13 September 2013 How To Improve Your Piano Playing Skills

How To Improve Your Piano Playing Skills

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Adults are now the highest group of participants learning how to play the piano. If you’ve always had the desire to make beautiful music, but are frustrated with your current piano playing skills, there is hope. Just like any challenge you’ve faced over your life, piano takes time.

How To Improve Your Piano Playing SkillsPeople typically approach piano playing in one of three ways. They either try and play by ear, use books, DVDs or software for self-help instruction, or rely on using a professional piano teacher to move forward. No matter which method you prefer, take a look at these tips to see if you are doing all you can to improve your piano playing skills.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Remember when your mom made you take swimming lessons and you had to hit the pool week after week at the same time? There is a reason for that. We learn better through repetition. By doing something at the same time, it gives us a sense of commitment. Take out your planner and schedule practice time every week. Then stick with it as much as possible.

Plan and Track Your Practice

As you progress with your training, this will come naturally. But at first, use a journal to plan out exactly what you hope to accomplish each session. It may be to practice scales or to learn and incorporate a new note into a song. By seeing your progression on paper, it will help you stick with your practice.

Improve Your Musical Reading Skills

No matter which way you prefer to learn, in order to progress to more difficult music, you will eventually have to learn music. Spend time on the physical aspects of playing the piano, but don’t forget about the notation side of things. Understand notes, tempo, key, time signatures, clefs, etc. All of it will help you develop a greater appreciation of the art of piano playing.

Improve Your Finger Placement and Speed

A runner doesn’t jump out of bed and take off on a 10 mile run. He stretches, flexes, and makes sure he’s warmed up before he begins. A great piano player approaches his craft in much the same way. Do some finger stretching exercises. Focus in on finger placement and make sure the right fingers connect with the correct keys. Add some scales to your warm up routines. By focusing in on this at the beginning, you’ll be a much better player when you advance into more difficult music.

Memorize The Basics

Once you memorize your addition, subtraction, and multiplication tables as a child, they come naturally. The same applies to musical scales and chords. The more you practice them, the more you learn them, the more natural they become. Each of these will help you as you dig into more complex music choices down the road.

Improve Your Musical Ear

To get a better understanding and appreciation of how a piano adds to overall music composition, do things to listen and learn. Attend your local symphony. Listen to music from some of our greatest piano players. Key in to each individual instrument and how it applies to the overall sound.

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11 September 2013 Planning On Med School? Play The Piano

Planning On Med School? Play The Piano

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When you have a baby, you start the planning process almost from birth. Did they roll over in a timely manner? Are the talking at an age appropriate level? Are their motor skills developing according to age?

Planning On Med School? Play The PianoWhile its easy to focus in on the little details, behind the scenes you are probably focusing on the big picture as well. What preschool will give him the biggest benefits? What high school will help him get into the best college?

Today’s world focuses in on academics – make sure they get plenty of math and science. Yet there is one underlying “secret” that people have known about for centuries and that still to this day gets very little attention in the school systems. That is:

A musically inclined child will do better in all aspects of education.

When middle school and high school students participated in musical activities, they scored significantly higher than their non-musical friends on the standardized tests.

Starting piano lessons at an early age can help understand difficult concepts in math. Remember fractions? Some children naturally understand them better than others, and its no secret why. When a small child sits through piano lessons, they are exposed to the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and whole notes. And when they see the same concepts in math class in the second or third grade, they will naturally understand them than their non-musical friends.

Repeated surveys have been done on college majors and their likelihood on getting into medical school. Studies show that as many as 66 percent of the music majors who applied to medical school were admitted … the highest of any group that applied.

Want to help your child with retention? Give them piano lessons. Piano lessons take focus, repetition, and determination. When kids sit through piano lessons week after week, month after month dedicating time to learning a new song, they increase the part of the brain used for pattern recognition and also improves self esteem along the way.

Have you ever learned something through patterns and repetition? You would do better with piano lessons in your background. Piano lessons develop rhythm skills, which equate to a wide variety of learning patterns throughout a child’s school career.

Want to improve your child’s SAT scores? Keep the music flowing through high school. Surveys show that musically inclined teenagers will score as much as 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and as much as 40 points higher on the math portion, according to The College Board.

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22 August 2013 Why Kids Hate Practicing The Piano And What To Do About It

Why Kids Hate Practicing The Piano And What To Do About It

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Every parent wants what is best for their child.  For many parents this ideal childhood includes instruction in several types of activities: speech, sports, the arts, or instruments.  For many families, instrumental instruction begins with a very foundational instrument: the piano.

Why Kids Hate Practicing The Piano And What To Do About ItWhile these families mean well, many of them end up fighting a loosing battle between the need for practice and the child’s obvious dislike for it.  So, what makes a kid hate practicing and what can parents do about it?  Here are a number of potential reasons to consider as well as a few solutions that might help resolve the situation.

  1. No challenge – It can be difficult to gauge a child’s ability levels, especially if they don’t exert themselves.  If a child is presented with too little challenge, they may find practicing to be a drudgery, a pointless exercise providing little stimulation.  If this is the case, than parents and teachers can work together to provide the child with a selection of music that stretches and stimulates the child’s ability.
  2. No interest – Let’s face it: most beginner books are filled with classical music.  While these are excellent pieces to learn, they typically are not the type of music your child wants to listen to.  If your kids are finding the musical selection to be a bit old fashioned, you might want to consider incorporating some music that is more their style.
  3. No goals – Without clear goals in mind, there is little motivation for a child to press on in their practicing.  Goals, when met, give a sense of accomplishment and personal gain.  If your child hates practicing, perhaps all they need is a goal and an incentive to reach it. Make them stretch to be able to read and play a certain song they love. Or if motivated by performance, tantalize them with a performance date
  4. 4. No heart – Sometimes the main problem with piano lessons is the fact that the child just doesn’t like the piano.  This does not mean if you meet with a bit of resistance you should give up.  But if your child seems to consistently despise all things piano, perhaps you should consider a different instrument.
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12 August 2013 10 Secrets To Helping Your Child Love Piano Lessons

10 Secrets To Helping Your Child Love Piano Lessons

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There is something so sweet and pure about the music created by a piano. The rich, strong notes ringing out a familiar tune – it is enough to warm your heart and strengthen your soul. 10 Secrets To Helping Your Child Love Piano LessonsHelping your child acquire the same appreciation for the piano involves more than just playing some music on your stereo. Teaching your child to play the piano is the ideal way to make him/her grow to love the piano. If you are thinking about investing in piano lessons for your child, here are 10 secrets to help your child learn to love taking those lessons!

1. Invest in a piano. Make sure you choose one that is of a better quality and let your child experiment with it.

2. If possible, have your child exposed to a piano for several years before ever starting lessons so your child is not intimidated by the piano. Show them it is a welcome and entertaining part of your home.

3. Encourage your child to explore the piano. Let him/her get familiar with the piano on their own terms.

4. Make sure that you keep your piano tuned. Once the lessons start, the music will never sound right if the piano is not in tune.

5. Invest in a bench that is appropriate for your child’s height to ensure that he/she is able to comfortably sit at the piano and complete lessons.

6. Don’t put the piano in an isolated location. Choose a room that will allow other family members to sit and listen – but make sure there are no distractions, such as a television.

7. Talk about the piano and the different parts as your child learns about it. Discuss the piano long before lessons start, and once lessons begin, discuss the things your child learned.

8. Make sure your child understands right and left. If you start a child too early on piano lessons, you may be setting him/her up for disappointment. Make sure they have basic knowledge to help with the transition into lessons.

9. Make sure your child knows the letters of the alphabet and is comfortable with the letters. Again, your child must have basic knowledge skills in order for the lessons to be successful.

10. Make piano lessons a part of the routine. Never force a child to practice; instead make it a part of the daily routing. Five scales and three tries at a new song before dinner time is a perfect routine to get into. Your child learns when to put his/her new skills into action, and you can listen while you are preparing dinner.

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31 July 2013 5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Piano Lessons

5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Piano Lessons

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Your child is growing so fast. Today its learning to run and the ABCs. Tomorrow it will be off to school for reading, writing and arithmetic. And somewhere in between is a whole host of activities that will give your child courage, strength and a greater advantage as the move into their tween and teen years.

5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Piano LessonsOne of the key activities to help them as they grow is a solid music program. And because of its playability, the piano comes in at the top of the list of instruments to learn to play.

If you’ve decided piano lessons are in your son or daughter’s future, where do you begin?

1. Start by investing in a quality piano

Its easy to do. You aren’t sure if your son or daughter will take to an instrument. Why invest a lot of money in something they may not enjoy? So you’ll start with a small keyboard and grow from there in a few years if it works, right?

Actually that’s not the best course of action. Providing your child with the right instrument can make the difference between liking and hating it. If the quality isn’t there, they can get frustrated when they can’t create the same sounds as they do at their teacher’s location. The more they try, the worse it sounds. Until they finally give up. If you want to give your child the best chance at liking their newfound activity, provide them with quality tools from the start.

2.How young is too young?

Adults can start at any time. But a child needs certain skills before they are able to pick up key elements of playing the piano. Typically it involves two things – the parents involvement and the child’s readiness. If you start them too soon, they can quickly get overwhelmed and frustrated, and lose out on the true meaning of what they are trying to accomplish. Typically a child will be between 3 and 7, depending on the type of piano lessons you start and how well your child takes to playing music.

3. What types of lessons are available?

This is where the fun begins. Piano lessons come in many varieties. You can have private lessons in which you are working one on one with a teacher. You can have buddy lessons where a small group of friends work together for encouragement and fun. Or you can move into group lessons in which larger groups of people with similar abilities work together at a steady pace, and can learn and grow from the peer support they receive.

4. How can you encourage piano practicing?

Horror stories abound by parents nagging and children dreading the time it takes to practice the piano. As with any new task, in order to improve your piano skills, you have to practice regularly. In order to make practice time easier, consider setting up the same time every day so it becomes routine. A half hour before a favorite television show can inspire them to complete it without complaints. You can also focus in on accomplishments rather than time limits. To a small child, practicing this scale 5 times, and this piece of music 4 times every day can be much more motivational than 20 or 30 minutes.

5. Choose music appropriate for the student

Its easy to pull out old sheet music you learned from as a child. But songs they aren’t familiar with or have no meaning can hold them back. Today there are a variety of different levels of piano music that can provide any age group with inspiration. Kids are more motivated to continue when they have fun learning. And by choosing appropriate music, you can increase the chances of enjoyment and continuation tenfold.

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27 July 2013 Why Your Kids Should Take Piano Lessons

Why Your Kids Should Take Piano Lessons

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We all have busy lives. As our children grow, our lives tend to only get busier. The more schedules you have to juggle, the more challenging this dance can be.

Why Your Kids Should Take Piano LessonsWhen it comes to your child’s schedule, you have many decisions about how they should spend their time. So, why should you choose to put your child in piano lessons?

1. Piano lessons help provide a rounded education – Your child may already be enrolled in soccer, karate, basketball, football, etc. Piano lessons can help provide a glimpse into the arts. Piano lessons will expose children to music and historical figures that they otherwise would have never known about.

2. Piano lessons help focus and dedication – The further along your child gets in their musical studies, the more dedication it takes to complete a piece. Piano lessons can help teach your children how to focus on a task and remain dedicated until it is completed.

3. Piano lessons can improve dexterity – Piano in its most basic form is both hands working independently, yet simultaneously, to produce a harmonious product. This requires a good degree of dexterity both of mind and of fingers.

4. Piano lessons can improve your child’s grades – Studies have shown that children enrolled in musical education score higher in the math and sciences. Music and rhythm are mathematical in nature, giving your child a more hands on experience of many mathematical concepts. Piano lessons in Memphis are just a click away.

5. Piano lessons can improve your child’s self esteem – Each piece learned, each book completed is a stepping stone of success for your child. Continued lessons will build an arsenal of past successes that will give your child courage to strive in future endeavors.

6. Piano lessons can help your child with public performance and stage fright – Piano lessons will give your child plenty of opportunities to display their skill in public. This exposure will help your child build the confidence necessary for public performance.

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25 June 2013 Why Piano Lessons Benefit Children

Why Piano Lessons Benefit Children

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Parents today are discovering the vast array of extra curricular activities for their children.  With competing schedules for soccer, ballet, debate, campfire girls, and the like, why should a parent consider complicating their already busy schedule with music lessons?  More specifically, why should parents consider enrolling their children in piano lessons?Why Piano Lessons Benefit Children

  1. Piano lessons improve fine motor skills – Piano lessons can greatly improve a child’s fine motor skills.  Piano requires children and adults alike to control multiple fingers at a time.  Hands may be moving in opposing directions, speed or rhythm at any given point in a piece.  In order to master these skills, children taking piano lessons learn to develop a better control in all their motor skills.


  2. Piano lessons improve confidence – There is nothing quite like a child who has worked hard on a piece and successfully performed it before others.  This experience will build a child’s confidence and prepare them to better face successes and failures in the future.


  3.  Piano lessons teach perseverance – You can’t learn a piece overnight, at least not one at your proper level.  Piano lessons will teach children the ideas of perseverance and practice.  Practicing will give them skills necessary to work hard until a task is complete.


  4. Piano lessons improve performance at school – Children who take piano lessons do statistically better in school.  Piano (or any instrumental instruction) introduces children to many foundational elements in math.  This understanding has been linked to a higher score in science and engineering as well.


  5. Piano lessons improve concentration – Not only do students score higher in school, but they are better able to focus in school.  Instrumental instruction and practicing by necessity develop concentration skills in children.


  6. Piano lessons help children be more rounded – Piano lessons introduce children to a world they would otherwise never know.  This introduction helps them grow into more rounded, well educated individuals.
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18 June 2013 6 Tips for Adults Pursuing Piano Lessons

6 Tips for Adults Pursuing Piano Lessons

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    1. It’s never to late to start learning or to continue learning from when you were a child. Some people falsely believe that only children are able to successfully learn to play an instrument. With time and diligence though, an adult can easily become proficient in playing the piano.6 Tips for Adults Pursuing Piano Lessons


    2. A teacher can help you no matter what your experience level is. Whether you’ve never played before or if you played a bit as a child, having one-on-one help can assist you in a variety of ways.


    3. Be patient with yourself. Playing the piano, like any other skill, takes a lot of practice. It will be challenging at times, but let learning be a fun experience for yourself, not a frustrating one. As well, be proud of your accomplishments along the way, whether it’s as small as a good lesson or as big as learning to play a new piece of music. It feels good to succeed even in little ways when you’re learning something new.


    4. Set schedules and goals for yourself. Set aside times during the week for practice. Write down what you want to accomplish, whether this is an individual practice session goal or a bigger picture goal. Doing these things will keep you on track with your learning and help you stay focused overall. It will also be easier for you to see how far you’ve come since you started playing. If you have any questions about whether your goals might be too unrealistic, talk with your teacher about it. They will be able to help you set goals appropriate to your skill level.


    5. You can help yourself succeed by practicing in more effective ways. Practice as soon as you can after you’ve had your lesson. This will help you retain the new information and skills that you’ve just learned from your teacher, bringing them into your long-term memory. As well, it’s more effective to practice for shorter increments a few times a week (or every day if you have the time) than to cram it all into a single long practice session once a week. You will also have more fun and grow as a performer when you spread practicing out.


    6. Have fun with the process! You are taking a big step in deciding to pursue a new skill, and while it should be challenging, it shouldn’t become just another frustration in your life.
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12 June 2013 Piano Lessons May Improve SAT Scores For Teens

Piano Lessons May Improve SAT Scores For Teens

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Piano Lessons May Improve SAT Scores For Teens

The nightly ritual begins. The child gets home from school and lies on the couch with a snack. The parent yells at her to start in on her homework, practice the piano, clean up her room. And so the fighting (and eye rolling) begins. Maybe it’s easier just to quit the piano lessons? What’s it truly doing for her anyway?

With it becoming seemingly more competitive to get into a good college, parents and teens both focus on getting good SAT scores. During this crucial point in life, many teens put the arts aside to focus on their studies. However, studies show that high school students who are involved with music making receive higher scores than their peers on the SAT.

The benefits of learning to play an instrument start early. Even before they begin school, children can benefit from learning about music. One study showed that preschoolers given music lessons were more advanced than their peers, especially with abstract thinking skills, which benefits them throughout their life. Children in early elementary school who were involved with music were more advanced than their peers in math, reading, listening, and language skills. Music helps give children a good foundation so that they can develop skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

Through several studies done over the years, the same is seen to be true for teenagers taking the SAT too. Teens involved with music scored about 50-60 points higher on the verbal section and about 40 points higher on the math section. In addition, these studies show that the longer teens had been involved with music, the larger the gap was between them and their peers.

Another study looked at how music can affect students with a lower socioeconomic status, as poorer students aren’t as likely to have received music lessons at an early age. When these students were involved with the arts, however, their SAT scores were given a similar boost.

These studies show how important music can be for all ages. Playing the piano is not just a hobby. It can also be beneficial in other parts of your and your whole family’s lives.

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