By
eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Play every day. It will improve your playing much more than just practicing once a week.
Step2
Flex your fingers to make them supple before starting to play.
Step3
Warm your hands if they are cold.
Step4
Choose times to play when you can be by yourself. Nothing is worse than having other people listen while you are learning to play.
Step5
Start playing everything slowly. When you can play the piece evenly and smoothly, gradually work up to the right speed. You won't get it right if you start out too fast.
Step6
Try to learn something new every week. Don't be discouraged if you are not getting everything right the first few times around.
Step7
Be patient. Make sure you can play every piece smoothly before you go on to the next tune.
Step8
If you have problems with one particular part, practice that part separately until you've mastered it, then try the whole tune all the way through.
Step9
Try to play keeping your eyes on the music, not on your hands or the keyboard.
Step10
Polish your playing. Correct mistakes before they become bad habits.
Step11
Relax by playing music you already know. Enjoy yourself.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Always practice first what you don't know, while your mind is fresh and you are alert.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Promise yourself that you will practice for the same amount of time every day for two weeks or a month. This kind of goal should keep you motivated, since there is a sense of achievement and completion at the end. This kind of goal may also help you to practice more than usual for the duration of your practice period. Fulfilling your promise may involve a certain amount of sacrifice, such as watching less television.
In North India, classical musicians have what is called a cilla (pronounced chill-AH), a period of forty days in which one practices every day for the same amount of time in the same place at the same time of day. These chilla can be observed as often as possible. Such devotion and discipline is what enables the best musicians to attain great heights.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 About 5 years ago, I despised practicing the piano. I was so angered that I started thinking about quitting. However, I didn't want to give up because all that time that I had wasted trying to learn it would be for nothing. So I started practicing as much as I could, and to my surprise, I found interest in many different things. And if I still didn't find interest, the least I could do is started playing a different genre. So whatever you do, don't quit until you give it your best try.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 In general, always gauge which hand (left or right) is playing the main melody. The main melody should always be brought out of a piece and should be heard over the supporting notes (in the other hand). This especially true for pieces written in the classical period, like Mozart, Clementi, Beethoven. Keep in mind that other periods, like Baroque, usually have equally important parts in both hands.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Practice every day, even if it is only for 10 minutes or so; it prevents your fingers from going to waste.