I want to learn how to play the piano and get serious with it. Problem I do not know where to start… Do I pay for personal lessons? Are there other ways, if so, what are they?
Maybe someone can explain how they started out?
I would recommend a tutor or instructor for the first year, getting started, though there are online teaching websites. Online lessons let you go at your own pace, and mull things over yourself, so you really learn the material. Also, you can hop on anytime, and you don't need dates, times, and schedules. Also, online lessons are free. Just google it and you're sure to get plenty of websites.
I started off with a piano instructor, just one-on-one lessons for a while. It was nice because they can offer direct feedback and immediate responses to mistakes, whereas online you'd have to e-mail someone, or figure it out on your own. Also, the nice thing about an instructor is that they generally have music for beginners that they can lend you, at-least mine did. You'd have to search for beginners music on your own online, which can be fine with the right websites.
Also, an instructor can direct and present music that fits your abilities better as you improve, rather than a formula, sort of recipe lessons on the web.
Again, I'd recommend a tutor, but other resources are out there that can be more convenient.