Q: Is there a way to get free or low cost piano lessons?

Obviously the challenge is feedback. Online videos abound on Youtube, not necessarily teaching you what you want but teaching "something". The challenge is the lack of feedback and interactivity with the process. One of the biggest challenges is practice, i.e., how do you know you are doing it "right".Modeling and mimicking are tried and true methods, but it is especially challenging on the piano as the complexity of songs and the dexterity can be very subtle. It works on simple melodies, but then quickly breaks down.Music lessons are less problematic, in that you can learn a lot "about" music (not actual playing) online very easily. We created and collected some great videos on the elements and history of music at our website, pianowizardacademy.com/campus, and those tools help you make more "sense" of music which helps you both listen and play with more context and confidence.

While our Piano Wizard Academy is not free, it is a bargain compared to piano lessons, and comes with a digital keyboard as well. We are developing and expect to release a mobile version by this Christmas which will have free trial versions, but you will only be able to learn a few songs, then need to get the paid app, which will still be a huge bargain.

But nobody "just" wants to play iPad, so while the app is a very low cost way to start, (you can learn 20 songs in a month) you will outgrow it quickly with our method.

The only other suggestion I have for you is to find a skill or work product that you can trade for local piano lessons. These arrangements can work if people are very clear and disciplined, and can become a source of a new friendship, but they tend not to be long term as one or the other's need (simple bookkeeping catch up for example) is satisfied while the other still wants to continue. Still, once you take a step forward in the universe, other doors open up to reveal other ways to get to the top of the mountain.

I will tell you I learned music as an adult, and it changed my life profoundly, almost on a DNA level, and is one of those things I would have always regretted not doing. "Learning to play music is like having a lifelong friend." is a quote from one of our customers.

I hope this gave you some context on the challenges and some ideas how to move forward on this, and while your situation is currently cash strapped, that is not your identity, and perhaps soon your situation will allow you to move more quickly toward your musical dreams.

Good luck!
Chris
Founder and CEO
Music Wizard Next Gen
Chris@MusicWizard.com