We are proud owners of my Grandma's piano. It was bought new in the 1970's, and was never played much. We moved it to our home in June (now that my 91 year old Grandma is in assisted living) and I'm itching for someone to play it. We had it cleaned and tuned, and it is ready to go. My kids are 6, 4 and 2, and I am planning to have my 6 yo boy start lessons, but he needs a little more time adjusting to 1st grade before I add anything else to his plate. I think it will be perfect for our Minnesota winter if we both start playing.
My question is - have any of you taken any classes as an adult? I did take a wee bit of piano as a child (from my mom - who is actually an accomplished pianist - but had no time to teach me) and did play the flute all through highschool. I can read music and understand music theory.
Is it something I can teach myself from books (at least enough to enjoy playing and show my son that I practice too)?
Our local community education has a class called something like "instant piano for busy people". I think it is a one night class... can you really learn something in an evening?
And, what do piano lessons (for children or adults) usually cost?
Anyway, pianists out there, give me your thoughts!Thanks!
Jessica
I enrolled in group adult beginning piano classes at the local Jr. College. It was fun, everyone was just beginning too. We all wore head sets and used the electric pianos. It was really easy since everyone was truly just beginning. We didn't have a show at the end, we did play a short selection from the book for the class at the end of the semester if we wanted to.
Hello! I have taught a handful of adults how to play over the years, and YES -- you can definitely learn how to play as an adult. If you can read music and understand basic theory, you could certainly teach yourself somewhat; however, using a teacher is going to be the best way to learn. For private lessons, you can expect to pay around $18-25, depending where you go. I'm not sure about the community ed class. It might not give you much more of a foundation than what you already have (sigh reading, basic theory). If you do want to go the route of teaching yourself, go to Schmitt music and look at their adult lesson books. Flip through and see if it looks like something you think you could tackle on your own. You could always try and then if it's not working, seek out a teacher.
the MacPhail Center for Music in downtown Mpls has a boat-load of adult piano students. (Adult students on every instrument, actually). They are amazing and you are guaranteed to get a top-notch teacher. Of course you are also paying for the high quality you are going to get. Their lessons run around $33/half hour. When you sign up for lessons, you usually pay for an entire semester. They also have adult group classes for a lesser rate and likely less intimidating.
I don't recommend teaching yourself. Technique is one of the most important foundations in how to play. That really can't be self taught, but should be taught by a professional.
Have fun and get your kids in lessons for sure. (Kids can start Suzuki piano at age 3...amazing program catered just for children!)
I took piano as an adult from a friend of mine who was a music teacher and loved it. I paid her $20 for a half-hour lesson.
She passed away recently, and now I'm trying to keep learning on my own from the books until I can find another teacher.
I can't imagine actually learning how to play in one lesson.
Piano lessons in our area are the MOST expensive of all the lessons in the area that we take or have looked into (as homeschoolers we take an awful lot). Ranging from $50-$70 per hour. We often pay that for 3 MONTHS worth of lessons, much less a single HOUR. Even at the cheapest rate... $250 for 1 month of piano, or $250 for 5 months of snowboarding means we go snowboarding. RIDICULOUS how expensive piano is. Thwibbt.
Currently we do a mixture of youTube, friends, and the occasional tutor. We need to get something more regular lined up... but sakes alive it's flippin expensive.
I agree that suzuki lessons are the best. My kids take suzuki guitar, but I'm assuming that it's the same for piano. The reason I suggest it is because the parent has to learn how to play the guitar first; at least somewhat. So, I've learned how to play the guitar too! And, if I wanted to take it further than just the required amount that parents must learn, I certainly could because I'm at all their lessons too. Have fun!
Not sure about the rest, but where we live, piano lessons run anywhere from $15-$30 per half hour lesson.
Hey Jessica,
Congrats on your recent acquisition! My mom has actually taught beginner & intermediate piano lessons (mostly to children, but also to adults) for the last 32 years. She just moved to the Twin Cities last summer and is looking to take on a few more students. If you live in or near West St. Paul, I'd be happy to connect the two of you to see if she would be a good fit for either you or your boy. I can't remember off-hand how much she charges, but I'm sure it's in the vicinity of what the last poster mentioned ($18-25). I think it's a really fun idea to take lessons alongside your child--What a great mother-son project! :) Send me a message if you would like her contact info.
A. :)
I did piano lessons for about a year and a half. The first year was FABULOUS. The next teacher was just not as motivating, and I didn't practice enough, so I stopped.
I can't remember the cost now, and everything costs more here, so can't help on that. I did individual at a school, and it seemed reasonable for a semester. I think teaching yourself is dependent on whether you can be disciplined. I could not. Good luck it is definitely a fun thing to do.
