5 Useful Piano Practice Tips
by Wesley StevensonPractice is the one of the main keys to successful piano study. It is unfortunate that most students fail to realize that most battles are won and lost by how effective their practice time is. Some believe it to be related to some innate talent or ability. While having a musical family and some natural talent can't hurt, I don't believe it to be the defining characteristic of accomplished musicians.
Here are just a few helpful piano practice tips that I have discovered over the years that will hopefully make practicing more rewarding, more enjoyable and ultimately more productive.
- Purchase a comfortable piano bench.
I know everyone is on a tight budget these days, especially with the gas prices at an all time high but it is well worth the investment to set aside a few extra bucks for a comfortable piano bench. You'd be surprised how much a comfortable cushion can make a difference in your practice time. The more comfortable you are, the longer you'll stay. Try to select an adjustable bench so you can obtain the best fit possible. - Divide and Conquer!
We can only comprehend and develop so much in one practice session. If you are learning a difficult song, divide it up in small, manageable sections and conquer each section individually. If the song you are learning is 2 pages long, divide it into 1-2 lines per day. By the end of two weeks, chances are you will have the song finished without much difficulty. Practice is all about setting achievable goals for yourself. - Have an organized, concise practice plan
Don't just sit down at the piano, and hope that something inspiring will happen. In rare cases something may spark an idea, but the majority of the time unorganized practice often leads to frustrated, unproductive practice. Plan your practice times before hand. When I practice, I already know exactly how my practice time will run. For example, If I am learning a new sonata, I'll work the right hand for about 10 minutes for then the left for about 10 minutes, then put them together for about 5 minutes. I don't personally need to practice for hours and hours for it to be a good practice time, just organized and concise. Also keep in mind that different people learn material differently. Some students learn better by "pounding out" a song for hours on end, and their method may work well for them. Others may by like me and need short and frequent practice sessions. Experiment and discover what your particular study method works best for you. - Look at your music not your hands!!!
I can't say it enough - especially with my younger students. Our natural tendency is to look at where you hands are to ensure that you are playing the correct notes. This habit only hinders our ability to read music. Similarly, it slows how fast we can type if we are constantly looking at which letters are fingers are pressing. Trust that you know where your hands are. Keep your eyes up and moving forward so you can continue to develop and strengthen your sight-reading ability. - Practice slowly.
Learning music is not a race. There is no prize for who can play a song the fastest - at least that I know of. Sure it may be more impressive to others if you can blaze through a stirring arrangement of Fur Elise, but it may not be the best sounding or even what the original composer intended. Personally, I am turned off by performers who play the song so fast that the listener cannot understand, interpret, and enjoy the music, similar to speakers who talk so fast it takes longer to process what they have said. If you are learning a new song, practice it slowly, develop the proper mechanics, fingering, technique, etc. then gradually increase the speed. Use a metronome. A metronome is an extremely under-estimated tool that keeps a steady rhythm. It forces us to play music with rhythmic integrity, helping us develop a stronger sense of timing. Practice scales with a metronome starting at a slow tempo and as the practice week continues, gradually increase the tempo.