Any piano teachers? I have a couple of questions....

[KatyMan]

...if you don't mind?
I play guitar and have for 25 years; not professionally, but I'm good at it and know what I'm doing. I have a good grasp of theory, but can't sight read music. I am also self taught. Many years ago a friend of mine and I would get together and play, write songs, etc, and he showed me the rudiments of piano, and over the years I've had keyboards, etc that I've used to keep my chops up, so to speak. I know the notes, the chords, know about chord inversions, etc, but I have no technique at all--I sound like I know how to play, but if you hear me and you know how to play, you know I don't (if that makes sense?). Basically I have a right hand and a brick for a left hand. I've always wanted to expand my horizons and become a 'real' piano player, and have now reached a point where I can devote more time to it (basically, the kids are grown up now and I have more time :) ). To that end, I'm buying a digital piano (acoustic isn't an option) and would like to take lessons. What sort of things should I look for in a teacher? What questions should I ask? Are piano teachers used to teaching people like me, i.e., adults that come from another instrument? What might be some important things I would need to tell the teacher?

This is pretty long winded, and I apologize for that, but would appreciate any feedback anyone might have.

Thanks!

[ProfessorGAC]

1. My Suggestions

First, find someone who specializes in teaching adults. However, a lot of those folks specialize in teaching adult beginners, and it doesn't sound like that would be right for you. So, try to find one with experience in teaching piano as a second instrument.

Secondly, investigate whehter there is someone who might be more a coach than a "teacher". You sound like you would prefer someone who can just guide you through technique and pianistic ideas especially for your left hand. Going through a method teacher won't provide that. It will just get tedious and you'll run away screaming.

Thirdly, find out if the teacher can introduce you to pentatonic theory so you start to "see" the chord progressions that work for jazz, or at least "jazzy" sounding piano.

Fourthly, find out if the teacher can provide you with an understanding of chord substitutions. You said you understood inversions, but that isn't the same thing as substitution. By the way, if they can do the third, they'll be able to do the fourth. And if they can't do #3, well. . .

Lastly, don't go to weekly lessons. Have them bomb you with work and information. Then, make sure they're flexible enough to return for a lesson when you've absorbed, to YOUR satisfaction, what you've just been given. Sometimes you need to bounce around from coach to coach for that, but most folks who specialize in adult teaching will have flexible schedules. They're used to the busy and variable schedules of other adults.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Errata

In my original reply, i said pentatonic theory. I meant diatonic theory.

It's the harmonic basis for jazz and popular music in the Western world. It helps define the natural, but still sophisticated, progression of chords, and will really help people understand the inner voice alterations that will lead to substitutions.
GAC

[lukasahero]

3. This post was written a while back but if you're still here and interested

What kind of music do you want to play? You said you want to "become a 'real' piano player". There are all sorts of "real" piano players from Elton John and Billy Joel to Oscar Peterson to Vladimir Horowitz. You'd need to learn something different depending on which style you want to achieve.

[MilesColtrane]

4. Yes, different skills are required for different aspirations.

I can't play piano worth a crap, yet most of my compositions are written at the keys.

If you want to learn so that you can write, the more keyboard technique you have, the easier it is to play in real time and hear what you've written. (The advent of MIDI sequencing has made this much easier.)

If your goal is to play a gig somewhere you're going to have to be quite proficient.

I would advise the OP to study the traditional classical beginner repertoire (scales, arpeggios, dexterity, etc.) and to find a teacher familiar with jazz.

If you study with a competent jazz teacher you'll learn how modern harmony functions and how to voice those changes from a basic chord chart.

[KatyMan]

5. Thanks to all who responded

I'm still here, and still in a kind of holding pattern. We've had an unfortunate financial situation, so I'm not in the market for a teacher, at least not until the fall.
But I appreciate the comments, and they were very helpful. I think I'm sort of leaning towards what MilesColtrane was saying, to use the piano as a compositional instrument. I don't play live, I hang in my music room, write songs, and just play for fun. I ended up buying my digital piano, and found the Casio Privia PX-130 suited my needs best.

lukasahero, I understand your question; if asked who I'd most like to play like, I would say I'd fall into the Beatles/McCartney, Elton John sort of style (or at least, aspire to).

ProfessorGAC, a much much belated thank you for your well reasoned reply. It's a great help, and will be the approach to finding a teacher that I think I will build on.

Thank you again, all!