There is a multitude of ways to learn to play the piano but sometimes it seems like that there really is only one way. There are all sorts of content creators online, whether it is YouTube or creators that have their own websites or apps that will tell you that they have the best way of learning to play the piano. From what I have seen so far, most are actually really good quality and their way of teaching is not wrong, but it is not always the best way to go. I know that the way I teach doesn’t suit everyone and if you were wanting to learn jazz piano, I would tell you that I am not the right piano teacher for you.
There is more than one effective way of learning to play the piano, because there is more than one style of playing the piano. There is a considerable difference between classical piano, jazz piano and modern / pop piano. Classical piano reads notes and relies heavily on the written notation, modern or popular piano is pretty much chord based and sometimes people who play this style of music don’t even read musical notation but rather rely on lyrics with chord names written above the words. Jazz piano is a sort of mix between the two styles plus adding into the mixture some improvisation. It seems to me that there is this permanent debate about which is better and which needs a higher skill set. The truth is that the best one for you is the one that you like the best and are drawn to play the most.
So as well as having the difference of styles that is a determining factor as to how you learn to play the piano, there is also the factor of what is your style of learning. It has been a well established fact that people learn in different ways. Some people learn better through listenning, others reading and others by observing and then doing. I know that I am a visual learner so I find it easier to look at sheet music and learn a new piece of music that way. It is good to know what style you personally have when it comes to learning new information (and I’m not just talking about music here either). Knowing your strength in learning will help you choose the best way for you to learn.
What is also a factor when it comes to working out what is a good way for you personally to learn to play the piano is dependant on your personality. Some people thrive when they are continuously getting feedback and encouragement and others prefer to go it alone and work things out for themselves.
There is certainly no one perfect way of learning to play the piano, simply because there are so many variables. Knowing what style you want to learn, knowing how you absorb information the easiest and being aware of your personality and preferences of wanting support versus going it alone, will help you determine the best way for you to learn to play the piano. What works for others is irrelevant…