Some Statistics on Piano Lessons

1. 80% of students normally quit before they reach level 2 lessons, usually denoted by playing a simple song with both hands simultaneously.

2. Professional pianists practice 8 to 10 hours per day.

3. Most teachers start their students out by having them practice the C major scale.

4. To aid in conveying proper technique to the student, the teacher refers to each finger as a number...1 through 5 starting on each thumb.

5. The average beginner piano lesson lasts one half hour and costs $30.00.

6. The common exercises done to gain and maintain speed and finger independence are the Hanon and Schmidt exercises.

7. It is generally easier for a jazz pianist to switch over to classical music study than vice versa.

8. For beginner's, practicing 15-30 minutes each day between lessons is more beneficial than cramming all practice time into hours on end.

9. The two most popular songs beginner pianists learn before they take formal lessons are Heart and Soul and Fur Elise.

10. Over 95% of piano music does not call for the use of the middle "sostenuto" pedal which only sustains notes already being held with the hands as the pedal is pressed.