Before the Internet, the library was the best resource when researching schoolwork, and tutorial books provided step-by-step instruction for budding instrumentalists. Now, you’re far more likely to switch on your computer and search for piano lessons online. With YouTube rapidly becoming the go-to place for tutorials in just about anything you can think of, these five short videos will form a useful starting point for piano lessons online.
Exercises to Increase Speed
In this video, TakeLessons piano teacher Ryan walks you through five finger speed exercises that help improve your accuracy at the keyboard. Add this lesson into your next practice session to improve your skills!
Piano Lesson for Beginners
As this YouTuber says, this is a fun video taking the absolute beginner through the basics of piano; the beauty of this video is the assumption that the budding player has never even sat at a piano before, and therefore has no prior knowledge, so it’s a very simple introduction to the instrument.
Two Hands Together Practice
One thing that many beginners find very difficult is coordinating right and left hand together, and there are surprisingly few piano lessons online that address this. The simple exercises shown in the video below will give you some help. Your dominant hand – whether you are right- or left-handed – will always be a little in front of the other, and it’s worth incorporating exercises early on that help to even this out.
Finger Exercises For Piano
This video has the benefit of a clearly-written chart behind the keyboard, which is particularly useful if you’re still learning the notes on the piano. These exercises are aimed at finger strength as well as dexterity, which are essential elements in helping you to improve.
Sight Reading at the Piano
Although this piano tutorial is aimed at slightly more advanced players, the principles addressed are extremely useful for beginner players, too. It’s helpful to learn how a more advanced and experienced pianist approaches music, as these are skills that you should develop early on. It’s interesting to note that he doesn’t advise learning the two hands separately, which he equates to learning to speak with only vowels first and adding consonants later. This video really addresses the importance of making your hands work together!
However informative and high-quality these videos might be, keep in mind that they shouldn’t replace working with a piano teacher in an interactive, one-on-one setting. These videos can’t check your posture, or hear any mistakes you make that you might not notice. Nor will they be able to recommend further exercises that might help you, or which piano pieces to work on next! Unlike band instruments or being a choral singer, being a pianist can be a slightly isolating experience, and another function a good teacher can fulfill is to give you someone simply to “talk piano” with. Ready to get started? Find a piano teacher near you here!
Photo by Filipe Ramos
Suzy S.