Why Self-Taught Beginner Pianists Feel Lost — And What They Really Need to Know

It brings me so much joy seeing the surge of so many people wanting to learn the piano. Even when they do not have the means to take lessons, they are tenacious enough to try to teach themselves. Yet, it is incredibly overwhelming for any self-taught beginner pianist to face the wall of immense and conflicting information. 

“What does technique even mean? This person says to rotate, but this other person says to hold your hand still. I don’t even know how to hold my hand. What if I’m doing it wrong? I must be doing it wrong. This piece looks too easy, but this piece looks too difficult. Where do I even start?”

Does that sound familiar?

The issue with a lot of self-taught beginners is that their minds are often more developed than the capabilities of their hands. And many do not know where to start, so they start with something that seems visually challenging or crushes them within the first 15 minutes of learning it. 

Let’s say someone jumps into a piece they love — and ends up feeling paralyzed. It is incredibly disappointing to start a piece you love only to feel annoyed, inadequate, or lost. That would feel significantly more demotivating than starting some “easier” pieces and being patient for a few more months. 

Unfortunately, many beginners don’t give enough attention to developing fluent note reading early on.

Now, if you would allow me to be frank. If you are just beginning piano, you must understand that music is a language; you can’t read a book without knowing your ABCs and phonetics. You cannot overlook drilling note names and locating them on the piano. There should be no hesitation when reading simple note names. If you’re guessing, you’re not ready to move on.

It might feel incredibly frustrating and humiliating to start with those pieces that only have quarter notes, but it is fantastic for learning to recognize reading notes quicker. I believe that in the first few months of learning piano, you must prioritize learning and gaining fluency with processing notes. 

If learning those easy pieces feels too boring, try a different perspective. Test and see how fast you can learn that piece. Is it a day piece or a week piece? Do you struggle reading any of the notes? Do you feel comfortable? Are your shoulders, elbows, and hands relaxed? Is your wrist intentional, tight, or collapsing? Are your finger knuckles buckling or stiff (this isn’t good if you are a flat finger player or a curved finger player)?

Or even test your theory knowledge. What intervals are the most used? What chord is that? Is it major, minor, or diminished? Is the harmony dominant, tonic, or predominant? What scale degrees or solfege are being used?

The purpose of these questions is to learn how to use a compass before being dropped off in the middle of a forest. 

The fascinating thing about our fingers is that there are no muscles in them. They are moving solely by the tendons that connect to your upper forearm. And your brain is forming new pathways to learn new material. This is why it is absolutely critical that everyone practices slow and hands SEPARATE at the beginning of learning any piece, regardless of your experience. 

We learn music because we want to explore the world of music. So why should we learn technique? I will always quote Leon Fleisher when I get this question. He says, “Piano technique is merely the ability to do what you want. Any technique is the ability to achieve what you want.” Even a little bit of technique goes a long way; it will only help you gain more control over your fingers. 

“What if I am doing it wrong?” 

Honestly, you likely are. But that is why you are reading posts like this. It is why you have listened to as much music as you have. It is why you have dedicated time to watching teachers on various platforms about different pieces. 

You likely know this, but you will make thousands of mistakes learning this instrument. Depending on your goals, the purpose is not necessarily to play it “right”. It is an activity that forces you to confront your inadequacies and learning blocks. It brings you into that ugly part of yourself, but it can teach you to see the beauty in it. You can learn how to learn better and to be more patient with yourself. 

But if you are serious, I think it is worth investing in getting occasional person lessons from teachers in your area. You don’t need to commit to one teacher right away. Try a few. Many offer trial lessons, and it’s okay to explore. But if you find a teacher who makes things click and feels like a good match, hold onto them.

What’s your biggest challenge as a self-taught pianist? Share in the comments — I’d love to hear your story.”