Mastering the art of the piano

Mastering the art of the piano

There are different musical instruments, such as the guitar, keyboard, piano, violin — to mention a few. Learning to play the piano may seem like a daunting and impossible prospect. There are many different ways a newcomer can be easily introduced to play this wonderful stringed percussion instrument! Like with learning anything new, some of the main characteristics that would help excel yourself to full potential is having patience, time, dedication and enthusiasm.

Pain and pleasure:

There is no pleasure without pain… or so they say. The piano is no different although it is possible that the instrument can help reduce the possibilities of severe health issues. Sitting correctly, better known as posture, will also reduce the threat of back problems later on in life. 

Although many people would like to play the piano quickly and fast, this can often lead to the wrong fingers being used. This could lead to cramping and carpal tunnel syndrome — remember, health is more important! When people get enthusiastic about a new found love, they generally want to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible, yet this can lead to frustration, which is the opposite of what learning to play the piano is all about. 

Having structured learning times and setting realistic goals will help reduce frustration and improve the playing experience overall. They say practice makes perfect: although it is easy to fall into the routine of playing what is already known, it is not possible to progress if no practicing takes place. Everyone makes mistakes, which is a way of learning. 

Find a suitable playing space for your creativity to flow.

Many famous musicians started from a young age although doing so isn’t necessary to learn a craft. The piano seems to have a different reputation in the musical world compared to other musical instruments. The guitar and drums, for example, are well known not only for their sometimes recourse sound, but also some outrageous characters. The piano does not seem to attract — without sounding too judgmental — ‘that kind’ of musician. 

Different ways to learn to play the piano:

Like having any hobby or learning something new, it is important to have consistency, making sure to take the time to learn to play and not being distracted by the pursuit of money. There is nothing less satisfying than starting on a project and getting into it, but then finding that it is not feasible due to other lifestyle situations.

According to LVLMusicAcademy, there are many different ways to learn to play the piano. Whether it be via the Internet, one-on-one tutorials, in the space of your own home or joining a music academy, there are no right or wrong ways to learn to play the piano — it just depends on individual needs.

It is worth pointing out that, depending on the learning style, correct equipment is required. If learning at home, then a piano would be needed; if it was an online tutorial, high Internet speed and the capabilities of video calling would be essential. Demographics could play a key role: where is the nearest music college or academy, if other options do not apply?

The most important thing is that the person who is learning feels comfortable with their learning environment. If this is not achieved, then the student could be put off by learning, not because of a lack of enthusiasm, but just because they have not had a pleasurable learning experience. I think we all can agree that it would be very hard to try and get anyone to play the piano if they did not want to. 

What to be achieved:

Whether it be learning for a specific audience or for a personal quest, knowing what is to be gained is an important part of learning to play the piano, especially since the instrument falls under all musical genres. 

So, before starting to learn to play, it might be worth considering what type of music you would like to create. It is further possible to fit different music genres together, such as electro-swing; a lot of the 1980s metal music incorporated classical music to go with rock music. 

There are also different types of pianos for different music. For example, the digital piano or a MIDI piano are both types of pianos, yet designed for different sounds and, thus, genres. There is the grand piano and the classical piano, which, again, both create different types of sound. For this reason, it is worth thinking about what it is that you want to achieve.

Although it is not necessary to have a piano to learn, practice makes perfect and not being able to practice regularly could lead to either setbacks or determination, depending on the individual. If it is something more longterm, then having an instrument that can be regularly played would be something to invest in, as all pianos proffer a different price range and different capabilities. The type of music being played changes just simply because of the type of piano afforded. This is not necessarily a bad thing to happen. It is good to practice and learn all kinds of different music; the understanding of other music structures and learning to play different music styles helps with progression. 

For many of us, our goals and achievements change as the years go by. This could be due to family situations or changes… someone who is expecting a newborn, for instance, would be less likely to want to start learning the piano. The main thing is that it is fun for everyone involved. If something stops becoming fun, then it is time to give up the dream.

This is a sponsored post by a paid guest blogger

Cover photos from Pexels.com

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