In this world where everything seems to be delivered to you instantly - microwave meals, instant messages, emails direct to your phone, instant online purchases - is it possible to do something so seemingly complex as learn to play piano using online beginner lessons?

Let's think about this . . .

A few years ago I wanted to learn to speak French. I had done some lessons at school, but was nowhere near fluent at the language. So I bought myself a CD course and started learning. Listen to some French while reading it also, repeat it, and learn it - it worked for me.

So what's different about learning to play piano?

To be honest, not much really - you listen to a piece of music while looking at it, repeat it yourself, and learn it.

When I first thought about this, my inclination was that I would ned someone to tell me how to keep my posture right, how to hold my hands over the keys, correct my mistakes as I went along, the sort of thing that only an experienced teacher sitting beside you could tell you.

But then, what if you just want to start to learn piano as a hobby, just to be able to enjoy playing the instrument either on your own, or with your friends?

Which is what I wanted - I didn't want to be a classical musician, or a concert pianist, or a session player - I just wanted to learn some tunes and enjoy playing them. THere is nothing so relaxing as sitting at a piano and drifting away with your thoughts to your favourite music which you have learned to play.

The course showed me how to sit at the keyboard with the correct posture, position my hands over the keys, and all those things I was concerned over - problem solved - I just had to be a little more vigilant and keep myself right, but I can handle that.

Having never really played music before, I had to start right at the very beginning, but the course gave me everything, right from beginner piano lessons up to advanced lessons, so I was covered from all angles. I started with the absolute basics of music, and moved on from there.

As I worked my way through the online course, I found 5 major benefits:

1 - I could go through at my own pace - when I'm really motivated I can really work through the lessons and learn very quickly, but when life gets busy I just fit in around it, rather than have to be at a private lesson at a certain time / place every week.

2 - I can learn in the comfort of my own home

3 - Lessons are really well structured, like building blocks.

4 - Lessons are organised on ebooks, videos, and audio lessons, so it keeps it really interesting

5 - As a way of learning to play piano, it just works!

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