Playing the Piano - Some instruments such as the guitar, bass or drums lend themselves well to self teaching; that is an individual wishing to play can tinker around at home with perhaps nothing more than a book and a basic knowledge and learn to play to a reasonable standard. The piano is different however and most accomplished players would agree that to really master the instrument there is no substitute for regular, structured tuition. To make progress at a reasonable rate teachers suggest you'll need to commit at least an hour a day to practice.

Finding a good teacher is perhaps the most important step you can take towards learning to play the piano and learning to play it well. If you have friends who are learning or whose children are learning then you might want to consider talking someone by referral. This way you can be sure that the teacher is reputable and capable irrespective of what qualifications they possess.

If you can't get a teacher by referral then the simplest and most readily accessible source for teachers is the phone book. Look in the Yellow Pages under "piano instruction," "music instruction," "musicians," and "music." This will give you an idea of the numbers and types of teachers available in your area, and, in some cases, some knowledge of their backgrounds. Call as many teachers as possible and ask them what they will provide and at what cost. If you don’t own a piano yourself then find out what kind of a studio the teacher has. Remember it's your time and your money so you should be completely satisfied that a teacher can meet all your requirements before you consider employing their services.