Piano for Retirees

Why Do You Procrastinate?

by

Yes, I am talking to you – why do you procrastinate at learning to play the piano? If you have been reading my blog for a bit, you clearly want to learn to play the piano or else why would you waste your time on a website called Piano For Retirees? I get that procrastination … Read more

Can Any Piece of Music be Played With Chords and  Should All Music Be Played With Chords?

by

The simple answer to this question is no, not every piece of music can be played with just chords, however, there there are many that can be played just using chords. Probably almost every piece of music that you care to name can probably be played using chords. Certainly popular modern music and jazz can … Read more

Advice Specifically for Retired People Who Are Interested in Learning to Play the Piano

by

When kids are exploring their interest in learning to play the piano, adults try to encourage the young person to have a go at learning and to try their best. This is not bad advice at all. We adults know that kids genuinely don’t know how much they are going to enjoy taking lessons, practicing … Read more

Muscle Memory is Useful for Playing the Piano

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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