Returning to keyboard as an adult — excited but overwhelmed!

L-M · 2025-05-28T04:09:19+00:00

Hi everyone, This is my first discussion here — I’m really happy to have found this community! I learned electronic keyboard as a kid and recently decided t...

pianoloverus

Nightowl I'm at the stage where I would probably benefit from getting a teacher but I don't feel ready yet.

Why don't you feel ready yet? If the expense and sufficient time to practice are not an issue, then I think that the earlier you start with a teacher, the better. This is especially true about learning proper technique, which is almost impossible to teach from a book or video. No matter how well a book or video tries to explain technique, it cannot correct the technical errors everyone makes, especially at the beginning. For that you need a good teacher who can observe you playing and make comments.

Nightowl

pianoloverus Fear. I suffer with social anxiety and don't relish the prospect of making an utter fool of myself. I also have pet allergies so I would not cope well if there were furry animals in the teacher's house (I like animals but my immune system misbehaves around them). There are other reasons too - the cost is not an issue but I feel anxious about the whole thing.

Sophia

I'd like to add one more suggestion... in addition to the ones already given. I agree that getting a qualified teacher is by far the best way to learn the piano. Which is kinda hypocritical for me to say, as one who is actually not in a position to have a teacher.

So if you are in the same boat as me, I would definitely second Nightowl's suggestion to work through a method book. Second best to learning from an actual teacher is probably the Youtube channel of the Let's Play Piano Methods guy. Whatever method you want to use, he will talk you through it 🙂

When I first started learning I used his channel as well, and learned so many things I would never have thought of on my own.

pianoloverus

Nightowl Sorry to hear that. In that case Sophia's suggestion seems very good.

Animisha

Nightowl Fear. I suffer with social anxiety

I am sorry to hear that Nightowl! Would it be easier for you to make a recording of a piece you play and send it to a teacher, who then gives feedback? In that case, I can recommend Zachary Deak at Artist's works. He is always very friendly in his feedback and you can both send videos of pieces that he has taught, and of pieces of your own choice.

Nightowl

pianoloverus I agree, Sophia's advice is sound and the YT channel she mentioned is very helpful. Thank goodness for people like him, who take the time and trouble to help complete strangers for very little in return.

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