We all have heard a beautiful or stirring piano performance and wished we could play the piano. Many of us probably began piano lessons as a child and gave up when practicing seemed boring. Can’t we just learn to play the piano without practicing? Like any other skill worth acquiring, playing the piano takes practice. The key is learning to enjoy the process, the journey to the completed piece. Take pride in small accomplishments and recognize little improvements along the way. Learning to play the piano is a life long process. There is always more to learn.

One way to jump back in is with an online course. Remember though when you begin to play the piano, set small goals for yourself and reward yourself. If a new piece is challenging decide on a time limit that you will work on it and then you can play something fun or easier. The key is not to become discouraged because you don’t reach performance quality overnight. Learn to enjoy the time you are able to spend at the piano as a break from the other stresses of the world.

Celebrate the small steps you make. Recognize the improvement you make from one week to the next in your online course. Work the piece in small sections, like they say you can eat an elephant one bite at a time. A piece can be learned one measure at a time. Identify the new skills you are learning so that you can see your progress. Have you mastered a difficult rhythm or fingering sequence? Are you becoming better at reading the notes in the bass cleff? Each of these skills helps you progress towards your goal, learning to play the entire piece.

Practicing the piano yields the best results when it is consistent. Practicing for 20 minutes everyday will bring faster and better results than practicing for an hour a few days a week. Our brains learn best by consistent repetition. Plus it can be easier to squeeze in 20 minutes into our already busy schedules than trying to find a free hour. Vary your practicing so that it doesn’t become boring. Work on several pieces at a time, one that is difficult and a few others that are easier and will be learned more quickly. That will help you feel you are progressing faster.

Learning to play the piano will bring you a great sense of accomplishment. You don’t have to play to the level of a concert pianist to enjoy the piano. It can be very satisfying and relaxing just to be able to sit at the piano after a long day and play a few simple pieces. Be patient and persistent and steady in your online course and  you will learn to play the piano.

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