The classic question of all classics is how much do I have to practice? The honest to goodness truth is that the amount of time that you practice does not determine how fast you learn. It is how often you practice that determines how fast you learn. What do I mean by that? First, the most common mistake to make is to believe that you have to practice for hours to get good at the piano. That is NOT true. All you need to do is practice often for short periods of time. The one thing that will slow your progress is going long periods of time without practicing. You need to practice at the minimum 2-3 times a week, at the best, 5-7 times a week. Each practice session should be at Continue Reading
Can the metronome replace counting out loud?
Counting out loud and using a metronome serve different functions. Counting out loud teaches you how to apply the right amount of time to each different type of note. The metronome helps you count without missing a beat. It is true you can us a metronome to help you keep the rhythm steady, but if you don't continue your habit and knowledge of counting, you wont' know how to play a song, even with a metronome. A metronome is an excellent tool to keep your counting and playing steady. I am sorry, but a metronome alone will not teach you how many beats to apply to a note. You might think you are matching the beat to the metronome, but you might be matching the wrong notes to the Continue Reading
What are the piano pedals for?
There are three pedals that are standard on the piano, I will only address the the that is most widely used: The DAMPER pedal is often called "the sustain pedal". This is the pedal most commonly used and the only pedal option when you purchase a keyboard. When you have three pedals, it the pedal furthest to the right. To know how the damper pedal works, play any key on the piano and let go. Do you hear the note still ringing? Now, press the damper pedal down with your foot, and then play a key on the piano and let go of the key, but don't let go of the pedal. Do you hear the note still ringing? The answer is yes. When you press the damper pedal while playing the piano, the Continue Reading
Is using stickers on the keys a bad habit?
I don't encourage my students to use stickers. I can't tell you of the countless times I have had a student rely on stickers too long and can't play on any piano but their own. It truly is a handicap to you if you mark your keys in any way. It is true that it might help you play quicker and smoother, but the moment you take them away, the piano all of a sudden looks different and you are back to being confused again. I recommend flashcards for note memorization, but for flash cards to be the most effective is to not only name the note when you see it, but play it as well. Time yourself and see how quickly you can go through a handful of flash cards by saying it and playing it. Continue Reading
How young can I start teaching my child?
Piano lessons for the very young I would only recommend a parent to teach a two year old how to play the piano. A LOT of patience and repitition on a daily basis, is required. A two year old would not benefit from a weekly lesson, and the parent would be paying for a lot of repetition. So, I say it's doable, but I recommend that a parent does it. At this early stage, the parent needs only to follow the curriculum, they don't need to know how to play the piano. If a parent really wants their very young child in piano lessons, then I would do it with the parent included, and explain that the lessons will not be effective without the parent at every lesson, and that the parent Continue Reading
Banging on the Piano Syndrome
Question from a student: I am on Level 5 and happy with my progress. However, when I listen to your audio support the sound is lovely and "soft" - I seem to play the keys much stronger and harder. Do you have any tip(s) as to how I can train my fingers to be more gentle. (I work on a computer keyboard all day so I suppose I have learned to hit the keys hard!). Lisa's Answer: When I was learning, my mom always yelled at me about "banging" on the keys. It's a natural beginner tendency. It's good you are aware of it, because you will naturally work on it. ~smile~ It's being aware, controlling your muscles, and over time you will start to know how hard and soft to hit the keys Continue Reading