I've pretty much been teaching myself piano for the last half year or so, through Alfred's Adult All-In-One Course (I'm nearly finished with the second book). I haven't really had any instruction, except when I'd occasionaly play for the choir teacher last year.
My question is, should I take lessons? I mean, is it really that important? I heard it's extremely essential if you want to play piano correctly. What's your opinion on this? Thanks!

personally i would get lessons so your technique is correct and stuff. or at lessonshave a lesson once in a while to make sure your on the right track

Well, that's basically what I was doing with the choir teacher. Every once in a while, I'd play for her, and she'd nit-pick about things like, at first I 'played too hard', then after practicing on a keyboard, she said I 'played too softly.'

QUOTE (Clarinet_Con_Brio @ Aug 1 2004, 12:41 PM)

Well, that's basically what I was doing with the choir teacher. Every once in a while, I'd play for her, and she'd nit-pick about things like, at first I 'played too hard', then after practicing on a keyboard, she said I 'played too softly.'

lol yea i hate having to practise on keyboard and then play on piano/vice versa - had to do that all last yea uggh..

neway, i don't think lessons are essential unless u wanna be a professional or wateva. & it's cool teaching urself cuz there's no pressure or nething to practise stuff. have fun

No. Not professional, but I do want to major in music education. We have to take piano in college but I want to get a jump-start. Besides, what I've learned on my own has been so beneficial; it's helped me with my theory, music compositions, and even my clarinet technique! If I've gotten that good on my own and it's helped me this much already, how much more could it possibly help me?

if you want to major in music education, id recommend you get a teacher

Well, a lot of people around here who have majored in music education didn't take piano until college. Besides, it's probably not as important as it is where you live. You see, I want to be a high school band director, and that job mostly revolves around the world of marching band.....
(*jumps* Meepers, band camp is next week, yay!)

even if its more important here, it makes no difference. i think that there is nothing better than a good teacher and he/she will help you progress faster anyway and help you correct mistakes you might not realise your making.

I think as you already play another instrument you will know when you go wrong.
Learning alone from fresh is a bit different... it can be difficult to get things like timing righ, however well it is explained in the book.

QUOTE (sbhoa @ Aug 1 2004, 07:24 AM)

I think as you already play another instrument you will know when you go wrong. Learning alone from fresh is a bit different... it can be difficult to get things like timing righ, however well it is explained in the book.

Yeah, my biggest fear is creating bad habits. I just hate learning something over because I've been doing it wrong......

At the first glance, it seems you have already made up your mind of going without formal lessons.

However, as you have rightly put it, the drawback is that you may develope some bad habits, which could be difficult to correct, along with your practices.

Personally, I would soon lost my focus of practice/learning if I go without a teacher. I noticed that if I go without a teacher, I will constantly keep thinking about "Is this good enough?" "What should be my next piece?"

I think it's a trade-off between money and effectiveness, and if that extra $$$ doesn't bother you (your normal living) too much, I'd suggest you to go WITH a teacher.

I think lessons are essential because it pushes you to learn more by practising or what ever so of you like just have 1 lesseon per 2 weeks like i do the lessons are 1 hour long but i'm doing fine at the moment.
i think???


Davé

dave: same here.. i think i'm just lazy.

I taught myself piano for a bit, after learning the clarinet first. I have lessons now, but in some ways it did help, like now I'm more critical of myself coz I spent a while not having someone telling me how to do it and working it out for myself. But I wouldn't have learned some important things like fingering. I didn't know what it was, so I just played the notes in the right order, with the right rhythm in a really awkward way!