I know it seems like I don’t like online piano courses and the truth is that because I have not looked at any of them in depth, any opinion I have at this stage is completely irrelevant. However, I often object to the way these online piano courses word their advertisements. One aspect I really object to is the concept that learning to play the piano really well only takes a few weeks.
The piano is considered to be a hard instrument to learn to play because there are a lot of notes on a piano (most instruments would have a lot less) and because the combination of notes played at the same time would be mathematically a staggering number. What is easy with the piano is to produce a note – all you have to do is press a note, as opposed to either blowing and pressing levers or holding down a string and plucking or using a bow with the other hand.
These online piano courses will sometimes claim that you can be playing the piano in a few weeks not years, but the truth is that any method that you use to learn to play the piano, will have you playing simple things within a few weeks. To play really well it takes years to get to this level. It doesn’t matter what method or what style of piano you want to play, it will take years to achieve a proficient standard. This is not just true of learning to play the piano, but any other instrument you care to name. Professional musicians will often have undertaken many years learning and refining their skills. An Australian classical flautist Jane Rutter, once said in an interview that she had had more training than a brain surgeon! As far as professional musician would go, most of them would be able to make a similar claim.
I am not suggesting for one second that you should have lessons, whether online or in person for many years. You need to determine how far you want to go and how good you want to play. If you are genuinely happy being able to only play simple music then that is good enough. What I am saying is that despite various claims about learning to play the piano in a speedy time frame, it does take some years to become proficient and confident with your piano playing.
What I also don’t understand is why there is this perception that it is a bad thing to take a few years to get really good skills. I think that the skills we learn in life have more value the longer and harder we have had to work on them.
So when it comes to deciding whether you have traditional piano lessons or you decide to take an online piano course, don’t allow the sales pitch of ‘learning to play the piano with our course will take less time’, have an influence on your decision.