How to Learn Piano
A comprehensive guide to practicing piano. The benefits of effective piano practice are lifelong.Why it’s important to practice piano
The best way to learn piano is to practice. Check out the top 4 reasons why it’s important to practice piano.
- Builds finger strength and dexterity– When you practice piano on a consistent basis, your fingers get stronger and are able to move with more ease and flexibility
Hand-eye coordination– Piano involves both hands and also your feet working so it requires a lot of multi-tasking. You also have to learn the ability to read music while looking at your hands when needed.
Muscle memory– When you practice a piece regularly, especially on a more challenging section, your muscles remember where your next note is, so it programs your fingers to play almost by memory without thinking about it.
Stimulates the brain and makes you smarter– Learning piano activates neurons and a process called myelination which allows your brain to think and process faster. As seen in research, those who took music lessons at a young age saw a growth in their IQ with an increase of 3 points.
How to learn piano at home
Find a quiet space- make sure you have a place where you practice where there are no distractions like the TV on or where other people are around. A private room is ideal where you can focus and concentrate with a period of time
Set a consistent time that you practice everyday. When you have a regular time to practice you develop a discipline and you become proactive about it instead of putting passive practice time when you can. For example, practice before you have dinner or right after school.
Practice everyday the same amount of time. Studies have shown that practicing everyday for shorter amounts of time is more effectively than practicing only a couple time a week for long periods of time.
Finally, reward yourself- when you have mastered a hard section by giving yourself a reward. Positive reinforcement encourages a healthy new habit. OR if you practice 20 min everyday this week, treat yourself to an ice-cream or go on a walk!
Tips on how to learn piano for kids and adults
Both adults and children do best when they practice everyday. However the duration of their practice time varies between their level.
For beginners, I would suggest practicing for about 10-15 min a day for children. Because adults tend to have longer attention span, I would double their practice time to 20-30 min a day.
For intermediate students, I would have children practice 30 minutes a day and adults 45-60 min a day.
For advanced children students, I would recommend 45-60 min a day practice while adult advance students, I would recommend up to 90 min of practice each day.
The key is not how long you practice but how you spend your time practicing effectively with focused attention.
What kind of equipment is recommended to practice piano?
Some students are just learning the piano for the first time so usually I would recommend purchasing a keyboard to start with and if the interest and commitment continues, purchasing a piano is advisable.
When choosing a beginning level keyboard, consider buying one that has at least 61 keys, a pedal, a music stand on the keyboard and a bench so he/she can sit properly with the right posture. A bench or keyboard stand that is adjustment is high recommended. If your budget allows, purchase a weighted keyboard since it has a feel as an actual piano.
A weighted keyboard is a great option for those who have limited space and are committed to learning the piano/keyboard long-term.
If you want to find affordable budget friendly weighted or higher class keyboards, Costco, Amazon, or Craigslist has some great finds.
How parents can motivate kids to practice piano
In my 12 years of teaching, I have found that practicing piano should not be confined to the lesson time but also at home by simply listening to music at home, watching music concerts, or having a parent or sibling play an instrument.
When you are surrounded by music, the learning curve for music also accelerates. It’s like a greenhouse effect. So the greatest way a parent can encourage their child to practice is to either learn with them, help them set a regular schedule to practice, and incorporate music in their everyday life. During the lesson time, I also reward my students with prizes and stickers when they complete their homework and piece well. Parents at home can also do a similar reward system.
Practicing piano skills depends on piano level
Beginner students are learning just the basics of note reading, rhythm, dynamics, and technique. The songs are much more basic and elementary such as a simplified version of Ode to Joy, Canon, of some shorter Minuets by Bach.
However intermediate students are learning pieces such as Nocturnes, Claire De Lune, and Etudes. They have a higher level of artistry, technical ability, and already have developed a strong knowledge of music theory. For example they can play all the scales, chord progressions, cadences and other finger exercises. They have a trained ear and solid sight reading capabilities.
Advanced students have all of those ability but are potential candidates for a career in music. They are learning pieces involving lots of movements such as Chopin Fantasie- Impropmtu Op 66, Tchaikovsky: November from The Seasons Op 37a. Brahms: Intermezzo Op 118 No 2. Advanced students are also doing more duets, with another piano player or playing with the symphony or a band. Many of them pursue a career in music or enter in a university to study music specifically.