12 Tips to learning piano
As in any art form, there are a few helpful tips & tricks for playing the piano that can speed up and facilitate the learning process.
In this article, I have summarized the 12 best tips for beginner piano players. Let’s get started and improve your piano playing!
Tip: Are you just starting out? Then take a look at my Piano Beginner’s Guide first.
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Gordon November
Gordon November
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1. Regular practice is key
Less is more: You will achieve better results if you practice for 20 minutes every day instead of two hours at a time once a week. In general, the more often, the better!
When practicing, it is important to take your time and pay attention to the details. Remember that it’s not about getting to the destination as quickly as possible, but about enjoying the process of learning and the beauty of the music.
2. Make it a habit
It can be helpful to integrate a fixed practice time into your daily routine. This way, playing the piano becomes a habit and you will likely make more progress.
Helpful here is the establishment or linking of routines. For example, always practice playing the piano before or directly after dinner, or – if your situation allows – directly in the morning after your first coffee.
Also consider the time of day. Concentration and receptivity are higher in most people in the morning than in the evening. Of course, there are exceptions. It is optimal for your training to practice during your “best hours.”
3. Create an undisturbed environment
I can tell you that a quiet, undisturbed environment for practicing is simply invaluable. Put your smartphone or tablet aside and dedicate yourself entirely to playing the piano. It’s really tempting to constantly peek at these screens to see if an important message has arrived.
But here’s the thing: you won’t miss anything important. Honestly! You can treat yourself to this little offline time, where you are simply unreachable. It’s a trend that is fortunately gaining importance again, taking time for yourself and switching off from the digital hustle and bustle. Use this half hour to really focus on practicing.
And there’s more you can do to create a distraction-free environment. Choose a quiet room to practice in, ideally one where you can close the door to protect yourself from noise and interruptions.
Tidy up the area around your piano. A clean and tidy practice space promotes concentration and reduces distractions. Make yourself comfortable, but not too comfortable – a good piano stool supports correct posture without you running the risk of relaxing too much and drifting off.
4. Reflect on your piano playing
I can tell you from my own experience that reflection is an incredibly valuable part of the learning process, especially when it comes to playing the piano. Take a few minutes after each practice session to think about what you have just done. How did it sound? Did you achieve what you wanted to achieve? What could you do differently or better next time?
You can also record your piano playing for this.
Believe me, these few minutes of reflection can make a huge difference. They can help you recognize where you have made progress and where you may need to invest a little more work.
5. Find the right tempo
When making music, it is crucial to have your playing tempo under control. Fast passages are often traps for mistakes and, what is worse, your brain and fingers store these mistakes particularly well.
It is therefore advisable to play more slowly and feed your brain with positive information. This will significantly improve your playing in no time!
6. Practice with a metronome
Do you know what is often underestimated when playing the piano? The sense of the basic beat. It is as important as the heartbeat for our body, but we tend to neglect it.
This is where the metronome comes into play. This small device (or app) can help you maintain a steady beat – it’s like your personal rhythm trainer.
A metronome is a great tool to develop a safe timing on your own. It helps you to really feel the basic beat, the tempo and the elements building on it, such as time signature and rhythm, and to internalize them in your body.
That’s why I recommend you include the metronome in your practice program. Start slowly and gradually increase the tempo. You will be surprised how much it helps you improve your rhythm and timing. Give it a chance – you might be pleasantly surprised at how effective it is.
7. Set yourself tangible goals
A good tip for learning to play the piano – and actually for any project – is to set realistic goals. Without goals, you could quickly fall into the trap of always playing the same melodies and chords without seeing any real improvement.
Therefore, why not choose one of your favorite songs as a goal and try to learn it systematically within a month?
Even better: break the goal down into smaller sub-goals. How about learning the first four lines in the first week, the first page in the second week, and so on? Once you have reached a sub-goal, you can tackle the next one.
8. Choose the right song
It is important to choose a song that is neither too easy nor too difficult. Being able to play one of your favorite songs can be a very motivating goal. But be careful! Too ambitious a goal can be frustrating.
Start with simple songs that have only a few notes in the left hand and no chords with more than three notes. Avoid pieces with many hand changes or fast finger movements.
We have a separate article that is specifically dedicated to the ideal piano pieces for beginners.
9. Divide your song into small sections
Once you have found a suitable song, it is helpful to divide it into short sections of 4-10 seconds in length. Your brain is working at full speed while you are practicing the piano and can only store a limited amount of new information.
Focus on practicing one section each day instead of learning the whole song at once. This method will speed up your learning process and allow you to celebrate small successes every day, which keeps you motivated.
10. Practice each hand separately
Before you play both hands together, memorize each hand separately. This may seem cumbersome, but it will ultimately help you reach your goal faster. Your brain has to learn and store the movements of the right hand as well as those of the left hand, as well as coordinate both hands at the same time.
Also take a look at these articles for help:
11. Pay attention to the correct finger posture
A correct finger posture is extremely important not only when playing the piano, but with almost all instruments. Try to keep your fingers in a slight curve over the keyboard, as if you were grabbing something. Don’t let your fingers do their own thing. They are now a team that can create music together with your brain.
You should also not neglect training the fingering. They bring order to your playing and will let you play more fluently & safely in the long run. You can find out more about the fingerings on the piano here.
There are different approaches & methods to learn to play the piano. An inconspicuous tip that is often forgotten is: Choose the approach that suits you!
Maybe the classic approach with cramming notes and practicing until you drop is simply not the right one for you.
If you are looking for an alternative method that does not require tedious reading of notes, then my free workshop might be just the thing for you.
In this workshop, we focus on a completely new approach – playing the piano according to your intuition. It allows you to discover music in a fresh and unconventional way that could help you develop your musical skills in an exciting and fulfilling way.
Play Piano by Intuition
Learning to play the piano is a rewarding endeavor that can be made more efficient with a few helpful strategies. Your regular practice, an appropriate tempo, realistic goals and the appropriate selection of pieces are essential factors for your progress.
It is important that you respect your individual learning pace and enjoy the music. Keep your motivation high, be patient and consistent in your practice.
Over time, you will notice that your efforts are bearing fruit and playing your favorite songs will be a rewarding reward. Good luck and continue to enjoy playing the piano!
Master Keys Without Sheet Music
With the new turbo training, you'll be proficient in every musical key within a few weeks.
(no sheet music knowledge required)
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Play Piano by Intuition
Master Keys Without Sheet Music
With the new turbo training, you'll be proficient in every key signature within just a few weeks.
(no knowledge of sheet music required)
