I have always wanted to learn to play the piano. I have never taken music lessons of any kind. I don't know how to read music. I don't own a piano. Minor details!!
Has anyone here learned to play from total beginner level as an adult (I'm 30)? Where should I even start? I'm assuming I need to buy a keyboard. Any recommendations for a Not Too Crappy model to learn on, while also keeping it budget-friendly (in case I end up sucking and give up)? Any tips for self-teaching, or am I nuts to even want to try? Feels like there must be apps and books and YouTube videos out there for those wanting to attempt to self-teach? The Mustachian in me cringes at lesson costs, but maybe they're worth it? Any tips on finding an instructor? Googling "piano lessons in my city" returns about a million results and I'm overwhelmed. Better to go with a well-known company with teachers on the payroll or to try to find a private instructor... I'm picturing an old granny working out of her living room?
I am not looking to become Chopin here. Just hoping to finally explore learning a new skill that I've always dreamed of developing. Any input welcome & appreciated.
I'm not exactly in your situation, but I did learn a new instrument as an adult (after previously doing band all through high school).
It's worth it to find a teacher, either in person or various instructors that post instruction videos online. I would never try to learn an instrument just with a book. I would recommend an in person teacher, despite the cost, only because the personal feedback is immensely valuable. I make more progress on my new instrument in the 30 minutes I spend with my teacher than in hours and hours of solo practice even with ~20 years of of music playing experience under my belt. I can't speak to the piano specifically but there's a lot more to music than making the right movements in the right rhythms.
Reading music isn't too hard, but it does take a lot of practice to get to the point of "sight reading" music, which means to read and play an unfamiliar piece at the same time. Piano adds difficultly over other instruments due to much of the music being heavily chorded and using multiple staves, generally one in bass clef and one in treble clef, so you have to learn to read two clefs and read them simultaneously. Ouch! Though that's not how you will begin.
Find a locally owned music store if you can, they generally have employees, independent teachers, or other connections for a teacher recommendation. You can find someone who takes adult students and understands the needs of an adult learner.
Piano is a great instrument to learn music on. The layout helps you understand the relationship between notes visually which is a huge help (I learned on a brass as a kid where there was no clear/direct relationship between the notes you played and the keys you pressed).
It's a lot of fun to play, but it does take patience.