6 answers
Nathan
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
550 views
How can I become a better musician ?
I love playing the piano and I want to know if there anyway I could improve/ increase my playing skills.
Login to comment
6 answers
Katherine Avery
Run a music studio and teach private music lessons; teach college-level religion classes
350
Answers
Spanish Fork, Utah
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Nathan, one of the best most thorough ways to learn to play the piano better is to choose pieces that aren't going to be too challenging too soon, whether you choose a method book or series of method books, and then with any piece:
1) Play the right hand alone all the way through the piece while saying the names of the notes or "chord" as you play a chord (two or more notes at the same time)
2) Play the left hand alone all the way through the piece while saying the names of the notes or "chord" (or "rest" when there are rests, same with the right hand, above)
3) Play the right hand alone again and count the rhythm of the piece
4) Play the left hand alone again and count the rhythm
5) Play the piece through with both hands and if there are words, sing!
After playing a piece through "the 5 ways," put it away for the day and come back to it tomorrow. Spending a more limited time on practice and then going about the rest of life actually lets our brains learn things over time while we're not focusing on it, and as you go back to it day after day, you'll get better. See about spending about a week on each piece practicing the 5 ways every day, and then moving on, and just coming back sometimes to play all the pieces you've learned so you can keep seeing how much better you've gotten and how much easier it is to play them, but you won't be perfect at most pieces after "you've learned them," and you'll just be getting better over time at every kind of thing you play.
1) Play the right hand alone all the way through the piece while saying the names of the notes or "chord" as you play a chord (two or more notes at the same time)
2) Play the left hand alone all the way through the piece while saying the names of the notes or "chord" (or "rest" when there are rests, same with the right hand, above)
3) Play the right hand alone again and count the rhythm of the piece
4) Play the left hand alone again and count the rhythm
5) Play the piece through with both hands and if there are words, sing!
After playing a piece through "the 5 ways," put it away for the day and come back to it tomorrow. Spending a more limited time on practice and then going about the rest of life actually lets our brains learn things over time while we're not focusing on it, and as you go back to it day after day, you'll get better. See about spending about a week on each piece practicing the 5 ways every day, and then moving on, and just coming back sometimes to play all the pieces you've learned so you can keep seeing how much better you've gotten and how much easier it is to play them, but you won't be perfect at most pieces after "you've learned them," and you'll just be getting better over time at every kind of thing you play.
Elliott DeRoos
Student
1
Answer
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Elliott’s Answer
Hello there, Nathan! I have been writing digital music for a little over 3 years now and one of the things that helped me improve my piano skills the most was listening to pieces on YouTube and playing along with them. This method helps me learn scales and chords the quickest way, which I then turn into complete compositions. I would also highly recommend seeing if you can learn from someone in person since they would be able to listen and give you advice in real-time. Fear not, for it will take time to grow your skills and master the piano, but with a little practice every day or even every other day it will become clear how much you have improved when you look back. I would say practicing scales for 30 minutes a day until you've become acquainted with them is your best bet, which then you can start building off of to create chords and melodies. Have a great day!
Brian Doucette
Music Performing Artist
5
Answers
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Practice and don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone. Learn new skill sets and keep pushing for continuous improvement in different areas like new scales, genres, etc.
Mary Patrice Layaoen
Character Modeler/ 3D Artist
43
Answers
Bakersfield, California
Updated
Mary Patrice’s Answer
Hey, Nathan! As a fellow musician, I totally get how important it is to keep growing and improving. I play the French horn myself, and I've learned that regular, consistent practice is key. Try to set aside time each day for technique work, scales, arpeggios, and exploring new pieces. It's also quite helpful to be able to read music sheets and understand how music is composed. You can also check out YouTube. There are tons of videos available to help you learn and improve.
Finding a teacher or mentor can make a huge difference. When I first started learning the French horn, I felt completely overwhelmed. Thankfully, I had a great instructor who taught me the specific techniques and articulation needed. It turned out to be a really enjoyable learning experience for me. They can offer helpful feedback and guidance. Plus, participating in events like workshops, masterclasses, and performances is a great way to gain exposure, meet other musicians, and get practical tips that can boost your skills. Staying active in these activities can keep you motivated and inspired, which is all part of growing as a musician. I hope this helps!
Finding a teacher or mentor can make a huge difference. When I first started learning the French horn, I felt completely overwhelmed. Thankfully, I had a great instructor who taught me the specific techniques and articulation needed. It turned out to be a really enjoyable learning experience for me. They can offer helpful feedback and guidance. Plus, participating in events like workshops, masterclasses, and performances is a great way to gain exposure, meet other musicians, and get practical tips that can boost your skills. Staying active in these activities can keep you motivated and inspired, which is all part of growing as a musician. I hope this helps!
Thank you, Mary Patrice for the advice.
Nathan
Leandro Polack
Audio Designer
1
Answer
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Updated
Leandro’s Answer
Hey there Nathan! Hope you're having a great day. There are many ways to improve as a musician and every person improves through different methods, finding yours should be one of your tasks. Setting some time to study your instrument, music theory, what your instrument can do and what you would like to work on can also help you a lot because it will make you develop the tools that work best for you.
If you're in an early stage of your learning journey, I'd investigate everything you can get your hands on. If you've been playing for a while now, my advice would be to start playing with people in live events, jams, trying to get a project going. With a project, be it solist or in a band, you'll start to notice what you want to use as a composer and a musician, and you can start to reinforce your journey in those areas to become a better musician.
I hope my advice helped you.
If you're in an early stage of your learning journey, I'd investigate everything you can get your hands on. If you've been playing for a while now, my advice would be to start playing with people in live events, jams, trying to get a project going. With a project, be it solist or in a band, you'll start to notice what you want to use as a composer and a musician, and you can start to reinforce your journey in those areas to become a better musician.
I hope my advice helped you.
Éverton Backes
Saxophone teacher
78
Answers
Joinville, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Updated
Éverton’s Answer
Hello Nathan! I've had the pleasure of guiding numerous saxophone students and music theory enthusiasts through their learning journey, thanks to my role as a teacher at a music school. It's essential to have a mentor in this process. If funds are tight, you can start with some YouTube tutorials. However, I strongly recommend getting in-person lessons as soon as you can. An experienced teacher, preferably with formal education, is your best bet. They will provide a structured learning method, ensuring you're not just an experiment. Keep up the hard work, you're definitely on the right track. Stay safe, buddy!
Thank you for the advice.
Nathan
I’ll look into finding some tutorials on how to play piano.Thanks for the advice!
Nathan
Awesome! I really know you'll do great.
Éverton Backes