Piano Lessons for Adult Piano Students
“…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. (more…)
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.
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. (more…)
Understanding one’s preferences regarding art is always difficult
I’ve boiled it down like this. (more…)
“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… (more…)
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. (more…)
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.”
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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? (more…)
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. (more…)
How to Avoid the Stress of the Piano Recitals Yet Get ALL the Benefits
Having interviewed a couple thousand prospective adult students over the last two decades and then given most of these folks private piano and keyboard lessons, I can state with certainty that fear of piano recitals is pretty much a given for adult piano students. The majority simply hate the idea and are quite relieved when I explain I don’t “do” recitals. I also take pains to explain why and how all the benefits that recitals supposedly bring can be achieved in a MUCH less stressful and less un-natural manner. (more…)
How to Feel Calmer and More At Ease During Your Piano Lesson
Piano students usually begin lessons with several mistaken ideas of what is important. Having these ideas, and wishing to be good students, they then focus their attention on the wrong aspects of practicing piano and performing piano. This makes for problems in playing and, most importantly, makes it hard to enjoy the process of learning to play during the weekly piano lesson. (more…)
Why this Question has Little Real Meaning for Most Adult Piano Students
Since, 2006 I’ve posted weekly to a Blog for Piano Students, both those taking lessons from a live teacher and those learning online. I received the following question to one of my posts and my reply is worth the reading, especially for those students in countries that offer some formal exams and qualifications: (more…)
Many Piano Students Hate Them but Used Properly Metronomes are Great Tools
The metronome, that thing that sits on many pianos, is the subject of a love/hate relationship for many piano students. Most adults who took piano lessons in their youth likely had some experiences with the metronome, often bad experiences. In this essay, I hope to offer advice that will make the metronome your favorite tool for improving both your piano practice and piano performance. (more…)
Happier, Less Frustrating Practice Results When Errors are Corrected CORRECTLY
What a horrible – and necessary – topic! It’s human nature to dislike and avoid errors, those moments when reality fails to live up to our intentions. Stupid reality! However, reality is REAL and so are errors made when practicing piano. Since we can’t really avoid them we’ll do the next best thing and correct them when they crop up.I’ve discovered that not all errors made at the piano merit our attention. Some do and some don’t, and knowing the difference makes for good and effective piano practice.
Efficient Use of These Famous Finger-Trainers Can Improve Your Piano Playing
The finger exercises of C.L. Hanon are without a doubt the most famous and most widely used piano finger exercises in the world. The reason, of course, is that they work. Many, perhaps most, piano teachers use them, and every teacher seems to have a slightly different approach. In this essay, I will provide the procedure I’ve found most useful for adults taking piano lessons. (more…)
Further Understanding About How Your Hands Learn the Piano
Ever find that your hands are just not where you left them or that you push your thumb down and find you’ve played the wrong note? For both pianists and those taking piano lessons, having to ask that question is as silly as asking them, “Are you breathing when you play the piano?” (more…)
When You Sit Down at the Piano, Know Your Purpose and Act Accordingly!
Recently, some of my piano students have shown a lack of enthusiasm about their piano study. Naturally, I wanted to get them back on track and interested and cheerful again so I gave them the “third degree” about their piano activities at home. What I found is applicable to every pianist and piano student, whether taking lessons online or with a piano instructor. (more…)
Proper Piano Practice Accomplishes More Music with Less Effort
Do you want to practice piano more efficiently, that is, spend LESS time learning MORE music? Now I have the attention of every piano student in the world I’d like to repeat to you something I say and say and say to my own piano students. Unfortunately, some resist and resist. One day, however, they actually try it, it works, and suddenly their practice is dramatically better. They enjoy time practicing piano MORE because they fail LESS. (more…)
Piano Students Get More Done IF They Focus on the Correct Aspects of Practicing
What should piano practice focus on more – the music or the motions – and why should you care? As always, I am attempting to instruct readers on how to get the most piano music for the least time and frustration! Thus, this is an essay on EFFICIENCY in piano practice. (more…)
Better Piano Practicing Means Better Piano Playing
Far too many piano students somehow believe that the AMOUNT of time spent practicing is the key to success. However, an hour of poor, inefficient piano practice is NOT solved by adding on another hour of the same bad routine. Instead, every piano student should stay focused on getting the most music from the least amount of effort. “Efficiency” should be the goal, not just passing time at the piano. I’ve written many essays about practice, since that’s what piano students do as they learn new pieces and new piano techniques. What could be more relevant? (more…)
Answering These Questions Can Lead to More Practicing Success
Question One: How much time must I practice?
Answer: Long enough to succeed – however you define “success.”
For some hobbyists, “success” consists of sitting down and playing pieces for fun, regardless of how well or poorly those pieces are played. Other students, especially those taking piano lessons live or online, define “success” as mastering their music for that week. Thus, each piano student and pianist’s idea of success is likely to be different.It doesn’t matter HOW you define it, but it does matter that you know WHAT your defintion is – so you can know when you’ve succeeded.
Some Piano Students Make Little Progress and Spend Lots Time Not Making It
“I’m spending lots of time at piano practicing but not seeing much improvement in my piano playing,” is a VERY common concern for piano students and pianists in general. Unfortunately, too many of these good folks come up with the following erroneous conclusions:
Speed of Practice is Crucial to Successful Piano Practice
Much improvement in playing piano pieces is lost because adult piano too often students practice their music at whatever pace (tempo) they believe that piano music should be played in performance.This almost always means that mistakes are common and linger long. If you only such piano students knew and used this motto:
Pianists – Amateur and Pro – Limit Their Enjoyment with Negativity
Brain researchers are discovering which parts of our brains do what when musicians do what they do best. An article from my local newspaper discusses brain research into how musicians improvise music. Here’s the key point, taken from the last half of the article: (more…)
As Always, Considerations of Technique Come First in Interpretation
The topic “the proper tempo” is a huge issue for any pianist, piano student, or piano hobbyist. I thought it worthwhile to put down what I know about the subject, based on 40 years of performing and 20+ years of teaching. (more…)
Once Technical Problems are Solved the Focus is on Optimizing Tempo
In my last essay, I discussed performing no faster than the pianist can hit the correct notes and still keep a steady beat. That essay was based on the question “How fast CAN I play?” This essay will consider the musicality of the piece and ask “How fast SHOULD I play?” To really understand the answer, we must view some piano and keyboard history as if from the window of a jet airliner, seeing only the broad shapes below. (more…)
When Somebody Asks You to Play, Play THESE and Wow Them!
In this essay, let’s talk about one of the most common goals for piano students, both those taking lessons with a live piano instructor and those surfing the web for their training in piano. I’ve seldom met any pianist who isn’t asked by family and acquaintances to “Play something – anything.” Most folks would like to respond with some mighty good pieces of piano music – in other words, they like to have a decent repertoire. Here’s how: (more…)
Which Piano Should You Buy?
I love digital pianos in spite of the fact that many traditionalists reject them. Digital pianos have been around since the late 1980’s, constantly getting better and better. However, even now, in 2010, you will find a ton of websites that explain how digital pianos have some good features but just don’t measure up to a “real piano,” meaning an acoustic piano, one with strings. (more…)
Understanding the Piano Salesman’s “Pitch”
You need an acoustic piano, a digital piano, a keyboard, SOME keyboard instrument if you want to take piano lessons. The questions in your mind should be, “How do I get the best value on the right keyboard for my needs.” This would include not spending more than you need to spend. This rather long essay could save you thousands. (more…)
A Basic Understanding of Fingering is Necessary to Piano Practice
In piano music, there are directions that do NOT occur in the music written for other instruments. These directions are called THE FINGERING of the piece and are either placed there by the publisher of the piano music or by pianists themselves. For the more advanced pianist, the fingering is often a combination of directions by both publisher and pianist. It’s critical for all piano students to recognize the role these fingering instructions play. (more…)
Or should you learn the traditional way by reading sheet music?
Fairly often I encounter pianists who wonder if they should learn to “play piano by ear.” The phrase has various meanings to various people, but almost all these meanings include the idea of NOT using written music to play. To be more specific, written music is NEVER used and the pianist gets his information by listening to something and then duplicating it. Sometimes such pianists build up considerable skill, while others learn a few songs and the perform them for years. (more…)
Every Adult Piano Student Wants to Get Better at Piano Playing
Whether you want to play sonatas or showtunes, Bach or the blues, an adult piano student always seeks to improve his or her piano playing. Improvement, to the piano student, is the very essence of progress. Unfortunately, learning the piano is much like learning anything else, in that there are good days and bad days, even good weeks and weeks that are, shall we say, “not so hot.” Thus, how does an adult piano student KNOW if improvements are being made? (more…)
Explaining the Symbols for Chords on Lead Sheets and Fake Books
Chord symbols are those letters and numbers and funny characters that appear above the melody line on modern sheet music. Many times they are accompanied by a tiny diagram of the strings of a guitar showing physically how to play the chord. The chord, however, is the same note-wise for the pianist/ keyboardist. (more…)
You Must not Only KNOW Your Chords but also What to DO with Them
Lots of piano teachers, both live and online, explain which notes make up which chords. This is fine and necessary but it’s only the first step -you must also know what to DO with these chords. Additionally, many of these “piano teachers” are basically professional players who shows you ways to use chords that are, frankly, just too hard for the amateur player. The pro makes it look easy, even tell you it is, although it’s not. There’s a need, then, for some basic things most every pianist can do successfully. (more…)
The Basics of Chord Use for the Piano Student
I thought of calling these essays “EVERYTHING a Pianist Needs to Know About Using Chords.” but changed my mind because that would be a lie. Nobody, even the “greats” of the piano, knows everything about chords. Just when some pianist starts thinking he’s got it ALL down, along comes somebody new with a new idea. (more…)
The Basics of Chord Use for the Piano Student
Once a piano student knows how to form chords using their formulas and can figure out which notes go with which symbols, the next question is how to use those chords at the piano. You have several choices to make. I wish I could tell you exactly WHAT choices to make, but each piece of piano music demands different skills. I can tell you a few things for sure. (more…)
Every Adult Piano Student Knows that ATTITUDE Can be a Big Problem
Yes, it’s not the adult pianist’s “talent” which gets in the way of success at the piano – it’s the way adults think and feel about piano lessons that essentially dooms some of them and impedes many others Too many adult piano students who just want to play for their own enjoyment actually fail to enjoy themselves no matter what they can or cannot do with the piano. (more…)
