Can I teach myself piano?

This is a question that many beginners have, and there is no straight answer to it. The point that is often overlooked is that the source of the knowledge never comes from the student itself. Whether you are learning with a book or following a YouTube tutorial, you receive instructions from a different end.

This is completely normal and is intrinsic to any learning experience. The reason why we are bringing attention to this is because there is an underlying message in the question. When we ask ourselves if we can become self-taught players, we are considering if we can learn without a teacher. Here it is, the core of the question. No teacher will ever know all the pages on music theory and piano technique ever written. There are also millions of videos online and courses of very high quality that perfectly encapsulate the experience and expertise of their creators. However, none of these sources will be able to provide you with feedback. You will never know for sure if you are doing the correct thing regardless of how many times you go through the same page or watch the same video. Consequently, you can be following advice from remarkable instructors and at the same time developing bad habits. By doing this, your progress will be hindered, and you will also increase the risk of injuries. The bottom line is that it will take you more time to achieve your goals, and the chances of achieving these will also be lower. Many well-known musicians openly talk about having learned without formal lessons, but we should also keep in mind that not everyone is Jimi Hendrix or Mozart (he was taught by his father though)!

There is another dimension that makes having a teacher a lot more valuable. The closeness and immediate nature of the interaction will make learning a lot more entertaining and reassuring. We all know how irritating talking to a bot could be. Having someone that we trust next to us in a challenging situation (maybe you are stuck or frustrated with your progress!) can turn the tables and help us overcome hard times. And beyond that, it is simply more fun to play music with someone else.

If you are thinking about learning how to play the piano in London, call us at 07749 775974 or email us at info@musicspacelondon.com