At the beginning of the acim, there should be a section of information that will teach you about the piano and all its many parts before you even begin to play. Knowing this information will not only help you understand the piano, but also build an appreciation for the incredible instrument. When purchasing your first piano lesson book look for sections that include the following:
About the piano, different types of pianos, and how the piano works. I especially liked learning how the piano worked. Did you know that small hammers actually make the sounds of a piano? These hammers strike different size strings inside the piano and thickness of those strings is what produces the high and low sounds. Ever wondered how the pedals affect the sounds of a piano? In the “About the Piano” section, it should explain this in great detail. I learned that the right pedal also called the sustaining pedal does just that. It holds notes longer than normal. Most people think this pedal makes the piano note louder, but it actually just holds the note longer. You’ll have to find a great piano lesson book to find out what the other pedals are for.
In addition to learning about the piano you will also want to learn how to care for your piano. What is the use in spending all that money on a beautiful instrument if you ruin it because you never learned how to care for it? In piano lesson book I purchased the Caring for your Piano section included how to check if the piano is in good condition and most importantly should you play on a piano that has broken parts. This book suggest that you can start to learn as long as all the middle keys on the piano are working properly, but you will need to get the broken keys fixed in order to enjoy a great song as you getter better at playing the instrument.
A great piano lesson book should also include how to tune your instrument or rather how to find a good tuner for your instrument. I learned that a piano should be tuned to “concert pitch” and it should be tuned 2 times a year at minimum and 3 times for a quality condition. With out knowing these things you may get scammed by someone that recognizes that you know nothing about your instrument. They may tune it incorrectly or worse charge you more for additional and unnecessary tunings. After you have tuned your piano and made any repairs necessary learn to take care of your piano correctly.
The piano lesson book I purchased clearly explained many necessary cleaning habits for the piano. For example, do not use silicone wax to polish the piano furniture or frame because it can not be removed later or if the piano is ever refinished. One incredibly important tip I learned had to do with where I live. Did you know that high humidity causes damage to your strings? I would have never guessed that having a piano in Florida would require me to need a dehumidifier. Or even if you live in a climate that has dramatic weather changes. Tips like this save hundreds of dollars in repairs…All the more reason to look for a good piano lesson book.
Also, if you are preparing to purchase a piano you may want to find a great piano lesson book that includes this information. I planned on learning on my grandmothers so there was no need to buy a new piano right off the bat, but the piano lesson book I purchased had 6 detailed pages on finding a good piano at a great price as well as what to look at when inspecting a prospective piano for yourself.