A – Aim
What is your purpose for learning piano?
For playing classical music? Or Jazz? Or for the choir in the church? What is your goal for learning piano? Do you want to play classical pieces? Or Jazz? Or perhaps play the piano for the church choir? Depending on the type of music you want to play, the choice of teacher and practice pieces will vary.
B – Balance
Find balance between daily life and piano practice.
Consider the most suitable time of day for your piano practice and make it a routine. You might practice for 20 minutes before going to work or for 30 minutes after coming home. If you have young children, discuss with your spouse about taking care of them during your practice time.
C – Comparison
Do not compare yourself to others; compare yourself to your past self. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, but this is not very helpful for improving your musical skills. Focus more on surpassing your own limits rather than those of others.
D – Digital Piano
If you live in an environment where noise is not a concern, you can buy an acoustic piano. However, if you live in a noise-sensitive environment like an apartment, a digital piano is recommended. It allows you to practice with headphones or at a lower volume, which is less disturbing for your family or neighbors.
E – Enjoy
Do not forget to enjoy every stage of your piano learning journey and the beauty of music. Piano is an instrument that requires long-term dedication to master. Ultimately, those who enjoy the process and practice consistently are more likely to achieve their goals. If you find your practice pieces too difficult or boring, discuss it with your teacher.
F – Forget your age
Age is just a number. We can be beginners at anything at any time. Don’t be embarrassed if you are an older beginner. When playing the piano, think of your piano-playing age rather than your chronological age.
G – Gratitude
Appreciate your musical journey and growth. Many people in the world do not have the opportunity to learn an instrument. Being grateful for the chance to engage with music will make your practice more enjoyable.
H – Happy
Are you happy when you listen to piano music? If so, try learning and practicing the piano. Creating music with your own hands can bring you joy that is different from merely listening to a great pianist’s performance.
I – Imitation
Even the same piece is played differently by different pianists, and even one pianist does not play it the same way every time. Observing these differences and trying to imitate parts that you like can be a valuable study.
J – Joy
Find joy in the progress you make, no matter how small. Each step forward is an achievement.
K – Keep learning
Mastering the piano is truly a never-ending study. Piano is an instrument that offers doctoral programs at formal universities and requires continuous practice even beyond that. Studying the history of music, the lives of composers, and various piano techniques will enrich your life. Above all, a person who continuously learns something new is attractive. Moreover, it’s good for preventing dementia, so keep learning no matter your age.
L – Love yourself
If you are learning piano for the first time as an adult, you may sometimes feel discouraged. You might have started because a pianist’s performance looked so impressive, but you may find that moving your left and right hands differently feels like a significant obstacle. Don’t be disheartened. Most people are used to moving both hands most actively when typing on a computer keyboard. The piano requires you to press the keys with much more varied force, cover a much wider range, and move many more fingers simultaneously. It’s natural to find it challenging, but piano method books are carefully designed to help you overcome these difficulties step by step. Be proud of yourself for deciding to learn the piano and love yourself.
M – Metronome
Use a metronome to maintain a precise tempo. Playing a piece at a consistent speed from beginning to end is possible through training. Using a metronome helps you notice if you are unintentionally speeding up or slowing down.
N – Never give up
Life can bring difficulties, urgent matters, or even piano slumps. During such times, take a break and come back to the piano whenever you can. Not all piano pieces are beautiful and peaceful. Experiencing various emotions like sadness, pain, betrayal, heartbreak, loss, and despair can help you become a better performer.
O – Opportunity
Learning piano as an adult provides the opportunity to challenge yourself, enjoy new experiences, and even relieve stress. It comes with the added bonus of being able to easily make friends with people who share the same piano hobby, regardless of age, gender, or race.
P – Practicing
Practice as often as possible. Practicing for 20 minutes every day is more effective than practicing for three hours once a week. Of course, practicing for an hour every day is even better! Practice makes Perfect!
Q – Questions
Always be curious and ask questions to learn more. During lessons, you might forget to ask questions because of nervousness. Keep a small notebook and pen next to your piano and write down any questions that come to mind while practicing. Show these questions to your teacher at the beginning of the lesson, and they will address them as they come up during the lesson.
R – Record your playing
Recording has two major benefits. First, listening to your recordings helps you notice mistakes that you might not have realized while playing, such as speeding up, hitting notes too loudly, or missing notes. Second, it allows you to track your progress. Since piano skills improve gradually, it can be hard to recognize your improvement without recordings. Realizing that you have improved is a strong motivation for practice.
S – SNS
Use social media as a repository for your performances! If you’re shy, you can upload them privately. We live in an age where you can easily record and upload videos with your smartphone, often for free. Noting the date and title of the piece makes it easy to look back later.
T – Teacher
None of the great performers reached their level without a teacher. Beautiful performance is not just about hitting the right notes. A teacher can help you notice not only what you missed in the sheet music but also what is not visible on it. If you want to learn classical music, find a teacher who specializes in classical music; if you prefer jazz, find a jazz specialist. Classical and jazz are as different as Catholicism and Protestantism!
U – Understanding
Deepen your understanding of music theory. Browse through music theory books at the bookstore and choose one that suits you. Learning about scales, time signatures, rhythms, and musical terms will help you better understand sheet music.
V – Value
Value daily practice and small achievements.
There’s a saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Small practices add up to bring you closer to playing your dream piece.
W – Wrist
When playing the piano, the wrist moves in various directions – up, down, left, right. Do not try to play only with stiff fingers. Pay attention to how flexible pianists move their wrists when they play.
X – eXpression
Being able to play the piano allows you to express various emotions healthily. By playing pieces that convey sadness, distress, or anger, you can transform negative emotions into art without hurting anyone.
Y – Yearning
Yearning means to earnestly long for something and think about it constantly. Is piano that kind of thing for you? Many adults wish they could play the piano well, but not all of them practice consistently. For those reading this, I hope you achieve that dream.
Z – Zeal
Approach learning with enthusiasm and dedication. As you continue learning, the piano will reward you with beautiful music.
