Muscle Memory is Useful for Playing the Piano

Recently I have seen online various adverts that talk about secret knowledge of being able to successfully remember how to play pieces of music that you have already learned months or even years ago. It is no big secret, it is just using what is called muscle memory. (As an aside, it is purely a … Read more

Perpetuating the Myth that Playing the Piano is Really Hard

I’ve noticed lately that there are quite a number of sources saying that learning to play the piano is hard and it has not just been one or two websites. The myth that learning to play the piano is just about impossible for adults is alive and well, unfortunately. What is also alive and well … Read more

Reading Piano Music

Some people can really get themselves bent out of shape about learning to read two lines of music at the same time. This is often common with someone who plays, or has played another musical instrument before trying to learn to play the piano. Most instruments have only one line of music, whereas piano music … Read more

Focus on the Daily Goal, not the Long Term Goal

I’ve been thinking lately about why kids seem to be content when they are learning something new, like learning the piano, unlike adults, who seem to spend so much energy wondering whether they are going to be any good. If you think of a five or six year old, they don’t worry whether they will … Read more

What is the Difference Between Simple Time and Compound Time?

As a piano teacher, I have been asked this question many times and sometimes the information available is not clear cut. First of all, every time signature that exists in western traditions of music falls into the category of either simple time or compound time. Simple time includes: 2/4, 3/4,  4/4 Compound time examples are: … Read more

What is the Difference Between Wishing and Wanting to Play the Piano?

As I have stated several times before, I have had so many people that have told me that they want to play the piano. Over the years I have come to realize that not everyone that has said that to me has been serious. I don’t mean that they are lying , its just that … Read more

Does Any Sort of Musical Prior Experience Going to Help Me Learn to Play the Piano?

The short answer to that question is a resounding yes – that experience in a choir or learning to play another musical instrument when you were younger, as well as having some piano lessons decades ago does help when you are learning to play the piano now. I have come across a number of people … Read more