5-Minute Piano Lessons

The “war of instruments” is counter-productive in addition to silly

If there is one thing that pianists get hot about it is the “war of instruments” between the proponents of acoustic pianos and lovers of digital pianos. I know because I get caught in their battles quite often. Any reader of these essays knows that I believe the digital piano to be the best instrument for the amateur pianist, as well as a superior instrument for learning to play in the first place. If you’d like to know my reasoning you can read the other essays in this section. I hope what I say helps you come to some conclusions. However, I have one final thing to say about all this and it would be worthwhile for any pianist or piano student to hear it. Read the rest of this entry »

Adult piano students learn better if they  SEE their sheet music well !

I offer something I call a “Better Progress Checklist” to both live and online students. This action is a full and comprehensive list of questions covering every thing I’ve ever learned that can slow down a student’s progress. Answering these questions and having me evaluate the answers reveals things even the student is not aware are barriers. I bring this up because one of huge barrier sometimes revealed is the simple matter of eyesight. Not being behind the piano student’s eyeballs I have no way to know about this without asking, and, unfortunately, adults are sometimes reluctant to admit they need eyesight correction. This reticence can mean the different between playing well and playing poorly or not at all. Read the rest of this entry »

A solution to language study can help us study the language of music

As I’ve said in many other essays, reading piano music is highly important. Thus, anything that might speed this up and make it more effective for more student pianists is worth considering. This is the story of how I finally realized why “Every Good Boy Does Fine” and such has NOT solved pianists’ reading problems. It is also the story of how I finally understood and learned to apply an actual solution. Read the rest of this entry »

Creativity is sometimes inhibited by reading and obeying sheet music

I had a big and unhappy realization this week during teaching. An adult student had to be encouraged to do something other than what was specified by their sheet music (poorly written sheet music, I would hasten to add) and my sole child student asked me, “Aren’t these pedaling marks sorta an option?” Now my child is a very precocious 10 year old but I would have thought my adult student wouldn’t feel compelled to simply follow orders. Turns out I had it backwards.

My “realization” was:

Many piano student work hard to get good at
“Monkey-See-Monkey-Do” music reading. Read the rest of this entry »

Having my studio robbed has confirmed many of my piano teaching principles

I know this is strange way to make lemonade out of lemons, but being burglarized this past weekend has served to validate many of the ideas I have used successfully when teaching adult piano students. Weird, but wonderful. Read the rest of this entry »

“…to advance the value of music study and music making to society…” seems to me a worthy goal. This is a direct quote from the website of the MTNA, the Music Teachers National Association. I agree completely. The question is HOW to achieve this. I suspect my answer is a bit different than that of some MTNA members. Read the rest of this entry »

“How to…” essays are critical for piano accomplishment

Most pianists know they will have to learn to read piano music if they wish to accomplish their goals. Playing by ear is fine – IF you don’t mind being musically illiterate. Knowing and reading chords is critical but you will still need to be able to read the treble staff in order to play from a fakebook. Thus, here are my three most successful actions in helping piano students improve their reading. Read the rest of this entry »

Knowing this key VITAL answer will bring the best value

Every year piano buyers spend vast sums of unnecessary money because they simply don’t know how to properly buy the right piano for their personal needs. I’d love to help you with this, despite the likelihood of offending those with a vested interest in their own wallets and/or opinions. Read the rest of this entry »

The piano world is waking up to CHORDS and their value

Years ago only professional musicians even knew fakebooks (books with just melody lines, lyrics, and chord symbols) existed. The few fakebooks available to such folk were very expensive and highly illegal (as the unknown authors simply ignored copyright and used that new technology of the photocopy machine to produce the things.) The regular pianist or piano student was taught that the supreme virtue was to read every note and every instruction on the piece of printed music. Making it up was, of course, “faking it” and therefore somehow less than capable.

Read the rest of this entry »

Modern technology maximizes piano pluses yet minimizes piano negatives

Resist it all you want, the Day of the Digital is here. I’m happy to see it, because it means that more and more folks will be able to make music themselves, rather than either listen wistfully as a music consumer or struggle endlessly to become a music producer. The piano, that instrument of choice, has been improved and updated using technology and those dedicated to creating music should be cheering. Those for whom any change is too much are fighting it, unfortunately. Let me tell you why they should get out of the way or even get behind the trend and push! Read the rest of this entry »

Predicting the Future is Usually Dicey but I Do See the Trends

I’ve been teaching piano now full-time since October of 1987. I began as most teachers do – traveling to my students’ homes. Later, I found space to teach at a local piano dealership. A few years ago I decided to limit my practice to adult and teen-aged students. This year I’m focusing my attention to the Internet. I give you this history to convince you that I might just be able to see “the handwriting on the wall” regarding piano education. Read the rest of this entry »

The proper priorities regarding chords and fakebooks can save time and improve your playing

Note: This essay is taken from my ebook concerning Advanced Chord and Fakebook Use. I felt it too important to limit it to that source.

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of what I consider Advanced chord and fakebook usage, I want to urge you to keep your priorities straight as you study. These priorities are stated in this essay’s title, at least as I’ve found them in 40+ years of successful piano performance. I truly believe it will be very worth your time to consider my reasoning before you embark upon the study of the rest of this ebook. Read the rest of this entry »

Understanding one’s preferences regarding art is always difficult

I’ve boiled it down like this. Read the rest of this entry »

Who Decides What Is or Is NOT Music – and Why You Should Care

I teach piano to adults. They love many different kinds of piano playing from show tunes and ballads to the classics. One thing many of them say when the subject comes up is “Rap is not music.” Most are then surprised when I explain why they should change their opinion – for their own good. Read the rest of this entry »

Creativity Demands Freedom to Choose Your Own” Muse”

Have you ever wondered why the “great” pianists, city symphonies,  and many new recordings on CD seem to be re-hashing the wonderful works of dead composers? Have musicians gotten stupid or something? Or have they all become the victims of the pop music culture? Why is there little or no recent “great” music? If you have wondered these things, I may have some answers. Read the rest of this entry »

“Mastery” is a common piano goal

Just today I came up with a short, easy way to explain the experience of mastery to other pianists and piano students. Of course, the concept applies to lots of things other than the piano, but THIS is a piano website, so… Read the rest of this entry »

An easy, but highly interesting timing “trick” every pianist should understand and master

Few words seem more mysterious than “syncopation.” Most piano students are given syncopated pieces at some point  When these are presented, however, the pianist too often just plays what the composer or arranger has written. They can hear the interesting sounds and fascinating timing but don’t really understand how that sound and timing is produced. They are just following orders, so to speak. I’d like to explain syncopation in the way my adult students, both live and online, have found useful and successful. Funny thing, it has always been my observation that the adult who understands what they play does a better job at it than the adult who only follows orders. Read the rest of this entry »

YOU and YOUR Goals are the Very Essence of My Approach to Piano Instruction

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about teaching piano to adult students it’s that they’re interested in different things and thus require different materials and different styles of teaching. Consider a few students from my current crop:

1. A student who loves classical music and wants to play it well.

2. A student who already knows classical but wants to learn pop and rock well.

3. a student who knows nothing about piano except she wants to play it.

4. The student that prefers the many sounds and features of her electronic keyboard to that of a simple piano.

Obviously (at least to me) one size does NOT fit all. Read the rest of this entry »

A few basic instructions can make learning this music much more efficient

I presented in my previous post the basics of ragtime piano and said that understanding those basics was important to being able to play this music well.  I’m now going to use the concepts I presented earlier to help you teach your hands the “tricks” that make up ragtime. Read the rest of this entry »

This fun style of piano music continues to interest piano learners

The music called ragtime was invented in the late 1800’s, fell out of public favor, but was revived with the movie The Sting way back in 1973. Piano teachers of the era (I was a student myself back then) were probably deluged with requests to learn to play the movie’s big theme song, composer  Scott Joplin’s ragtime masterpiece The Entertainer. Today, almost 40 years later, this style of music keeps the interest of piano students, quite a number of whom tell me learning to play it is one of their reasons for “taking up piano.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Some piano students make emotional trouble for themselves

Instead of focusing on the sheer enjoyment of making music which they love, they wonder if they are “doing it properly.” Similar concerns are too common as well. Such folks have been indoctrinated, often at a young age, that there is a right way and wrong way to make music. I’d say something different – that there is a way that makes the listener happy and a way that does not. By “listener” I include the pianist him/herself. Read the rest of this entry »

Learning to Use the Sustain Pedal is Crucial to Most Piano Music

When working with my best online student, I discovered I’d written a good essay about proper pedal work. I decided to reproduce it here in order to help others, as well as add some further instructions. Read the rest of this entry »

Piano improv is simply piano composing music done on the fly

The upside is that any mistakes are gone in an instant (unless you are so silly you call some attention to them.) The downside is that it requires some ability to play PLUS some measure of creativity. If your entire piano training has been “how to properly follow directions” then you are unused to exercising your own musical creativity. Perhaps some of this will help you “unleash the beast” of your “inner music monster!”

Read the rest of this entry »

Practicing Piano Scales is Most Worthwhile when Done Smartly

I don’t know why I was surprised when the site’s “analytics” (the statistics that tell me each week what folks have been interested in reading) told me that the “big draw” recently was practicing scales – something I only rarely assign to my piano students. This interest makes sense, however, considering that music teachers have been pushing scale practice for centuries. This is sad to me, because more time and attention is wasted on lousy and inefficient scale practice by aspiring hobbyist pianists than almost anything, other than lousy and inefficient practice routines in general. I’d like to set the record straight on this topic and hopefully save you readers time and frustration.

Read the rest of this entry »

Practicing Piano Scales is Most Worthwhile when Done Smartly

In Part One, I suggested you ask yourself three questions regarding piano scale practice:

“What will I, personally, get out of the effort that will help me play the music I want to play the way I want to play it?”

“If scales provide something I need, is there any other way to get the same skill/knowledge, perhaps in more enjoyable fashion?”

“Are all scales equally important?” meaning, “Which scales deserve the most attention?” and, “Are some scales not worth my time and effort?”

This essay deals with the first two questions, which are closely related.

Read the rest of this entry »

Practicing Piano Scales is Most Worthwhile when Done Smartly

In this final essay regarding scales and scale practice, I’d like to answer the final (multi-part) question I posed in the first of these essays:

“Are all scales equally important?” meaning, “Which scales deserve the most attention?” and, “Are some scales not worth my time and effort?”

The simple answer to this question is “No” but such an answer doesn’t help much or even inspire much confidence in its correctness. Let me explain. Read the rest of this entry »

Identify Your Confusion and Name it so You can Solve It

Some piano students find practicing piano, reading music, working on pieces “confusing.” At least, that’s the word they use at their lessons when trying to describe their problems. It’s a very broad, general word and, because it is so general, it’s almost impossible to “un-confuse” the student. If anything like this happens to you then read on, because I know a solution which will leave your path clear and obvious – and unconfused.

Read the rest of this entry »

This Popular Piano Style is Easy to Understand and Totally Fun to Play

The Blues is a chord progression, a “form” every bit as formal as “sonata-allegro” form for a symphony. Any person at all familiar with western popular music has encountered this form many, many time, usually without knowing that it was form that defined “blues.” That form is 12 measures long and goes like this: Read the rest of this entry »

Ever Wonder Why So Little Attention is Given to Older Piano Learners?

This week I was reminded of the essential difference between the teacher focusing on young (5 -10 year-old) piano students and the piano instructor, such as myself, who specializes in teaching “the older learner.” Unfortunately, what I actually refer to is the different that OUGHT to be there but too frequently is NOT, resulting in unhappy and poorly functioning instruction.
Read the rest of this entry »

How to NOT be Frustrated with piano playing and practicing

There isn’t a bigger enemy to the piano student and pianist than frustration – and nothing is easier to defeat, if you wish it. All you have to do is change your mind. The key element, I believe, is keeping things in perspective. What is playing piano to you, dear reader? Life and death? Your family’s life and death? Your survival? The key to your happiness? Naw, of course not. For almost all piano students, playing piano is a source of enrichment, fascination, enjoyment, etc. In short, it’s their favorite HOBBY!

Read the rest of this entry »

Recession, Boom, Doesn’t Matter – Learning to Play Piano as an Adult is Worth It!

(Note: I originally wrote this in 2008, a troubled time in the American economy.)

Well, here we are, in another recession. I think this is the fourth or fifth since I began teaching adult piano. We always come back stronger than ever and history proves this. I have a couple of piano students old enough to have endured The Great Depression. These adults laugh at all the recent hair-pulling. However,  things are NOT hearts and flowers financially. Read the rest of this entry »

The Psychology Behind a Common Problem of Adult Piano Students

As almost all adult piano students know, “nervousness” remains a constant problem. I thought I’d share with you the exact psychology that underlies adult lesson nervousness in the hopes that some of you will find a new tool to help you enjoy your lessons more. I know it frustrates you – my personal piano students tell me about it several times a week. Read the rest of this entry »

More Explanation of the Psychology of Nervousness and Possible Solutions

There is more you should understand about the psychology of your nervousness at your piano lesson. I’ve been teaching adult piano lessons for over two decades and during that time, I’ve seen countless examples of the following “cycle of fear”  in adult students: Read the rest of this entry »

A Further “Cure” for this Common Problem of Adult Piano Students

Every adult piano student knows that nervousness during the piano lesson leads to a lack of enjoyment for lessons. I’d even wager that many pianists reading this little essay are here looking into online adult piano lessons because “live lessons” with a piano teacher is just scarier than they can stand. Allow me to present another in my series of possible “cures” for the nervousness so many student feel before, during, and after their piano lessons. Read the rest of this entry »

What YOU can Do to Create Faster, Better, and More Enjoyable Lessons

Once you’ve found a good piano teacher, someone you trust, someone who understands you and your needs, then almost all the rest depends on YOU. The piano student is mainly in charge during a series of piano lessons, for the simple reason that most of your learning occurs during your regular piano practice. Sure, your instructor can tell you what to practice and how to best practice it, but only you can follow those directions. Learning to play piano is something you do without the teacher present. Thus, anything that helps you do that would also make your lessons faster, better, and more enjoyable – right? Read the rest of this entry »

Those Who Have Had Piano Lessons Before Will Find This Interesting

The essays in this series provide my personal viewpoints. I’m going to repeat my reasoning for this at the beginning of each essay in the the series.

My experience as a piano teacher has brought me into contact with many folks who have had past piano lessons. Too often, such lessons were NOT a joy and too often the piano student ended up blaming themselves for this unpleasantness. Such piano students often do not take further piano training, even though they still want to play the piano. Even when they do, they bring much “baggage” to their new piano lessons which hinders their progress. I hope to change some minds and thus help more people learn to play piano for their own enjoyment and that of others. Read the rest of this entry »

Those Who Have Had Piano Lessons Before Will Find This Interesting

The essays in this series provide my personal viewpoints. I’m going to repeat my reasoning for this at the beginning of each essay in the the series.

My experience as a piano teacher has brought me into contact with many folks who have had past piano lessons. Too often, such lessons were NOT a joy and too often the piano student ended up blaming themselves for this unpleasantness. Such piano students often do not take further piano training, even though they still want to play the piano. Even when they do, they bring much “baggage” to their new piano lessons which hinders their progress. I hope to change some minds and thus help more people learn to play piano for their own enjoyment and that of others. Read the rest of this entry »

Those Who Have Had Piano Lessons Before Will Find This Interesting

The essays in this series provide my personal viewpoints. I’m going to repeat my reasoning for this at the beginning of each essay in the the series.

My experience as a piano teacher has brought me into contact with many folks who have had past piano lessons. Too often, such lessons were NOT a joy and too often the piano student ended up blaming themselves for this unpleasantness. Such piano students often do not take further piano training, even though they still want to play the piano. Even when they do, they bring much “baggage” to their new piano lessons which hinders their progress. I hope to change some minds and thus help more people learn to play piano for their own enjoyment and that of others. Read the rest of this entry »

Those Who Have Had Piano Lessons Before Will Find This Interesting

The essays in this series provide my personal viewpoints. I’m going to repeat my reasoning for this at the beginning of each essay in the the series.

My experience as a piano teacher has brought me into contact with many folks who have had past piano lessons. Too often, such lessons were NOT a joy and too often the piano student ended up blaming themselves for this unpleasantness. Such piano students often do not take further piano training, even though they still want to play the piano. Even when they do, they bring much “baggage” to their new piano lessons which hinders their progress. I hope to change some minds and thus help more people learn to play piano for their own enjoyment and that of others.. Read the rest of this entry »

A Comparison of Live Adult Piano Instruction and Online Adult Piano Lessons

Adults all want to learn to play piano faster and have more fun doing it. Some adult piano students are beginners, perhaps folks who always wanted to play but never got around to it. Other adults are already  pianists but seek adult piano lessons to learn new styles of playing piano. Read the rest of this entry »