Keeping in tune with the piano

I suspect that the piano is still stuck in the dark ages when it comes to how it’s perceived—and, more importantly, how it’s taught. Despite everything moving forward in music, the way we think about learning the piano hasn’t really caught up.

Has the Piano Lost Its Place?

I’ve often wondered why the piano isn’t as popular as it once was, and why instruments like the guitar seem to have taken over. I’ve seen plenty of bands over the years at local venues, and you very rarely see a pianist. Instead, there are usually three or four guitarists filling the stage.

You might spot a keyboard now and again, but I’m talking about a proper piano—88 weighted keys, a sustain pedal, and someone actually sitting down and playing it properly, rather than standing up and jumping around.

The Problem with Perception

I think one of the main reasons the piano has lost some of its appeal is because the perception of how you learn it hasn’t really changed.

Most people still believe that learning piano means strict posture, rigid technique, and the fear of getting it wrong—perhaps even having your fingers rapped with a ruler. That old-school image has stuck around far longer than it should have.

Unfortunately, elements of that mindset are still very much alive today (minus the ruler, hopefully). I’ve come across countless tutorial videos that go on and on about how to sit, how to hold your hands, how your fingers should land on the keys, and how much pressure to apply… and honestly, it just sends out the wrong message.

It worries me that people are paying good money for this kind of teaching, only to spend most of their time focusing on posture instead of actually playing. To me, that’s time wasted—and worse, it can put people off before they’ve even really started.

A Simple Approach That Works

I recently had someone come to see me about starting piano lessons, and we began with a relaxed chat about what he wanted to achieve and how I approach teaching.

He’d only been playing for a few weeks and had been relying on YouTube videos to learn a few pieces, but wasn’t getting very far. Right from the start, he was honest—he wasn’t interested in reading music, he just wanted to play songs.

Now, I understand that mindset, but I explained how important reading music is, and how I teach it in a very simple, straightforward way. We started by looking at just a few notes on the piano and where they sit on the sheet music.

Within ten minutes—ten minutes—he was playing a melody with his right hand while reading music for the very first time.

He couldn’t believe it.

Start Small, Build Confidence

Like most people, he assumed it would take weeks or even months to learn how to read music. But by keeping things small and manageable—just a handful of notes and a simple melody—he was able to get going almost immediately.

That’s the foundation of how I teach.

Start small. Build gradually. Add a few more notes each week. Keep it simple and keep it moving.

It might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many teachers don’t take this approach. Instead, they spend entire lessons talking about posture and finger technique.

For me, that just doesn’t make sense. People want to play—so let them play.

Technique Has Its Place (Just Not Straight Away)

Of course, posture, hand position, and technique do matter. As a pianist, I fully understand that.

But there’s a time and a place for it.

It will come naturally as the student progresses, and there’s no need to overload someone in their very first lesson with all of that detail. If anything, it risks boring them before they’ve even had a chance to enjoy the instrument.

I’d much rather get someone playing quickly and show them that it’s not nearly as difficult as they first thought.

Why People Walk Away

There are a lot of piano tutors out there who take things far too seriously—putting theory and technique before anything else.

The problem is, that approach only appeals to a small group of very dedicated students. Everyone else? They end up feeling tired, bored, and frustrated.

And what happens then?

They pick up a guitar, learn a few chords from a friend, and suddenly they’re making music and enjoying themselves.

Changing the Narrative

Deep down, I truly believe there are plenty of people out there who have always wanted to learn the piano—but have been put off by the way it’s traditionally taught.

That needs to change.

We need to show people that learning the piano can be enjoyable, accessible, and—most importantly—fun right from the very beginning.

Because if we don’t, we might just find that the guitarists have taken over the stage completely—and there’s no room left for the piano.