Learning To Play Piano - Common Beginners' Problems

Beginners face a steep learning curve when introduced to the piano. The piano needs to be understood, as does the music that will be read and played on the piano.

There are a number of common problems that all beginners tend to experience that are at first seen as insurmountable. Obviously they are not, but they do need strategies that will overcome the issues, and allow the student to move on with their learning of both the instrument, and the music to be played on it.

The first issue that students face is trying to run before they have learned to walk. Learning the basics of music is essential. The basics consist of little more than the names of the notes and the values of each of the note types. The complicated parts of music will be learned progressively. Failing to learn these fundamentals will slow down the student's progress dramatically. The names of the notes follow the alphabet from A through to G. This is not a lot to learn. The note values relate to the time the note is played for. Slow and careful repetition of learning where the notes fit on the music, and where they relate to the keys of the piano will launch the student into their studies. Learning music is similar to learning a new language albeit in the form of a code but with far less words to remember. As with learning a language. Music needs to be learned slowly at first.

The second issue, again, involves attempting to do too much to soon. As a piece of music is learned it should be broken down into a few bars at a time. A few bars should be learned well then a few extra bars added until the whole piece is understood.

A similar issue is one of learning to play with both hands at the same time. Students find this aspect much easier than they at first thought they would. Just as in the previous issue breaking the music into a few bars at a time is the way forward. Learning one hand at a time before putting them together is the solution.

A second issue occurs with using both hands. Students look at the left hand to see where it is. Unfortunately they also need to be looking at the right hand at the same time, as that hand has to play its notes at the same time as the left hand plays its notes. Repetitive practice of pieces of music in time overcomes this issue.

Following the music presents its own problems. At first students need to look at their hands to ensure that they are playing the correct notes. This requires them to take their eyes off the music to look at their hands. On returning to the music they have lost their place. As with other issues, slowing down the pace of the piece, to a speed that allows the student to follow the music and deal with each hands position on the keyboard, will allow the correct notes to be played with the correct timings without the place in the music being lost.

As is obvious all of the above issues are overcome using one solution. Slowing down the pace of progression to one that is manageable. To put it in other words; not running before one can walk.