As a mom of two daughters, Rose who is 16 and Samantha who is 12, I am constantly surprised by them. The other day, Sam asked that she be allowed to take piano lessons. It sounds like a good idea, but I had to wonder if she really did want to learn to play the piano? Sam's only previous encounter with music was her attempt to play the clarinet in the fifth grade band. She never practiced and disdained playing.
I thought that Sam could be reacting to the fact that Rose is about to take her driver's education course and head out on the road. Lately, Rose has received a lot of extra attention and I know that it would be normal for her younger sister to be a bit jealous. Sam's desire to take beginner piano lessons may stem from all of the excitement swirling around her sister.
I certainly wanted to give my younger daughter the chance to learn to play the piano. However, I did not want to spend too much unless she was really serious. We are on a budget and knowing when and where to spend money is very important.
Saving Money
The thing about music lessons is that you have to pay for them ahead of time. A half hour lessons costs anywhere from $20 to $50. The local music shop wants payment one month in advance and the music school asks for a full semester commitment. That's a big investment for an interest that might pass in week or two.
It was true that Sam had shown an interest in songs that featured the piano. As of late, she had been listening to songs such as "The Long And Winding Road" and "Let It Be", both of which feature the piano. Still, was this a genuine interest? That I could not tell. Not being sure if Sam was genuinely interested or not, I knew that I wanted to be frugal in these first few weeks. Even though my younger daughter had become transfixed on the piano parts in songs such, I was not convinced that she was serious about playing.
Still, I remembered that over 30 years ago, I had wanted to learn to play the piano and never got the chance. I still regretted that fact to this day.
The Online Solution
Everyday, I am amazed at the solutions that I can find by traveling along the Internet. Thus, when I started to research online piano lessons, I was only mildly surprised to find that there were quality lessons that one could take over the web. I discovered a site that offered free instruction before asking students to enroll. They also offered various lessons packages at value-based prices.
Here are five keys to consider when looking for and choosing online piano instruction.
- The site should allow you to sample some lessons for free.
- When going with online instruction, make sure your child has the proper attention span to utilize the service.
- Instructors need to have earned the proper degrees and have experience.
- Go with a payment plan you can afford.
- Make sure the site is clear about all costs.
Overall, you are looking for quality and value. Detailed instruction is important.
How I Found a Piano
We also needed a piano! Buying a piano is expensive. After doing some research, I found many places in our area that rented them. The price range was from $30 to $100 per month. I found a good piano for $75 per month.
Another option some people choose is to purchase a relatively inexpensive electronic piano. You can buy one for as low as $100. A standard beginner's model is about $450. The good thing about this type of purchase is that there is resale value in electric keyboards.
But I decided to go with the lowest monthly payment possible with the idea that if Sam were dedicated to her lessons for three months, I'd consider purchasing a piano. I had lessons and a piano that fit my budget. Frugality had won out!
Your Piano Related Stories!
Samantha is now in her second full week of instruction. She practices a few times a day each and every day without any prompting from me. Me? I've decided to take some online lessons too and fulfill my lifelong ambition.
Now I would like to hear from you! Have you had a similar experience? What solutions did you come up with? Tell me your story and let me know if you have any suggestions and insights?
About the Author
Melissa Cameron, who loves living in Austin, Texas with her husband and two daughters, is a successful freelance writer who loves researching various subjects on the Internet. She also enjoys going online to find bargains. Melissa is an excellent cook and an avid hiker. She writes about the outdoors, parenting and frugal living.
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This article is published as: Beginning Piano Lessons on a Budget
There are so many piano lessons for beginners available online. For me, this is a good thing because, it can save you a lot of time and money if you do the teaching or learning via the internet. Just make sure you will find a good site to purchase or acquire such learning.
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I think there's a significant "getting over the hump" factor in learning piano or any instrument. There's a point at which the light goes on and the student suddenly enjoys playing for playing sake. But it can be a long time coming. Whatever the method, it's important for a parent to push a little (or a lot) when the student gets discouraged. I hope you can keep your daughter on track! Stay strong!
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