Piano Lessons for Adult Piano Students
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. (more…)
“…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…)
“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. (more…)
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. (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…)
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. (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…)
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. (more…)
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.
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. (more…)
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.
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: (more…)
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.
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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!
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. (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…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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.. (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…)
Get a Greater “Return on Investment” of Money, Time, Effort, and Hope
In order to increase ROI (“Return on Investment”) from your piano lessons, we first must start with describing what a piano teacher does for us. We can then proceed to figure out how to maximize these benefits while minimizing the amount of our investment. I know this is not the usual approach taken by piano teachers. Most teachers want you to practice more, spend more time and effort to get what you want. This is not only an admission of inefficiency but probably won’t happen with busy adult piano students. The time and effort simply isn’t there in their lives. (more…)
Get a Greater “Return on Investment” of Money, Time, Effort, and Hope
The purpose of these essays is to “WIN (be successful) at piano lessons.” Of course, saying this means nothing unless we fully and carefully define what we mean by “success.” We could say that it means different things to different people, and to some degree this is true. However, for the vast majority of piano students, “success” means the ability to play various pieces of music they like in a reasonable manner after a reasonable amount of piano practice. (more…)
How to Overcome Your Fear of Piano Lessons
Do you have a creeping anxiety that comes on as lesson time draws near? Have you actually used those evil words during your piano lesson, “I played it so much better at home?” Many, maybe most, piano students suffer from this dread affliction to some degree. Some start lessons with an advanced case and some develop the infection as lessons go forward. Either way, a fear of piano lessons makes instruction less than joyful and something you tolerate rather than something you look forward to. Wouldn’t it be great to lose that fear? (more…)
Answering the Common Question, “What do you, Dan Starr, use to…”
This is a very common request I receive from online piano students. I’m happy to answer, but I sure wish the publishers of some of these manuals and music collections would send me some endorsement money! (more…)
How Adults Piano Students Can be Less Nervous When Playing for Their Piano Teacher
One very large barrier during adult piano lessons is the fear of playing for your piano teacher. I well recall losing a good adult student to this during a Christmas break. This gentleman phoned me right after New Years to announce that he wouldn’t be returning to piano lessons, “They just make me too upset and nervous.” In a similar manner, adult students often try to cancel any lesson following a week where their practice was a bit lacking. (more…)
Too many piano students do poorly due to ineffective piano teaching
Over the years of piano teaching adults (and children, early in my career) I have heard hundreds of “piano horror stories.” A “piano horror story” is a tale in which an eager young piano student tries to learn to make happy music on the piano but gets much less than they might have due to bad piano teachers and/or bad piano teaching methods. Naturally, the students coming to me still asking for lessons would be those aspiring pianists who DIDN’T succeed, but if you think this makes my points any less valid, ask yourself this: How many people do you know who play the piano? How many people do you know who had piano lessons when younger or wanted to play the piano?
Too many piano students do poorly due to ineffective piano teaching
Last week we began discussing what I call “snakeoil” piano lessons – meaning online “teachers” that promise the sun, moon, and stars to hopeful piano students by telling them they can teach them to play like a pro in some ridiculous amount of time and with little effort on the part of the student. I gave you three things to look for as identifiers of such methods, the first being some promise of a “new breakthrough” in piano teaching methods.
Too many piano students do poorly due to ineffective piano teaching
What I call “the snake-oil methods” of piano “instruction” were the topic of my last post. As you may know, this is a reference to those scam artists of the past who sold strange liquids with strange names such as “Dr. Smythe’s Snake-oil Root Elixir.” Their victims were gullible and suffering folks who were led to believe that these “potions” ( turned out to be mostly alcohol and/or some “feel good” drugs) could cure whatever ailed them. In other words, “snake-oil salesmen” were scam artists who made false promises and somehow avoided the consequences.
Too many piano students do poorly due to ineffective piano teaching
Previous essays have explained why many current methods are really “snakeoil” methods which promise much but deliver next to no piano skill. I also spend time discussing how this approach to learning to play piano was made attractive by the years of grinding, boring, and frustrating “teaching” on the part of piano teachers who turned making music into drudgery. Many folks have a stereotype of the piano teacher as a little old lady forcing kids to play endless scales while they’d prefer to be elsewhere, anywhere on a Saturday morning. Very unfortunately, this stereotype is fairly accurate. This essay explains why learning the piano doesn’t have to be this way.
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! (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…)
