I have wanted to play the piano for many years and want to start learning. I would prefer some web/dvd based program opposed to going to some old woman's house for lessons. My parents have a baby grand that I could use whenever I would like. The music I would enjoy playing would be Beatles, Elton John, Billy Joel, and such.

Any piano players out there? How did you learn?

 

I took a beginners class in college. Then I took what I learned and applied it to the music sheets of the songs that I actually wanted to play. Ever since then.. I've been in love with the piano.

I will definitely find a private teacher in the future, but they charge like $50/hour so that's out of the question right now.

I know there are youtube tutorials, you can start there.

 

I played it for 11 years....then quit because I got burned out. Now I wish I had stuck with it.

Private teachers are really the best way IMO.

 

I suggest learning classical first because it's a solid foundation for most other styles of music. Big downside is that classical isn't the easiest to learn properly and private teachers are pretty much the only way to go. I've been playing piano since I was 4.

 

I played it seriously for over 12 years and stopped when I started college and never really picked it back up afterwards. I, too, was also burnt out since I had to go through musical examinations, etc.

I agree with others that you should start off with classical since you will get the proper foundation and the correct (or maybe "better" is the word) technique that you could use for any other style. Private teachers are definitely the way to go as they're more likely to remember you and tailor your lessons to improve your weakness and your strengths (the good ones, anyway). ~$50 is probably what you should expect, although the last few teachers I had were north of that, and that was many, many years ago when our dollar was worth something.

Sometimes I wish that I would've kept up with it and I probably would've if I did it more for fun. However, these days, I'm itching to learn to play the guitar.