Listening to classical music relaxes almost anyone. True, but based on personal experience, learning to play the same proved stressful. It started when I was young. Every Sunday morning, a woman would visit the house to teach us how to play the piano. I remember keeping my eyes shut (pretending to be asleep) so I need not attend piano classes. But who am I kidding? The teacher’s already in the house and I could hear my sister doing her exercises in our baby grand piano. So I was forced to learn to play the piano, read every note, sharp and flat presented thereat. I envied my uncle who knows how to play the piano by ear (no formal training there.) My mom knows how to play the piano, be it classical or contemporary, so long as she has the sheet music, she can play it. Thanks to modern technology, one may learn to play like a pro. Let’s start with the basics.

Heads up. Technology could only take you to a certain point. You still have to understand the measurement, intensity and the tempo of every key and every note reflected in the music staff (the five lines where the notes are placed.) The basic notes (do, re, mi….) are easy to read. The middle C is the Do, D is the Re, and E is Mi so on, so forth. Visualize a piano. It has white keys interweaved with two and three black keys, right? The left white key before the two black keys is your C or Do.

The complication starts when both hands are atop of the keyboard trying to decipher the sharps and the flats, which are commonly situated before the note. This signifies that if you have a sharp in front of the note, you have to play the key that immediately appears to the right. For the flats, it is the other way around. Instead of playing the immediate right, you play the key immediately to the left.

Stiff Hands. As much as possible, try to relax. The transition from playing the guitar to playing the piano is hard. When you play the former, it tends to stiffen your fingers. Piano playing requires you to be relax. I’m talking not only about the hands, I’m talking about the whole process of playing. At home, you may play like a pro, but when recital comes----you end up stiff similar to the vic’s body in CSI. If you’re presented with antique upright pianos during recitals, don’t fret. Imagine that it is a keyboard or any piano that you’re used to. Don’t let the nerves get the best of you.

Piano Lessons. With proper guidance and dedication, sooner or later, you’ll be able to play musical pieces composed decades ago. You may even acquire the ability to play music by ear. Try to get a seasoned professional. Hiring may be based on the number of concertos played or the number of orchestra that one was or is currently a member of. The cost would really depend on the experience of the teacher.

But don’t let the appearance or the thick profile fool you. Allow me to tell you a story, the teacher I mentioned in the first paragraph---her dad who owned a small piano repair joint taught her how to play the same. He knew everything about the piano. From piano parts to piano restringing to piano playing. I could barely remember his face or his playing techniques but I know that he was good---good enough for a child with an inherent short attention span to sit and listen and recall. Who knew that this semi-clad piano shop owner could play said instrument with much passion?

Moving on, the teacher should know how to motivate and communicate with their students. The latter should not see piano lessons as a chore that one is being forced into. Someone who’ll call your attention when you hit the wrong keys and who’ll smile and nod signifying that you did a great job--- these are the traits one should look for when getting a piano instructor. An average student knows how to read and memorize. A good student knows how to read and understand. Learn through understanding, not through memorizing, ok?

Raid the Internet. You can download and print various teaching aids and tutorials in the Internet. More often than not, they attach multimedia links for you to see and hear a video or sound clips that serves as examples. Use your resources wisely.

No Piano, Don’t sweat. Visit your local church or your school’s music department. Your neighbor might even have a piano stashed somewhere in their house. I’m sure they’ll be glad to let you use the same.

Once you’ve learned the basics---you can go crazy using your own harmony, with your own rhythm and with your own technique. Last piece of advice, practice makes perfect.

You may not be born with the Master’s Touch but you can learn---with hard work, dedication and a whole lot of practice---you’ll be on your way to giving justice to the pieces composed by Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms.