Learn Piano your way with a TakeLessons expert

It's easy to feel stressed when you pick up a new piece of music. Where do you start? What should you do if you get stuck? And how long will this take? Read on as Winnetkta, CA piano teacher Anthony B. shares his advice...   There are a lot of variables that go into how long it takes someone to learn a piano song. In this blog post, we'll explore some of those variables and give you a general idea of how long you can expect it to take.  Keep in mind that everyone learns at a differe

The following story comes from piano teacher Windy C. in St. Petersburg, Florida. Last fall, Windy began the challenging journey of teaching piano lessons to a student with Alzheimer's.  Below she shares some helpful tips she's learned as a result of working with her student, Jimi. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story, Windy! _________________________________________ When I was first approached about giving piano lessons to a student with Alzheimer's disease, I was hesitant. I was

Thinking about buying a piano or keyboard, but worried about the costs involved? Here, Saint Augustine, FL teacher Heather L. shares her tips for keeping the price - and your stress level - down...   It's no secret that pianos can be expensive. But for the right person, a piano can be a valuable addition to their home. If you're interested in purchasing a piano, it's important to understand the various ways you can finance your purchase and the different types of pianos available. 

Need a gift for the piano player in your life? As if finding original gift ideas isn't tough enough as it is, thinking of gifts for piano players can be even tougher. But rest assured, there are dozens of fun accessories that pianists can use on a daily basis. Here are six great ideas whether you're shopping for Hanukkah, Christmas, or a birthday. Gifts for Piano Players Here are six of the best piano gifts to choose from. Please note that the prices listed are the manufacturer's suggeste

  Learning the proper piano hand position is essential for both beginner and accomplished piano players. Below piano teacher, Ryan C. shares some tips and exercises on how to perfect your piano hand placement... If you were to sit down at a piano right now and throw your hands on the keys, how would they land? Would your fingers be curved or flat? How would your wrist look relative to your arm? Would you feel any tension in your shoulder or would you feel relaxed? Considerations li

Westend61 / Westend61 / Getty Images While it’s easy to name Beethoven and Mozart as a couple of the most incredible famous pianists, there are so many more out there! In fact, there are easily dozens of famous piano players keeping beautiful music alive today and interpreting it in new and exciting ways. Listening to various piano artists is a great way to stay inspired as a musician or even someone who simply loves to listen to music. We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 famous pi

One of the keys to successful piano playing is proper hand placement. Below, piano teacher Ryan C. shares three fun exercises beginners can do to improve their piano hand position... When trying to teach beginner students the proper piano hand position, I’ve often found that telling them to “move this finger in such and such a way” is a fairly challenging task. This is especially true if they haven’t developed finger independence through other means. It very quickly becomes n

When it comes to learning to play the piano, you likely started out by focusing on classical piano songs, from the likes of Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin. But the truth is, there are so many other genres you can experiment with when you know how to play the piano.  And if you ask us, jazz blues piano songs are some of the best kinds of tunes to play. This style of music originated in the Deep South in the 1860s and it continues to delight musicians of all levels and backgrounds today. 

So you’ve decided to start learning piano and cannot wait for your first lesson. You start searching for a piano online - and realize there are SO MANY OPTIONS! Do you go for an electronic keyboard? An upright piano? One of those portable roll-up keyboards? This article will be discussing the benefits of choosing an upright piano over the digital options, including a few recommendations for piano brands to choose from and what to look for when testing out your piano.  The Benefits of an Acou

People of many different ages find themselves asking the question: am I too old to learn piano? No matter your age, playing the piano is a wonderful skill to have for a variety of reasons. Studies have shown that playing music reduces stress and improves the memory. Playing an instrument in a group also leads to lifelong friendships, while refining communication and social skills. If you’re wondering whether or not your age will stand in between you and all the benefits of playing