18 July 2020 Taking Up Piano Now Will Make You More Successful For Life

Taking Up Piano Now Will Make You More Successful For Life

posted by

Thanks to staying in place, we’ve all started looking for new hobbies. If taking up the piano is on your new resolution list, congratulations. Piano playing isn’t just a great hobby, it can also make you more successful for life. 

That makes it a perfect hobby for you, your kids, for everyone in your family. 

If you dedicate time to playing the piano, you will master many things. 

Discipline

Have you ever sat down and played something simple like chopsticks? That’s the beauty of playing the piano – anyone can sit down and hit a few notes and create music. However, the more you practice, the more you play, the better you become. Practicing frequently can immediately start to show improvement in the way you play. And when you see it, hear it, it motivates you to do more. The only way to improve is by practicing. And when you dedicate to becoming better, you’ll learn the art of discipline. 

Time management

Which brings us to increasing your time management skills. We all have just twenty-four hours a day. If you commit to getting better at piano playing, you’ll have to fit practice time into your schedule. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to make time for what is truly important. As you hear yourself play better, feel more comfortable with the notes, you’ll have more desire to put a practice session on your calendar every day. 

Concentration

Have you found yourself scattered, not sure what to focus on? Maybe taking up piano will change your concentration skills. When you play the piano, you must focus on rhythm, pitch, tempo, hand positions, note changes, and several other things. It requires multi-tiered concentration levels to ensure everything is in place. The skills you learn from playing piano have been proven so worthy, kids do better with test taking skills, and musicians have the best chance of moving forward into medical school. 

Memory skills

That’s because playing piano fires off all your brain cells the moment you sit down to play. Piano stimulates your brain. Whether you’re listening to the greatest piano players of all time, or tickling the ivories yourself, your brain will thank you for it. 

And that’s a pretty good reason to take up the piano now, while you’re looking for new hobbies to start up for a lifetime of enjoyment. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
14 July 2020 Can a 3 Year Old Learn To Play Piano?

Can a 3 Year Old Learn To Play Piano?

posted by

We’ve all seen videos of young prodigies in action. A 5 year old swings a golf club and makes a hole in one. Or a 3 year old sits down at the piano and plays Bach perfectly. 

But is that reality? Can a 2 year old really learn to play the piano? Or are you setting them up for failure? 

People are naturally drawn to the piano. No matter who walks up to a keyboard – a one year old or a hundred year old – we all have the tendency to push the keys and plunk out a tune. It makes music, after all, and that can be an exciting thing. Especially when you start to hear a familiar tune. 

But pushing a few keys is different than taking lessons and practicing every day. 

The best age to start learning to play piano is somewhere between the ages of six and nine. That’s where concentration and focus start coming into play, making it easier to sit and learn. Of course, it ultimately depends on your child and what they are capable of. 

Physical characteristics

In a lot of cases, a small child simply doesn’t have hand size and coordination to play the piano. It takes a great deal of skill for finger independence and ability to sit down and play. Will the fingers stretch and move from key to key with ease? You can always adjust the bench to the proper height. But it is important for proper hand placement. 

Basic motor skills

The piano is a skill that takes a lifetime to master. Start too early and it leads to frustration. It’s important that your child has proper motor skills, and they can reach throughout the keys, playing with ease. They also need adequate strength to carry the arms up and down the keyboard, pushing down the keys. That’s why violins are often easier to start at earlier ages. 

Motivated

It’s important to have the proper attention span to sit down and play. Your child will learn much faster if they are truly motivated to play. Do they like producing music? Do they have favorite songs? Are they motivated to learn and do so willingly without constant prodding from you? 

Maturity 

Is your child motivated to sit for up to thirty minutes at a time? Can they follow simple instructions and be motivated and work toward successes? Do they understand that it takes time to build skill, and have motivation to work towards a goal? Your child will have more success if the desire is there to grow. 

Is your 3 year old ready to learn to play piano? 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
10 July 2020 You Don’t Have To Have Natural Talent To Be a Pianist

You Don’t Have To Have Natural Talent To Be a Pianist

posted by

What does it take to be a great pianist? Do you need natural talent? Or is it something you can work towards, perfecting your piano playing all the time?

If you’ve ever said, “I don’t have talent to play the piano,” think again. You’re not born with the ability to be a pianist. Anyone can work towards developing the talent. 

How do you do that? 

Practice. 

Malcolm Gladwell became famous for his 10,000 rule, which simply states that in order to become successful at something, you’ll need to invest 10,000 hours at it. Perfection takes time. It’s okay to make mistakes along the way. The important part is sticking with it, and ensuring you take the time to get a little bit better every day. 

To become a pianist, you have to invest in what it takes to be good at what you do. You can’t sit down and play scales or simple songs like chopsticks and expect to get better. It takes push. It takes drive. It takes improvement, a little bit each day. 

And it might take a little something else. One pianist suggests it’s passion, not just for playing music, but also for the challenge of hitting your goal. 

Maybe you’ve set Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as a goal. Or how about Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major? No matter what piece you choose, the challenge of getting there might be all the goals you need. 

Talent isn’t something you’re born with. 

Talent comes from choosing a goal and sticking with it. 

It’s not luck or genetics. To be a better pianist, it just means doing a little bit each day. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
7 July 2020 How To Practice The Piano Better

How To Practice The Piano Better

posted by

Want to get better at playing the piano? Practice, practice, practice. 

We all know that the key to getting better at something is to work at it a little each day. But is that really all there is to it? 

In reality, you can sit down and spend thirty minutes every day and never improve IF you don’t improve your practicing skills. It’s not the amount that matters. It’s the quality of every session you sit down for. 

How do you ensure you’re practicing the right way?

Start by removing distractions

It’s important to place your piano that gives you a chance to play without interruption. But that doesn’t mean put it in the corner of a dark basement either. Give yourself a pleasant playing space, and avoid areas where you know you’ll be easily distracted. Put your phone in another room if the buzzing and dinging of incoming messages can turn your attention. This allows you to get more done in the time designated for practice. 

Create a structure for each session

If you workout regularly, you know there are specific goals for every workout. You’ll have a warm-up, specifically targeted workout routines, and a cooling down period. Structure your piano practice the same way. Warm-up with scales. Target specific goals with each session. Then cool down by playing your favorite pieces. 

Set a goal for every practice session

Spend some time structuring your piano practice sessions to accomplish different goals. Do you want to learn a specific song? Are you trying to work on finger speed? Are you having trouble with particular sections of music? You can establish short and long term goals to ensure you stay on track with what you are playing. 

Vary your routines

Structure is important. Setting goals is equally important. But if you do the same things over and over and over again, it tends to get repetitious and boring. Change things up in your routine. Instead of playing your favorite song as a cool down in the same way, change it up. Speed a section up. Slow a section down. Or add in your own ideas. Even this little change can keep your interest and make you press on. 

Fix habits early

One of the best reasons to hire a teacher is to have them help you work through problems before they become habits. They see things you don’t, and correct things before they become issues. They tweak your performance and make it better. Don’t stick with the same piano teacher for years. Instead, set specific goals and find new instructors that can help you reach your goals. 

Reward yourself

This can be small rewards, like purchasing new sheet music, or larger rewards like working towards purchasing a new piano. Rewards are positive reinforcement, and they can help push you to take more action, and stick with your goals every day. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
3 July 2020 It’s Never Too Late To Learn To Play The Piano

It’s Never Too Late To Learn To Play The Piano

posted by

I wish I’d started learning to play the piano earlier …

Have you ever said that? 

Many people have. You hit a certain age and you start to analyze life skills and hobbies you wish you’d started earlier in life. 

There are certain hobbies that you can engage with throughout your life. Football? Other than watching it, it’s a young person’s game. Piano? It’s something you can stay active with from just a few years old until the day you die. There are many benefits to doing so. 

Think about your age right now. If you’re in your forties, you might long for going back to your childhood and learning to play the piano at a time when you could quickly grasp new ideas. But you’re in your forties – you still have decades left! That means by starting now, you can master new skills, you can become the piano player you’ve always wanted to be. 

There are many examples of musicians who got started later in life. And they made it their professional careers!

You don’t have to be young to become good at playing the piano. For some, starting early is a hindrance, not a helper. 

Think back to when you were young. You had so much to do. Was playing the piano anywhere on your list? In some cases, when parents add “playing the piano” to their kids’ to-do lists, it becomes resentment instead of passion. It becomes another chore in the daily to-do list. And that never makes for a good musician. 

But when you choose to play the piano later in life, it’s on your own terms. You choose to play the piano because you desire to do it. And that right there is a great reason to pursue it. 

It’s never too late to learn to play the piano. Whether you choose to do it yourself, take online lessons, or sit down one on one with a teacher, dedication will see you through to success. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
29 June 2020 Piano Dynamics And Why Your Piano Should Have It

Piano Dynamics And Why Your Piano Should Have It

posted by

How do you express emotion? Can you pick up what other people are thinking by the way they’re acting?

Of course!

Think of a romantic comedy. A couple meets. They get close. And then something tries to tear them apart. 

Yet one (or both) soon realize the error of their way, and they make an impassioned plea to get back together. It’s heartfelt. It’s emotional! And we can read it in their body language alone. 

Piano dynamics takes that concept to your piano playing. Listen to the greats, and you’ll hear it all the time. 

A soft whisper across the keys making it barely noticeable. Or pounding out the notes to cause a commotion. 

Piano dynamics help you make a song that much more memorable. 

Imagine if you played every song the same, same tempo, same level, same flow. Pretty boring, right? 

That’s why pianos are built in such a way to make everything – soft, loud, and everything in between – possible. 

How do you know where to use dynamics? Your sheet music will feature dynamic marketings to help inform you how to play. You’ll see:

ppp – pianississimo – very, very soft

pp – pianissimo – very soft

p – piano – soft

mp – mezzo piano – moderately soft

mf – mezzo forte – moderately loud

f – forte – loud

ff – fortissimo – very loud

fff – fortississimo – very, very loud

You’ll also find accented notes, crescendos, diminuendos, and a host of other indicators throughout the music to clue you in how to play. 

This is what the songwriter was thinking when they wrote the song. Of course, you can use your own musical skills to put your own personal imprint on it whenever you can. That’s the fun of playing the piano!

While dynamics are important for all piano players, keep in mind that some pianos are better at creating dynamic differences than others. This is where selecting the right piano makes all the difference. 

If you’re not getting the full vocality out of your piano, and are frustrated with the results, maybe it’s time to trade up to something better. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
10 June 2020 Using A Metronome For Better Piano Practice

Using A Metronome For Better Piano Practice

posted by

Want to be a better piano player? The key is with better piano practice. 

Unfortunately, not everyone is an expert at understanding rhythm. Sometimes it takes work to get the beat right. 

That’s why incorporating a metronome into your practice will help you improve the way you play. A metronome can help you understand the right tempo and develop perfect timing for each piece you play. 

What is a metronome?

Metronomes emit a sound on each beat. It sets the tempo, then ticks off the counts to help you adjust the rhythm and understand the feel of the beat. Most metronomes can be set between 40 and 240 beats per minute. Some pianos have built in metronomes. You can also purchase apps that allow you to take it anywhere. 

How it can help identify technician issues

When you play without a metronome, you can glide over technical issues you might have with your playing. Spots where you’re dragging or rushing become apparent when you play it with the beat of a metronome. Practice the song with the clicking beat; you can do so just a few bars at a time. 

Getting up to speed

When you work with a teacher, they can help you through spots you might not be playing well. But most of your practice will be done alone. That’s where a metronome can help you along. Start by playing slower until you can play the notes effectively. Then speed it up until you’re at the proper dynamics. This works very well to overcome technical issues. It also ensures you play the music as intended by the creator of the piece. 

Do you have the proper tools to ensure your piano practice is effective? If not, we can help. From new and used pianos, to metronomes and sheet music, we can point you in the right direction to make every practice session its best. 

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With:
7 June 2020 Beginning Piano Students – Do You Suffer From One Of These Problems?

Beginning Piano Students – Do You Suffer From One Of These Problems?

posted by

When you decide to learn to play the piano, you’re excited about the possibilities. You dream of the day you can sit down at the keyboard and play your favorite music. 

But quickly you realize there’s more to it than that. You discover it’s difficult, you hit problems you can’t seem to overcome. 

Before you get frustrated and quit altogether, realize you’re not alone. Every beginning piano student faces problems. Here are some of the most common. 

Not using the right tools

Yes, there’s more to playing a piano than just the piano itself. 

Let’s start with the piano bench. You can’t pull up any old chair and expect to play. You need the right space to reach the keyboard and the pedals without straining your muscles. Your hands should be perfectly placed. You shouldn’t have to stretch to reach the floor. 

How about a metronome? Using a metronome can assist you in practicing, so you start to gain a sense of rhythm. Beginners often slow down as they come across new material, or hit challenging spaces in the music. Metronomes keep them on track, setting the rhythm to help keep you in time. 

Of course, there are also many other ways to learn about music. Apps are a great way to feel more comfortable with playing scales or learning more about musicality. A good instructor will ensure you are well versed, to enjoy playing that much more. 

Not finding the right piano teacher

This isn’t about using your next door neighbor because she has a piano. A good teacher can be the difference between quitting and playing for a lifetime. Too often, people buy into online apps because they want to test the waters, and see if their child is truly interested. That isn’t gifting your child the love of making music. You have to find an instructor that can help your child hold interest, especially when the first challenges come their way. 

Not practicing the right way

There’s a saying in the music field: practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes it perfect. You can practice something incorrectly over and over again; it won’t make it right. 

Instead, it’s about learning the way to perfect the time you do spend at the keyboard. And that’s where a good instructor can help. 

Keep in mind that instructors have different approaches. As your child grows, they may learn better from other instructors. Find ways to challenge your child. Give them role models they can aspire to be like as they age. 

What beginning piano problems are your students facing? 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
25 May 2020 What’s The Most Effective Way To Practice Piano?

What’s The Most Effective Way To Practice Piano?

posted by

Practice is one of the most important parts of piano playing. It’s how you learn. It’s how you get better. But like everything, piano practice can grow boring if you don’t have a goal. Is there an effective way to practice piano?

Start with a goal. “I’ll play several times a week” is not a goal. Instead, sit down every session with something specific in mind. “I’m going to learn to play ____ today.” “I’m going to learn the opening of _____ today.” Make sure the goal is achievable, given your level of playing and what you’re attempting to do. 

Slow down. Playing isn’t a race to the finish line. Instead, it’s about playing the best you can. Take the time to learn what you do perfectly. If it takes longer to move through a piece of music, that’s okay. The important thing is to learn, and do it well. 

Pay attention to fundamentals. It’s nice that you want to play music from your favorite band. But learning the fundamentals can make you a better piano player. Spend time mastering scales. Take the time to learn technical skills. You’ll see it in every piece of music you play. 

Use a metronome. It’s one of the best ways to bring a song up to tempo. But that doesn’t mean you have to start at tempo. Slow things done and focus on the notes and fingering. Master music in pieces. Then bring the metronome up to speed until you can play it as intended. 

Listen. Listen to the best piano players in the world. Go to concerts and see them in action. You may even wish to sign up for competitions to learn from others around. You’ll learn a lot from listening to what others have to say about your performance. 

End with fun. The last few minutes of your practice session should be designed for fun. What’s your favorite piece of music? Playing your favorites allows you to leave your session fully energized and ready for your day. 

What’s your most effective way to keep piano practice interesting? 

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing
21 May 2020 How Do You Stay Motivated To Play The Piano?

How Do You Stay Motivated To Play The Piano?

posted by

No matter what activity you integrate into your life, there will be moments where you feel like giving up. You get tired of the same old routine. You feel bored when you think about participating. 

What’s a person to do?

Playing the piano is a lifelong skill. Unlike sports where you’ll cross over from participant to spectator family rapidly as you age, with piano, it’s always there. You can appreciate listening to a wide range of music. You can sit down at a keyboard every chance you get. 

So how do you stay motivated to play the piano when you hit your rough patches? 

Play what you love

Nothing will keep you motivated to play if you aren’t creating the music you love. If you think it’s boring, you shouldn’t be mastering it. That said, don’t say no to stretching and growing either. Sometimes it’s good to think outside the box and pick up a piece of music that is different than anything you’ve played before. The challenge often comes in listening to how you create and learning to do it better. 

Find your inspiration

Stretch yourself in new ways. If you always listen to the same radio station, change things up. With platforms like Sirius, you have access to hundreds of channels. Spend some time listening to new things to get inspired. Then when you find something you love, try it out on the piano. You can find just about any sheet music online; use that to inspire you to play more. 

Structure your play time

It’s easy to get caught in the desire to always play the same things, the music you’ve mastered. While that may be a good warm up exercise from time to time, push yourself into new things. That’s where the challenge comes from. That’s how you grow. 

Give yourself milestones and challenges

To make piano playing more fun, give yourself something to shoot for. Maybe you can volunteer to play holiday music with a group in your community. Or perhaps you have a song you’ve always wanted to play. Set goals and work towards them every day. You can reward yourself with trips to your community orchestra, or even larger rewards such as flying to Broadway to take in a show. 

Want an even bigger reward? How about giving yourself the gift of an upgraded piano? If you’ve longed for a grand piano to create aesthetics in your room, it may be the perfect reward. 

Whatever questions you have about pianos, we’re here to help. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
« Previous Page
Next Page »