Learning how to play the piano may seem like an overwhelming and dreadful prospect. There are many different ways a novice can be easily introduced to play this wonderful stringed beating instrument! Like with learning anything new, some of the main characteristics that would help excel yourself to full potential is having patience, time, dedication and enthusiasm.
Many famous musicians started from a young age although doing so isn’t necessary to learn a craft. The piano seems to have a different reputation in the musical world compared to other musical instruments.
Practice Sight Reading
While sitting down and practicing the same piece of music until you play it perfectly is a good way to practice, switch it up every once in a while by throwing a random piece into the mix. When practicing your sight reading, don’t worry too much about making mistakes. Simply play the piece from start to finish to your best ability, and run through it a few more times for good measure. Not only does this type of practice improve your inventiveness skills, but sight reading is essential for those who are interested in joining a band or orchestra. When you do make mistakes, don’t look at them as a disappointment or burden. If you consider mistakes a crucial part of the learning process, you’ll likely find that practicing the piano will become more enjoyable.
Different ways to learn to play the piano
Like having any hobby or learning something new, it is important to have consistency, making sure to take the time to learn to play and not being distracted by the pursuit of money. There is nothing less satisfying than starting on a project and getting into it, but then finding that it is not feasible due to other lifestyle situations.
There are many different ways to learn to play the piano. Whether it be via piano classes online, one-on-one tutorials, in the space of your own home or joining a music academy, there are no right or wrong ways to learn to play the piano — it just depends on individual needs.
It is worth pointing out that, depending on the learning style, correct equipment is required. If learning at home, then a piano would be needed; if it was an online tutorial, high Internet speed and the capabilities of video calling would be essential.
Keep Challenging Yourself
This may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many pianists stop challenging themselves once they’ve become semi-proficient at playing the instrument. Just as a bodybuilder must lift heavier weights in order to get stronger, a piano player must continually play more and more difficult pieces in order to improve. If you aren’t sure which piece of music you should choose to challenge yourself, ask your instructor. They’ll know better than anyone what your strengths and weaknesses are, and they should be able to pick a piece that’s challenging but not impossible. For example, if you struggle playing with your left hand they should be able to pick a piece that focuses mostly on the left hand.
Set Realistic goals
The piano is no different although it is possible that the instrument can help reduce the possibilities of health issues. Sitting correctly, better known as posture, will also reduce the threat of back problems later on in life.
Although many people would like to play the piano quickly and fast, this can often lead to the wrong fingers being used. This could lead to cramping and a pianist’s worst fear, carpal tunnel syndrome. When people get passionate about a new found love, they usually want to learn as much as possible, as swiftly as possible, however this can lead to frustration, which is the opposite of what learning to play the piano is all about.
Having organized learning times and setting realistic goals will assist in reducing frustration and improve the playing experience overall. Is said that practice makes perfect: although it is easy to fall into the routine of playing what is already known, it is not possible to progress if no practicing takes place. Everyone makes mistakes, which is a way of learning.
Devote time to practice
Playing the piano does call for commitment and the more time you dedicate, the faster you’ll learn to play the piano. It’s best to have a set period of day when you spend a certain length of time engrossed in practicing the piano. You can keep a practice log or set an alarm on your phone to remind you to practice each day. Keeping a list of goals – songs you want to be able to play by a certain date – is a great way to stay on track and accomplish your goals. It might get difficult at times, there’s no avoiding that. The idea that playing the piano is extremely fun isn’t wrong. However, there is a great deal of hard work that goes into it. A lot of that work can be pleasurable if it’s approached in the right way, but do keep in mind that sometimes it might seem challenging.
Practice Playing in Public
As a pianist, it’s important that you get used to playing the piano in public without becoming a bundle of nerves. If you have a performance or recital in your near future, prepare yourself for the big day by putting on a mini-recital for your friends and family. Whether you play for an audience of one or one hundred, feeling comfortable during a performance is key.
Once you’re comfortable playing for your parents, invite some cousins or friends over for a recital. From there, start performing at private events, including Christmas parties, picnics, or school functions. Eventually, playing in front of others will be no big deal and those sweaty palms and butterflies in your stomach will become a thing of the past.
What to be achieved:
Whether it be learning for a specific audience or for a personal quest, knowing what is to be gained is an important part of learning to play the piano, especially since the instrument falls under all musical genres. Before starting to learn to play, it might be worth considering what type of music you would like to create. For many of us, our goals and achievements change as the years go by. The main thing is that it is fun for everyone involved. If something stops becoming fun, then it is time to give up the dream.
Although it is not necessary to have a piano to learn, practice makes perfect and not being able to practice regularly could lead to either setbacks or determination, depending on the individual. If it is something more long-term, then having an instrument that can be regularly played would be something to invest in. It is good to practice and learn all kinds of different music; the understanding of other music structures and learning to play different music styles helps with progression.