Piano Practice and Technique - · PDF fileBasic Piano Technique Tricks ... Piano Practice and...

Piano Practice and Technique

Copyright © www.OnlinePianoCoach.com

Piano Practice and Technique Tips and Tricks for Beginner Pianists

By Maria Lewander-Androutsou



Contents

How to Learn a New Piano Piece ...................................................................................................... 4

Pencil Practice .............................................................................................................................. 4

How Not to Learn a Piano Piece ................................................................................................... 5

Learn to Start from Anywhere in the Score .................................................................................. 5

Test it! ............................................................................................................................................... 6

Submarines and Piano Performances .......................................................................................... 6

The Big Distraction Test ................................................................................................................ 7

Basic Piano Technique Tricks ............................................................................................................ 7

The Simplest Way to Get the Correct Hand Posture .................................................................... 7

Hand Posture: “Sticky” Issues ....................................................................................................... 8

Piano Fingering ............................................................................................................................. 8

Healthy Practice Routines ................................................................................................................ 9

Piano Practice for Weight Loss? ................................................................................................... 9

How to Warm Up Before Practicing ...........................................................................................10

Example of a Healthy Daily Practice Routine .............................................................................10

Practice Skills ..................................................................................................................................10

No Time for Practice? When Less Means More .........................................................................10

Effective Practice Strategies .......................................................................................................11

Piano Scales ....................................................................................................................................12

Why Do We Need Scales? ..........................................................................................................12

The Hanon ......................................................................................................................................13

Playing with Expression ..................................................................................................................14

Exercising “The Other Muscle” ...................................................................................................14

Music is Pictures Painted with Sound ........................................................................................15

Exercise to Practice Playing with Expression ..............................................................................15

The Piano Pedals: The Soul of the Piano ........................................................................................16

Practicing Endurance ......................................................................................................................16



“Micro-breaks” ...........................................................................................................................16

Building a Repertoire ......................................................................................................................17

The Menace of Social Gatherings ...............................................................................................17

Mastering the Piano, One Key at a Time ........................................................................................18



How to Learn a New Piano Piece

Here are the basic steps to learn a new piano piece from a music score.

Step 1: Divide the piece in 2 to 4 measure chunks.

Step 2: Play your right hand: You will repeat the section many times; first focus on the right

notes and fingering. Play only slowly, legato and medium loud at this point for secure playing.

Do the same with your left hand.

Step 3: Keep playing hands apart, but focus on the rhythm. For each repeat keep adding

dynamics, articulation and phrasing where applicable. Increase speed to the correct tempo. Do

the same with your left hand.

Step 4: Prepare to play hands together: Review your right hand but play slow, legato and

medium loud again. Do the same with your left. Now extremely slowly play both hands

together. It should be so slow that you play no mistakes at all. Keep playing legato and medium

loud (mf).

Step 5: Now repeat the section at least 4 times. Then start adding dynamics, articulation and

speed.

Keep repeating the steps above with a new section of 2-4 measures. Then combine what you

have learned several times. If you any time later would experience a difficulty in a certain

section of the piece, you can "repair" it easily using the same process again!

Pencil Practice

When practicing you often need to repeat a passage over and over again. To keep track of the

times you successfully play a passage (no mistakes!), use a pencil!

Put the pencil on the lowest D on the keyboard.

For each time you play correctly, move it down one white

key.

When you have reached the end of the piano- you win the

game!

You can decide how many repetitions you wish to do, simply put the pencil on another key.



Decide the level of difficulty:

Next, decide how hard you want to be on yourself...!

Level 1 (Nice and easy): Play passage. If you make a mistake simply stay with the pencil on the

same key until you play it right. Then move one step down. Continue like this until you “win”.

Level 2 (A bit tougher): Play passage. When you play it right, move the pencil one key down. But

this time, if you make a mistake go one step back! Continue like this until you “win”.

Level 3 (Super nasty!): Play passage. When you play it right, move the pencil one key down as

usual. But now… If you make a mistake go with the pencil all the way back from where you

started! This can become a real “thriller” if you have reached the very last key…! Continue like

this until you “win”.

Goodie twist: Switch the pencil for a candy cane! Or some other (wrapped) small goodies.

Reward yourself for each “win”!

How Not to Learn a Piano Piece

Making a mistake, start from the beginning. Make the same mistake, start from the beginning

(again, and again....).

Often a student comes to me and, when playing the wrong note, wants to start from the

beginning of the piece again. And again. And again...

This is not effective practice.

Not only does it makes the beginning of the piece the mostly played, but reinforces the problem

spot, and makes it take longer to actually learn the piece. Apart from learning to spot practice

where the real problem is, what should you do?

Learn to Start from Anywhere in the Score

Start by creating several starting points on each page, then on each staff.

Already when first starting out to learn a new piece I recommend dividing the piece in 2, 4 or 8 measures (depending on how hard the music is).

Divide also following the form of the piece; for example if it is in A B A-form there are three parts (but only two different ones; A and B). This naturally gives you many different starting points in the beginning of each part.



Be sure to mark out exactly what fingering to use in the start of each section, so you can start exactly where you want and not having to search for a more convenient place.

Remember the task is to be able to start from anywhere in the piece!

Test it!

When you think you have learned the piece, take it through a testing-game. For example “The

Loop Game”. (Adapted from «The Practice Revolution» by Philip Johnston)

Pick one starting point anywhere, except the real beginning of the piece, and play through the whole piece.

Don’t stop at the end, but continue immediately from the beginning of the piece and keep playing until you reach that particular place again.

This creates a bit of «confusion» for the brain, as you will have to see the piece from another angle, with a different beginning and ending. And that builds security!

Practice this loop- game from all your starting points. You really got it when you can do this without mistakes by heart!

Submarines and Piano Performances

“A piano piece is like a submarine” I told one of my now well-seasoned students, used to

hearing my weird and wacky, but usually effective, metaphors.

When a submarine is built it is constantly exposed to all kinds of tests. It has to be fully water

proof, and be able to work under high pressure. The deeper it goes under water, the higher the

pressure.

So, it really has to be tested, over and over again. It is also important to see what works, and not

only where the weaknesses are, hence my metaphor.

A performance of a piano piece is a time when we perform under pressure. The harder the piece

is the riskier it gets, and the more it should have been exposed to all kinds of tough “pressure”

tests.

After a recital this is especially obvious, when you really see what worked and what didn't.

Unfortunately, a recital is the time when you really want everything to work well. So the work

has to be done beforehand. (Duh…)



The Big Distraction Test

One in-famous test I expose my students to is the “Big Distraction” test:

This is a jolly time when I move around in the studio while they perform their piece, finding all

possible annoying things to do while they have to keep focused and continue playing no matter

what.

We have plenty of laughs as well, but the point is to “pressure test” the piano piece in as many

ways as possible.

Changing the lighting so that the shadows fall on the keyboard in a different way, is also a simple

but effective preparation for a recital in a place other than the studio.

Testing like this exposes all the maybe not so obvious spots in a piece where more practice is

needed, but also where it works fine which is also important.

So my advice this time is; take a performance piece through several tests way before a

performance, and most important of all:

Do not let the performance itself become the test...

Basic Piano Technique Tricks

The Simplest Way to Get the Correct Hand Posture

As a beginner pianist, keeping your hand in a cupped position can be hard. Your hands often

lean down toward the fifth finger, which makes your whole hand tilted.

Here’s what you do:

Imagine your fingers as arched pillars.

Simply make sure your fifth finger plays on the tip, and all the other fingers automatically will adjust perfectly!



Hand Posture: “Sticky” Issues

Problem with "sticking out" fingers:

When some of the fingers like your index, or even more common the little finger, stick out like

antennas it is usually because of excess tension in your hand or arms.

To «fix» this, try a simple awareness exercise:

Fixing fingers that “stick out”:

Play your chord, or pattern of notes that makes the finger/s stick out.

Focus on the finger/s that sticks out.

Now totally relax your shoulders, arms and hands starting all the way from your jaw and neck.

Imagine that you are "melting" or that someone drizzles warm chocolate down your arm...

See how the finger slowly goes down almost by itself!

As you continue to play, remember that feeling of relaxed arms as you play (especially the

chocolate : )

If you can't immediately fix it, use the awareness exercise immediately before you begin to play

and after you finish the piece.

When you can do that, add a quick relaxation on any longer notes.

Soon you will be able to relax very quickly and automatically every time you notice any excess

tension.

Piano Fingering

Fingering might feel like a chore when learning a piece. But however seemingly unimportant, it

can make your playing either smooth and fluid or clumsy and filled with mistakes and stops.

The best is to take time and write out proper fingering the first

time you start with a new piece.

Make sure to always mark fingering with a pencil, and have an

eraser ready since you probably will make changes.



The important thing is to very early on find the fingering that works best, and then stick to it.

Why? Because piano fingering gets stored in the muscle memory very quickly, and you have

more important things to do learning a piece than wasting energy trying to remember what

finger to use for every note.

When stored in the muscle memory- it works automatically without thinking about it!

So, it is worth «gold»; the time spent deciding on fingering as you start learning a new piece.

Healthy Practice Routines

Just because we are musicians doesn’t mean we have to be unhealthy! : )

Piano Practice for Weight Loss?

OK. It is a far stretch maybe... But practicing may actually do two things to help you lose weight

and not only play better!

First- it's hard to nibble when you practice; second, practicing actually makes you lose a few

calories!

Obviously playing the drums or rock guitar is (not surprisingly)

a better workout, but piano playing is pretty good too! (All I

need to feel more motivated anyway!)

When studying a new piece is a great idea to listen to it, or

even better; dancing to it, conducting it!

It is great exercise and you also learn better when more of your

senses are activated.

Taking a brisk walk while "studying" your piece by listening

actively with headphones is also a brilliant idea - I'm all for multitasking!



How to Warm Up Before Practicing

Make sure to gradually build up your practice time.

Do not suddenly start playing with all the passion and fire you've got since this

could cause some serious muscle strain.

It is a good idea to warm up your body before you play.

Yoga is great if you know it. Try the "sun greeting", otherwise just stretching and

bending is fine too.

Example of a Healthy Daily Practice Routine

1. Stretching

2. Warm ups and easy technical exercises

3. Practice

4. Short break after each 1/2 hour for stretching and deep breathing.

5. Brisk walk with the music of your choice, the piece you wish to learn- or taking in different

music styles from an era or style you wish to know more of. Try for example chamber music,

songs, opera not just piano music.

6. Dance or conduct to music you love.

7. Have fun- and live with passion!

Practice Skills

No Time for Practice? When Less Means More

Did you know that we actually learn better when practicing in shorter but concentrated chunks

of time?

Practicing a specific smaller part of a piece, or a difficult passage for only 10 minutes and then

taking a break gives much better results than sitting for long hours.



I learned that this really worked when my first son was a little baby. I had about 10 minutes

alone at a time, and I was forced to concentrate intensively during those 10 minutes.

I really learned to “get the job done” by focusing only on what needed work and prioritizing like

crazy.

What happens is that during each break your brain will continue to mull over what you have

practiced; you are actually still practicing in your head!

This is advice I always give my older students when they are in

an exam period and don’t think they have time for piano

practice.

I tell them to study, then take a break and practice piano 10

minutes, back to studying, etc.

And you know what? My students are usually making an even

better progress with their piano playing during this time! And

as an extra bonus- this is better for their studies of other

subjects as well.

Effective Practice Strategies

Practicing piano playing, learning repertoire, and technique does take time. But I believe more in

an approach of quality than quantity.

How often have I seen meager results from students (and student friends when I was a student)

who practiced 4-5 or more hours a day, and fantastic results from others who spent maybe 30

min to a couple of hours, max.

Before writing this off as the particular student being extremely “talented”, let me assure you

that they were all “talented”.

So, what’s the «deal»?

The results were most certainly an effect of a more focused and effective practicing strategy.

Here are great ideas to practice more effectively:

Learn to practice with your strengths and abilities, knowing what your limitations or difficulties are.

Work with total concentration, shorter periods of time 10-30 min.



Take breaks! Research has shown that we learn the best what we studied right before and right after a break. So frequent short breaks gives more chances of more parts of what we learn to get remembered, so to speak.

Focus exactly on what needs to be done. Nothing more and nothing less. Spend “doodle-time” or goof around when you are tired.

Learn the art of prioritizing. Always prioritize what you really need to do. (No wonder playing the piano is so good for you!).

We learn much faster than you might think. And learning to play the piano doesn’t need any

particular strength. We don’t need “stronger” fingers. We have all the muscles and capabilities

we need. We “only” need to learn how to control it all.

Piano Scales

Why Do We Need Scales?

I was taught that practicing scales was a waste of time. That by playing loads of repertoire I

would all the technique I needed.

Apparently my teachers had been exposed to playing scales

excessively in their youth, and hated it. They didn’t see why it was

necessary to teach scales, chords and arpeggios since they already

had acquired the skills from childhood.

I didn’t start truly practicing scales until I was at the University, and

by my own advice. I had come to realize how much I had missed by

not working more with scales, chords and arpeggios.

So, why do we need to practice scales?

Scales are one of the three major building blocks in music.

A piano piece is basically made up from scales, chords, and intervals.

So by studying each of the building blocks separately, it becomes easier to read notes, learn new

pieces, use the correct fingering, to see the patterns of each “block” in the music, as well as to

know what technique to use to play it.

And, it doesn’t take a lot of time to learn either!



Here is a step by step plan on how to master piano scales. Follow each step and you will learn

scales in very little time. Needless to say- it is a great “brain-gym” as well! Learn Piano Scales

Easily! http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/scales

The Hanon

Let us focus on one of the most hated, loved and endured of all composer/ pedagogues of

classical piano exercises: Charles-Louis Hanon!

The Hanon exercises or «The Virtuoso Pianist» as they are called is a collection of finger

exercises taking you from late beginners to advanced level.

Why are they hated?

Probably because many students are introduced to the exercises far too early, or before they have any interest (or need?) in improving piano technique this way.

Also, if you practice them following the “horror” advice written in the book for each exercise, you could actually get injured!

The exercises are also truly finger drills, and not sounding like music at all. So, unless you are really motivated to improve your technique they can be frustratingly boring to play.

Why are they great?

Because the Hanon exercises will help you to quickly get much better finger dexterity and ability to play fast and evenly.

They also help you improve note reading by helping you associate patterns of notes with arm and hand movements.

Hanon’s finger exercises are brilliant if you used to play piano and haven’t been playing for a while; Play the exercises for a few days, and you’re back on track again. The best “oil” for stiff fingers!

I use the Hanon exercises both for myself and for my students. Used with common sense and

being careful not to overuse or strain your hands, wrists or arms, I find them very useful and

great for improving your technique.

Read more here: http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/hanon

http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/scales

http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/hanon



Playing with Expression

Exercising “The Other Muscle”

While watching the brilliant pianist Valentina Lisitsa play Fur Elise by Beethoven,

http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/fur-elise

I thought about how important it is never to underestimate expression, no matter how

«simple» the piece is.

Obviously, expression is the foundation of all music making. Without it; it could hardly be called

music.

But I find as a piano teacher that it is easy to get so caught up in the nitti-bitty details teaching a

beginning student a piano piece, that the part where expression comes in is either left to the

student, or saved until “all the notes have been learned correctly”.

With expression I mean the inner feelings and ideas that you yourself hear in the piece, not just

the expressive markings, written by the editor or the composer.

So, you learn the notes, rhythm, articulation, dynamics, phrasing and tempo and so on. Now you

have learned the piece…

Or have you?

-Sure you have- you can play everything written in the score, and it took you forever to learn…

This should now be the stage where to finally personalize the piece:

To “talk” to the audience through your music.

To show, without actual words, the drama, the story, the pictures that lies hidden in the score.

To make it “your own” piece.

Well, unfortunately this stage only occasionally occurs with beginner pianists, simply because

we are so happy that the notes have been learned, finally.

And «saving» the practice of using your own expression until the piece is “ready” has never

made you flex that special “muscle”, the muscle of expression, so it might even feel stiff and

uncomfortable to do.

When I watched her playing, I reflected on what a huge mistake that is.

http://www.play-the-piano.org/fur-elise-sheet-music.html

http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/fur-elise



We need to flex this extra “muscle” and immerse ourselves in the music from the very first

note. From the very first lesson.

Of course we can do that as we start to learn the piece, and we should!

Obviously, the directions in the score need to be followed; the phrasing, dynamics and such, but

try already when learning the first phrase to understand it. Understand what the composer

could have intended by this part here or this phrase there- or make up your own story.

Music is Pictures Painted with Sound

To be able to express music, you need to involve yourself with

that feeling you would like to describe, with that expression

you would like to share.

Then listen to what you “say” and evaluate if you can really

hear it.

You can find this “muscle” and make it stronger by asking

yourself what it is that you would like to be able to share with

the music and what story you would like to tell.

Exercise to Practice Playing with Expression

Pick a poem that you like. Learn it well, but also think what you want to express, and how you want to express it. There are unlimited possibilities.

Practice reading and telling it until you are satisfied with the expression.

Next, pick a piano piece that you think suits the style and the mood of that poem, and as you learn it “flex the extra muscle of expression and feeling”, and play the piece like you told the poem. “Tell” the piece with tones.

Do not try to make the words match the rhythm or the melody, but imagine the music being more of a background to the poem being spoken.

Of course, music doesn’t need words. Create your story or picture as you start any new piece.

Expression and communication is way more than words. And as you work, and keep

strengthening this “muscle” you will find how it renews and inspires you. You will feel closer to

the music than ever before and discover the real joy of music making!



The Piano Pedals: The Soul of the Piano

The pedaling of a piano piece is for the pianist what vibrato is for a violinist.

You don't have to use it, but it helps to bring out the colors of the tones, the mood and style of

the piece among other things. Learning proper pedal techniques is a must to be able to use the

piano to its fullest.

The pedals have been called the soul of the piano.

Even though some pieces actually sound great without pedal and some should be played

without it- learning beautiful pedaling is one more tool for expressive playing. Read more about

the piano pedals here: http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/pedals

Practicing Endurance

“Micro-breaks”

We know how important it is to take breaks and to rest. When playing the piano it is as in any

strenuous activity important to take breaks. Taking short breaks when practicing clears the mind

and helps us focus better.

But did you know that you also can take “micro-breaks” while playing? This is a very useful tool

while playing piano.

Maybe you have heard of “black-outs”? Those can happen during for example a performance,

because of stress or tiredness.

Your brain simply decides to take a break by itself, and you may continue to play automatically

but later have no recollection of what you played. Or worse, you can’t remember anything and

have to stop playing.

When your brain needs to, it takes a break-simple as that.

Apart from the obvious, to get good sleep, eat healthy and get regular exercise, fresh air and

sunlight; as well as preparing a performance way in advance- here is a simple and effective trick

to control any «black-outs» or loss of concentration, with what I like to call “micro-breaks”.

Since you know that the brain needs breaks, and will take them wherever “it” wants, you can

instead plan for this and decide where exactly in the piece it is OK to “switch off” for a second.

http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/pedals



This is especially useful to do in longer pieces, where loss of concentration is bound to happen.

Plan “micro-breaks” like this:

Mark out any obvious spot in the piece where you have long notes, or even breaks.

Any part that is super easy.

Try to find a place for a “micro-break” just before a difficult place.

Practice like this:

When you get to the places you marked, first tell yourself to relax completely, like as if you switched off the light. Do this first for one or two seconds, then go on playing to the next place.

Second time you play the piece, limit your rests to shorter than a second.

Finally, limit your rests to mille seconds, by just telling yourself “relax” on each of these spots.

This is an amazing tool for endurance, and to be able to keep the concentration where it is most

important. Since the brain will take breaks, whatever you do, you can instead decide exactly

where it is OK to take these breaks! This makes it possible to keep your attention and focus

where it is really needed.

Building a Repertoire

The Menace of Social Gatherings

Sharing a summer house with a few other families one summer, we were invited to a lovely

evening by the sea in the garden of our hosts. Lanterns, moon light, the waves of the sea… and

instruments.

We were expected to play obviously. To the event several other non-professional musicians

were invited and all were expected to show off their talents.

How could I explain that the piece I was currently working on; the second Ballade in F major by

Chopin, especially the technically challenging bits, wouldn’t be playable on that keyboard- it

wouldn’t even FIT!

I didn’t want to sound like a snob, and at the same time I was so angry with myself for not

having a few smaller, easy going pieces in the back of my pocket so to say, memorized and ready

to play. Phew- that was embarrassing!

Well, music should be shared. I really believe so. And even though Chopin’s Ballades cannot be

played on a small plastic keyboard thingy, I still have no excuse for not having a couple of other,

smaller pieces that are not so pretentious, memorized and ready to share.



Here is some helpful tips and advice for how to memorize and keep a short repertoire of piano

songs to share with your friends any time! http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/memorize

Mastering the Piano, One Key at a Time

Mastering the piano is a “job” that’s never done. You could also view it as being timeless.

Having the skill of piano playing in your life, or any instrument for that matter, is like a special dimension

of art and beauty that you can always go to. If you have seen the beautiful but tragic move “The Pianist”

you know what I mean about having a special place of music and beauty, even if everything is taken away

from you. Or as I say:

«Music is eternal, and we have the special privilege to allow it to flow

throughout our lives. »

I have been pondering time a lot lately. I used to believe that it was important to study as much piano

repertoire as possible. But, for us pianists there is never enough time to study it all! And there are so many

wonderful pieces to choose from!

It is fundamental to learn to choose. Because, as Sergei Rachmanninov said:

«Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music».

S. Rachmanninov.

For this reason I let my students select only the pieces they like. From a few pre-selected pieces (by me)

they pick the style and whatever piece they like. I also try to match each individual taste.

Sure it takes some extra time from the lesson, but my students are able to personalize their repertoire

and spend their time playing pieces they truly like. Time is just too precious for the boring pieces!

So, my point is this: Life is too precious for the boring stuff. Play music you love!

Always try to pick music you really love to play. There is so much to choose from that is still helping

you grow and develop, and if you love it, you are using the truly magic powers of music in your life.

Happy Practicing!

Maria Lewander-Androutsou

www.OnlinePianoCoach.com/home

http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/memorize

http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/

Piano Practice and Technique - · PDF fileBasic Piano Technique Tricks ... Piano Practice and...

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