A few years ago I received some good advice and encouragement here as I learned guitar. For a variety of reasons I've decided to switch and learn piano at this point.

I bought a Yamaha keyboard yesterday and ordered a few books from the library.

What suggestions do you have to make the process as painless as possible. I have an idea from guitar how much time it's going to take and that the key is to practice every day. Have you found some helpful books? Web sites? What should I look for in a piano teacher?

Bob, I took lessons for 10 years and sometimes hated/sometimes loved them. I haven't played in years, but it's something that I doubt I will ever forget how to do. The only thing I wish is that I could play by 'ear' rather than by note. The best advice that I can give you is to have fun with it, practice lots and don't give up.

Only advice I'll offer is:

1. Get lessons.

2. More than the technical aspect of lessons, make sure the teacher is someone who helps to cultivate the passion in you to keep playing/learning. This only comes with trail and error, I'm afraid.

3. Have fun.

It'll make you a better guitar player, btw...

Enjoy!
J

p.s. You are inspiring to me in your desire to keep learning! Thanks!

If you heard me play guitar you wouldn't be very inspired

Good point about the teacher, my guitar teacher was an amazing player, but not very good at explaining things because he'd been playing so long he did them without thinking. I stuck with him because he was positive, realistic and pretty good at explaining music theory which I did enjoy.

The thing that got me started this week was the understanding in my head that I'm never going to play Carnegie Hall and that's ok. I'm learning more about music, I'm enjoying the practice and if I stick with it long enough I'll be good enough to play with others in an informal situation which is my goal. I want to get a hint of the feeling you must get to make music with others.

That and to replace Linford

We're still talking about PIANO, right Bob?