A: Acoustic Piano
If you mainly practice on a digital piano, try to also play on an acoustic piano. Usually, acoustic piano keys are heavier than digital piano keys. Pianists do not carry their own piano; they have to play on the piano available on site. You need to quickly adapt to any condition or state of the piano to produce the best sound. Therefore, it’s essential to experience playing various pianos.
B: Bach
Beethoven said this about Bach: “His name ought not to be Bach (brook), but ocean, because of his infinite and inexhaustible wealth of tonal combinations and harmonies. Bach is the progenitor of harmony.” Among Bach’s over 1,000 works, you will surely find pieces you want to play for a lifetime. Dive into the ocean of Bach.
C: Confidence
There may be very few moments in your life when you feel your performance is perfect. Practice diligently, but when you perform, play with confidence and pride. Believe in your abilities, and let your hard work shine through with every note you play. Remember, the joy and passion you convey can resonate with the audience even more than technical perfection.
D: Depression into Development
Instead of feeling depressed by looking at other people’s social media, how about using that time for piano practice and self-development? Transform your depression into development. Use those moments of self-doubt as motivation to improve your skills and channel your emotions into your music. Remember, each practice session is a step towards becoming a better pianist and a more resilient individual.
E: Ear Training
Improve your ability to hear and distinguish sounds through ear training. As your ears become more sensitive, you will better understand the composer’s intentions. It also helps significantly with memorizing pieces.
F: Fingering
Using the correct finger numbers makes playing more efficient. When you compare sheet music from different publishers for the same piece, you’ll notice slight differences in fingerings. Practice with the numbers that feel most comfortable for you. If your hands are smaller than average, like mine, you may need to use special fingerings.
G: Group Playing
Most instruments, except for the piano, require piano accompaniment. Experience the harmony of different timbres by playing together. Playing with other pianists, like in four-hand or two-piano pieces, can also be very enjoyable. It fosters teamwork and enhances your ability to listen to and adapt to others. This collaborative experience can deepen your musical understanding and create memorable performances.
H: Harmony
The piano is the most suitable instrument for playing harmonies. Studying harmony will greatly enhance your understanding of music and result in better performances. By mastering harmony, you can create richer, more complex pieces that captivate listeners. This knowledge will also allow you to appreciate and interpret other musicians’ works more profoundly.
I: Inspiration
You can gain great inspiration from other instrumentalists. Although the piano is not inherently capable of true legato, pianists strive to emulate the perfect legato of vocalists or string players, making it sound as if the piano can achieve it. They think about how to recreate the vibrato of string instruments, the clear sound of the glockenspiel, and the resonant bass of the double bass on the piano.
J: Jealousy turns to practice
It’s natural to feel jealous of someone who plays better than you. Use feelings of jealousy as motivation to improve. Do you have a rival? A rival is a powerful and valuable presence that can help improve your skills. Channel your envy into focused practice sessions, turning competition into a driving force for excellence. Let your rivalry push you to reach new heights and achieve your personal best.
K: Keyboard Awareness
Understanding the mechanics of the piano keys can help your playing. For grand pianos, the keys and their mechanisms are horizontally connected. Think of your hands as extensions of these mechanisms. This awareness allows for greater precision and control in your playing. Familiarize yourself with the touch and response of each key to fully harness the piano’s expressive potential.
L: Left Hand
About 90% of people worldwide are right-handed, making their left hand relatively weaker. Train for the independence of all five fingers on your left hand, and pay attention to the sounds produced by your left hand. The left hand usually plays the bass notes, and when played with appropriate strength, it can produce a very rich sound due to the principle of overtones.
M: Memorize
Memorizing sheet music makes your performance more natural. While it requires more practice time, the results are rewarding. Pianos are often found in unexpected places, like street pianos or at friends’ houses. Memorize one or two pages of relatively easy pieces and play whenever you get the chance. Your memorization skills will improve gradually. If you dream of playing a ten-page piece from memory, start by memorizing one-page pieces, and you’ll achieve that dream.
N: New Techniques
Learning new techniques enables you to play a wider variety of pieces. Legato, staccato, arpeggios, accents, tenuto, subito piano, and more—conquer them one by one. Each technique mastered adds a new dimension to your musical expression. By continuously expanding your skill set, you’ll be able to tackle more challenging compositions and deliver more dynamic performances.
O: Observation
Observe skilled pianists carefully. Watch not just their fingers but also their upper arms, forearms, wrists, and feet. If you practice the piece beforehand, you’ll notice even more details. Notice how they maintain a consistent rhythm and tempo, and observe their use of pedals to sustain and color the sound. Additionally, pay attention to how they interpret musical phrasing, shaping each phrase with sensitivity and expression.
P: Pedaling
The piano has three pedals. The right pedal is the Damper Pedal or Sustain Pedal, which lifts all the dampers, allowing the notes to sustain themselves. The middle pedal is the Sostenuto pedal, which sustains only the notes pressed just before the pedal is engaged. It’s often used in Debussy’s works. The left pedal is the soft pedal, or una corda pedal, which shifts the hammers so they strike one or two strings, producing a softer sound. Proper use of the pedals can make your performance feel like it has wings.
Q: Queen
During my study abroad, my professor said, “When you go on stage, think of yourself as a ‘queen.'” I recommend that you also go on stage confidently, as if you were a queen or king. This mindset not only boosts self-assurance but also commands respect and captivates the audience.
R: Repertoire
Create your own repertoire of pieces you enjoy playing. Regularly practice pieces you can perform at casual gatherings, street pianos, or recitals with people who share your hobby.
S: Sing the melody.
Sing the melody of piano pieces with your voice. When leaping wide intervals like sixths, sevenths, or octaves, you naturally take a bit more time when singing. This phenomenon is very natural in vocal music and can also be applied to instruments for more natural performances.
T: Teacher
If you self-taught through the beginner level, you really need a teacher for the intermediate level! A teacher can show you how to smoothly play wide-range arpeggios using your wrist, play the main melody louder than others, and find hidden melodies. Without regular expert feedback, it’s easy to develop bad habits, which become harder to correct over time.
U: Understanding
To perform more deeply, try to understand the background of the piece and the composer’s intentions. Biographies of famous composers are easily available, so read them while practicing their pieces. This knowledge will enrich your interpretation, allowing you to convey the emotional and historical context of the music more authentically to your audience. Additionally, delve into the stylistic characteristics of the composer’s era to grasp how their music fits within broader musical traditions.
V: Variety
Play a variety of music to keep things interesting. Those interested in classical music often tend to play only the works of a few famous composers from the classical and Romantic periods. Explore pieces from the Baroque, Impressionist, and Modern eras. Occasionally, try playing music from OSTs, jazz, pop songs, and Third World music. A broad understanding of music as a whole will add vibrancy to your performances.
W: Warm-up
Since your pieces are more advanced than during the beginner phase, your hand muscles might be surprised if you start playing suddenly. It’s a good idea to warm up by first playing scales in the same key as the piece you are practicing.
X: X-Hand Technique
Cross-Hand Technique, where the hands cross over each other, is also known as X-Hand Technique. The right hand plays lower notes by crossing over the left hand, and the left hand plays higher notes by crossing over the right hand. Mastering this visually and aurally striking technique will be enjoyable for both you and your audience.
Y: Yearly
Try to participate in a recital at least once a year. You could join a recital hosted by your teacher with other students or organize one with people who share the same hobby. Performing can be nerve-wracking, but you’ll feel a significant improvement in your skills after you participate! Remember, each performance offers valuable experience in overcoming stage fright and connecting with your audience through music.
Z: Zoom In
To improve the overall completeness of a piece, you need to focus on the details and play them more smoothly. Practicing specific sections for 40 minutes and then playing the whole piece twice is better than practicing the entire piece ten times in an hour. This approach allows you to address challenging passages thoroughly while maintaining a cohesive flow throughout the entire composition. Moreover, take breaks between practice sessions to maintain mental freshness and avoid fatigue, which can enhance your performance quality and endurance.
