Many people are often interested in learning to play this beautiful instrument but some common myths and disbeliefs prevailing in society and culture keeps them from taking lessons to play piano. Myths and assumptions at some point affect your mind and create constraints against piano lessons. Some wrong beliefs are actually damaging keeping people from learning piano but when closely examined these myths are just uninformed decisions and excuses by those who have failed to put in their sincere efforts in learning piano. So if there are some reasons that are keeping you from taking your first step for piano lessons, learn about these myths to get them out of your minds.
Common Myths:
Scope of these myths is quite enormous but here we are sharing some of the most popular disbeliefs.
1. Piano should begin at early childhood only:
Good news for adults that this is not true. At many places you might have heard the notion that children pick up piano lessons quicker than adults, this is not true. Not only kids but anyone at any age if is willing to put in sincere efforts for learning piano would gain success at playing piano. Although this is true that a child’s mind is less stressed with work and life worries so their minds are thus less burdened and cluttered. They thus can focus entirely on learning music and thus it creates an illusion that children learn quicker. In reality learning only depends upon how much time you dedicate, how many efforts do you make and how much motivated you are to learn piano or any other instrument.
2. Piano lessons should be serious and no fun:
If you are thinking that learning piano involves a serious strict teacher who would keep on telling you what to do and what not and would keep on yelling at you if you make mistakes or fail to do well with a piece of music, then you are absolutely mistaken. Learning piano is not at all scary, boring or completely serious. Although complete concentration and focus is needed but you can truly have fun with playing piano too. It is challenging but the journey is really rewarding. But this is true that different piano teachers may opt for varied approaches depending upon their teaching style. So it is up to you to find a professional piano teacher who proves to be a good fit for you. Piano does involves learning musical theory, notes, scales and a lot of other things but it doesn’t have to be completely serious. Piano learning can be made more of a fun with creative yet practical ways of learning. When you are having fun and enjoying while learning, you will be amazed at how much easier it would become for you to gain this skill.
3. Extended practice sessions would lead to success:
If you are thinking that spending hours on piano will do you some good, then chances are not so good for you to learn well. The reason is that if you are spending hours playing and practicing this instrument, your mind is stressed and tired. A human mind can concentrate and focus better for shorter lengths of practice sessions. A small practice session would be more successful and enjoyable in comparison to a long session involving hours on piano.
4. You can’t learn if you are making a lot of mistakes:
Making mistakes is a part of learning. Even your teacher would help you in fixing mistakes that you will make. You can’t learn without making mistakes and when you make mistakes; you will actually be gaining awareness of these mistakes. When you make mistakes, you will not only be learning to fix them but would also be learning ways how to avoid making them in future. So one must not let the fear of making mistakes cease the learning processes rather take it as an opportunity to learn more. Never fear making mistakes.
5. Taking a break would need me to work harder for my next practice session:
In reality, taking a break from piano practice is most important as it gives your mind some relaxation and it makes you feel more enthusiastic. Your piano learning growth will not be affected if you take a day off from practice within each week. Don’t force or pressurize yourself for practicing piano each day. This is similar to fitness workout where your body needs time to recover and thus you take a day off from work out each week. Similar goes for piano practice. Taking day off from piano practice would revitalize your mind and you will witness faster progress in your next piano practice session. When your brain is stressed and doesn’t get a day off to rest, your poor brain will only be making more and more errors. So be realistic and support your piano practice by taking a day off from piano.
6. Learning piano is expensive:
Well piano is an expensive instrument and surely piano lessons do cost you some money but all that money is rewarding and a good value for the skill that you will gain. Moreover when you compare it with other activities such as fitness workout, massage therapies etc.; they are more expensive. Moreover when you are spending some money to learn piano, you are not only learning piano but gaining an improved academic standpoint where you get to become more expressive, learn hands co-ordination, fine motor skills, mathematics and much more. So you are not only furthering your musical skills but learning piano is enhancing your creativity and intellect as well.
7. Learning piano needs you to travel to a piano teacher:
This is more of an excuse that people give to avoid learning piano. They think that the only option they have to learn piano is to either travel to a piano teacher or to have a piano teacher visit you to give lessons every day. Thus they find it difficult to accommodate in their busy work and life schedule. But for those who really are serious about learning, there are options that might work well for them. You can take online piano lessons from varied resources available on internet that allows you to keep practicing time and schedule flexible depending upon your availability. There are many instructors offering evening sessions as well as weekend learning classes via Skype and other mediums; so you can opt for them too.
8. You can’t learn piano without an actual piano at your home:
Today you have many other options than actually getting a grand piano for learning. You can start learning with any affordable digital piano or keyboard and these work best for beginners who are not even sure if they will be able to carry piano learning or not. These are not only affordable instrument but are also portable offering a variety of features to make learning piano more interesting and easier. Keyboards today offer features such as weighted action keyboard and touch sensitive keys along with other functions such as vibrating sound, headphones, variety of sounds, compatibility with computer systems and a lot of other features that makes way for consistently making progress with learning piano.
Conclusion:
Although there is much disbelief but these are the most common ones that have been created around learning and practicing piano. These widely circulated piano myths are only some among many others and thus if you are one of those who have been following these myths; now is the time for you to gain understanding of these myths and begin learning piano. None of these would hinder your progress provided you are focused and are dedicated towards learning to play piano like a professional.