Lesson 7 - Tips and Tricks to Breeze through Piano Learning

If you have been looking forward to play the piano but never had the time and money and guts to do so in the past, don’t feel bad because it’s never too late to learn this classy and versatile instrument. Although most great pianists started playing the piano at a tender age, a handful of good ones starting hitting the keys at the prime of their lives. Sulking in one corner and dreaming will get you nowhere. Get up and gear up for some exciting piano learning adventure.

All you really need to start learning and playing are, of course, a piano (or if you can’t afford for now, an electric keyboard will be a good alternative), dedication and a positive attitude, and time to spare. You don’t even need money. Thanks to the advent of the Internet, many sites are now offering free piano lessons that you can take advantage of. They even have a community of professional and amateur pianists, of whom you can learn a lot from. If you have a natural flair for music, then all the better --- you are now a quarter of your way to being a good, if not great, music maker.

Most people think that to play the piano, one must have a considerable knowledge about music, especially the classical variety. Although that is partly true, do not let that hinder you from playing your dream instrument. Again, it’s never too late to learn, and what better time to do that than now.

Whether you want to enroll in a formal course or learn piano by yourself, it is a prerequisite to train you ears and familiarize yourself with all the variety of musical styles there is. The trick here is to listen to different types of songs as often as possible. If you are leaning toward a certain musical genre, make it a point to listen more to songs belonging to that classification. Hum and sing along with the song while you listen. This will help you establish a sense of rhythm, which you will find very useful once you play your piece on the piano.

Then master your chords and learn your melodies. If you can, try to learn how to read music sheets. Some people learn this by themselves, but others need assistance of good piano coaches. If you don’t have the patience, time, and money to undergo rigorous piano lessons, you might want to learn how to play by ear. The key to playing by ear, actually, is maximum exposure to songs you’d love to play and being able to recognize its melodies and shifts of tunes. And of course, it is also important to be able to play what you hear on the keyboard. So yes, know the anatomy of your piano and master your chords if you want to see significant improvement.

For starters, learn a few chords and one simple song. Play something familiar so you will enjoy the learning process. The tendency of newbie pianists is to take on complicated songs immediately without even mastering the basic techniques first. They don’t have the patience to go through the step-by-step process. This should not be the case. In order to be really good at piano playing, master the easy and simple ones first. This will save you from greater disappointments. Believe me, when you play your chords right, it does not actually matter anymore if your piece is easy or hard. You will feel a sense of achievement once you play an entire song flawlessly.

We cannot overstress the importance of practicing regularly. Remember that for each minute you spend practicing on the piano you are honing your piano playing skills and molding your own style. When you're still struggling with your chords and melodies, it will help if you practice when nobody is listening or around. Play at your own pace, note your mistakes, and learn ways to improve them. When you feel confident enough, ask a friend or someone in the family to listen to you play and ask for an honest feedback. Be professional and mature enough to take criticisms constructively because these could help you play better in the future. Don't be disappointed if you think you haven't shown significant improvement. Learning to play the piano is not a race. Urge your spirit on and keep experimenting and exploring better ways to play: browse online piano sites or consult a professional pianist. Keep in mind that practice makes perfect.

When playing, don’t forget that physical comfort should also be taken into consideration. Once you sit on the piano chair, make sure that your back is straight and that your upper arms are vertical while your forearms and arms are horizontal. You may move your seat forward or backward until you feel at ease and relaxed. When you start to play, touch the piano keys lightly with your fingers. You can only do this when you relax your hand and your fingers to get the right notes at the right time.

As much as possible play in a soundproofed room because practicing might involve a lot of experiments with high notes, which your neighbors might find irritating. If you don't have such room, at least play somewhere private because the last thing you need is to be bothered or be conscious that someone is listening to you play as you try to explore different musical styles and techniques.

Playing the piano is just a matter of persistence and openness to learning, and having a positive attitude. If you want to excel at your new craft, play with an open mind and an open heart. Ask questions and seek answers. Practice regularly and polish your skills. And most important, always have this mind-set that learning never stops no matter how good or how talented you are.

Never underestimated the sense of relaxation and fulfillment that piano playing can bring into your life. If you get overwhelmed and flustered along the way, stand up and try again and think that it’ll all be worth it in the end.