Getting the Edge over the Others with Piano Training
If you have decided to learn piano, you have a number of different learning methods available to you: Self-learning with books, video lessons, correspondence courses, and group lessons all offer their advantages. Chief among them are their relative affordability and accessibility.
If, however, you want to master piano most effectively, you should strongly consider the option of one-on-one training. It may be a bit pricier, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. In this article, we discuss the reasons you should consider one-on-one lessons.
Personalization
Many students in group classes or taking video lessons may feel frustrated that they are not learning the types of music they really want to play, or they may not like the instructor’s teaching method or style. This can lead to a slowdown or stoppage in learning.
With a one-on-one education, your instructor can tailor-fit the training to your preferred genres of music, your preferred playing style, and even what songs you would like to learn to play. Perhaps more importantly, your instructor can and will take time to get to know YOU – your tastes, your temperament, your ability to be taught new things, your idiosyncrasies. The instructor and student frequently become “simpatico,” making the learning process much more rewarding.
Immediate and Accurate Feedback
One area in which one-on-one training outpaces the other learning methods is in immediate feedback and correction. Although this can also be achieved in group class settings, it may be difficult for an instructor to give you the full attention you deserve. If you are self-teaching, there is a strong chance that you will learn playing habits which may eventually inhibit your playing. No one will be there to correct you in that situation. Many people who start by self-learning have to spend time and energy correcting patterns of behavior (poor posture, incorrect finger placement, etc.) that they could be using to advance their playing.
If you correspond by video online or through the mail, you may get excellent feedback but must wait for the response. You won’t have that delay in a one-on-one setting.
Accountability
This is a big one, and often prevents students from playing their best. If you have a day or two where you just don’t feel like playing, or just feel like “noodling around,” you can easily put off self-teaching, video, or correspondence -,who is going to know, after all? Even if you train in a group setting, it’s not likely that it will be an issue for the instructor or fellow students if you miss a class or two. In fact, your fellow students would probably relish the extra attention.
When you choose to be held accountable to a real person rather than an image on a screen or a piece of sheet music, you are much more likely to apply a little pressure to yourself to be “professional” and do the work. This habit can carry into other parts of your life and is a key to success.
Conclusion
The up-front cost for one-on-one lessons is typically higher than for other methods of learning, but because of the advantages listed here, it proves to be the best value for your money.