Private Baltimore Piano Lessons in Your Home

Learning piano is for all ages, from kids to seniors alike! But when taking piano lessons, it is best to start at an age where children have adequately sized hands (can occupy at least 5 keys), sufficient motor skills to move their fingers independently, and an interest to learn. For some, the best age might be around 5 to 6, but others can start as early as 3, especially if they already know the first 7 letters of the alphabet!

While it’s possible to start piano lessons at a young age, we recommend reaching out to discuss the size and type of piano your child will be learning on. Pianos come in scaled sizes to suit different age groups. Common options include 1/2 scale (ideal for ages 4 to 7), 3/4 scale (best for ages 8 to 11), and full size, which typically suits students 12 and older.

Read more: What’s the Best Age to Start Piano Lessons

Every great musician started with no musical ability, so no background is needed! Enrolling in piano lessons without prior musical knowledge is perfectly fine. We’ll not only help get you started on the right foot, but more importantly, we’ll also help encourage and sustain your child’s desire to keep learning.

Every great musician started with no musical ability, so no background is needed! Enrolling in piano lessons without prior musical knowledge is perfectly fine. We’ll not only help get you started on the right foot, but more importantly, we’ll also help encourage and sustain your child’s desire to keep learning.

Yes and no! While an acoustic piano is best for practice, it is not a requirement. However, you need to have some kind of practice instrument. For beginners, a weighted electronic keyboard can suffice.

Read more: How Do I Start Piano Lessons

You can technically learn on either. It really depends on what your goals and desires are for learning Piano. In general, learning on an acoustic is more “foundational” for understanding the Piano as a whole. Young learners will also develop more finger strength on an acoustic, which will make switching to electric much easier. But if your child has a natural inclination to electric Piano, start them out on that!

A few things to consider when buying a piano include the cost, your home’s space, and how serious you are about taking piano lessons. Acoustic pianos tend to be more expensive and bigger, while digital keyboards are more light and compact and cost considerably less than acoustic pianos.

For the beginning stages, you may opt for a good-quality keyboard. See our recommended digital keyboards. Once you progress in your lessons, learning on an acoustic piano is recommended.

Besides the Piano itself, there’s not a whole lot more you need. We’d recommend having these things to improve and speed up learning: 

• Proper Accessories – Depending on your instrument, you may need items like picks, mallets, bows, or reeds. These tools help you play correctly and comfortably.
• Strap or Support – If your instrument is played while standing, a strap or support can make playing easier and more comfortable.
• Extra Supplies – Some instruments require regular maintenance, such as spare strings, extra reeds, or replacement drumsticks. Having backups ensures uninterrupted practice.
• Tuner – Keeping your Piano in tune is essential for good sound quality. Some instruments need regular tuning, so having a tuner or tuning app can be very helpful.
• Metronome – While not required, a metronome helps you develop a strong sense of rhythm, which is crucial when playing alone or with other musicians. Many free apps are available for this.
• Cleaning & Maintenance Items – Regular cleaning and maintenance can keep your Piano in great condition. Cloths, lubricants, and cleaning tools may be useful depending on your instrument.

When in doubt, ask your Piano teacher! They’ll help you guide you in what you need to be successful.

Sore fingers when first learning Piano is completely normal. Don’t worry; as you practice more, muscle strength in your forearm and calluses on your fingers will develop. The pain will go away pretty quickly in time. If necessary, there are some ways to lessen the pain when practicing such as using lighter strings. Ask your Piano teacher about this if you’re dealing with pain!

Absolutely! We understand that children might be hesitant in going to piano lessons for the first few weeks, and we allow parents to sit in to observe and encourage them as they practice.

Any practice is better than no practice. In fact, there is no magic number of minutes because we teach that consistency is the key to success. We’d rather our students play for 10 minutes a day daily rather than 60 minutes in one sitting in a week. One of the benefits of private lessons is that our teachers will give recommendations to your practice time and habits based on your child’s learning style. There’s a lot to consider on an individual student level for how much time should be spent practicing.

Read more: Good Habits for Piano Growth

When you learn an instrument in the right way, you’re not going to want to stop learning. That’s the best part of having a professional private music teacher. With that in mind, students are able to play songs from the first few lessons. But remember, even the “greats” are still learning. Eric Clapton famously refers to himself as still learning and trying to get better at the Piano, so there’s always room for learning and improvement.

See our tips for being a better pianist.