5 Tips for Successful Piano Practicing

Learning to play the piano can be an extremely fun experience for children and adults. It will certainly require a lot of dedication, determination, and patience, but the results can be incredibly rewarding.

I think one of the keys to getting better at your instrument is to learn how to practice effectively. Knowing how to practice will not only maximize your time, but it will considerably improve your playing in a shorter amount of time. There are many strategies that could be used to improve your playing but here are five ways to add to your daily practice for consistent results.

1. Listen to yourself:

Pay attention to what the music is requesting from you. What are the dynamics, articulations, tempo markings, etc.? Are there any spots that need more attention to rhythm and counting? There is no way around listening to yourself if you want to be a good musician.

2. Learn the style first, then learn the notes:

Make choices from the early stages about what do you want to do with the music. Mark these choices with a pencil, so it can be changed later. Decide how you are going to shape the phrases, adding any dynamics, crescendos, decrescendos, etc. Remember to keep the original intentions of the composer and within the style as well.

3. Don’t just play “the notes”:

Think about what the music would sound like if it was played by a different instrument other than the piano. Play the melody, for instance, if it was played by a violin, a cello, or even by a singer. This will make your practice more fun and it will boost your artistry level. Remember, if you think like an artist, you will be one!

4. Don’t play “through” the piece every time your practice:

Start from the “trouble” spots and play it slowly. Once you start feeling more comfortable with the passage (s), you should up your tempo gradually. If you reached a tempo, but still there are mistakes, you should take it at a slower tempo until you are able to play with no mistakes. You could also practice with hands separate, even starting with the left hand. Also, try small sections, slowly and with hands together, and move on to the next one only when you have mastered the previous.

5. Be consistent:

The best way to achieve success in piano study is through correct and consistent practice habits. Remember your brain takes time to develop its neuro-connections that lead to aural and muscle memory. It's the daily consistent habits that promote the development of new skills or improving current ones.

If you would like more information, contact us and we will be glad to set up your first free trial lesson!

We hope you enjoyed this article and we look forward to educating parents and students in the art of teaching and learning more about music and piano.

"5 Tips for Successful Piano Practicing" by Piano Performance Arts Academy, LLC.

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3 Ways to Keep Students Motivated to Practice During the Holidays

Keeping students engaged in their music activities during the holidays can be a challenge for parents. This can be a time full of joy and festivity, and equally packed with too many plans and prior commitments. This year has been especially difficult with the pandemic, and students’ normal routines being completely disrupted.

Having students engaged in familiar activities, such as music practice is a wonderful way to provide stability in the midst of business and chaos.

But why should students practice during the holidays?

The main reason is to continue working on improving their music skills. The main advantage is students are out of school and they have more “free-time” on their hands.

Let me say there is nothing wrong with students who decide to take the holidays off from piano practice. Depending on the student, that may be just what they need in order to recharge and come back with renewed inspiration.

It is also important to promote the continuity of their practice habits through the holiday season because this is a great time to explore some newer approaches to music that had not been previously explored, due to preparing for exams and other busy school activities.

The biggest challenge is now there are many distractions competing for this “free-time”. So how do we guide the students so they can have a wonderful holiday with friends and family, while pursuing their own self-improvement?

1. FOCUS ON PLAYING THEIR FAVORITE PIECES

We are much more likely to engage in activities we love due to the dopamine response in our brains. Why not take the time to learn a favorite song or a soundtrack from a movie or a video game? If there’s no sheet music available, then the teacher can write the melody for them to practice, or some students that are more adventurous can take on a learning by ear project.

2. SET SPECIFIC GOALS

Depending on the student's level and skills, setting goals can be a good way to keep them involved in their piano practice during the holidays. This could be a time to try out improvising on songs they already know, review old pieces, learning a few scales and chords or memorizing their favorite piece.

3. EXPLORE MUSIC COMPOSITION

Do you have students who love to sit down at the piano and create their own tunes? How about students who would love to know how to create their own music, but just don’t know how! This can be a great opportunity to teach them just that and explore more about the topic. Give them the world of possibilities of music and they will be always intrigued and fascinated with music.

Just remember this:

Music is about life and building life-long skills that will help them with other skills in their life later on. When they are presented with challenges and they are given the tools to overcome it, we are presenting them with the opportunities to succeed later in life.

Music should be fun and engaging and when they love what they do, it is a pleasure to sit down at the piano and have fun!

We hope you enjoyed this article and we look forward to educating parents and students in the art of teaching and learning more about music and piano.

If you would like more information, contact us and we will be glad to set up your first free trial lesson!

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5 Ways to Engage Our Younger Beginner Piano Students

Children learn by observing, exploring, listening, and asking questions. Learning is as natural as breathing which makes young children ideal candidates for piano lessons. Singing and moving comes very natural to them, and they are often very quick learners!

Let's take a look at 5 ways teachers, parents and students come together to create the best learning environment, to ensure success and a life-long pursuit of music.

I. ASSESSMENT

An initial assessment is important because by understanding the student readiness, the teacher will know how and when the lesson plan will need to be adapted accordingly. A few things to keep in mind:

1. Is the hand physically developed enough to depress the keys without tension?

2. Is the child able to remain attentive for the length of the private lesson?

3. Can the child follow simple instructions?

II. LESSONS

Once the initial assessment has been accomplished, the teacher will be able to provide the best instruction to the student with greater understanding and expertise. One important factor that can make or break lessons with young children is the teacher’s ability to adapt to the student’s personality. Music teachers cannot only be masters of their instruments. They must be master communicators, and an expert teacher knows the importance of teaching the human being first, the music second, and the piano third. This idea is different from the traditional way of teaching in the turn of the 19th century, where the student had to adapt to the teacher's method with little regards to the student's learning style. An expert instructor nowadays understands the necessity of teaching the child first and foremost and helping in their music development.

III. PLANNING

Piano lessons for young beginners require teachers to do short-term and long-term planning. It is very important to plan and prepare prior to each lesson. A general rule is to use the “age plus one minute” when planning classroom activities. In other words, a five year old can be expected to focus on an activity for a total of six minutes. Off-bench activities are particularly important because they allow them to move and engage their body with rhythm activities and games.

IV. REINFORCING

A very important element in teaching young beginners is ensuring that they understand the concepts well. This requires reinforcement by using different, so for for example, singing and moving are wonderful ways to develop the child’s musicality. Therefore, it is important to incorporate such activities in each lesson to develop their musical strength.

V. COMMUNICATION

It is very important to develop a positive rapport and relationship with the parents. Young children need more assistance during practice, so it is crucial to involve the parent during each practice session, and ensure the parent understands the weekly assignment. Inviting the parents to observe the lessons whenever possible is always a good idea to allow them to see the child’s progress and to come along-side the teacher as a team. Providing simple and easy-to-follow weekly goals to the student and the parent, along with consistent practice habits, will ensure the child’s success and musical development.

CONCLUSION

It is extremely rewarding to teach young beginners. With thoughtful planning and the willingness to adapt to each student individually, the investment given to young learners will prepare them for a life-long music journey filled with creativity, academic success and joy of learning.

If you would like more information, contact us and we will be glad to set up your first free trial lesson!

"5 Ways to Engage Our Younger Beginner Piano Students" by Piano Performance Arts Academy, LLC.

#PianoLessons #LearnToPlay #WesleyChapel #Zephyrhills #Tampa #NewTampa #Riverview #Brandon

#BeginnerPianoLessons

#IntermediatePianoLessons

#AdvancedPianoLessons

#AllAgesAndLevels

#OnlinePianoLessons