There are millions of adults who took piano lessons when they were kids, and would love to start playing again, but dread the idea of starting over again and taking lessons. To see how easy it is to get started again, take a look at this blog on Piano Chords & Chord Progressions .

It’s true that you never forget certain things that you learn as a child, like riding a bicycle. Playing piano is another example. A minimum of two to three years of piano lessons is enough to instill an indelible knowledge of piano basics. That knowledge will likely be remembered throughout adulthood.

However, some adults who have been out of practice for several years may find returning to piano lessons challenging. Re-learning piano as an adult can be intimidating. Starting piano lessons again can be fulfilling though for those prepared to tackle the challenges.

One of the biggest challenges of re-learning piano as an adult is changing methods. Adults who took only a few years of piano lessons as children may have initially learned to play by rote. Playing piano by rote focuses more on memorization and mimicry than on learning to read music and understand chords.

Children tend to learn very quickly by rote. Children who learn by this method appear to progress quickly. Eventually though, as pieces get more difficult, learning tends to slow down significantly. Grasping new skills becomes increasingly difficult. This method is becoming less and less favored by piano instructors today for this reason.

Another hurdle to clear when re-learning piano as an adult is chords and theory. This is especially true if an adult took only a few years of piano lessons as a child. Adults who had five or fewer years of piano lessons likely didn’t learn chord theory. Even adults who learned to read music as children frequently have trouble grasping chords.

Learning anything (piano or otherwise) is always harder in adulthood than childhood. It’s not impossible though. Anyone with a foundation in music is at an advantage when re-learning piano as an adult.

Are you an adult trying to brush up on old piano skills or learn new ones? Here are four things to consider before you start:

1. Be willing to put aside old habits. The piano hasn’t changed since you were a child. Teaching methods may have though. Don’t discount a teaching method just because it’s different from what you’re used to. Compare different learning methods before deciding which one is best for you.

2. Be prepared to start from scratch. It will be easier for you to ease into piano lessons simply because you’re familiar with a keyboard. That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenging. Don’t expect to play a classical sonata in the first month. Take things slowly, perhaps even starting with a refresher of the basics (i.e., scales).

3. Be committed to rehearsing your songs. Remember your mother nagging you to practice as a kid? Mom’s not around now, so it’s up to you to push yourself. Piano lessons are only as good as the effort you’re willing and able to put in. Make daily practice time a priority.

4. Find the right teacher either in person or online. There are many excellent courses on the web you can take that allow you to progress at your own pace. Check out   PlayPiano.com and PianoLessonsByVideo.com . Getting the right piano instructor makes all the difference in the world. Look for a teacher who is experienced with working with adults.  He or she will then set you on the right course for re-learning.

Re-learning piano as an adult can be very rewarding. Not only will you improve your piano skills; you’ll stimulate your brain too. This will probably help you improve other areas of your life. Adults who take piano lessons often report a better ability to concentrate. Many also realize a greater aptitude for learning other new skills. These things carry over into other parts of adult life, from work, to hobbies and even raising children.

Misconceptions of Working from Home:

Thinking that it will be easier than working outside of the home -

No! There are both good and bad in both, but working from home with children is difficult, demanding and exhausting. Firstly you have to come up with a realistic home business idea It takes a lot of energy and stamina, sometimes staying up late into the wee hours of the morning getting little sleep. Sometimes you have to cram on a project because your child gets sick, needs help with homework, the baby keeps you up all night, etc. Being a work at home parent means that you have to somehow fit parenting and working into the same place! Sometimes you have to work with your three year old tugging at you for attention, and you have to finish the project first, then play.

Pros of Working from Home:

The obvious ones are that there’s no commute, you get to create your own hours and that you can wear whatever you want! It’s not all bad and difficult being a work at home parent, there are some pros. You get to be there for your child when they need you. You get to be there for all of their milestones. You get to watch them leave on the bus, and be there at the bus stop when they return. You get to be there when they need help with their homework, or to talk about their day. It’s simply a matter of working both work and family time together – making a schedule for both. It can be easy to become too involved in work, and forget about your parental responsibilities. It’s just a matter of good time management and communication.

Traits of a Successful Work at Home Parent:

1. Persistence

2. Determination

3. Hard Work

4. Good Business Sense

5. Good Time Management

6. Support from Your Spouse or other Family and Friends

Get Started! (Family Meeting, Choosing a Career, etc.):

Family Meeting -

You will need to start out with good communication with your family. Hold a family meeting with everyone and explain your plans of working from home. Answer any questions your family may have, and make sure you let them know that when you are working they need to resist the urge to interrupt you. If you have already made a schedule of when you will be working during the day, explain it to them and maybe post it somewhere where everyone can see it everyday.

Choose a Career -

Finally, you need to choose what you want to do if you haven’t already. If you haven’t, this could be the hardest part. Start brainstorming about what you could do.

What are your hobbies, work experience, etc.? What do you really love to do? That is what you should create a work at home career from – what you love to do. Some days will be tough, but if you choose a career that you truly love to do, it can seem like getting paid for something you would be doing anyway. That’s a great thing when you work from home