March 26, 2019
It takes time to master any skill, whether it’s learning a foreign language or playing a new sport. Learning to play piano is no different. It takes time, effort and commitment to become a proficient pianist. How long it takes to achieve your goal depends on what you wish to achieve. If you’re interested in memorising a few simple songs, you could learn the basics of piano in a few weeks or months. But if your goal involves playing professionally or in an orchestra, you’re in for a lifetime of constant learning and practice.
Practice Effectively
If you want to learn to play piano, it’s important to practice as much as you can. But how you practice is just as important as how often. If your practice sessions involve playing your favourite songs a few times before calling it quits, you’re not going to improve. It’s pointless to sit behind the keys for an hour if you’re just playing pieces you’re already comfortable with. It’s important to practice specific techniques and skills as well as learning compositions. Plus, don’t forget to challenge yourself wherever you can.
Work with a Trusted Teacher
Online tutorials and videos can make it easy to learn to play piano from the privacy of your own home. However, you could be missing out on the personalised advice that only a qualified teacher can provide. An experienced piano teacher can help to correct your technique and prevent you from picking up bad playing habits. Your teacher will also prescribe detailed practice routines, which can really fast track your improvement. Most teachers will recommend attending one lesson a week, with lots of solo practice between lessons.
Build Up Slowly
When first starting out, some beginner pianists can become frustrated when they don’t see results instantly. Just like learning any skill, mastering piano takes time. It’s a good idea to start out slow when you first start playing. Don’t attempt a complicated piece until you’ve got the basics down. Most piano students will begin by learning basic nursery rhymes. Of course, these simple songs aren’t as exciting as concertos from the great composers, but it’s important to build up a strong skills base. From there, you can begin to challenge yourself with longer and more complex pieces.
Speed Up Your Progress by Slowing Down
Learning a new instrument is an exciting experience, and many beginner pianists can get carried away at first. However, doing too much too quickly can cause burnout. Some amateur players will attempt to learn a complex piece for three hours at a time before giving up in frustration. It’s a much better idea to split those three hours over several days. This lets your brain rest in between practice sessions, allowing you to learn more quickly and effectively.
Pianos for Every Level
At The Pianoforte, we stock a wide range of pianos for beginners, masters and everyone in between. We’ve been Sydney’s leading experts for the last thirty years, and with three stores open seven days a week, it’s easy to contact us or pop-in for a visit. Call us in:
- Chatswood – 02 9411 8911
- Seven Hills – 0478 658 227
