People love to play the piano for different reasons. You may want to be able to play your favorite classical piano pieces, or to take piano examinations or even take part in performances, festivals or competitions.
Whatever the case, you will need to put in a good number of hours of practice if you’re going to get it done well. But like any repetitive activity, practicing can become boring and tedious.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Online piano teacher Crystal B offers some useful tips to keep you motivated during practice…
Playing piano is a great joy for many people, but sometimes practicing can become repetitive and boring. Here are a few ways to enhance your piano practice time while still honing your skills and acquiring new ones! Via TakeLessons
1. Practical Application
Many people find it boring to learn scales or theory, but these are part of the piano playing foundations that are necessary for turning you into a successful pianist. For instance, there are 12 keys that you need to learn to play classical music, so it’s important to learn these as early as possible. Once you can play the 12 keys comfortably, you should be able to learn new pieces, including advanced pieces, much faster. Here’s what Crystal prescribes for getting rid of the boredom…
Many times the things that seem most boring when practiced alone (such as scales, theory, etc.) can be found in some of your favorite songs. If you’re getting bored with a particular topic, see if you can find a way to incorporate the new knowledge into something that you’ll enjoy playing. You may need to ask your piano instructor for help with this one; he or she can point you in the right direction and give you a song that will make learning the new skill more enjoyable. Via TakeLessons
2. Diversify your practice time
An essential part of practicing piano efficiently is to organize yourself so that you get the best results. As such, you need to be very clear about the objectives of your daily practice sessions, and it is advisable to write down a daily practice plan. This will help you to focus on the most important practice tasks and will also give you a sense of accomplishment as you complete each one.
Instead of working on one thing during your whole piano practice time, divide your time between different things. For instance, try warming up with some technical exercises, doing some note reading, and then playing something by ear or using charts. This will help keep things interesting and will also help you become a more well-rounded musician. Via TakeLessons
3. If you feel like playing something specific, go for it
Many student pianists assume that they should only work on one new piece at a time and that they should not work on any new piece until they have mastered the one they’ve already started. However, it is worth noting that once you become fatigued or bored, you’re going to be much less efficient with your learning. In fact, switching to a different composition or a different section of the piece actually makes you more efficient because your subconscious gets the chance to process the piece.
While it is important to practice things that aren’t always the most fun, remember, learning a new instrument should be an enjoyable and exciting experience! If you sit down to practice and you are really drawn to a particular song, play it! You can accomplish a lot and have a great time by working on a song that really inspires you — even if it’s not what you intended to practice when you first sat down to play.
Remember, the most important thing is that you keep playing, practicing, and learning new things. Have fun! Via TakeLessons
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