Do You Need a Piano for Piano Lessons?

Looking into taking piano lessons or having a child take piano lessons?  Well, congratulations!  Taking piano lessons can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.

Do you need a piano for piano lessons?  You do need to have access to a piano if you want to optimize your piano lessons.  The best option is to have a piano in your own home.  If that isn’t possible, then you will at least need a piano that is readily accessible. 

Why do you need a piano for piano lessons?

A Piano for Piano Lessons

When taking piano lessons, the single most important factor, over any other decision, teacher, piano, or anything – is the amount of practice put in.  Granted, there are other really important factors that will determine the success of the student.  Yes, a teacher is important, but having a piano to practice on is essential!

If you don’t have access to a piano, then you won’t be able to practice, and thus, you won’t really be able to succeed.

There are apps you can use that simulate a piano.  Would that work?

Not for long.  You can begin to learn basics of the piano but the hands will never be able to function on a keyboard if it is only trained on a screen.  You can’t imitate the real deal.

If you have access to a piano, but it isn’t in your home, would that work?

Yes, if you are able to have a piano that you can use on a daily basis, that would work.  Although not ideal, if you are able to practice daily, then it can be done!

The less barriers you have to practice, though, the better.  A piano that is seen, and is easy to get to, will be much more likely practiced on.

 

Can You Learn Piano on a Keyboard?

That depends on what you mean by a keyboard.  If you mean a toy keyboard, that has limited keys, then no.  You could survive for the very first of piano as you learn the very basics of the keyboard.  But a toy keyboard has several flaws.

A toy keyboard has smaller keys than normal.  This will make it difficult to fit your fingers on and it will definitely throw off the process of the correct hand position, not to mention using the correct fingering.

A toy keyboard is not a full keyboard.  At the beginning, you may not need to use the whole keyboard, but within a few months, you could be majorly stunted as your hands are seeking for more keys but you don’t have any!

A toy keyboard does not have any weight to the keys.  What this means is that when you play on the keyboard, it will not change the sound at all.  On a normal piano, if you play a note hard, it will be loud.  If you play a note soft, it will play soft.  This becomes really important as it provides fluctuation and intonation.

 

Can I Learn Piano on a 61-Key Keyboard?

Learning piano on a keyboard that is smaller than your full-sized 88 key keyboard is not recommended.  While it can be okay for the first little bit of the learning process, it won’t be long before your hands need to use more of the keys.

A 61 key keyboard will allow you to be able to get through the first couple of levels of piano lessons as it does allow for some movement.  But the full length will become more and more necessary as you advance.  A full keyboard allows both hands to extend.  The right hand will be playing the higher keys while the left hand plays the lower keys.  This will mean that you will want a full-size keyboard.

 

A Piano Versus a Keyboard?

Now, if you are planning on a full size electric piano, you can spend just as much money on that as you do an acoustic piano.  So, do I recommend a full-size electric piano?  Absolutely.  I have one myself and love it.

I have written a whole article on this subject.  If you would like to read more, then click here on “Is a Piano or a Keyboard Better for Beginners?”

 

The Ideal Piano Set-Up

If I had a brand new student who wanted to get the right set-up for a successful experience in piano lessons, I would definitely have some things to tell them.

Put your piano in an ideal place.  You will want your piano in a place that is easily accessible.  Place your piano in a room with a lot of light.  You don’t want to be playing in the dungeon.  You want a place that is bright and cheery to you, a place that you would really enjoy.

You will also want to keep it free of distractions.  A piano that is right next to a TV may not be the most ideal place as it can be very distracting!

Also, make sure that you don’t have other devices or music that will also be a distraction while at the piano.  The use of devices in practicing can be amazing — if used the right way.  If not, they become a huge distraction and should be avoided while at the bench.

Place a table, or a bookcase right next to your piano.  Your books and your piano and music gear should be close by.  It will be so much more convenient to have all the things you need on hand, right at the piano.

Get a good piano.  You can read yourself silly on all the different kinds and types of pianos to get, but the most important factor to that is to buy something that you will love.  The sound quality, the way it feels on your fingers, all become a really important key to success!  The more that you love to play it, the more likely you will!  This is my personal favorite piano.  I find myself aching if I have to walk by it and I don’t have time to touch the keys.  I love it that much.

 

Which Piano is Best For Beginners?

I would suggest the entry level Casio Privia for a beginner student.  It is not as fancy as you can get, so it makes it every affordable.  Check out my electric piano essentials for more details on that.

If you aren’t able to purchase a piano right away, don’t let that discourage you!  Ask around and see if you have a neighbor that has one that you could use for now.  A local church will often be more than willing to let you use theirs as well.