside components, not to mention the wood itself. This is not an issue with a digital piano.

Another thing to consider is tuning. An acoustic piano is going to require tuning about once or twice per year. This means that you will need to have a professional piano tuner come to your home, because it’s not like you can easily take the instrument to them.

This is something to consider when thinking about the cost of an acoustic piano as well, because the initial price obviously isn’t going to be your only expense if you want to own an acoustic piano. You never have to worry about tuning a digital piano.

Hamzer 61-Key Digital Music Piano Keyboard - Portable Electronic Musical Instrument - with Microphone

Versatility

Next, we need to take a look at the versatility of both acoustic and digital pianos. This is another area where a digital model is going to have more benefits than an acoustic piano.

For instance, a digital piano is going to have features that you just won’t find in an acoustic piano. Sure, an acoustic piano is going to have a truer piano sound, but it can’t mimic the sound of other instruments as a digital piano can.

Also, digital pianos offer drum beats that you can use while you are playing. Most quality digital pianos have record and playback features, again, something that an acoustic piano will never have.

You can record what you are playing, and it will be stored in a digital file. Finally, with a digital piano, you have control over the volume. You can even plug a pair of headphones in so you are the only one who hears it. An acoustic piano is generally going to be pretty loud, even if you are trying to play softly.

The ONE Smart Piano Keyboard, 61-Key Portable Keyboard, The ONE Light Keyboard, Electric MIDI Keyboard, Pink

One of the biggest differences between digital and acoustic pianos is touch sensitivity, and it can be a pretty huge difference.

For one thing, there is a difference in the weight of the keys. 

With an acoustic piano, you need to exert a bit of pressure to make sounds, while you can lightly touch the keys on a digital piano to produce sound, so you don’t necessarily get the same feel you would with an acoustic model. But, this is something that manufacturers have been able to overcome by creating weighted keys. These will mimic piano keys, at least when it comes to the heaviness.

Touch sensitivity is an advantage that acoustic pianos have over digital pianos, and why some musicians prefer to use an acoustic piano. When playing on an acoustic piano, how hard you hit the keys will determine the volume and tone of the notes being played.

So, even though you may hit a key with a different pressure each time, you are going to get the same sound. This can be quite limiting when it comes to expressing yourself musically. On the other hand, with a digital piano, the sounds are digital, so you can create a multitude of tones that you can’t produce on an acoustic piano.

pedal of piano on concert

Pedals

Now we need to take a look at pedals. There are three pedals on an acoustic piano: soft, sostenuto, and sustain. Generally, sustain is used in all types of music, while the other two aren’t used as much. Low-end digital pianos don’t usually come with any pedals, but you can often buy a separate sustain pedal to use.

Better models will often have a sustain pedal, but that’s it, and in most cases, they are not available as extra options. If you think that you are going to be using these pedals, you will need to have an acoustic piano instead of digital.

Piano Portability

Piano Portability

Finally, you need to consider the portability of your instrument. If you are not concerned with having to take your piano anywhere, and you have the space, you may be more interested in having a traditional acoustic piano in your home.

But, if you want to take your piano to lessons, gigs, studios, or any place else, you can’t do this with an acoustic, and a digital piano is going to be your best option. Most digital pianos weigh 25 pounds or less, so they are highly portable and you can take them pretty much anywhere.

A Few More Things to Think About

In addition to the features on each piano, there are other things that you need to think about before going out and spending hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on an instrument. First of all, what is your favorite musical genre?

If you are really interested in playing classical music, then an acoustic piano may be the best choice for you, because of the sound and the touch sensitivity. But, if you want to play rock, pop, funk, etc., you can really play around with the extra features on a digital piano. Other things to consider include:

Skill Level

If you are just starting out, you may prefer using a digital piano, because most of them come with so many terrific learning tools, including lesson software that you can use by syncing your instrument to your computer, iPhone, tablet, etc.

Practice Location

Piano Location Practice

If you live alone and there is no one to disturb, you can go ahead and practice to your heart’s content on an acoustic piano. But, if there are going to be others around, they might not want to hear you practicing all the time.

A digital piano lets you take it to another location, so you can practice without bothering anyone.

Noise Level

Again, you need to think about anyone you may be disturbing while you are practicing. An acoustic piano is going to be loud, and if you prefer to practice late at night, you are going to keep others awake. With a digital piano, you can plug in your headphones so only you are going to hear what you are working on.

What Beginners should Look For

Whether you are going to choose a digital or an acoustic piano, there are certain features that should be considered when buying an instrument for beginners. These include:

Number of Keys

While some people say it is fine to learn on a keyboard without a full 88 keys, others argue that one needs a full keyboard in order to learn things like finger spacing, scale, etc. Also, as the beginner progresses, they are going to want to use the entire scale of keys for certain songs.

Weighted Keys

An acoustic piano will have weighted keys, but not all digital pianos do. It is important that if you go with a digital model that it does have weighted keys, because they are much closer to the feel of an acoustic piano. The weighted keys will help the beginner to learn technique and build their finger strength.

Touch-Sensitive Keys

This means that the keys respond in volume in accordance with how hard you press them. If you play softly, the volume should be lower, and if you have a heavier touch, it should be louder.

This is a feature that you likely won’t find on the less expensive digital pianos, but the higher-end models do tend to have this feature. There should also be an option to turn this feature off.

Keyboard Stand

RockJam Xfinity Heavy-Duty, Double-X, Pre-Assembled, Infinitely Adjustable Piano Keyboard Stand with Locking Straps

RockJam Xfinity Heavy-Duty, Double-X, Pre-Assembled, Infinitely Adjustable Piano Keyboard Stand with Locking Straps

If you do decide to go with a digital piano, it is imperative that you also have an adjustable keyboard stand, and if possible, a bench as well. It is not easy to learn and practice with the keyboard in your lap, so you need to make sure that you are going to be able to play comfortably, with the keyboard at a level that is comfortable for you.

Simplicity

When it comes to a beginner piano, if you are going with digital, keep it simple. Beginners don’t need to have a lot of extra features, effects, etc. as it can be overwhelming. There is already a lot to learn, especially in the beginning, so there is really no need of adding to it.

This is especially important if the beginner student is a child, as they can be easily overwhelmed.

Hear The Difference Between an Acoustic and Digital Piano

Conclusion

When you come right down to it, the choice between an acoustic piano and a digital piano involves several considerations. If you don’t mind spending a lot of money, and you don’t want something that is portable, your best choice is likely going to be an acoustic piano.

On the other hand, if you want to be able to take your piano anywhere, that isn’t likely to happen with an acoustic model, and you will need a digital piano.

Price is obviously a huge factor, and in most cases, you are going to spend a lot less on a digital piano. Both styles are good for beginners to learn on, and as you know, there are arguments for and against this on both sides of the fence. 

Neither type of instrument is actually better than the other. It is often all a matter of preference.
In the end, you will choose the instrument that suits your preferences, your needs, and your budget, whether it is digital or acoustic.

Who Invented the Electric Piano Keyboard?

What Does a Sustain Pedal Do? Quick Guide for Beginners

The Best Piano Songs to Learn

17 Science-Backed Benefits of Playing Piano (from Children to Seniors)

By

17 Science-Backed Benefits of Playing Piano (From Children to Seniors)

There are dozens of benefits of playing piano. Playing the piano is good for your brain, and there are many related health and physical benefits, especially for children and seniors.

Here are 17 of them. There's a bunch of fascinating science below, but we also put everything into an infographic for fun. Take a look:

Benefits of Learning Piano at a Young Age

1

Playing the Piano Improves IQ

Studies show that there is a link between IQ and playing the piano. In a study entitled “Music Lessons Enhance IQ”, Professor Glenn Schellenberg from the University of Toronto concluded that, among children whose IQs were growing, IQs increased more among groups of children who had additional piano or singing lessons (as opposed to those who had extra drama lessons, or those taking no additional lessons).

How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain

2

Playing the Piano Changes the Structure of the Brain, Which Improves Learning Ability

Remember how we’ve always been told that a child’s brain is like a sponge?

source

Well, it doesn’t just absorb information, the brain also changes after being exposed to certain activities.

A study by Sara L Bengtsson and Stefan Skare at the University of East Anglia compared the “white matter” in musicians and non-musician`s brains.

White matter links different parts of the brain and can affect processing speeds and learning. The study found that the musicians have alterations in the white matter`s structure, which can benefit a number of high-level brain functions and improve learning.

Another piece of research found that learning to play the piano strengthens the connectivity throughout brain regions, and even creates much stronger “fiber bundles” between the two hemispheres, specifically where tactile and movement information is processed. New pathways help musicians process information quicker, and even acquire new skills at a faster pace.

This benefit is summed up by Gottfried Schlaug, director of the music and neuroimaging lab at Beth Israel Deaconess and Harvard Medical School in Boston:

“While some people may be born with brains that are well suited to learning music, learning to play instruments leads to changes in the brain too.”


Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, Director of the Music and Neuroimaging Lab, Harvard Medical School

3

Playing the Piano Improves Academic Performance

The cognitive boost that children get from learning to play the piano can really help them in their academic learning, as shown by VU University of Amsterdam researchers.

source

They carried out an in-depth, large-scale investigation into the impact of music lessons on children`s learning. The researchers looked at cognitive aspects of children`s education, such as short-term memory, planning, language development skills and inhibition, over two and a half years of theory and practical piano lessons. They concluded that their study “supports a transfer effect from music education to academic achievement”.

Dr. Arthur Jaschke, who led the study, concluded that:

“Children who received music lessons showed improved language-based reasoning and the ability to plan, organize and complete tasks, as well as improved academic achievement.“


He added that, “this suggests that the cognitive skills developed during music lessons can influence children’s cognitive abilities in completely unrelated subjects, leading to overall improved academic performance.”


Dr. Arthur Jaschke, VC University Amsterdam

4

Playing the Piano Improves Language Skills

Learning the piano can be a great tool to help to learn languages, as it improves your “musical ear” and develops the same part of the brain. This can help you to “tune in” to languages and their patterns, and increase your verbal memory.

source

According to research undertaken by the Rotman Research Institute, children who play music can develop a more advanced auditory cortex – the part of the brain that is responsible for processing auditory information. This gives them the tools to process hearing more quickly and efficiently, as well as improve comprehension of the different sounds and words that they are hearing.

Likewise, playing the piano can help to improve perceptual learning – for example, to be able to tell the difference between two pitches, as shown in another Rotman Research Institute study.

A study by Dr Charles Limb – a hearing specialist at John Hopkins University – found that when a pianist improvises, the language part of their brain stays active. While the player is not communicating with words, the study shows that the elements of communication (the syntax – the musical version of grammar and structure) are still present.

By looking at the brain activity of pianists while they were improvising, Dr Limb explained that “they appear to be talking to one another through their instruments." The use of the brain was the same as when people have a linguistic conversation, both while they were actually playing, and also while responding to another player, if playing together.

This shows how developing your piano playing and improvisatory skills can also help to develop your language skills.

What Happens to Your Brain When You Learn an Instrument?

source

Another study conducted by Long Island University investigated if in-class piano keyboard lessons would lead to better vocabulary and verbal sequencing, which involves tasks like arranging words in a coherent order.

It was found that elementary school children, drawn from middle-class public schools in New York City, who received three successive years of piano training, outperformed students who did not receive piano training in vocabulary and verbal sequencing tests. The authors stated that the result may be attributed to increased “auditory stimulation” associated with piano lessons, which is known to improve verbal skills.

Finally, a study on Mandarin-speaking kindergarten children found that only six months’ worth of piano lessons can have a significant impact on their ability to develop their language skills.

The study looked at 74 children from four to six years old in Beijing. It showed that those who had piano lessons three times a week, for six months, found that after only one month, they performed better than the other groups in a language test. They also performed better than the group who had no additional training at vowel sounds, pitch detection and differentiating words.

John Gabrieli, cognitive neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research, has this to say:

“There’s evidence that early exposure to piano practice enhances the processing of sounds that extend not only from music, but also into language.”


Dr. John Gabreli, Professor in Health Sciences and Technology and Cognitive Neuroscience, MIT

This all shows that by studying the piano (and especially improvisation), you can develop the parts of the brain which are responsible for language – which, of course is useful for everyone, but can be particularly effective for children, and even more so for those who are having trouble in developing their language skills.

So if your child is tired of reading, just let her play the piano for a while!

5

Playing the Piano Boosts Self Esteem

source

In a fascinating study on fourth-grade children attending public schools in Montreal, Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi found that piano instruction for three years significantly boosted the self-esteem of the children who participated in the study.

What’s interesting is Dr. Costa-Giomi’s observations on how the piano lessons increased the children’s self-esteem. She states that:

“The children...received individual attention from experienced teachers, the opportunity to play in recitals in front of their peers and relatives, and the means by which to develop their musical interests and abilities.


In addition, the children in the piano group spent time at home practicing, an activity which probably drew the attention of other family members and likely engaged occasional supervision from an adult.


Any single or combination of these multiple factors might have produced the increase in self-esteem of the children taking the lessons.”


Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi, Professor of Music Education, Ohio State University

Another interesting example of piano instruction increasing the self-esteem of kids is the Keys of Inspiration program started in the USA by world-famous pianist Lang Lang.

Keys of Inspiration encourages piano performance at all levels as a means of social development for youth by providing students with a safe, creative outlet in school.

A classroom in Harlem, New York is among the ones that have greatly benefited from this project. Three-quarters of the students come from economically vulnerable families, and nearly half of them would rarely come to class, and perform poorly at tests.

Since the project had started, the children that used to skip school regularly are now in class on a daily basis. Playing the piano has taught the students about dedication to a craft, being motivated to perform better, and having the right attitude towards life.

How did they do that? They simply introduced regular piano classes into the children’s curriculum!

6

Playing the Piano Helps Kids Be More Social

source

One of the benefits of group musical training is that it can help children who struggle in social situations to build better social skills.

In a study conducted by Professor Glen Schellenberg at the University of Toronto, children ages 8 and 9 were split into two groups. One group attended 40 minute, weekly group music lessons over the course of a 10-month period, while the second group did not attend the lessons.

The study concluded that for children who already had good social skills, the music lessons didn’t make a difference. But for kids who had poor social skills, the group music lessons increased their sympathy toward others and increased their “prosocial” skills, including helping others, conflict resolution, and sharing.

“One of the important factors in our study was the impact of group music lessons in particular.


In introducing the social aspect there seems to be a motivation to provide support for others and a willingness to receive help from peers. It may be the social aspect engendered by the lessons, but also that sense of collaboration and cooperation.”


Dr. Glen Schellenberg, University of Toronto

7

Playing the Piano Boosts Creativity

source

By scanning the brains of accomplished pianists whilst they are playing, researchers have been able to show how playing the piano can boost your creativity.

The “dorsolateral prefrontal cortex” is the area of the brain which is responsible for supressing stereotypical responses and increasing improvisation skills, and this is activated during musical improvisation.

As the part of the brain which gives stereotypical responses is supressed, you start to play with your own `voice` and not one of someone else.

Interestingly, the more experienced the player, the study found, the less active the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is – which suggests that the brain is being more efficient and is better developed for those who improvise a lot.

Bottom line: it appears that playing the piano acts as a sort of an exercise for the prefrontal lobe, which makes players better at creative thinking and coming up with new ideas on the fly. This helps people quickly come up with creative solutions in difficult and stressful situations.

Dr. Ana Pinho, who carried out the study, concluded the following:

"More improvisation training led to more automation and higher functional connectivity between regions that are important for creative playing.

This greater connectivity improved the efficiency and communication between those brain regions."

Dr. Ana Pinho, Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal

8

Playing the Piano Improves Math Skills

source

One of the biggest areas of piano research has been its effect on math skills.

Why math skills?

Because playing the piano has been show in multiple studies to improve something called “spatial-temporal reasoning”, which is basically being able to visualize objects in our head (also called using our “mind’s eye”).

Picture yourself putting a puzzle together. You dump the puzzle pieces on a table, then you try to figure out how to assemble the puzzle by first picturing – in your mind – which pieces on the table might fit together. That’s using spatial-temporal reasoning. 

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that playing the piano can significantly improve your spatial-temporal reasoning and proportions, as shown in F.H. Rauscher`s study at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Another of Dr. Rauscher`s studies found that children who took rhythm lessons had even more improved spatial-temporal skills – as well performing better in mathematical tests.

Another investigation of how musical training can help with math performance, carried out by the University of California Irvine, shows that children who were taking music lessons performed better than those who weren’t, leading to the idea that the music lessons could be having a positive impact on math performance.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece also found the same thing in their study of kindergarten children.

According to China`s Lang Lang – one of (if not the) world`s leading pianists:

“As long as music tuition is done properly, you will see students learn how to focus, learn how to commit, learn how to be creative. It teaches you logic. It can be very mathematical.

And if you have a child struggling with a text, it can help to express that text through music, to use music as a medium of interpretation.”


Lang Lang, world-renowned Chinese pianist

9

Playing the Piano Improves Reading Skills

source

According to a study published in the journal Psychology of Music, children who took part in a 3-year program of piano lessons twice a week had significantly better vocabulary and verbal sequencing scores than students who didn’t do piano lessons.

One explanation the authors have for the improvement in vocabulary was an enhancement of “auditory attention” skills, a direct result of the piano lessons. Children who took the lessons were exposed to complex auditory tasks during their three-year training period, including identifying melodic pitch and “tonal patterning”. This likely improved their verbal memory, which would help with vocabulary.

10

Playing the Piano is NOT Screen Time!

source

Have you seen the latest stats on how much time kids spend on their devices these days?

According to one report, children ages 8 to 12 spend four hours and 36 minutes a day on average using a screen, while kids below 8 spend two hours and 19 minutes!

If you have a sick feeling in your stomach right now, you’re not alone…

Besides all of the other health and brain benefits outlined in this article, an obvious benefit of playing the piano is that it doesn’t involve staring into a screen (which itself is the cause of many health problems. Did you know that excessive screen time decreases brain connectivity – which is the exact opposite of what playing an instrument does?)

What If Every Child Had Access to Music Education from Birth?

Benefits of Learning Piano for Adults

11

Playing the Piano Relieves Stress

source

Just the fact that you are taking time out of your day for music makes a difference in relieving the stress of everyday life.

Playing the piano can help you to learn to focus your mind generally, but also use it as a form of meditation for stress relief by allowing you to put other thoughts and worries out of your mind.

Research carried out at Chicago Medical School showed that music can lower blood pressure and help fight off depression and anxiety.

12

Playing the Piano Improves Your Mood & Decreases Depression

source

It’s important to remember that you are never too old to learn to play the piano – in fact, there is research which tells us that learning to play an instrument in old age is a great way of helping to keep you both physically and mentally healthy.

A study by Dr. Sofia Seinfeld and collaborators showed that elderly adults who played the piano every day for four months significantly improved their mood, decreased depression, and improved brain functions like concentration and attention.  

13

Playing the Piano Improves Memory

source

Music has a unique effect on the brain in some of the ways that it can stimulate its connections, and one of the biggest benefits is to your memory and navigation.

An unusual study published in the Journal of Neuroscience showed the effects of tuning a piano on the brain.

The brains of nineteen professionals who tune pianos by ear for a living were observed in an MRI scanner. The researchers found that this unique profession has an impressive effect on both grey and white matter in the brain.

Oddly enough, most of the matter growth wasn’t located in the auditory part of the brain, as you might be expecting, but in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is responsible for memory and navigation in space.

It appears that playing the makes the hippocampus work more efficiently, which suggests that it will also improve your memory and your ability to orient in space. How about that?

There is also evidence that by learning the keyboard at an early age, children can improve their working memory.

14

Playing the Piano Improves Decision-Making

source

Another significant body of research studies the effect that practicing the piano has on decision-making.

A study by Dr Ana Pinho shows that when jazz pianists are playing, the part of the brain which is responsible for decision making – a section of the frontal lobe – is activated. This makes this area of the brain very efficient and means that the connections are quicker and decision-making becomes easier, more efficient and more spontaneous.

So it appears that seasoned musicians are much better and faster at sending information within various parts of the brain’s frontal lobe.

Making this connection faster makes the brain process more information in a shorter amount of time. This makes us more efficient thinkers.

"More improvisation training led to more automation and higher functional connectivity between regions that are important for creative playing. This greater connectivity improved the efficiency and communication between those brain regions," Dr. Pinho said at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego.

However, this isn’t the only exciting finding this research has shed light on.

It appears that experienced piano players are able to disconnect from the part of the brain that is responsible for giving template-like, stereotypical answers, thus making you have a more innovative approach towards solving daily tasks.

15

Playing the Piano Stops the Decline of “Executive Function”

source

“Executive function” is not the name of Tom Cruise’s new action movie! J In plain English, executive functions allow us to mentally play with ideas; take the time to think before acting; meet unexpected challenges; resist temptations; and stay focused.

Have you ever seen teenagers do crazy things? They’re doing that for a reason – executive function in the brain doesn’t mature fully until the age of 25 (so teenagers find it hard to resist temptations).   

A 2006 study examined if piano lessons, given to adults aged 60-85 with limited or no prior musical instruction, could reduce age-related decline in executive function.

The lessons required participants to attend a half-hour lesson each week, as well as independent practice for a minimum of three hours each week. The study found that piano lessons resulted in improved performances on neurological tests following the six month training period.

But there was a catch: these benefits were lost by three months after the lessons were stopped. So the study concluded that continuous piano lessons may combat age-related cognitive decline by strengthening connections between different areas of the brain.  

16

Playing the Piano Improves Hand-Eye Coordination

source

There are also a number of studies which reveal that playing the piano improves hand-eye co-ordination, and is also good for your fine motor skills.

Research such as that carried out by Alan H D Watson, which investigates what we can learn about motor control of the hand from studying musicians, shows how beneficial playing the piano is.

17

Playing the Piano Strengthens the Body

source

One of the obvious health benefits of playing piano is that it involves exercising the hand and arm muscles regularly.

It’s also good for dexterity, as shown by a study carried out by Miriam Villeneuve and Anouk Lamontagne.

Their research into the effect of playing the piano on stroke victims shows that manual dexterity was greatly improved after a period of regular piano lessons – and practice.

Another study carried out by the Institute for Music Physiology and Performing Arts Medicine shows that piano players have better co-ordination between auditory and motor functions.

Finally, we all know that often the hand which is used for writing can be stronger than the other. Well, playing the piano can help you to strengthen both hands (as well as your back, if you use a back-less chair!).

This happens through something in the brain called the “central sulcus”.

The central sulcus is deeper either on the right or the left-hand side – and this is what determines whether someone is right or left handed.

A study by Dr. Shuyu Li shows that pianists have a more symmetrical central sulcus, which, given that they were born right or left handed, suggests that this has developed over their growth as a pianist.

The Benefits of Taking Piano Lessons

Sources:

Alesis Recital 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano Review

Best Headphones for Digital Piano (2021): Our Top 15 Picks

Best Way to Learn Piano: How to Teach Yourself Piano (Ultimate Guide)

By

Lots of people want to teach themselves piano.

To be fair, why wouldn’t they? The piano is one of the easiest and most satisfying instruments to learn.

But what many people don't know is the best way to learn piano. They have questions like:

This article is a comprehensive beginner's guide on how to teach yourself piano - we answer all of the questions and (as they say in infomercials) much, much more!

Let’s get into it!

Table of Contents
Can I Teach Myself Piano?
Can You Learn Piano on a Keyboard?
Difference Between Piano and Keyboard
How Long Does It Take to Learn Piano?
Why Learn Piano?
Best Keyboards To Learn Piano
Piano Music Theory
Best Piano Music Theory Books
How To Learn Sheet Music
How To Learn Piano By Yourself
Teaching Yourself Piano at Home
Learning Piano Online
Cheapest Way To Learn Piano
Learning Piano Without a Piano 
Learning Piano With Numbers
How To Learn To Play Piano with Both Hands
Learn To Improvise Piano
How To Learn Piano Fast
Learning To Play By Ear
Learning Gospel Music By Ear
Learning Piano For Kids
What Age is Best To Learn Piano?
How To Learn Piano as an Adult
Best Online Piano Lessons For Adults
How To Learn Jazz Piano
Learn Classical Piano
Learn Blues Piano
Learn Gospel Piano
Learn To Play Hymns on Piano
Best Songs To Learn on Piano
First Song To Learn on Piano
Easiest Song To Learn on Piano
Easy Pop Songs To Learn on Piano
Fun Songs To Learn
Cool Piano Songs To Learn
Beautiful Songs To Learn
Best Books To Learn Piano
Best Learn To Play DVD’s
Learn Piano Near Me
Conclusion

Can I Teach Myself Piano?

The answer to this question is yes, you can. A widely diverse instrument, the piano can be learned in many ways. It’s a myth that you need to take lessons to get good. You might wonder, are lessons a good option? For the most part, yes. However, they aren’t for everyone. Some people excel with lessons, while others see very little improvement. Also, lessons are quite expensive, which can be a setback. Many people end up choosing self-teaching methods over lessons.

Can You Learn Piano on a Keyboard?

This is another popular question. The answer is also yes! 

Many great pianists in the world today started on a keyboard. Now, I’m not talking about older pianists since keyboards are relatively new in the grand scheme. I’m talking about modern-aged pianists we see on YouTube and social media.

Keyboards also have numerous benefits over pianos, including being smaller, more portable, and easier to set up. 

Difference Between Piano and Keyboard

The biggest difference between a piano and keyboard is the keys.

A majority of keyboards have non-weighted keys, which are much lighter. Many beginners fear they won’t be able to play the piano after practicing on a keyboard. Though these thoughts are understandable, they aren't actually very close to reality. If you learn on a keyboard, you might need some time to adjust when you switch to a real piano. But, believe it or not, this adjustment might not even take a whole day.

It’s essential to understand this: Not all keyboards have non-weighted keys. Lots of them have fully-weighted keys, just like a real piano. With a fully-weighted keyboard, you might not even have to adjust at all.

Nowadays, many keyboards have something called graded action. This action takes key realism to a whole new level. It mimics the natural feel of acoustic pianos, which have heavier keys on the lower end. So, if you learn the piano on a fully-weighted, graded keyboard, you’ll be in excellent shape. However, you’ll also be in good shape with a non-weighted keyboard. It will just take a little extra time to adjust to heavier keys, which is fine.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Piano?

Everyone learns at a different rate, but there’s a general consensus on how long it takes to learn the piano.

For most people, it takes at least 6 months to get to an intermediate level. But, some might get there quickly and others slowly.

 It depends on how much effort you put into mastering the craft. If you practice several times a week mindfully, you’ll reach your goals quickly. 

However, your journey will be a bit rockier if you're inactive for months at a time. The rarest approach is to practice every single day. Though this method can dramatically improve a player’s skill, it can also be too much and burn someone out.

Why Learn Piano?

Out of the many benefits of learning the piano, stress relief is a significant one. It’s one thing to listen to music, but it’s another to play it. Millions of people all over the world find relief in sitting down and playing their troubles away. As silly as it sounds, studies have shown that playing the piano improves mental health.

Another reason to learn the piano is because it’s one of the easiest instruments to learn. No other instrument has such a wide range of keys you can play at any time. Let’s take a look at the trumpet, for example. To make a single sound, a player has to combine several correct lip and breath techniques. That’s quite a lot of effort to play one note. My point is, a piano player only has to drop their finger on a key to produce the same note.

One last reason you should learn the piano is that it improves your physical health. It sharpens your motor skills, improves hand-eye coordination, and leads to finger independence. Also, studies have shown that music can increase immune response and lower blood pressure. If you’ve been around any experienced pianists, you may have noticed that they have strong hands and forearms. This extra strength is another neat benefit.

Best Keyboards To Learn Piano

Since there are endless keyboards on the market, it’s hard to decide which one is best for you. If you’re buying a keyboard for a kid, there are lots of excellent options.

Here are a few beginner keyboards for kids:

Here are some beginner keyboards suited more towards adults:

The majority of the keyboards I listed are very affordable and high quality. The main difference between kid and adult beginner keyboards is size. 

Kids' keyboards don’t always need to have the full 88-keys. In fact, many of them have 61 or fewer keys. On the other side of the spectrum, adult beginner keyboards are larger, with up to 88 keys. Smaller and easy-to-use keyboards are usually the best choice for kids.

A final important point: to get the most out of your keyboard, make sure to clean it regularly!

Piano Music Theory

Now, we’ll take a deep dive into a realm called music theory. This term is frightening to many people's ears, as they view music theory as almost rocket science. However, it’s not as scary as it seems. And, if one takes small steps to learn the basics, they can learn a lot in no time. Before diving into intense music theory, let’s focus on this question: What are piano notes?

Though the piano has a bunch of notes, there are actually only 12 different ones. To learn the piano, you just need to know C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. If you count, that’s only 7 notes. Where are the other 5, though? The rest of the notes are black keys, and they fall under one of those 7 note names. For example, let’s say we’re playing C and D. In between them, there’s a black key. We can either call this note C# or Db. Though C# and Db are spelled differently, they’re still the same thing, basically.

source

Learning the 12 piano notes can take some time. But, you can speed up the process by doing some things. One of those things is scales. To get a good start, you might consider learning 1 to 2 scales a week. As you’re playing them, make sure you know the notes you’re playing. After a week or two, your mind will start automatically associating the note names. The ultimate goal of a beginner should be to learn all 12 major scales. Doing this is a sure proof way to get better. Once you know them, you’ll have a much greater understanding of the piano and music in general.

With a basic understanding of notes, a pianist can move onto intervals. What are intervals? An interval is the distance between any two notes. For example, the interval between F and G is a major 2nd. On the other hand, it's a perfect 4th between F and C. These intervals are essential because they’re a significant aspect of music language. An excellent musician can hear a song and figure out the intervals in their head if they've practiced the craft. Then, they can go to the piano and almost immediately play what they heard. This sounds nice, right? Interestingly, it doesn't take a prodigy to get to this level. It all has to do with learning all the intervals.

In general, intervals are between 1 and 13. It’s not too common to identify ones higher than that. The easiest way to learn them is through the major scale. Let’s take the C major scale. From the bottom to top, the intervals are as follows: major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, natural 6th, and major 7th. These are the only intervals in a major scale, disregarding the music modes. But we’ll get into modes at a different time.

source

Moving along on our music theory journey, we come to chords. Chords can be simple and elegant or large and complex. They're what you hear when 3 or more notes are played at the same time. 3 simultaneous notes are called a triad. Let’s start with major and minor triads, the most common chords in all music. A major triad has the root, 3rd, and 5th. So, A C major triad has C, E, and G. Minor triads are almost the same, except they have a minor third. So, instead of C, E, and G, it is C, E-flat, and G. Many people associate major chords with happiness and minor ones with sadness. It’s interesting that one slightly different note makes such a big difference in mood.

Moving further, one step above major and minor chords are seventh chords. The main types are dominant 7ths and major 7ths. Both of them create an entirely different mood. C major 7th has the notes C, E, G, and B. However, C minor 7th has C, E-flat, G, and B-flat. At first, 7ths can be challenging to grasp for beginners. But, they come easier once a person understands the concept of major and minor.

Best Piano Music Theory Books

Getting a music theory book can be a great way to learn faster. Here is a list of some of the best books:

  • The Everything Essential Music Theory Book
  • Music Theory For Dummies
  • Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory
  • Music Theory Workbook For All Musicians
  • Piano Adventures
  • The Jazz Theory Book
  • How To Read Music in 30 Days

How To Learn Sheet Music

If you want to learn sheet music, there are many excellent techniques to try out. The first one involves practicing easy music consistently. For 2 to 3 times a week, you should go through easy sheet music at a slow tempo for around a half-hour. Gradually, you'll move on to harder and harder music.

Another technique is to look slightly ahead in the music as you play. Piano teachers recommend looking at least a measure ahead in the sheet music. This technique is difficult, and you may not master it for a long time. However, it’s a critical element in developing excellent sheet music skills.

How To Learn Piano By Yourself

So, how can you avoid lessons and learn on your own? Maybe you don’t have the budget or the patience to go through pre-planned material with a teacher. If that’s the case, don’t worry because there are endless ways to teach yourself.

Teaching Yourself Piano at Home

Learning from home can be an extremely effective endeavor. However, it won't be effective without a plan. Before you start, you should assess your goals and determine what you want to achieve. Maybe you want to learn your favorite songs, or maybe you want to impress other people. Both reasons are valid. It’s a fact that not everyone wants or needs to become a prodigious classical pianist. Getting to that point takes years of nonstop practice and dedication.

Let’s say you want to learn your favorite pop song. At home, one of the biggest resources for beginner pianists is YouTube. Among the endless piano tutorials, there’s bound to be your ideal learning style. It’s always best if a pianist includes some technique practice along with songs. It’s the songs that keep us motivated, and it’s the technique that makes us better. Merely searching for exercise videos can reap glorious benefits in the end.

Learning Piano Online

In addition to YouTube, there are many other online resources you can take advantage of. Some of them include Simply Piano, Flowkey, and PianoForAll. These programs have slight differences, but they all work towards creating a well-rounded pianist. It’s best to do some research on different programs before settling on one. I have several reviews of the top programs on my website that you can check out here: Best Online Piano Lessons.

Cheapest Way To Learn Piano

Without a doubt, the most affordable piano learning option is to teach yourself. It’s up to you whether you decide to use online programs. However, real piano lessons will always be the most expensive option. If you have the budget, they can indeed be a good choice. But if you don’t, you might benefit from self-teaching and online programs.

Learning Piano Without a Piano 

Is it possible to learn the piano without owning one? you might wonder. The answer is yes and no. Without a piano, you can still learn music terms and note names. But, there is no way to legitimately improve your skills without owning one. Think of it like this: a surgeon can learn everything there is to know about human anatomy through a textbook. However, he or she won’t become skilled without performing actual surgeries. It’s the same concept with the piano, just a little less intense.

Learning Piano With Numbers

If you’re into math, you might enjoy learning the piano with numbers. The method centers around intervals. Instead of using the traditional interval method, you can assign each note a number. For example, C could be 1, C# could be 2, D could be 3, etc... This is a standard method that music theorists use to describe music patterns and intervals. In general, it’s a bit harder than learning the normal intervals. But, everyone is different, and who knows, you might enjoy it.

How To Learn To Play Piano with Both Hands

Learning to play with both hands is an admirable trait. When a pianist first starts playing, their hands don’t naturally work together. Developing this independence can be achieved by practicing very slowly. A rule of thumb is if you can’t play it, slow it down even more. At times, it might even be helpful to play each hand separately. It will be hard to play both hands simultaneously if you can’t do each one individually.

Learn To Improvise Piano

source

Improvisation is a beautiful way to free up your mind from all the constraints. But, how do you do it? And, how do you know if you can do it? It’s common for people to think they can’t improvise. However, everyone improvises every day. When you talk to someone at work or school, you don't pre-plan every word you say. Improv is the same thing, but with notes as the words. Yes, some people are naturally better at improv than others. But you’ll never know until you try it.

A great improv exercise is to play a simple chord progression. Don’t try to do anything fancy at first. Solidifying the chord changes is essential. Once you’re comfortable, you can start experimenting with improvised melodies. You might wonder, but what notes do I play? One of the easiest ways to begin improvising is by playing notes in the scale. Most simple chord progressions only use one scale. If you learn this scale, you can start experimenting with it over the chords. Improvising is one of the most freeing things a musician can do. So, if you haven’t tried it, you should give it a whirl.

How To Learn Piano Fast

To learn the piano fast, you need a plan. Nobody is stopping you but yourself. If you assess your goals and have determination, the sky is the limit. But, in terms of learning material, what’s best? Surprisingly, one of the fastest ways to learn is by teaching yourself. With a mix of online piano programs, YouTube videos, and free exercise books, you can quickly become a good pianist.

Learning To Play By Ear

Learning to play by ear is a bit more abstract than learning with sheet music. While some people have perfect pitch, most of us do not. So, it takes some time to develop a good ear. Something you can do to work on your ear is listening to a song each day and finding the notes on the piano. If you do this consistently, you’ll be surprised at how fast you can learn songs.

Learning Gospel Music By Ear

Learning gospel music by is ear is much like learning other genres by ear. Except, the chords are distinctively more complicated than average. It takes a well-trained ear to be able to hear gospel chords and play them back. If you want to get better at it, you should become familiar with 7th chords and chord extensions. When you listen to these large chords often, your ear will know what they are when you hear them.

Learning Piano For Kids

Kids have lots of potential when it comes to the piano. But, unfortunately, many of them stop playing or become uninterested at a young age. It’s difficult to know how to encourage kids in the right way. Usually, they don’t enjoy strict piano lessons at a young age. Many times, it’s helpful to buy them a piano with plenty of entertaining sounds. That way, they don't get bored with it.

What Age is Best To Learn Piano?

There isn’t an exact age that’s best to learn the piano. Great pianists can start at an early age or be late bloomers. Passion is a more significant factor than age. Anyone who’s passionate about music or the piano should learn it, regardless of their age.

How To Learn Piano as an Adult

Sometimes, adults become discouraged because they think it’s too late to learn the piano. But, they couldn’t be farther from the truth. Any adult who wants to learn the piano can do it just as easily as anyone else.

Adults should have a full-sized keyboard with weighted keys or an acoustic piano. It also never hurts to take piano lessons. Overall, the most crucial step is to make a minimal schedule. Lots of times, playing the piano is a stress-relieving after-work activity. Just like anyone else, adults should focus on learning their favorite songs and doing piano exercises.

Best Online Piano Lessons For Adults

Adults seem to do best with the programs Playground Sessions, Flowkey, and Skoove. These programs are designed to help mature minds learn the piano.

How To Learn Jazz Piano

Jazz piano, like classical, takes a while to master. The learning process is much different than classical, however. In Jazz, there’s a much bigger focus on understanding chords, music theory, and improvisation. The best way to learn jazz piano is by practicing “standards.” Jazz Standards are classic songs that Jazz musicians have played for decades. Many of them have intricate harmonies and melodies. To teach yourself Jazz, you have to listen to it often. If you’ve always been a fan of it, your ear might be well trained. All you have to do is figure out how to play what you’re hearing.

You can take Jazz lessons online through several programs. If you want an actual teacher, you might enjoy TakeLessons. This website has thousands of certified teachers with countless subjects.

PDF’s are excellent online resources to help you learn Jazz. Here are some free ones:

Learn Classical Piano

Classical piano is on the opposite spectrum from Jazz. This genre focuses heavily on technique and sheet music. In other words, classical is planned, and Jazz is largely unplanned. If you want to learn Classical piano, you might want to consider getting a teacher. Though it’s not always necessary, they can help significantly with technique. If you don’t want a teacher, there are plenty of online classical piano lessons you can take.

Some of the best pieces Classical piano has to offer are anything by Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, and Chopin. These famous pianists created thousands of beautiful pieces that we still cherish today.

Learn Blues Piano

Believe it or not, Blues came before Jazz. The genre formed in the 1860’s through African work songs and field hollers. Since then, Blues has continued to be one of the most popular genres in the world.

Now, I’ll discuss learning the Blues. On the piano, the most significant aspect of this genre is the blues scale. Like the major scale, the blues scale can be played 12 different ways, starting on any key. This scale is closer to minor than major. Here are the intervals: 1, b3, 4, #4, 5, b7. If we’re playing the C blues scale, that’s C, Eb, F, F#, G, and Bb.

Most blues songs are based on a single blues scale. In terms of improvisation, this scale almost always works over the entire song, no matter the chords. This concept is what separates Blues and Jazz. In Jazz, the players focus more on playing different scales for each chord. But, in Blues, players tend to stick to this magical blues scale.

If you want to learn Blues piano, you should play along to 12-bar blues backing tracks. A majority of blues music is in 12-bar form, so this method isn’t merely an exercise. This form has a total of 3 chords. The two easiest blues keys to get started are C and F. No matter which one you choose, the first thing to do is learn the blues scale in that key. Once you know it, you can start improvising with it with the backing track.

Another option to learn the blues is to take online blues lessons. You can find them on various helpful websites, ranging from programs to live lessons.

Learn Gospel Piano

If you want to learn gospel piano, you can also use some excellent online resources. Some are in the form of lessons, PDF’s, and programs. In general, Gospel is closer to Blues than Jazz. It incorporates lots of blues runs and licks while staying away from complex jazz progressions. Also, A large portion of Gospel piano is playing with a band. There are many techniques one can learn to fit into a band setting more.

Learn To Play Hymns on Piano

The hymn-learning process is fairly straightforward. It all starts with a pianist's ability to read sheet music. Learning to read sheet music more of a marathon than a sprint. Without a doubt, the best readers developed their skills through consistent practice. How much practice do you need? you might ask. To become proficient enough to read hymns effortlessly, a pianist might have to practice at least 3 times a week for several months.

Best Songs To Learn on Piano

First Song To Learn on Piano

The first song you learn is truly your decision. In general, you should pick something doable. Lots of beginner pianists try to learn advanced songs right off the bat, which isn’t ideal. The reason is that doing so can cause a loss of motivation. If a starting pianist tries and fails too many times, they might lose their drive. This is why it’s usually best to start out at a reasonable difficulty. Fortunately, there are many versions of the same songs online, ranging from easy, medium, and hard.

Easiest Song To Learn on Piano

One of the easiest songs to learn on the piano is “Hot Cross Buns.” This tune has been around for centuries and has served as the first song for many musicians. Another easy song is Alouette, a French-Canadian song that many piano teachers recommend to students.

Easy Pop Songs To Learn on Piano

In reality, there is an easy version of nearly every pop song in the industry. But, some of the most popular piano songs are "A Thousand Miles," "Clocks," and "Piano Man." A few pop artists with pleasant piano songs are Coldplay, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars. Songs by these artists have the most different piano versions, which is good. Due to the wide variety, you’ll be able to find the version you like the most.

Fun Songs To Learn

Here’s a list of some of the most fun songs to learn:

  • All of me
  • Someone Like You
  • Let It Be
  • Fur Elise
  • Moonlight Sonata
  • Say Something
  • When I Was Your Man
  • Sweet Caroline
  • Shape of You

Cool Piano Songs To Learn

Many pianists agree that songs by Einaudi Ludovico are some of the coolest to play. Even if you haven’t heard of that name, you’ve almost definitely heard his piano music. Lots of it has been featured in national T.V. commercials. So, if you want to learn something cool, you might check him out.

Beautiful Songs To Learn

The world is full of beautiful piano songs. In fact, calm and beautiful piano music is one of the most popular piano genres today. You can find lots of pretty piano music under the Classical and Modern Classical genres. Here’s a list of calming and pretty piano songs:

  • Forrest Gump Theme
  • Fur Elise
  • Claire de Lune
  • Moonlight Sonata
  • Time - Hans Zimmer

Best Books To Learn Piano

  • Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist
  • Piano Adventures
  • John Thompson’s Modern Course For The Piano
  • Teaching Little Fingers To Play
  • Accelerated Piano Adventures
  • Faber Music Piano Adventures
  • Bastien Piano For Adults

Best Learn To Play DVD’s

If you’re a visual learner, you might enjoy piano learning DVD’s. There are full courses, style courses, and other specific piano guides available. Here are some popular piano learning DVD’s:

  • Hal Leonard Play Piano Today
  • Warner Bros Ultimate Beginner Series
  • Hal Leonard FastTrack Keyboard 1
  • Hal Leonard Salsa Piano
  • Berklee Press Accelerate Your Keyboard Playing

Learn Piano Near Me

Lots of times, the best way to learn the piano is with a teacher. While online resources are excellent, in-person teachers can be just as good. However, piano lessons are the most expensive way to learn. The average cost for an hour of lessons is $60. So, let’s say you take 40 piano lessons in one year. The total cost for that year would be $2,400. Undoubtedly, piano lessons are for those with some extra money to spend.

Finding the right teacher is essential for your piano journey. Right off the bat, there are several ways to tell if a teacher is good or not. The first indicator is whether they create a specialized plan. Unfortunately, some teachers put students on the same plan, regardless of the individual skill level. Ideally, a teacher should make a specific plan for each person. Another factor to consider is the cost. Some piano teachers charge as low as $40 an hour, while others as much as $100. Realistically, if you choose the most affordable instructor, you might not get much in return. In the end, the goal is to find a teacher you connect with who charges a reasonable price.

Where can one find piano lessons? you might ask. Piano lessons can either be private or in an institution. Some instructors have home studios where they teach lessons. So, you might try going to a local music store and seeing if they offer lessons. If not, you can always contact private teachers online and go from there.

Conclusion

Learning the piano is one of the most rewarding processes a musician can undergo. It’s much like life in the sense that there are countless paths a person can take to learn and move forward. Those who learn the instrument tend to reap many health benefits. Some of these benefits include stress relief, hand-eye coordination, finger strength, and improved memory.

The first thing a beginner pianist should do is assess their goals.

Depending on what you want to achieve, your path will be different. For example, a Classical pianist will focus heavily on sheet music and technique. On the other hand, a Jazz pianist will put more emphasis on harmonic knowledge and improvisation. If you want to be a blues pianist, you'll be spending lots of time with 7th chords and the blues scale.

Regardless of genre, the internet is full of amazing resources all pianists can use to get better. Programs like FlowKey, Simply Piano, Playground Sessions, and Piano For All are excellent choices. You should also take advantage of free YouTube tutorials and lessons. In truth, a person can become an exceptional pianist without ever having to take traditional piano lessons. Advancements in the internet and technology have made it much simpler to learn music. If you want to learn the piano, there’s never been a better time than now.

Yamaha DGX 650B Review (2021): Our Overview of Pros, Cons and Features

Self-Taught Pianist vs Lessons: Pros & Cons, Examples and More

By

Self-Taught Pianist vs Lessons

You can learn the piano in two ways: taking lessons or teaching yourself.

Both routes yield significantly different results.

It’s hard to find valuable information on this topic because some people push you to buy a product or service.

The truth is, both ways can work.

But, which one is better?

This article will go through the pros and cons of self-taught lessons versus teacher lessons.

Quick Navigation
Differences Between Self-Taught and Teacher-Taught Pianist
Short-Term Differences
Long-Term Differences
Pros and Cons of Teacher Lessons
PROS
CONS
Pros and Cons of Teaching Yourself
PROS
CONS
Can One Become an Accomplished Self-Taught Pianist?
Famous Self-Taught Pianists
Thelonious Monk
Alfred Brendel
Joey Alexander
Tips For Learning the Piano on Your Own

Differences Between Self-Taught and Teacher-Taught Pianist

Benefits of Learning Piano

Both learning paths are reasonable, but each one makes you a different pianist. Diving into the differences, we have to look at the long-term and short-term results.

Short-Term Differences

The biggest difference you’ll face is the learning material. If you take piano lessons, the teacher will create a learning plan for you. It’s best to look for a teacher that'll create a personalized plan. Some of them might put you on the same plan as everyone else, which is bad. On the other hand, you might not create as detailed of a plan if you teach yourself. You may do a good job setting goals, but what will your plan be to reach those goals? Without professional advice, it’s more challenging to figure out the specifics.


However, it’s very possible to do if you’re motivated.


A teacher will have you learn scales and do exercises. It can be a bit easier to stay on track with nitty-gritty things with a teacher. However, everyone is different, and piano lessons might not be your cup of tea. The cold truth is, lots of people quit playing the piano after taking piano lessons. The idea of having to learn the piano can burn people out. To truly figure out which route is best, it’s vital to first understand your learning style.


If you teach yourself, you'll have complete control over everything you practice. With this freedom, you’ll likely learn your favorite songs, which is great. The reason you want to learn the piano in the first place is probably for that reason.


You don’t have to worry about learning songs you won't enjoy if you're by yourself. However, freedom always comes with a cost. In this case, the cost is not knowing the exact steps to get better. There are endless online learning videos, tutorials, and sheet music. They don’t exactly make your life easier, though.


Have you ever stood at a vending machine, not knowing which snack to get? If so, you know that more choices don't make it easier to choose. This concept applies to learning the piano by yourself. If you choose your snacks, or learning paths, wisely, you can have an excellent experience. People have even become world-class pianists without ever taking lessons. But, I'll discuss them later in the article.

Long-Term Differences

Let’s look at the possible good and bad long-term differences. Taking piano lessons can lead to a massive improvement in time. A teacher will make sure your learning progression doesn’t have any holes or gaps. You can become an all-around pianist with excellent finger dexterity, musical knowledge, and technique. The possible unpleasant side of piano lessons is a decline in your interest and motivation. If you don’t enjoy the lessons, they can quickly suck away your enjoyment of playing the instrument.


Many good things can come from self-taught lessons in the long run. By always learning songs you enjoy, you’ll probably stay interested. You also won’t have to pay for lessons, which can be pretty expensive. On average, piano lessons cost $60 an hour and $30 per half hour. If you take 40 lessons a year at a $30 rate, that’s $1,200. You could buy another piano for that price. But what’s good about buying another one if you can’t play it? That leads me to the possible bad side of self-taught lessons in the long term.


One of the biggest pluses of teacher lessons is technique practice. If you’re on your own, you have to make it a priority to work on technique. Otherwise, you’ll never reach a high or even intermediate level. Even if you develop finger mobility, a poor technique will lead to arthritis. Many self-taught pianists don’t realize how important proper technique is.

Pros and Cons of Teacher Lessons

Piano lessons

PROS

  • Structured learning
  • Focus on technique
  • Weekly sheet music
  • Resources and a plan are given to you

CONS

  • Very expensive
  • Not always effective
  • Not always songs you enjoy
  • Might be too slow or fast-paced

Pros and Cons of Teaching Yourself

PROS

  • Freedom to learn what you want
  • Access to endless online resources
  • Free
  • Easy to stay interested

CONS

  • No guarantee you’ll learn the important things
  • Easier to get distracted
  • Long-term poor technique leads to no improvement and or injury
  • Hard to choose which online resources to use

Can One Become an Accomplished Self-Taught Pianist?

It’s completely possible to become a well-rounded and accomplished pianist on your own. If you choose the right things to learn, the sky is the limit. Technically, there’s nothing you can’t learn on your own that you can learn with lessons. Learning on your own might even increase your motivation.


Along with practicing the basics, you can learn your favorite songs. Try to find a good balance between working on exercises, technique, and songs. If you focus too much on one of them, you’ll either lose motivation or never improve.


If you’re a visual learner, there’s never been a better time to learn the piano.

YouTube is filled with piano tutorials and other helpful videos. If you’ve watched some already, you’ve probably seen the type where animated notes fall to the keys, showing exactly which ones to play. These videos can be beneficial for visual learners. Even if you learn songs like this, it’s still important to learn sheet music. There will come a time when learning songs from videos becomes tedious. In the long run, being able to read sheet music will give you way more potential.

Famous Self-Taught Pianists

Thelonious Monk

One of the most famous self-taught pianists was Thelonious Monk. He started playing the piano at a young age and was largely self-taught. Besides his music, he was most known for his unusual playing style. Many people described it as percussive and harsh. Though his style was unconventional, he always seemed to play the right notes. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. Musicians agree that his musical influences forever changed jazz music.

Alfred Brendel

Alfred Brendel is one of the most renowned classical pianists of our time. Some people don’t know that he was mostly self-taught. He briefly took piano lessons but quit at the age of 16. After that, his piano playing endeavors started to flourish. He later claimed that he did much better without lessons, saying "A teacher can be too influential.” Brendel has received countless major musical awards throughout his career.

Joey Alexander

Another famous self-taught pianist is Joey Alexander. He’s the youngest on this list, but his story is worth mentioning. At 17 years old, he’s been nominated for 3 Grammys and has countless jazz awards under his belt.

Tips For Learning the Piano on Your Own

Learning the instrument can seem impossible if you don’t know where to start. It’s always best to start with the basics. What are the basics? Some of them include fingering, scales, and technique.


As I mentioned earlier, you can find lots of helpful online videos. However, you don’t need to focus completely on the basics. You’ll get the most enjoyment if you learn your favorite songs as well. When you develop some skills, it’s great to be content with them but not too content.


Though there are countless good online resources, it’s best to be a bit cautious. Only invest money in ones that go through the important aspects of playing.

The programs claiming you can be a piano master in one day are misleading. They cater to instant gratification but don’t follow through with their promises. Learning to play the piano takes consistent practice, no matter the person.


If you want to learn the fastest, create a plan for yourself, including learning songs, scales, exercises, sheet music, and chords. You’ll see the most musical growth by practicing at least 4 days per week. Those practice sessions don’t even need to be that long, either. If you know what you’re going to work on beforehand, you won’t need to practice for more than an hour. Creating a light, consistent, and healthy schedule will have you playing great in no time.

Casio Privia PX-350 Review (2021)

How to Fly with a Portable Keyboard

Parts of a Piano: Simple Guide for Beginners

By

How many parts does a piano have? And, how do they work together?

These are common questions for piano owners (both new and seasoned).

Pianos are highly complex instruments with hundreds of different parts. In this article, I’ll explain these mechanisms in a simple way.

Quick Navigation
Parts of a Piano
Keyboard
Pedals
Lid and Housing
Strings, Hammers, and Keys
Soundboard
How Many Total Parts in a Piano?
Conclusion

Parts of a Piano

source

Here’s a list of the main parts of a piano:

  • Keyboard
  • Pedals
  • Lid and Housing
  • Strings, hammers, and keys
  • Soundboard

Keyboard

The keyboard is the main focus of all pianos.


Most pianos have 88 keys. They also have something called a graded action.


This concept means the lower keys are slightly heavier to push down than the higher ones. Why is this? The reason is based on the simple physics of string weight. Higher notes have thinner strings and don’t require much striking force from the hammers. The lower strings, however, require more force to create sound. To have a balanced sound, piano manufacturers make the low hammers slightly heavier, producing more inertia to the strings.


The keys on your piano are either made with plastic or ivory. However, ivory pianos were banned all over the world in 1990. Since so many were produced, you might have even one in your house. The easiest way to tell is by looking for a yellowing of the keys. Plastic keys stay white for a long time, while ivory keys turn yellow.

Pedals

Pianos have 2 to 3 pedals, depending on the model. From right to left, they are the sustain, sostenuto, and soft pedals. They’re made of metal and give the piano a more expressive range.


Some pianos have hard-to-push pedals, while others are lighter. This variable depends on the weight of the dampers. Normally, the dampers rest on the strings to create a pure, unsustained sound. When you push on the sustain pedal, those dampers are lifted off the strings, allowing each string to resonate freely.


On the far left is the soft pedal. This pedal is basically a way to lower the piano’s volume. It also creates a slightly different sound, commonly described as warmer. So, how does it work? The soft pedal works by shifting the hammers to hit only 2 strings instead of 3.


The middle pedal is the least popular among pianists. It acts like a sustain pedal for the bass notes, leaving the mid and high notes dry. You might use this pedal when playing a melody over a grounded bass note.

Lid and Housing

source

No matter the type of acoustic piano, it always has a lid. You can raise the lid on grand pianos for a louder and more resonant sound. Doing this also exposes the strings and inner components, which is a nice aesthetic. Upright piano lids, however, don’t do as much in terms of sound. The best way to increase the resonance of an upright is to pull it away from the wall.

Strings, Hammers, and Keys

Cost to Restring a Piano

Most pianos have 3 strings for each key. On the other hand, some only have 2. These strings are wound around the tuning pins and adjustable by you or a piano tuner. As the keys get higher, the strings also become thinner. There’s a drop off in the number of strings in the bass keys.


If you look at the strings, you’ll notice that the lower keys only have a single string. These bass strings are extra large and also wound. All of the combined strings have a total pulling tension of 18 tons inside the piano. That’s the weight of 12 Toyota Carolla's pulling on the frame. Now you understand why pianos need to be so robust.


Each hammer has 8 different parts. All of these parts work together for the felt to strike the strings. It’s interesting to see the complicated process of a single key. You may not understand the complexity of a piano until you see the process. Naming all of the parts would be redundant because of the sheer quantity. To put it into perspective, the process of a single key striking the string involves over 60 individual parts. If a key stops working, it can be difficult to diagnose the problem. However, piano technicians do a great job of figuring out the problem.

Soundboard

source

The soundboard is what resonates the sound of the strings. Without it, the volume of a piano would be comparable to an acoustic guitar. Soundboards are made of wood and for a good reason.


Wood resonates the frequencies that are pleasant to the human ear. If manufacturers used metal, for example, a piano would sound clingy and harsh. Metal amplifies the extreme high frequencies the same as it does with the lower frequencies. Some common soundboard wood types are maple, spruce, oak, and ebony.

How Many Total Parts in a Piano?

Pianos can have over 12,000 individual parts, which is mindboggling to think about. They also range from 300 to 1,000 lbs. If you’ve ever wondered how to move these beasts, it’s actually fairly simple. You can place them on a small dolly and wheel them wherever you want. Unless you’re Brian Shaw, the world’s strongest man, it will be easier to move one with the help of others.


Concert grand pianos can have an impressive 30,000 keys. They’re also extremely expensive, costing anywhere between $100,000 to $1,000,000. The vast amount of parts in pianos make it essential to regularly maintain them. How can you maintain a piano? The best way to do this is by hiring a piano tuner once or twice a year. On top of tuning your piano, they can make sure the piano is running smoothly.

Conclusion

Given that pianos have countless parts, it’s understandable that they cost quite a bit. The instrument is an impressive feat of human engineering, and we can enjoy it in the comfort of our own homes. If you need a more affordable option than an acoustic piano, you might benefit from buying a digital piano.

Casio PX870 Review (2021): Casio’s Premiere Console Piano

Casio PX-750 Review (2021)

>