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Another good article. I haven't had any private tuition myself and don't
intend to have any. The reason is because I have the determination to get
beyond the "Oh I can't do this!!" point by myself...

Let me explain what I mean....

One benefit I can see to having one to one private tutoring is that there's
an allocated time that's "piano time" once a week (or whatever). I think for
a lot of beginners this may be quite important. It's very easy to start
something and then give up because you don't feel like you're achieving
enough or you simply never get round to spending time learning what you want
to.

I taught myself to play guitar and know how long it takes as a beginner to
get to a stage where you feel like you're not all thumbs. It takes a fair
bit of determination to get over the "I'm not getting anywhere" stage. I
think that a lot (not all) of beginners may give up before they pass that
stage if they don't have a time every week where you HAVE to do at least
some playing.

I don't think that private tutoring is necessary beyond that point however
because by that time your mind would be made up about playing or not
playing. At this point I agree completely with your article. If you want to
play, you'll go through the exercises yourself and it's here that I think
you're right and it would be incredibly expensive. A tutor will essentially
be going through the same material an online course would go through. You're
effectively paying somebody to read to you and show you what they can do.
Not really money well spent.

Hope you don't think I'm being negative about the article because that's not
my intention. I just think it's worth discussing the point that a lot of
beginners would give up because they may not have the discipline to self
teach through those early stages.

I am learning piano by reading online, going through exercises, reading
books on theory and practice and lots of practice and experimentation. I
don't like the idea of having just one angle for learning and I personally
learn best by drawing from a variety of resources and a lot of practice!

Thanks for listening and keep up the good work,

Regards,

Mat Howlett
Another good article. I haven't had any private tuition myself and don't
intend to have any. The reason is because I have the determination to get
beyond the "Oh I can't do this!!" point by myself...

Let me explain what I mean....

One benefit I can see to having one to one private tutoring is that there's
an allocated time that's "piano time" once a week (or whatever). I think for
a lot of beginners this may be quite important. It's very easy to start
something and then give up because you don't feel like you're achieving
enough or you simply never get round to spending time learning what you want
to.

I taught myself to play guitar and know how long it takes as a beginner to
get to a stage where you feel like you're not all thumbs. It takes a fair
bit of determination to get over the "I'm not getting anywhere" stage. I
think that a lot (not all) of beginners may give up before they pass that
stage if they don't have a time every week where you HAVE to do at least
some playing.

I don't think that private tutoring is necessary beyond that point however
because by that time your mind would be made up about playing or not
playing. At this point I agree completely with your article. If you want to
play, you'll go through the exercises yourself and it's here that I think
you're right and it would be incredibly expensive. A tutor will essentially
be going through the same material an online course would go through. You're
effectively paying somebody to read to you and show you what they can do.
Not really money well spent.

Hope you don't think I'm being negative about the article because that's not
my intention. I just think it's worth discussing the point that a lot of
beginners would give up because they may not have the discipline to self
teach through those early stages.

I am learning piano by reading online, going through exercises, reading
books on theory and practice and lots of practice and experimentation. I
don't like the idea of having just one angle for learning and I personally
learn best by drawing from a variety of resources and a lot of practice!

Thanks for listening and keep up the good work,

Regards,

Mat Howlett

Ha ha ha

Interesting title. I was married to a pianist, classically trained, who
used to teach, and still does.

No, private lessons are not a waste of money. Generalisation, just like
your statement.

No, piano lessons are not the only way to learn piano.

Yes, supplemental learning via books, cds, internet, listening to records,
tapes, going to gigs, jamming with friends, EVERYTHING CAN help develop
one's musicianship.

I play drums, keyboards, flute and trumpet, all very badly yet for fun, and
enjoy them when I play. I've learnt to play some Miles Davis tracks,
Concerto De Aranjuez for example, and can play some of Abdullah Ibrahim's
music on piano, which pleases myself endlessly.

I also happen to know one of the very best guitarists in the country: Mark
Hewin, look him up if you get a chance. He's played with Bob Geldof, Lou
Reed and others. He's self-taught. He is nowhere near skilled as my
ex-wife, but is brilliant, one of only two people in dozens of years working
in 'the arts' - theatre used to be my game - so saying my friend still has
trouble making ends meet.

What am I saying?

I signed up to your newsletter by chance and out of curiosity. If I can
learn anything new, I am always half-game, but rarely follow up as I am
incredibly busy making ends meet.

So thank you for your mails, I hope you are very happy and enjoy what you
get up to, and make ends meet too! It always helps.

Most of my ex's students were children, who's lessons were paid for by nice,
generally middle class people who could afford £600+ per annum to spend on
their usually lovely children, just so 4-8 years later they could say,
'Isn't my child naturally gifted?' Hmmm. So is piano impossible to learn
for those without private lessons?

Another old friend of ours, Nitin Sawnhey, who has done incredibly well this
last ten years, is also self-taught.

My ex. never performed. She self-imploded, and took me with her. Divorce.
Very bad one - she's a nutter I tell everyone, she's a classical pianist.
Oh they say, as if that explains it. Highly strung!

Oh! Hope you're performing or playing and enjoying yourself too! It's
important.

Cheers

Balbeer