5-Minute Piano Lessons

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.

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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.

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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: (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…)

Should the Piano Student Strive for Good Music or Proper Following Directions?

A moment ago, as I was practicing my piano, I had a startling realization. I suspect (since I cannot read minds) that many of my piano students are subconsciously striving to play their piano music “the proper way.” This would explain why they ask me, their instructor, to pass judgment on their piano efforts (remember that these are adults, music lovers who have voluntarily come to me for lessons.) (more…)