Learning Piano - or Anything Else

When you set out to learn to play piano, or anything else, it's really about teaching yourself. This may seem strange, especially when this advice comes from a professional piano teacher who stresses that the best online materials can never replace a live teacher. Nevertheless, learning to play piano involves getting the best information, presented in the best way, testing and proving what works. Of course, some things may be nonsense and never work. A bit of time and trial will tell in the end. The key point is to not blindly accept, or reject anything. Always try and test everything. Even when the information comes from a dear and trusted teacher that has proven his/her worth; time and again. Learning means teaching yourself through practice and refinement. In other words:

• Try something
• Adjust as necessary
• Try something else
• Adjust again as necessary
• Learn or find something new
• Try it out a few times
• Adjust again as necessary
• Repeat or refine
• Research and think from another angle
• Practice again and adjust as needed

Now, let's get a little more specific. I will use examples from the piano. What a big surprise. Right? Try something could be a new way of placing your hand on the keyboard. So many people I've taught tend to be careless with the thumb. It hangs out on its own, often on the wood of the keyboard instead of over the piano keys area ready to play. Also, the hand rolls too much with this carelessness. So, let's have you keep a coin on the back of your hand while you play a familiar scale. Oh the fun I've had watching students trying this for the first time! Adjust as necessary to keep the coin from falling while you play. This could take a few tries. Try something else might be playing a new scale (without the coin) while remembering the sensation of the coin on your hand. This one always sounds easier than it is. Alright then. You get the picture. The really good news here is that this learning procedure where you are really teaching yourself will work in other areas of life where a particular skill is required. Especially one involving minutia, or small fine details. Of course, getting professional guidance or coaching, before you practice up a storm, is the best way to go. Perhaps it'll look a little different for you, but it will be a journey of changes.