Piano lessons

You could always get a much cheaper keyboard for at home to practise on until you can use the piano in your lessons?
:-)

Do it!!!!! Get a keyboard - eBay will have loads! Or an electric piano - but they're sometimes even more expensive than an upright. There certainly isn't any need to have a piano in the house.

You can definitely learn when you're older - I've taught a few "older" people and they pick it up fine. You don't need massive hands either - my hands are tiny! Enjoy it! I don't have my piano in my house anymore and I miss it! Can't help with boxing - too wimpy for that lol!

I bought a keyboard a few years ago and taught myself a few bits from youtube video's, I'd love to take lessons one day though, although I've never figured out how to make two hands do two completely seperate things!

We went to Salts Mill at Saltaire last Saturday and they have a musical instrument shop there. I was looking at harpsichords - they looked just about the right size for me There were very few pianos though. They had harps at £3000 each ? but beautifully crafted.

A keyboard is a cheap solution but they really don't feel the same as a piano, the key action is generally much lighter so the muscle memory you build will be different, and practising on them will not be the same as playing a real/electric piano. You can get cheap upright pianos for not too much money, and I think being able to practise at home is vital.

We had a cheap upright for years which we got from a house clearance for about £100. Later on my parents bought an electric piano (I think the headphones were the major advantage for them!) which is very good quality but pricey.

I'd say you definitely need access to an instrument to practice on between lessons, but if you want to try before you buy could you get access to a hall or church with a piano a few times a week? I used my local church piano for practice for a while when I didn't have one at home.

If you go for a keyboard try to go for one with weighted keys so that you are able to get used to the 'feel' of a piano and can practice tone and accents as well as just the melody.

And go for it! I had half hearted lessons for about 3 years as a kid and never got anywhere with it. I took it back up 2ish years ago and, while i'm still crap(!) I love it!. I have small hands, but it doesn't matter!

Enjoy.

Sounds good! I would love to learn to play the piano or the guitar. I would imagine that you would need a piano at home to practice on, unless you had access to a friends / family members or one at work etc?

I've been looking around my area for tutors and prices and whilst they all seem around the same price - £6.50 for 30 mins, there are some who class themselves as traditional tuition and others as progressive..? Some give you books at your first lesson for free and others don't give you anything. Think I might book a free lesson and see how I go on. I don't have access to a piano but if I think I'm going to like it, there may be one going on Preloved. Oooo quite excited now

My son decided he wanted to learn when he was 18. We already had a fairly good keyboard but it was no good to use as a piano substitute. The sitting position is all wrong and they don't have a full size keyboard. you will need access to a piano, digital or traditional as you need to practice everyday really You can get old uprights for almost no money or even free. Look on local freebie sites. Moving them is hard work though.

we got a great Roland Digital from eBay for a great price. Iirc about £1k and it's really lovely. The keys are weighted and it has the pedals which a keyboard doesn't. So a digital is a suitable alternative and many teachers use them now.

Those lesson prices are amazing. We pay £15 for 30 mins!!! And have to buy our own books.

but deffo do it. Nothing to lose from a free lesson. Long fingers helps, but not essential. My brother started when he was in his 40s but he's lucky and has room and money for a baby grand grrrrrr but I know he gets a lot from it. I have a tinkle on my lads piano every now and then and would be something I could pick up again. There is something about being able to play an instrument.

if the piano doesn't work out, what about a guitar or perhaps a woodwind instrument such as a flute or clarinet? You can pick them up really cheaply. Good luck

pammy67 - I think you're in Yorkshire too aren't you? Those prices are for lessons in Heckmondwike or Ossett. I'd love a grand piano - they're so elegant especially the white ones.

Sadly North Yorkshire where the price hikes... :/ have a great time learning. It's so wonderful to play an instrument. X