From 10+ Years of Teaching
I taught piano for over ten years. And I still play frequently —predominantly by ear, freestyle, improvising for the joy of it.
So here’s some easy tips about getting started if you want to learn piano and determining the right piano setup for where your lifestyle.
How to Actually Learn: Alfred’s Prep Course
I took every student I ever taught through it this curriculum.
Alfred’s Basic Piano Prep Course is foundational.
It makes learning genuinely easier; you move fast, and it teaches you the notes in a way that just clicks.
In over a decade of teaching, I think exactly one student ever asked me for a more advanced curriculum, and even they stayed on Alfred’s for almost the entire time we worked together, because it works, and they grew fast.
Here’s the path. Start with the Lesson book and go in order:
- Prep Course Lesson Book, Level A
- Prep Course Lesson Book, Level B
- Prep Course Lesson Book, Level C
- Prep Course Lesson Book, Level D
After D, keep going through the series, or branch into whatever curriculum feels right for you.
And this isn’t only for total beginners. If you’re rusty, or you just want to warm up and review your notes, start at A and work your way back up. It’s the fastest way I know to get your foundation back.
One caveat: if you play by ear, you don’t strictly need any of this. I personally love to play by ear, freestyle, and improvise. But learning to actually see and read the notes — even just the basics — makes your improvisation better, not worse. A foundation frees you up.
The Piano
If you’re always on traveling, moving a lot, or on the go like myself, you probably don’t want to buy a grand or a baby grand yet.
In the meantime, there’s a setup that gets you playing with almost the same feel, without anchoring you to one room.
Here’s exactly what I’d put in front of you.
The Yamaha 88-Weighted Digital Piano is the one.
It gives you a very similar effect and style to a grand or baby grand — weighted keys, all 88 of them, and genuinely great sound. It’s portable without being flimsy: not too heavy, not too light.
It comes in black or white. (And if you want to get a little goofy with it, nothing’s stopping you from spray-painting it your own color.)
Highly recommend.
The Stand and Bench
I love Liquid Stands. Fantastic quality, a full set with the stand and the bench, and all at a reasonable price.
I got mine in purple, obviously — because purple is the GOAT.
Yours can be whatever color makes you want to sit down and play.
Wrapping
That’s it. The whole setup: a portable piano that feels like the real thing, a stand you love sitting at, and the method that actually teaches you to play.
You can get fancy and explore other gear later. But this is all you truly need to start.
And once you’re deep enough to be weighing a real grand — you can explore the grands. Maybe Steinway or Yamaha? 🙂