Some Thoughts on Piano Practice

ATTITUDE: Approaching piano practice. Are you the serious type—a perfectionist? When learning new skills, are you tough on yourself? Do you feel frustrated if you think something's not going the way it should? Are any of these traits helpful in learning to play piano? Let’s just say, yes...up to a point! I repeat, “up to a point”. It’s OK to be serious, but, not at the expense of enjoying the instrument. I've met too many students that take playing the piano waaaayyy too serious. They create tension, frustration, anxiety each time they sit down to practice. This builds barriers and slows progress. A little pressure, a little of these feelings at times are quite natural—and occasionally helpful. But there's a line we don't want to cross.

At some point in the near future, I'll be reviewing a great book called 'Effortless Mastery' by Kenny Werner, a great performing and in demand studio and workshop pianist. In the mean time, give it a look up. It might be for you.... I would say that it's really not for the beginner though—but I could be wrong about that... I think it depends on the personality of the student. He has some fascinating thoughts and techniques on practicing the piano. His thing is leans towards a philosophical/new age approach rather then a 'how to' thing. And oh yeah.... it works! Just one quote from the book is...

"...if you've constantly pointed to other players and thought that they possessed something you didn't, or if you've practiced for years and never really improved, or if you always play great but your music lacks depth and meaning for you, read on."

Fact is, most people are not studying to be a concert pianist or a jazz/pop pianist. They begin studying piano to be able to sit at the piano and play their favorite music; to make music. So, keeping this in mind, relax, feel excited, go slow, and enjoy your progress over the weeks and months to come.

Music is wonderful. It can be therapeutic, energizing, and revitalizing—and... there’s some thing special about a piano itself, it can be almost spiritual with its capability of creating beautiful music - even at the simplest playing level. We don’t need to be Chopin, Oscar Peterson or Elton John to play piano.With the right attitude, you'll find yourself progressing much faster.

Kenny Werner explains it like this: "when you sit down at, and touch the piano, you should have the same feeling as sinking slowly down into a warm bath”— “aahhhhh”

He has his students practice this feeling by having them slowly rest their hands on the piano keys, closing their eyes, and imagining this feeling while taking a deep breath, exhaling, and vocalizing the sound...“aahhhh.....”. This has them relax and feel good about what they’re about to do on the piano. It works! So, relax, enjoy, sink into the warm tub, feel good, and have fun! Get that "aahhh......" feeling going. By-the-way... this applies to all instrumentalists...... whom he teaches.

PRACTICING PIANO
How long? How often? Here’s a suggestion. (for beginners) Shorts periods at a time, a couple times a day in the beginning. There’s no need to sit down and practice one or two hours at a time, forcing, or thinking, “I’m gonna get all of this stuff down fast”. It doesn’t work that way! You can overload the mind. The mind tires more quickly for some people and concentration fades. Also… playing piano is not just a mental activity. The muscles are also learning. The mind has to work together with the muscles. You may understand something intellectually and therefore move to fast for the muscles to learn it… to… catch up to the mental.

Forcing yourself to practice piano for long periods of time in this beginning stage may be unproductive. You might even cause yourself to practice wrong, creating bad habits. Do a couple of 10 or 15-minute sessions in the beginning studying one thing well. During the day or night if you find yourself with a few minutes of spare time, such as waiting for the coffee to brew, sit down at the piano and review the past practice session. Follow this regiment for your beginning studies. In time it will become natural to practice for longer sessions without tiredness—the excitement of what you’re accomplishing will push you forward.

TEACHER: At what point should you consider getting a teacher? If you find over time that you wish to progress a bit faster, gain a more thorough understanding of the materials, and have past the stage of leisurely playing as a pastime, then seek out a teacher. See the ‘Finding a Teacher’ article.
What you cannot learn from self-study materials; are certain nuances such as ‘touch’, ‘expression’, ‘interpretation’, a sense of musical timing, and various other pianistic techniques. So, if that piano bug is bites hard, get a good teacher— you’ll be glad you did. And keep the fun factor, and the love of it... strong!

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