While most people want to dig right in and start playing the piano, there are a few details that need to be discussed. We must be kind to our bodies and learn proper posture so that we do not injure ourselves over time. Keep in mind the following tips when sitting at the piano.

1. First and foremost, do not slouch! Always keep your back straight and sit tall.
2. Sit with your upper body leaning slightly forward.
3. Make sure to always keep your arms and wrists loose and natural.
4. Keep your elbows up so that they are slightly higher than the keys.
5. Make sure the bench in parallel to the keyboard and not at an angle.
6. The bench should be close enough so that the knees are slightly under the keyboard.
7. Keep feet flat on the floor.

Initially, this position is going to feel a bit awkward, but with time and practice it will be more natural. Although your first inclination is to ignore these tips and move along - it is extremely important to treat our body, hands and wrists with special care.

If you’ve decided to teach yourself to play an instrument and music instruction books aren’t your thing - you may want to check out music instruction DVDs instead. If you are an auditory learner, these will be much more effective for you. Here are some suggestions sorted by instrument type.

Piano Instructional DVDs

• Piano Lessons: Learning the Piano Keyboard, how to play piano instructional DVD
• Play Piano Today!
• Donald Fagen - Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano DVD

Guitar Instructional DVDs

• Learning Guitar for Dummies
• Learn to Play Acoustic Guitar Beginner
• Esteban’s Complete Guitar Course for Beginners

Drum Instructional DVDs

• Ultimate Beginner Series - Drum Basics
• Beginning Drums the Fun Approach
• Drum Lesson: Coordination and Groove Learn how to play intermediate to advanced drums instructional drum lessons video

If you’ve decided that you want to teach yourself to play an instrument and you’re ready to start looking for an instructional book, here is a great list, sorted by instrument, to get you started.

Piano Instructional Books

• Adult All-In-One Course: Lesson-Theory-Technic: Level 1
• Piano for Dummies
• Play Piano in a Flash! Play Your Favorite Songs Like a Pro–Whether You’ve Had Lessons or Not!
• John Thompson’s Modern Course for the Piano: First Grade Book
• How To Play Popular Piano In 10 Easy Lessons (Fireside Books (Fireside))

Guitar Instructional Books

• Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Complete Edition: Books & CD’s 1, 2 and 3
• Guitar For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback))
• Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask
• Guitar Fretboard Workbook
• The “First Stage” Guitar Chord Chart - Learn How To Play The Most Commonly Played Guitar Chords

Drum Instructional Books

• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Drums, 2nd Edition (The Complete Idiot’s Guide)
• Drums For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback))
• Drum Basics, Steps One and Two Combined (The Ultimate Beginner Series)
• Alfred’s Drum Method, Book 1 (Alfred Drum Method)

And if books aren’t your thing, maybe you should try an instructional DVD.

If you’ve decided that you need a teacher then the next step is finding one. There are several methods you can use.

1. Word of Mouth - If you know someone else who has taken lessons, ask them who they would recommend. Chances are they have tried out a couple of teachers and can tell you who is good.
2. Online Advertising - There are websites that are directories of music teachers and allow you to check out several teachers at once. Two good ones are www.clickforlessons.com and www.musicstaff.com
3. Printed Advertising - Check the classified ads in the newspaper or any other local publications.
4. Bulletin Boards at Schools - Since music programs are being removed from many schools, private teachers are having to fill in the gaps.
5. Bulletin Boards at Music Stores - They are always covered with fliers from various types of teachers and will give you a good place to start if you having had success with any of the above methods.

After you’ve contacted a potential teacher you should really make sure that they are a good match for you. What types of things should you ask them? What types of things should they ask YOU? Find out by reading Interviewing a Potential Teacher.

There are many factors that make people decide to try to teach themselves to play an instrument, but is it the right decision for you?  Whether you want to do it to save money, because you’re shy, or because you don’t know where to find a teacher, there are a few things to take into consideration.

1. Teaching yourself takes a special level of self-discipline.  When you are your own teacher,  there is no accountability for practicing.
2. You have to figure out what to learn, when to learn it and how to learn it.
3. Some concepts are harder to learn unless someone shows them to you.
4. You won’t know if you’re doing something wrong if nobody is around to tell you.
5. If you have any questions, you’ll have to do your own research to find the answers.
6. Different styles are hard to teach yourself unless you’ve heard them before.

Maybe these points are not important to you.  If that’s the case, then by all means give it a shot and teach yourself to play.  You can either learn with online lessons, an instructional book or an instructional DVD.

If you’ve decided that maybe teaching yourself to play isn’t for you, then the next step for you will be to find a local music instructor.

Many people have the desire to learn to play an instrument at some point in their life. There are great benefits from learning to play an instrument at any age. So, why should you learn to play?

Learning an instrument:

1. Teaches self-discipline. It takes a lot of perseverance to practice each day and learn new concepts.
2. Improves self-esteem. As you learn more and more you become more confident in your abilities. As you gain more confidence, performing in recitals can make you feel even better about yourself.
3. Promotes relaxation. Playing is like any other hobby and should be enjoyable. Beyond that, the melodic sounds are good for your soul.
4. Will give you a sense of accomplishment. Whether it’s taking the first steps to learning an instrument, learning your first song or graduating to the next level - there are many successes along the way.
5. Improves student performance. Not only do kids perform better in academics, but they also act better socially.

There you have it. If you’ve been playing around with the idea of taking lessons, here are five more reasons to convince you to do so. So what’s the next step? Deciding whether you should teach yourself or take private lessons with a teacher.