Tips for Playing the Piano

To Pedal Or Not To Pedal, That is the Question

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Pedaling is one of those things, where there doesn’t seem to be much consensus about. Some piano players advocate a very strict idea about when and how much the pedal should be used, while others think that doing what feels right, what you think is the best way to go. I personally can see both … Read more

Vegetable Rhythms – What Are They and How Can They Help?

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In my work this year as a relief music teacher working across primary and high schools, I have come across the concept of vegetable rhythms and even though they are aimed at children from the ages of 5 to 8, I think that whoever came up with the concept was really rather clever. Vegetable rhythms … Read more

Old Piano Books- Are They Any Use?

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t strikes me as amusing that one thing that tends to not ever be thrown out is old music books. People that don’t play the piano, have never wanted  to or will ever want to learn to play the piano, will hold on to piano music, sometimes for generations. This has been the case on … Read more

Ways to Count When Learning a New Piano Piece

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There are some people who can sit down at a piano and just play stuff with seemingly no effort at all. They seem to get the notes and the timing (or rhythm) without even really thinking. This is the perception but it is not actually a reality. I would be one of those people who … Read more

How is Crescendo and Diminuendo Different From Playing Forte and Piano?

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You might be familiar with the expression terms of crescendo, diminuendo, forte and piano, as well as mezzo forte, mezzo piano, fortissimo and pianissimo, if not then here is their definitions: Crescendo – gradually becoming louder Diminuendo – gradually becoming softer Forte – loud Piano – soft Mezzo Forte – moderately loud Mezzo Piano – … Read more

Learning to Play the Piano with Chords

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Most people are aware that there is more than one way to play the piano. Some people play the piano by ear, while the rest of us either play classical, jazz or modern piano music. Naturally is a lot of overlap between classical, jazz and modern, but there is also a number of elements that … Read more

Feeling Daunted About Learning to Play the Piano? Means You’re Learning and Gaining New Skills

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Learning is meant to be fun and easy. There is also this perception that if you are finding something hard to learn, then you are not really applying yourself or trying hard enough. I find this thought can be quite common but not necessarily true. Sometimes learning can be confusing or daunting and sometimes it … Read more