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After years of diligently working with your piano teacher, you've come to the realization, either mutually or on your own, that you have surpassed your teacher. What do you do now? Without guidance and the structure of regular lessons, your acquired skills may quickly plateau. How can you continue to grow as a musician?

Evaluate Your Skills and Goals

The first step in your journey is to evaluate the skills you have learned and identify the areas you would like to develop.

Playing the piano means many things to many people. Some pianists play strictly from sheet music, while others play by ear or use fake books to create their own arrangements. The piano can be played as a solo instrument, as part of a band, or as accompaniment for a vocalist.

It may help to make two lists. First, list your strengths. Can you read sheet music? Do you have a strong understanding of music theory? How many keys are you comfortable playing in? Can you play by ear? Next, consider new ways you would like to play and make a list of goals. Do you want to play in a new genre, such as classical, pop, or jazz? Do you want to create your own arrangements or learn to improvise? Do you want to solo, play in a band, or accompany a vocalist? You may have one goal or many.

Examine your list of goals. Your goals may be vague or specific. Do you know what skills are required to reach each goal? Chances are, you will need to do some research on your goals to find the correct instructional books and other tools. You can begin online or in your local library. Read about the genre you would like to try or particular styles of technique that interest you (e.g. stride, walking bass, block chords).

The Self-Taught Pianist

There are many ways a musician can expand their abilities using books, CDs, and other tools. Instructional books are available both through music stores and online. Buying online provides a wider selection, however you will not be able to look through the book prior to purchasing it. This may make it difficult to assess the level of instruction. Books may be labeled "beginner" or "intermediate", however these designations can be widely interpreted. Read reviews when available or ask your local music store for recommendations.

In addition to instructional books, consider purchasing a book on scales and a chord dictionary. It is unrealistic for the average, non-professional pianist to expect to learn all of the scales and chords. When researching the

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