There are many reasons why you should learn to play the piano. First, it’s a great way to exercise your brain by improving your creativity and cognitive skills. But that’s not all: it’s also a good way to start or enhance your music career.
But playing the piano isn’t child’s play for most of us. Many have difficulty because of their physical and cognitive limitations. Moreover, the piano is a complex instrument you can only master through constant practice. So if you’re playing the piano for the first time, be prepared to work hard.
The good thing is that you don’t have to know everything about playing the piano initially, but you can focus on the essential things first. With guidance, you can be on the right path to mastering the piano.
Here are 6 factors to consider before you start playing the piano.
Table of Contents
1. Motivation
Your goals and expectations play a significant role in piano learning. Why do you want to learn to play piano? Is it as a hobby or to improve your musical career? Knowing what you want to achieve puts you on the right track.
If you don’t have sufficient reasons that give meaning to the difficulty of learning this skill, there is a good chance that you’ll give up along the way. Start by setting realistic and achievable goals. Also, surround yourself with like-minded people to increase your motivation. So find a community of piano players who will encourage you and help you overcome obstacles.
The learning process can become overwhelming at a certain point, so take a break and then come back. Keeping the learning process fun is a good way to go about it.
2. Piano Basics
The safest way to learn piano is to start with the basics. There are different types of piano, but the basics apply everywhere.
Here are the main piano basics that every aspiring pianist should learn to have a solid foundation:
- Keyboard layout: these are the black and white keys marked with letters. Each key has a specific function.
- Hand position: You must know how to correctly hold your hands and fingers when playing.
- Reading music: There are notes and rhythms on the sheet music to guide you in playing a specific type of music.
- Rhythm: You need to understand note values and know how to group rhythms and how each lasts.
- Technique: This includes all physical aspects, from a correct sitting posture to finger dexterity, hand position, and touch.
3. Commitment
To become an expert piano player, you must spend a lot of time practicing. It’s different from other skills like cooking that you can do in your spare time. There is no shortcut to mastering the piano; you must work hard every day.
You need discipline to succeed as a pianist. This means planning and setting aside enough time despite your busy schedule. If you don’t practice regularly, your learning process will slow down, and it may even take years to see results.
When you start, you should practice at least 2 hours a day, but depending on your time, it can be up to 6 hours. It’s also essential to find a peaceful place. If you’re studying at home, early mornings or late evenings are ideal, when no one will disturb you. This way, you can concentrate better and learn the skill faster.
4. Learning Style
Everyone learns differently, which affects how you learn to play the piano. In general, there are five different learning styles when it comes to the piano:
Visual
These are people who learn faster by seeing things. If you process information better when you see it, you can seek help from a teacher to guide you in positioning the sheet music. Also, spend time with experienced players to see how they play and learn from them.
Auditory
This type of learner learns by listening to music, as they’re better able to process information in sound form. This means that you need the right acoustic conditions and tuned to hear the notes.
Kinesthetic
Kinesthetic learners are those who absorb information best in tactile form. Therefore, they need to feel the keys when learning. Get advice from a teacher on how to press each key correctly.
Logical
Logical learners work best when they follow a logical train of thought. They learn better when the learning process is well organized. Each note played and how it fits into the melody need to be well explained.
Sequential
Sequential learners are good at learning in a specific order. Information needs to be taught in a particular order, for example, how to do one thing before another when playing the piano.
5. Practice Strategies
There are many strategies for learning to play the piano, such as repetition, chunking, and goal setting. These strategies help to make the learning process easier. Repetition allows you to process and master the piano lessons and makes the practice memorable.
Chunking, on the other hand, divides pieces of music into small sections that are easy to learn and memorize. Practice each piece several times before learning the next.
Goal setting is another essential practice strategy. Before practicing, think about what you want to achieve in this lesson. This could be improving your skills or mastering a particular piece. Without goals, it’s easy to get lost.
6. Cost
Playing the piano is fun but requires a financial investment and time. A good piano costs up to $5,000, which is expensive for a beginner. Buying a piano is the best way to master it quickly.
It saves you the inconvenience of not owning a piano. It’s also an asset that you can pass on to your children. But you don’t have to own a piano to practice; you can rent or borrow one.
Depending on your financial situation, you make a wise decision. But remember that you shouldn’t compromise on quality. The cheap pianos may need more features, and you’ll soon realize that you need a more advanced one. Get an expert to help you choose the right piano that will last.
Conclusion
The number of people who play the piano is constantly increasing. This is because it’s a fun way to experience music and a skill that anyone with a bit of practice can learn. The piano isn’t one of the most accessible instruments to play, but it can be done with the right strategy. Before you start learning, follow these six tips: Define goals and expectations, assess skills, master the basics, practice more and more, determine learning style, and practice strategy.
Finally, playing the piano is a great skill to learn today. Despite the challenges, the effort you put in is worth it. So challenge yourself to master this enviable skill.
