Learn Piano your way with a TakeLessons expert

Some of the best piano bar songs are requested at dueling piano bars. Haven’t heard of dueling piano songs yet? Keep reading! The “dueling pianos” style of entertainment (which traces back as far as the 1890s) has experienced a recent resurgence in popularity in many big cities. These establishments are typically characterized by having two grand (or baby grand) pianos placed opposite each other with two talented musicians performing and accepting audience requests for favorite songs. Be

Commitment and motivation play key roles when it comes to learning anything new, especially as an adult; learning to play piano is no different! Whether you’re a beginner, or possibly returning to the keys, finding ways to stay motivated and engaged week after week is crucial to your success. Before you get started, it’s important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to staying motivated. As an adult learning a new skill, you’re probably beginning with a spec

“Why won’t this hand work?” is something every piano teacher has heard students  say in exasperation. The left hand is often a source of deep frustration for pianists for two main reasons:  1.) Roughly 90% of the world is right-handed. Are you one of them? 2.) Piano music tends to be right hand oriented. Unless you are naturally a “southpaw,” you will, as a matter of fact, struggle more  with your left hand. However, there is hope!  First, it bears exploring some caveats t

Thinking of using your skills to teach piano to others? There are so many online tools to help you along the way! Here are some of the best piano teacher resources, as recommended by New Paltz, NY teacher Cheryl E...   Whether you’re in your first year teaching piano students or your 50th year, here are seven great tools and resources that every piano teacher needs to keep new students rolling in and sticking around for the long haul! 1. This worksheet bundle. Have your students

Sitting down at a piano and playing a few notes is a pretty easy task. However, the ways in which we control the muscles in our hands, arms, and shoulders play a very important role in our ability to play the piano well. If you want to master this instrument, you need to set yourself up for success.  Before you can start playing the likes of Mozart and Beethoven on the piano, you should start with building a strong foundation. One way to do so is by incorporating hand exercises for piano

Want to really impress your friends and family? There are so many famous piano songs out there designed just for that! Here, Nutley, NJ teacher Christina C. shares five amazingly fast piano pieces, and her tips for mastering them...   Playing piano is a lot of fun, but it is even more fun to play fast! It is an indescribable feeling when you have mastered a fast piano piece to the point where you can play it fast with no mistakes. It is almost as if your fingers play themselves (which is

@mr.jerry / Moment / Getty Images There are so many beautiful piano pieces that make the perfect choice for wedding processionals. Here, Saint Augustine, FL teacher Heather L. shares a few to consider...  Are you looking for a processional song for your upcoming wedding but don't know where to start? Well, look no further! Here are 10 wedding processionals that you can play on piano.  Whether you're looking for something classical, romantic, or more contemporary, there's sure to be

Excited about learning piano? Thinking about and setting specific goals is a must-do before you start your lessons. Learn how to set yourself up for success in this guest post by Helendale, CA teacher Sylvia S...   Are you looking for a way to set goals for your piano lessons? Are you unsure of where to start? If so, this post is for you! In today's article, we will discuss how to set the right goals for your piano lessons.  By following these tips, you can ensure that you and your te

As you're playing the piano, does it feel like your left hand just can't keep up with the right? Here, Corona, CA teacher Milton J. shares a few left hand piano exercises to add to your practice to target this common struggle... The dreaded left hand. The hand with a mind of its own, the hand that lags behind the right, and the hand that does not seem that smart. While all of these conjectures are common, it stems from a lack of detailed attention to developing the accompanying left hand in c

Don't know what piano style you want to learn? Below, piano teacher Liz T. shares the five most popular piano styles to give you a better idea of what suits you... Having the ability to play different types of piano music will help you become a better overall piano player. What's more, knowing the important composers, performers, and pieces of each piano style will assist you in your musical studies. Below, I've listed the five most important piano styles, which include classical, j