Seven Common Beginners’ Mistakes When Learning Piano

Seven Common Beginners’ Mistakes When Learning Piano

There’s a lot to take in when it comes to learning to play the piano, from mastering sight-reading to scales, from using the pedal to the perfect posture. Some of the most common mistakes that the new learner makes are also the easiest to rectify; below we list seven of them.

1. Neglecting Scales

Think of scales as a basic, but crucial, exercise in your attempts to build your playing muscles. Scales improve dexterity and strength, vital as you progress, and help to cement an overall knowledge of notes, pitch and chords. You may think: “How long does it take to learn to play the piano doing this?” because sometimes doesn’t sound so “musical” or fun, but it is something fundamental for your education.

‘Running through some scales is a fantastic way to warm up your fingers before playing. However quickly you are progressing, continuing to practice scales will stand you in good stead,’ suggests Maria Tsosie, a writer at ,UKWritings.

2. Pay Attention To The Fingering

It is exceptionally tempting, after running through a piece a time or two, to ignore the fingering directions given in the music. However, the fingering directions are important, and you may find yourself in trouble as the music progresses and you struggle to make a stretch!

Get into good habits now, and follow the fingering given.

3. Position And Posture

Ok, you could ask yourself again “how long does it takes to learn piano if I have to practise how I sit first?!” Don’t let your anxiety control the situation! Think of it as a combination of aspects that make the whole of your piano practising: you need every little detail to be handled in order to get a good sound and a full comprehension of what you’re doing. The position is easily overlooked, but your posture at the piano can make a huge difference to the quality of your playing, not to mention to your comfort; ensure that you are using a suitable chair or stool of an appropriate height, keep an upright position with your feet on the floor, and ensure your wrists remain held above the keys. Your fingers should be curved, rather than splayed or flat as if you are holding something. And, of course, relax!

4. Practice The Rhythm

Whilst you are concentrating on learning the notes and fingering, it can be easy to overlook rhythm; becoming familiar with rhythm, however – the signature beat of the music – will make a huge difference to your playing.

Megan Drake, music blogger at State Of Writing and Academized, says: ‘Think about the beat of the piece of music you are practising before you even touch the keys, and try using a metronome as you play until you are familiar with the tempo.

5. Know The Difference Between Keys And Notes

This distinction can be easily overlooked but is crucial in order to fully understand the mechanism behind the musical structure. The keys are physical parts of the keyboard and relate to pitch, whereas the notes are represented by the sheet music you are reading: it is an important distinction as different notes, as shown on the page, can be played using the same key.

6. Clefs And Hands

This is a common mistake for piano beginners: designating the treble clef as played by the right hand, the bass clef by the left hand. The treble clef, in fact, relates to any notes played that are higher in pitch than those played by the bass clef. It is the upper line on your sheet music that relates to what to play with your right hand, the lower with your left – the clefs themselves, however, relate to octaves.

7. Sticking To C Major

It’s understandable to want to stay within the safe confines of C major, where there are no sharps or flats to contend with! However, it is really important to leave your comfort zone and get to grips with more challenging keys in order to become familiar with the keyboard. As you grow in proficiency you will be able to change keys, altering the range and pitch of a piece of music – until then, learning to play in the keys of G and D, as well as C major, will stand you in good stead.

Practice Makes Perfect

Cliches are usually cliches for a reason, and the old adage ‘practice makes perfect is especially true when it comes to learning to play an instrument. It can be easy to fall into bad habits when you’re starting out, but if you work at the basics and put in the time, there is no doubt that you will see your skill quickly improve and your confidence grows.

Learning to play the piano is an extremely rewarding endeavour, so while you’re practising and bearing in mind all the pointers above, don’t forget to relax and have fun!

Author: Lauren Groff

Editor at Boomessays.

Writes about music theory and practice at Paperfellows and Essayroo.

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