Piano Practice and Technique e Book

Piano Practice and Technique

Piano Practice and Technique Tips and Tricks for Beginner Pianists By Maria Lewander-Androutsou

Copyright © www.OnlinePianoCoach.com


Contents

How to Learn a New Piano Piece......................................................................................................4 Pencil Practice ..............................................................................................................................4 How Not to Learn a Piano Piece ...................................................................................................5 Learn to Start from Anywhere in the Score..................................................................................5 Test it! ...............................................................................................................................................6 Submarines and Piano Performances ..........................................................................................6 The Big Distraction Test ................................................................................................................7 Basic Piano Technique Tricks ............................................................................................................7 The Simplest Way to Get the Correct Hand Posture ....................................................................7 Hand Posture: “Sticky” Issues.......................................................................................................8 Piano Fingering .............................................................................................................................8 Healthy Practice Routines ................................................................................................................9 Piano Practice for Weight Loss? ...................................................................................................9 How to Warm Up Before Practicing ...........................................................................................10 Example of a Healthy Daily Practice Routine .............................................................................10 Practice Skills ..................................................................................................................................10 No Time for Practice? When Less Means More .........................................................................10 Effective Practice Strategies .......................................................................................................11 Piano Scales ....................................................................................................................................12 Why Do We Need Scales? ..........................................................................................................12 The Hanon ......................................................................................................................................13 Playing with Expression ..................................................................................................................14 Exercising “The Other Muscle” ...................................................................................................14 Music is Pictures Painted with Sound ........................................................................................15 Exercise to Practice Playing with Expression ..............................................................................15 The Piano Pedals: The Soul of the Piano ........................................................................................16 Practicing Endurance ......................................................................................................................16


Piano Practice and Technique “Micro-breaks” ...........................................................................................................................16 Building a Repertoire ......................................................................................................................17 The Menace of Social Gatherings ...............................................................................................17 Mastering the Piano, One Key at a Time ........................................................................................18



How to Learn a New Piano Piece Here are the basic steps to learn a new piano piece from a music score. Step 1: Divide the piece in 2 to 4 measure chunks. Step 2: Play your right hand: You will repeat the section many times; first focus on the right notes and fingering. Play only slowly, legato and medium loud at this point for secure playing. Do the same with your left hand. Step 3: Keep playing hands apart, but focus on the rhythm. For each repeat keep adding dynamics, articulation and phrasing where applicable. Increase speed to the correct tempo. Do the same with your left hand. Step 4: Prepare to play hands together: Review your right hand but play slow, legato and medium loud again. Do the same with your left. Now extremely slowly play both hands together. It should be so slow that you play no mistakes at all. Keep playing legato and medium loud (mf). Step 5: Now repeat the section at least 4 times. Then start adding dynamics, articulation and speed. Keep repeating the steps above with a new section of 2-4 measures. Then combine what you have learned several times. If you any time later would experience a difficulty in a certain section of the piece, you can "repair" it easily using the same process again!

Pencil Practice When practicing you often need to repeat a passage over and over again. To keep track of the times you successfully play a passage (no mistakes!), use a pencil! 

Put the pencil on the lowest D on the keyboard.

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For each time you play correctly, move it down one white key.

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When you have reached the end of the piano- you win the game!

You can decide how many repetitions you wish to do, simply put the pencil on another key.


Piano Practice and Technique Decide the level of difficulty: Next, decide how hard you want to be on yourself...! Level 1 (Nice and easy): Play passage. If you make a mistake simply stay with the pencil on the same key until you play it right. Then move one step down. Continue like this until you “win”. Level 2 (A bit tougher): Play passage. When you play it right, move the pencil one key down. But this time, if you make a mistake go one step back! Continue like this until you “win”. Level 3 (Super nasty!): Play passage. When you play it right, move the pencil one key down as usual. But now… If you make a mistake go with the pencil all the way back from where you started! This can become a real “thriller” if you have reached the very last key…! Continue like this until you “win”. Goodie twist: Switch the pencil for a candy cane! Or some other (wrapped) small goodies. Reward yourself for each “win”!

How Not to Learn a Piano Piece Making a mistake, start from the beginning. Make the same mistake, start from the beginning (again, and again....). Often a student comes to me and, when playing the wrong note, wants to start from the beginning of the piece again. And again. And again... This is not effective practice. Not only does it makes the beginning of the piece the mostly played, but reinforces the problem spot, and makes it take longer to actually learn the piece. Apart from learning to spot practice where the real problem is, what should you do?

Learn to Start from Anywhere in the Score 

Start by creating several starting points on each page, then on each staff.

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Already when first starting out to learn a new piece I recommend dividing the piece in 2, 4 or 8 measures (depending on how hard the music is).

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Divide also following the form of the piece; for example if it is in A B A-form there are three parts (but only two different ones; A and B). This naturally gives you many different starting points in the beginning of each part.


Piano Practice and Technique 

Be sure to mark out exactly what fingering to use in the start of each section, so you can start exactly where you want and not having to search for a more convenient place.

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Remember the task is to be able to start from anywhere in the piece!

Test it! When you think you have learned the piece, take it through a testing-game. For example “The Loop Game”. (Adapted from «The Practice Revolution» by Philip Johnston) 

Pick one starting point anywhere, except the real beginning of the piece, and play through the whole piece.

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Don’t stop at the end, but continue immediately from the beginning of the piece and keep playing until you reach that particular place again.

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This creates a bit of «confusion» for the brain, as you will have to see the piece from another angle, with a different beginning and ending. And that builds security!

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Practice this loop- game from all your starting points. You really got it when you can do this without mistakes by heart!

Submarines and Piano Performances “A piano piece is like a submarine” I told one of my now well-seasoned students, used to hearing my weird and wacky, but usually effective, metaphors. When a submarine is built it is constantly exposed to all kinds of tests. It has to be fully water proof, and be able to work under high pressure. The deeper it goes under water, the higher the pressure. So, it really has to be tested, over and over again. It is also important to see what works, and not only where the weaknesses are, hence my metaphor. A performance of a piano piece is a time when we perform under pressure. The harder the piece is the riskier it gets, and the more it should have been exposed to all kinds of tough “pressure” tests. After a recital this is especially obvious, when you really see what worked and what didn't. Unfortunately, a recital is the time when you really want everything to work well. So the work has to be done beforehand. (Duh…)



The Big Distraction Test One in-famous test I expose my students to is the “Big Distraction” test: This is a jolly time when I move around in the studio while they perform their piece, finding all possible annoying things to do while they have to keep focused and continue playing no matter what. We have plenty of laughs as well, but the point is to “pressure test” the piano piece in as many ways as possible. Changing the lighting so that the shadows fall on the keyboard in a different way, is also a simple but effective preparation for a recital in a place other than the studio. Testing like this exposes all the maybe not so obvious spots in a piece where more practice is needed, but also where it works fine which is also important. So my advice this time is; take a performance piece through several tests way before a performance, and most important of all:

Do not let the performance itself become the test...

Basic Piano Technique Tricks The Simplest Way to Get the Correct Hand Posture As a beginner pianist, keeping your hand in a cupped position can be hard. Your hands often lean down toward the fifth finger, which makes your whole hand tilted. Here’s what you do: 

Imagine your fingers as arched pillars.

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Simply make sure your fifth finger plays on the tip, and all the other fingers automatically will adjust perfectly!



Hand Posture: “Sticky” Issues Problem with "sticking out" fingers: When some of the fingers like your index, or even more common the little finger, stick out like antennas it is usually because of excess tension in your hand or arms. To «fix» this, try a simple awareness exercise: Fixing fingers that “stick out”:  Play your chord, or pattern of notes that makes the finger/s stick out. 

Focus on the finger/s that sticks out.

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Now totally relax your shoulders, arms and hands starting all the way from your jaw and neck.

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Imagine that you are "melting" or that someone drizzles warm chocolate down your arm...

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See how the finger slowly goes down almost by itself!

As you continue to play, remember that feeling of relaxed arms as you play (especially the chocolate : ) If you can't immediately fix it, use the awareness exercise immediately before you begin to play and after you finish the piece. When you can do that, add a quick relaxation on any longer notes. Soon you will be able to relax very quickly and automatically every time you notice any excess tension.

Piano Fingering Fingering might feel like a chore when learning a piece. But however seemingly unimportant, it can make your playing either smooth and fluid or clumsy and filled with mistakes and stops. The best is to take time and write out proper fingering the first time you start with a new piece. Make sure to always mark fingering with a pencil, and have an eraser ready since you probably will make changes.


Piano Practice and Technique The important thing is to very early on find the fingering that works best, and then stick to it. Why? Because piano fingering gets stored in the muscle memory very quickly, and you have more important things to do learning a piece than wasting energy trying to remember what finger to use for every note. When stored in the muscle memory- it works automatically without thinking about it! So, it is worth «gold»; the time spent deciding on fingering as you start learning a new piece.

Healthy Practice Routines Just because we are musicians doesn’t mean we have to be unhealthy! : )

Piano Practice for Weight Loss? OK. It is a far stretch maybe... But practicing may actually do two things to help you lose weight and not only play better! First- it's hard to nibble when you practice; second, practicing actually makes you lose a few calories! Obviously playing the drums or rock guitar is (not surprisingly) a better workout, but piano playing is pretty good too! (All I need to feel more motivated anyway!) When studying a new piece is a great idea to listen to it, or even better; dancing to it, conducting it! It is great exercise and you also learn better when more of your senses are activated. Taking a brisk walk while "studying" your piece by listening actively with headphones is also a brilliant idea - I'm all for multitasking!



How to Warm Up Before Practicing Make sure to gradually build up your practice time. Do not suddenly start playing with all the passion and fire you've got since this could cause some serious muscle strain. It is a good idea to warm up your body before you play. Yoga is great if you know it. Try the "sun greeting", otherwise just stretching and bending is fine too.

Example of a Healthy Daily Practice Routine 1. Stretching 2. Warm ups and easy technical exercises 3. Practice 4. Short break after each 1/2 hour for stretching and deep breathing. 5. Brisk walk with the music of your choice, the piece you wish to learn- or taking in different music styles from an era or style you wish to know more of. Try for example chamber music, songs, opera not just piano music. 6. Dance or conduct to music you love. 7. Have fun- and live with passion!

Practice Skills No Time for Practice? When Less Means More Did you know that we actually learn better when practicing in shorter but concentrated chunks of time? Practicing a specific smaller part of a piece, or a difficult passage for only 10 minutes and then taking a break gives much better results than sitting for long hours.


Piano Practice and Technique I learned that this really worked when my first son was a little baby. I had about 10 minutes alone at a time, and I was forced to concentrate intensively during those 10 minutes. I really learned to “get the job done” by focusing only on what needed work and prioritizing like crazy. What happens is that during each break your brain will continue to mull over what you have practiced; you are actually still practicing in your head! This is advice I always give my older students when they are in an exam period and don’t think they have time for piano practice. I tell them to study, then take a break and practice piano 10 minutes, back to studying, etc. And you know what? My students are usually making an even better progress with their piano playing during this time! And as an extra bonus- this is better for their studies of other subjects as well.

Effective Practice Strategies Practicing piano playing, learning repertoire, and technique does take time. But I believe more in an approach of quality than quantity. How often have I seen meager results from students (and student friends when I was a student) who practiced 4-5 or more hours a day, and fantastic results from others who spent maybe 30 min to a couple of hours, max. Before writing this off as the particular student being extremely “talented”, let me assure you that they were all “talented”. So, what’s the «deal»? The results were most certainly an effect of a more focused and effective practicing strategy. Here are great ideas to practice more effectively: 

Learn to practice with your strengths and abilities, knowing what your limitations or difficulties are.

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Work with total concentration, shorter periods of time 10-30 min.


Piano Practice and Technique 

Take breaks! Research has shown that we learn the best what we studied right before and right after a break. So frequent short breaks gives more chances of more parts of what we learn to get remembered, so to speak.

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Focus exactly on what needs to be done. Nothing more and nothing less. Spend “doodle-time” or goof around when you are tired.

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Learn the art of prioritizing. Always prioritize what you really need to do. (No wonder playing the piano is so good for you!).

We learn much faster than you might think. And learning to play the piano doesn’t need any particular strength. We don’t need “stronger” fingers. We have all the muscles and capabilities we need. We “only” need to learn how to control it all.

Piano Scales Why Do We Need Scales? I was taught that practicing scales was a waste of time. That by playing loads of repertoire I would all the technique I needed. Apparently my teachers had been exposed to playing scales excessively in their youth, and hated it. They didn’t see why it was necessary to teach scales, chords and arpeggios since they already had acquired the skills from childhood. I didn’t start truly practicing scales until I was at the University, and by my own advice. I had come to realize how much I had missed by not working more with scales, chords and arpeggios. So, why do we need to practice scales? Scales are one of the three major building blocks in music. A piano piece is basically made up from scales, chords, and intervals. So by studying each of the building blocks separately, it becomes easier to read notes, learn new pieces, use the correct fingering, to see the patterns of each “block” in the music, as well as to know what technique to use to play it. And, it doesn’t take a lot of time to learn either!


Piano Practice and Technique Here is a step by step plan on how to master piano scales. Follow each step and you will learn scales in very little time. Needless to say- it is a great “brain-gym” as well! Learn Piano Scales Easily! http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/scales

The Hanon Let us focus on one of the most hated, loved and endured of all composer/ pedagogues of classical piano exercises: Charles-Louis Hanon! The Hanon exercises or «The Virtuoso Pianist» as they are called is a collection of finger exercises taking you from late beginners to advanced level. Why are they hated? 

Probably because many students are introduced to the exercises far too early, or before they have any interest (or need?) in improving piano technique this way.

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Also, if you practice them following the “horror” advice written in the book for each exercise, you could actually get injured!

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The exercises are also truly finger drills, and not sounding like music at all. So, unless you are really motivated to improve your technique they can be frustratingly boring to play.

Why are they great? 

Because the Hanon exercises will help you to quickly get much better finger dexterity and ability to play fast and evenly.

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They also help you improve note reading by helping you associate patterns of notes with arm and hand movements.

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Hanon’s finger exercises are brilliant if you used to play piano and haven’t been playing for a while; Play the exercises for a few days, and you’re back on track again. The best “oil” for stiff fingers!

I use the Hanon exercises both for myself and for my students. Used with common sense and being careful not to overuse or strain your hands, wrists or arms, I find them very useful and great for improving your technique. Read more here: http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/hanon



Playing with Expression Exercising “The Other Muscle” While watching the brilliant pianist Valentina Lisitsa play Fur Elise by Beethoven, http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/fur-elise I thought about how important it is never to underestimate expression, no matter how «simple» the piece is. Obviously, expression is the foundation of all music making. Without it; it could hardly be called music. But I find as a piano teacher that it is easy to get so caught up in the nitti-bitty details teaching a beginning student a piano piece, that the part where expression comes in is either left to the student, or saved until “all the notes have been learned correctly”. With expression I mean the inner feelings and ideas that you yourself hear in the piece, not just the expressive markings, written by the editor or the composer. So, you learn the notes, rhythm, articulation, dynamics, phrasing and tempo and so on. Now you have learned the piece… Or have you? -Sure you have- you can play everything written in the score, and it took you forever to learn… This should now be the stage where to finally personalize the piece: 

To “talk” to the audience through your music.

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To show, without actual words, the drama, the story, the pictures that lies hidden in the score.

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To make it “your own” piece.

Well, unfortunately this stage only occasionally occurs with beginner pianists, simply because we are so happy that the notes have been learned, finally. And «saving» the practice of using your own expression until the piece is “ready” has never made you flex that special “muscle”, the muscle of expression, so it might even feel stiff and uncomfortable to do. When I watched her playing, I reflected on what a huge mistake that is.


Piano Practice and Technique We need to flex this extra “muscle” and immerse ourselves in the music from the very first note. From the very first lesson. Of course we can do that as we start to learn the piece, and we should! Obviously, the directions in the score need to be followed; the phrasing, dynamics and such, but try already when learning the first phrase to understand it. Understand what the composer could have intended by this part here or this phrase there- or make up your own story.

Music is Pictures Painted with Sound To be able to express music, you need to involve yourself with that feeling you would like to describe, with that expression you would like to share. Then listen to what you “say” and evaluate if you can really hear it. You can find this “muscle” and make it stronger by asking yourself what it is that you would like to be able to share with the music and what story you would like to tell.

Exercise to Practice Playing with Expression 

Pick a poem that you like. Learn it well, but also think what you want to express, and how you want to express it. There are unlimited possibilities.

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Practice reading and telling it until you are satisfied with the expression.

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Next, pick a piano piece that you think suits the style and the mood of that poem, and as you learn it “flex the extra muscle of expression and feeling”, and play the piece like you told the poem. “Tell” the piece with tones.

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Do not try to make the words match the rhythm or the melody, but imagine the music being more of a background to the poem being spoken.

Of course, music doesn’t need words. Create your story or picture as you start any new piece. Expression and communication is way more than words. And as you work, and keep strengthening this “muscle” you will find how it renews and inspires you. You will feel closer to the music than ever before and discover the real joy of music making!



The Piano Pedals: The Soul of the Piano The pedaling of a piano piece is for the pianist what vibrato is for a violinist.

You don't have to use it, but it helps to bring out the colors of the tones, the mood and style of the piece among other things. Learning proper pedal techniques is a must to be able to use the piano to its fullest. The pedals have been called the soul of the piano. Even though some pieces actually sound great without pedal and some should be played without it- learning beautiful pedaling is one more tool for expressive playing. Read more about the piano pedals here: http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/pedals

Practicing Endurance “Micro-breaks” We know how important it is to take breaks and to rest. When playing the piano it is as in any strenuous activity important to take breaks. Taking short breaks when practicing clears the mind and helps us focus better. But did you know that you also can take “micro-breaks” while playing? This is a very useful tool while playing piano. Maybe you have heard of “black-outs”? Those can happen during for example a performance, because of stress or tiredness. Your brain simply decides to take a break by itself, and you may continue to play automatically but later have no recollection of what you played. Or worse, you can’t remember anything and have to stop playing. When your brain needs to, it takes a break-simple as that. Apart from the obvious, to get good sleep, eat healthy and get regular exercise, fresh air and sunlight; as well as preparing a performance way in advance- here is a simple and effective trick to control any «black-outs» or loss of concentration, with what I like to call “micro-breaks”. Since you know that the brain needs breaks, and will take them wherever “it” wants, you can instead plan for this and decide where exactly in the piece it is OK to “switch off” for a second.


Piano Practice and Technique This is especially useful to do in longer pieces, where loss of concentration is bound to happen. Plan “micro-breaks” like this:  Mark out any obvious spot in the piece where you have long notes, or even breaks.  Any part that is super easy.  Try to find a place for a “micro-break” just before a difficult place. Practice like this:  When you get to the places you marked, first tell yourself to relax completely, like as if you switched off the light. Do this first for one or two seconds, then go on playing to the next place.  Second time you play the piece, limit your rests to shorter than a second.  Finally, limit your rests to mille seconds, by just telling yourself “relax” on each of these spots. This is an amazing tool for endurance, and to be able to keep the concentration where it is most important. Since the brain will take breaks, whatever you do, you can instead decide exactly where it is OK to take these breaks! This makes it possible to keep your attention and focus where it is really needed.

Building a Repertoire The Menace of Social Gatherings Sharing a summer house with a few other families one summer, we were invited to a lovely evening by the sea in the garden of our hosts. Lanterns, moon light, the waves of the sea… and instruments. We were expected to play obviously. To the event several other non-professional musicians were invited and all were expected to show off their talents. How could I explain that the piece I was currently working on; the second Ballade in F major by Chopin, especially the technically challenging bits, wouldn’t be playable on that keyboard- it wouldn’t even FIT! I didn’t want to sound like a snob, and at the same time I was so angry with myself for not having a few smaller, easy going pieces in the back of my pocket so to say, memorized and ready to play. Phew- that was embarrassing! Well, music should be shared. I really believe so. And even though Chopin’s Ballades cannot be played on a small plastic keyboard thingy, I still have no excuse for not having a couple of other, smaller pieces that are not so pretentious, memorized and ready to share.


Piano Practice and Technique Here is some helpful tips and advice for how to memorize and keep a short repertoire of piano songs to share with your friends any time! http://www.onlinepianocoach.com/memorize

Mastering the Piano, One Key at a Time Mastering the piano is a “job” that’s never done. You could also view it as being timeless. Having the skill of piano playing in your life, or any instrument for that matter, is like a special dimension of art and beauty that you can always go to. If you have seen the beautiful but tragic move “The Pianist” you know what I mean about having a special place of music and beauty, even if everything is taken away from you. Or as I say:

«Music is eternal, and we have the special privilege to allow it to flow throughout our lives. »

I have been pondering time a lot lately. I used to believe that it was important to study as much piano repertoire as possible. But, for us pianists there is never enough time to study it all! And there are so many wonderful pieces to choose from! It is fundamental to learn to choose. Because, as Sergei Rachmanninov said:

«Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music». S. Rachmanninov.

For this reason I let my students select only the pieces they like. From a few pre-selected pieces (by me) they pick the style and whatever piece they like. I also try to match each individual taste. Sure it takes some extra time from the lesson, but my students are able to personalize their repertoire and spend their time playing pieces they truly like. Time is just too precious for the boring pieces!

So, my point is this: Life is too precious for the boring stuff. Play music you love! Always try to pick music you really love to play. There is so much to choose from that is still helping you grow and develop, and if you love it, you are using the truly magic powers of music in your life. Happy Practicing! Maria Lewander-Androutsou www.OnlinePianoCoach.com/home


Piano Practice and Technique e Book

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