How Much Will I Learn In A Year Of Piano Lessons? A Realistic Roadmap
- Eric Ching
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
First Lesson
In the very first lesson, you're welcome to share your learning style, goals, and favorite styles of music or artists. That way I can tailor my lessons in a direct beeline towards how you want to sound in the future.
We would cover the keyboard layout and the way it's divided into black/white keys as well as how it goes higher to the right and lower to the left.
We'd also go over the finger numbers - thumb (1), index (2), middle (3), ring (4), and pink (5). They're numbered so that you can take the shortest and easiest path to get around the keys by using the finger numbers and shifting in a certain order.
Then, we'd play a few songs from the Faber Piano Adventures Primer (for younger students) or the Alfred Adult All In One Book (for older students). I like the books because they progress in a very natural order in how they introduce the notes, rhythms, and harmonies.
I'd also have you play a pop song. There are some very easy pop songs with just a few notes that you can start playing from the very first lesson. They're super fun and when you're jamming out with a recording, it can feel like you're there playing with the band.
Lastly, I spend a little bit of time with the Alfred Essentials Of Music Theory book in every lesson. It covers all of the fundamentals of music theory, what each symbol means, connecting how things look on the page with how they sound, and why things sound the way that they do.
0-3 Months
We would do recall games where I can direct you on using steps (the next adjacent note within the same key) or skips (skipping over a note as a 3rd). They're the most common shapes and it helps to be able to play step-wise and with skips in a bunch of different ways.
Some first scales include C major, G major (1 sharp), F major (1 flat). Scales are used to help you navigate the keyboard and see certain shapes so that you don't have to "muscle it out" when you're reading notes. You can just identify the shapes which makes it easier.
We would do between 1-4 songs from the Alfred or Faber books per lesson.
We'd also do 10 pop songs each of just the chords, just the bass line, and just the melody before putting multiple parts together.
The rhythms under our belt would include whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes in assorted combinations.
I also often have arranging/composition assignments where you can write a piece based off of an existing song that we're working on. That means using the same scales/rhythms or devices from the song so you can express your creativity and make your own fresh variation of it.
Lastly, we'd understand the tonic (I) chord which is usually the chord that the song is in. And the dominant (V) chord which is built on the 5th scale degree. It has a strong pull towards the I.
I would emphasize getting a good sound, not collapsing the knuckles, using the correct fingerings, holding notes for their full durations, and playing with correct articulation (legato/staccato)
3-6 Months
We would do more complex recall games which involve longer strings of notes and more difficult patterns.
Scales would include the addition of D major (2 sharps) and Bb major (2 flats).
We would continue to do between 1-2 songs from the Alfred or Faber books per lesson. As they get more difficult, it's better to focus on just one or two at a time.
We'd continue to learn pop songs. You're welcome to begin requesting songs and I can arrange them for your level. Arranging Songs For My Students
At this point, we could combine the chords with the bass line or the melody with the chords so that you have a full piece. It may just be a verse or just a chorus to start.
We would add sixteenth notes, eighth rests, and sixteenth rests in different combinations.
We'd also add the subdominant (IV or ii) chords which lead towards the dominant (V) chord which leads to the tonic (I) chord.
At this point we can begin a creative project. An example might be arranging a song, recording it, and combining it with an image that matches its mood/character. That way, you have this nifty tangible thing that's entirely your own which you can share with friends and family.
6-12 Months
Scales would include the addition of A major (3 sharps) and Eb major (3 flats).
We would continue to do between 1-2 songs from the Alfred or Faber books per lesson.
Pop songs would get more complex and could have several parts like an intro, verse, and chorus.
Your repertoire would be approximately 30 songs from the lesson book and 20 pop songs.
And we can continue to do creative projects both to document your progress and just for fun :)
Free Piano Sheet Music:
Conclusion
Here's just a sample of what you might learn in piano lessons over the course of a year. It's possible to make great strides and have quite a command over the instrument! And you'll be able to play familiar songs for friends and family.
To make this sort of progress though, you would have to practice atleast 20-40 minutes per day. However, it's less about the time as much as it's about focused quality practice. You have to be actively listening to your sound and identifying mistakes so that you can correct them. Once you have the correct notes, rhythms, and sound, you have to remember exactly how you did it and repeat it enough so that it gets ingrained in your muscle memory. There is a joy in the repetition!
If this sort of roadmap sounds good to you, please reach out for LESSONS!
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