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.
3 Responses
Well said. I also dont encourage students using stickers. Otherwise it becomes a habit. Too dependent on that, one can never improve and know how to read notes and play independantly. By knowing how to play independently and reading notes one will not face any problem in playing the piano when any music sheet is infront of you. And you’ll enjoy the fruit of success. And is proud that it is your own piece of work that you can play on your own. You feel proud too and your friends, relatives will admire you for that. I for one will not use stickers. Otherwise my playing piano becomes deteriorated.
Having been Lisa’s “online student” for 16 months(I started in March 2008), I am really amazed with my improvements from heaps and bounds. I enjoyed every minute and every second daily practicing the piano. I am proud that I can now play piano and read notes. I am now in the Beginners Intermediate Level. Currently I am still working on Lesson 9. I now know how to play Canon in C, Church Hymms: How Great Thou Art, Nearer My God To Thee. Songs like: Auld Lyne Syne, Michael Row The Boat Ashore, Mexican Hat, Oh Susanna, Deck The Hall to name a few. All these I’ll send the recordings over to Lisa when I am free. I am from an Asian country. I am now enjoying the fruit of success knowing how to play piano independently. I look forward to bigger challenges as I progress. Hopefully that I can play a long difficult piece in time to come. But I know it is NOT easy. Cos’ music is very challenging as the days passed. The higher you go the more difficult it is. Hence we have to be patient if one really is interested in playing the piano and loves music. Learning how to read notes is an asset. And I am glad I found Lisa’s website and I am proud she is my “Online Piano Teacher”.
Thank you Lisa for being my “Online Piano Teacher”. And for your hardwork. You are a great teacher. I like your smiles. Your children, Jacob and Jasmine has sweet smiles of yours. Keep smiling!
God bless you in everyway. and keep you safe.
I am glad I read this post, I am sure as a beginner, everyone wants to start out marking their keys, just like me…since i know some basic key layouts now, I will take them off right away, very well, said, and it makes a lot of sense, I do not want to learn the piano twice, with stickers, then taking them out, then have to learn the keys all over again…I do not need any more handicap then what I already have 🙂
thanks for the post.
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