3 October 2022 The Biggest Problems People Face When Learning The Piano

The Biggest Problems People Face When Learning The Piano

posted by

Learning the piano can be a rewarding experience. It can also be frustrating. 

You reach a plateau, and everything seems to be complicated. The more you try, the more you feel like you’re taking a step backward. 

If you feel like you’re not making the progress you were hoping would happen, it might be because:

You’re not practicing enough

You may have a routine down for your practice time. But you may be stuck in a rut with how you’re practicing. Practicing doesn’t lead to perfection. Perfect practice does. It’s more important to make headway with your learning curve than to follow the same routine. 

If you’re bored with scales, how can you change them up? If you dread 30 minute routines because your mind drifts to other activities, try breaking it up to 15 minutes twice per day. 

Do a little research, or talk with your piano instructor about rescheduling your practice routine. You’ll find yourself enjoying the piano once again with a few changes. 

You have too many distractions

Do you find yourself thinking of other things while playing? Find a way to put distractions aside before you play. 

Even if you rely on your phone for practice apps, can you put other tools on hold, so you’re not interrupted by dings, bells, and whistles? It’s one of the biggest distractions for productivity across the board – putting it aside may help you practice better each day. 

You’re playing the wrong music

Maybe you picked up sheet music because you love the song, but if it’s beyond your capabilities, it may be more frustrating than motivating you. 

You should also work with your instructor to select music that motivates you to want to play more. While every piano player should learn the basics, you should also be able to play things you love. 

You don’t have the right motivation

Maybe you learn better with a group. Maybe you need a new instructor. Maybe it’s time to show off your skills by scheduling a recital or concert. 

We all have different things that motivate us. Before you give up on your dream to play the piano, ask yourself what would make you fall in love with it once again. 

In today’s world, there are many ways to utilize your piano knowledge and give you motivation to become a better player. 

Learning the piano is a personal journey, one that changes consistently throughout the years. Keep moving forward – it’s a skill you can use for a lifetime. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
23 September 2019 The Science Behind Learning The Piano

The Science Behind Learning The Piano

posted by

Why do you play the piano? Ask dozens of students and they’ll all give you different reasons. For fun. For enjoyment. For skill. Possibly even for a career. 

What’s more, learning the piano can ensure a lifelong skill. Unlike sports or other activities, piano is something you can enjoy and take part in for the rest of your life. And there’s further reason to so. According to many studies, there are many benefits of learning to play the piano

It increases brain processing

As we age, the ability to process usually slows down. Some studies show that if you continue to be active in playing the piano, the process doesn’t occur as fast. Playing the piano can also help slow memory loss, giving you the ability to continue to work through complex problems much longer in life. 

It helps with comprehension

Have you heard that musicians are better at math? There’s scientific evidence proving it. If you’ve heard of “The Mozart Effect”, it showed that even listening to Mozart for ten minutes before performing specific tasks can increase a wide variety of skills, including comprehension. A great reason to put classical music on while you study or attempt to solve problems. 

It helps with coordination

If you’ve ever sat down at the piano for even a moment, you know it takes a lot of concentration to put every action together. Both hands touch different notes, while your eyes focus on reading sheet music. That means every time you sit down you’re working at controlling both hand and eye coordination. 

Learning the piano no matter what your age can give you a lifetime of enjoyment. It’s something you can play, listen to, and enjoy for many years to come. 

Are you ready to learn the piano? Get started by finding the perfect piano for your home. Stop by today and see our full selection of acoustic and digital pianos. There’s a perfect one waiting for you. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
18 August 2016 Yes, Learning The Piano Can Turn Into A Lucrative Career

Yes, Learning The Piano Can Turn Into A Lucrative Career

posted by

When our kids are born, we hope to give them every advantage. We want them to lead happy, productive lives. And most of all, we want them to be happy.

That’s why from day one, we push. We choose good schools. We provide books and help them learn. We steer them into sports; after all, that’s where the most opportunity lies, right?Yes, Learning The Piano Can Turn Into A Lucrative Career

Think again.

While music programs have increasingly gone away in many school districts, getting your kids active in music as early as possible has its benefits. And while very few kids today will ever end up turning pro in sports, there is a good chance your child can turn their love of music into a lucrative career.

If your child learns to play the piano at a young age and sticks with it throughout school, they have a beneficial skill that will last a lifetime. And they can do a lot more with their skills as well.

Video Game Audio
One of the fastest growing careers in the music business is a career in video game audio. While they might have to start as low person on the ladder as they learn their skills, assisting wherever needed, they can quickly escalate to the position of an audio engineer, who creates music mixes in studio, to audio director who oversee video game audio production. Audio tool developers can easily pull in a six figure salary for writing original code.

Orchestral Musician
Though many community music programs have witnessed shrinking budgets over the past few years, there are still opportunities to get involved as an orchestral musician. Starting in the local community may give a person a low paying job. But with experience and improvement, moving to the largest symphonies across the nation can quickly escalate into a six figure career.

Music Therapists
Baby boomers are aging; currently, about one in seven Americans is over the age of 65. And we’re just beginning to see how music can soothe the soul and help many overcome symptoms from a variety of diseases with the help of music therapy. Of course, it doesn’t stop with the aging. Benefits have been seen in many different programs, from learning disabilities in kids, to rehabilitating prisoners, to dealing with PTSD. Developing an outpatient private practice can easily net a music therapist a six figure income.

Movie/TV Music Production
Top Hollywood actors and directors are still producing high budget films. Television shows are as diverse and as far reaching as ever. And in order to create that much content ever year, someone must be in charge of creating the music that goes into it. Enter the position of music supervisor. While salaries are usually low, associated only with one project at a time, a top producer can easily move into the six figure level and beyond.

Music Attorney
Every successful musician needs a lawyer. And a lawyer that is familiar with all things music ensures a thorough knowledge base for her client base. There are many intricate details to music law, including copyrights, trademarks, and contract negotiations. The bigger more successful the client base, the more lucrative a music lawyer can make.

Still think sports is the only way to give your child all she needs to move into a successful life? Maybe today’s the day you give her the gift of music. Let’s get her started on playing the piano today.

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With: , ,
15 March 2014 How Is Your Child Learning The Piano?

How Is Your Child Learning The Piano?

posted by Leave a Comment

One of the most widely sought after “bucket list” items is the ability to play the piano. Piano is considered to be the kind of all instruments. A child as early as 2 can begin touching and playing the notes, feeling the musicality, and understanding rhythm far beyond what would be capable if he were to choose another instrument. Likewise, the piano can be played into our 90’s, even 100’s and beyond because of its ease of use.

Yet for many people, traditional piano lessons have done anything but help them learn the piano. Why? Is there a better way? How Is Your Child Learning The Piano?

Studies are now showing that a more traditional way of approaching lessons may do more harm than good, especially for the very young.

A child must learn how to crawl before he can stand, stand before he can walk, walk before he can run. Each skill level builds on the other, giving you what’s necessary to move to the next level.

Piano lessons are no different.

To develop fine motor skills in playing the piano, a child must move through various stages:

  • Find the correct keys using any finger
  • Fined the correct keys with proper fingering
  • Play the keys with different rhythms
  • Play in consideration to the tempo of the music
  • Play in consideration to the quality of the sounds

If you push beyond the capabilities, it will simply have no meaning to the child. For instance, if you try and teach rhythm before the child has an understanding of the proper finger placement on the keys, he will have no understanding of the lesson and will soon grow frustrated and bored.

A newfound skill is clumsy and awkward until its perfected. Only after trying and trying again does it begin to make sense and become almost routine. When its second nature, only than can we move on and upgrade our skills and our desire for a more complex level.

If your child is feeling frustrated with piano lessons, how has he been approaching it? It may be time to consider a new approach. We can help you find the perfect piano instructor to suit your needs. Give us a call today.

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With: ,