Have you ever had the pleasure of watching an expert pianist play the piano?
Even on YouTube, those who offer videos highlighting how to play the piano can make it look so simple to play even the most complex musical pieces. As a beginner, it can feel a bit frustrating to see someone else’s fingers playing this instrument so well while you may be struggling to remember which notes are which.
The good news is that you are trying to master this instrument, and, of course, when it comes to playing the piano, there are some key skills to get right that can help you excel at playing this classical instrument.
What are those skills? Read on to find out.
Proper Hand Position
When you are playing the piano, much like typing on a keyboard, you should maintain a relaxed and natural handshape. This will prevent muscle strain and help you to move more fluidly across the keys.
How do you do this? Aim to sit at the right height for you, keep your fingers curved, and minimise tension in your wrists and arms. Even if you are playing piano sheet music for beginners, the last thing you want to do is get carpal tunnel!
Reading Sheet Music and Understanding Musical Notation
This is a bit controversial for one reason in many people’s eyes. World-famous piano player Hugh Laurie (also known as House MD!) admitted that despite his immense talent in playing the piano and other instruments, he is unable to read sheet music. Instead, he plays by ear!
That is all well and good, but when it comes to learning to read notes, rhythms, and symbols, being able to do so will help even the newest player progress faster. There are lots of videos and tutorials on how to read sheet music online, so start with something simple and work your way up.
Basic Rhythms and Timing
When it comes to playing any instrument, it is crucial for advancement to keep steady timing. Otherwise, the pieces you play may not sound cohesive and may not have a recognisable rhythm.
One tip for nailing this skill is to use a metronome to practice playing evenly. You can start by playing simple rhythms with quarter or half notes and then build up the complexity.
Scales and Finger Independence
Most people who are learning to play the piano struggle with building independence with their fingers, which is also known as finger coordination. This is essential for playing melodies and harmonies at the same time.
One tip is to practice the major scales and the minor scales separately. It’s tricky, so don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake.
Chord Knowledge and Progressions
With piano music, the chords are the foundation of the music. Understanding the chords and being able to move between them smoothly will help you to expand your repertoire of songs you can play.
One way to develop this skill is to learn the common chords (C, G, F, Am and Dm) and practice transitioning between them. Then, as your confidence grows, move to more complex chord progressions.
