Some Common Yet Easily Fixable Mistakes

There are some mistakes that are very common to piano students, so much so that I would argue that everyone has made these at some point. I know I have and so have all my piano students (although some more than others). The first very fixable mistake that everyone makes at some point or other … Read more

You Don’t Have to be Anxious About Doing Piano Exams

First of all, let me state that piano exams are not for everyone. Some people, young or older are quite happy to learn to play the piano without ever taking a piano exam and they can become a very proficient piano player. Some people enjoy the extra challenge that comes with taking piano exams. But, … Read more

Practicing for 5 to 7 Minutes Per Day is All that is Necessary to Make Progress

For the very early years of teaching the piano, I have recommended for students, especially beginners to practice for 5 to 7 minutes every day. I decided that this would be my recommendation simply because when I was a beginner piano student, I was told to practice between 5 and 7 minutes per day. Hundreds … Read more

What To Do When a Piece of Music Isn’t Working

We’ve all been there, whether as a student or someone who has been playing the piano for years, that we are working on a new piece of music and even though we are trying it is not coming together and it can be really frustrating. The first bit of advice would be that this happens … Read more

Practicing is not Playing and Playing is not Practicing

So how can practicing the piano not be playing the piano and vice versa? The really simple answer is that both fulfil a completely different function. Playing a piece of music really happens once you have learned how to play the particular piece of music. You play a piece of music when you know it … Read more

Learning to Find the Notes on a Piano is Easier Than You Think

To someone who doesn’t know how to play the piano, the 88 keys that a piano has would naturally look daunting and the thought of being able to name them all would seem almost impossible. While the piano does have a lot of notes, there’s a way to break things down so it makes learning … Read more