Another student piano recital has come and gone. My reflections. 

It’s all about the basics. Any compromise with that will affect the outcome every time. What are the basics of learning the piano? Here are some ideas to get us started.

1. For advanced players. Learn the piece away from the piano before you start. For classical students that means listening to professional performances. Analyse the form and harmony. Work out the fingering one hand at the time at all important points.  For jazz players analyse the chord structure, marking in the ii-V-I patterns. Have look at the melodic structure, find the sequences. Next, memorise, singing the roots of the chords in time and in pitch, with a metronome by memory. Next tackle the melody, sing it from memory to! Now figure out the head by ear. Listen to many versions of the piece.
2. For beginners. Master the basics of scales, chords, arpeggios, sight reading, applied theory, ear training, memorisation, listening analytically and repertoire retention. The boring bits are the important bits.
3. For everyone, attend live music events, inspire yourself.  Learn how to practice. And finally commit the time to succeed.

Cheers, 

​David

Sitting for a piano exam is likely the bravest thing an adult piano student will ever do. Exam season is next month, how do we control the anxiety and panic?

A short personal story if I may. I have sat for 2 formal piano exams in my life. Grade 10 at 45 and ARCT at 47. Musically it was the most exciting thing I've done at the piano. The day of my Grade 10 I drove to the exam centre and walked around the parking lot for 10 minutes contemplating running away to the south seas to hide the shame for fleeing. 

I went in. 

Two years later I walked in again. By this time I'd invested 5,000 hours of practice over 4 years, I was ready for it to be over. I didn't give a hoot about what was about to take place.

It went well.

My teacher Leon knew what he was doing: preparation is the first step. Knowing you are prepared reduces anxiety around fears of competency. Secondly, he gave me permission to make mistakes. That really helped. As a piano examiner I can confidently say nobody gets 100%. You won't either. So the question is "what will you do when you make your error?"

I say forgive yourself. Keep moving. You are a champion for being there and the examiner is on your side. 

BTW, no adult piano student of mine has ever failed an exam. As an examiner, students do fail, but I never failed an adult. 

Cheers and good luck.

David

ps Check this out. 89 Year old pianist passes his grade 3 piano exam.