3 Simple Actions For Beginner Piano Players (Make Rapid Progress From The Start)
Oct 05, 2024
Are you wondering how to build your skills efficiently, without wasting your precious time?
In today's age of digital distraction, it can be incredibly tough to make progress towards your musical goals – learning piano is no exception.
Over the last 16 years, I've experimented with lots of different teaching and learning approaches with 100s of beginner students.
If you take the 3 actions below, you'll not only make rapid progress from the beginning, but you'll also enjoy the journey!
1. Commit to Daily Playing
The habit of playing every day, is fundamental to your success. inconsistent players tend to quit.
Frequency of playing far outweighs duration of playing.
A focused 5-minute practice block done every day will help you build momentum as a beginner. Momentum leads to progress. I know you're busy, but I also know you can block off 5 minutes to play!
And remember – look forward to your practice sessions – they are your vehicle for improvement.
2. Track Your Practice
Tracking your practice makes your piano playing habit real. Track your practice to stay motivated.
Every time you practice, record the session duration. I track my practice session durations on a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. But, pen and paper is just effective. Do what works for you.
The act of writing this down will help you feel a sense of progress and accomplishment.
3. Start With Chords
Avoid learning to read music notation when you first start learning.
It's important to understand that learning to read music is its own skillset, and if you focus on this in the beginning stages of learning piano, you'll massively slow down your actual playing skills.
Instead, focus on playing chords, and playing them rhythmically. (This only requires you to look at your hands and the keyboard.)
By removing the additional need to look at a sheet of music notation, you'll build your playing skills faster.
You can always learn to read music later, if you want. (It is a useful skill to have.)
By taking these 3 simple actions as a beginner, you'll experience the thrill of rapid skill development in your piano playing.
If you embrace and implement the ideas above, you'll be amazed at how often you experience 'breakthroughs' and 'aha-moments' as you sit and play.
Generating these positive emotions in each playing session will help to keep you inspired and hungry to continue learning over the long term.
Consistently building your skills as a piano player is something you'll come to deeply appreciate.
