​The six skills of pianists

I don’t believe in talent. In my experience, all the so-called talented people turned out to be the hardest working, patient, and focused people of any cohort. However, they also had access to resources, like time and money to support their journey. Fortunately, there is a consensus around the core curriculum and its proper sequencing in formal piano studies. 

1. Technique is the foundational set of skills required to play competently without injury.
2. Musically satisfying music which systematically builds musical skill in a logical and sequential manner while maintaining the student’s enthusiasm and satisfying their musical interests. 
3. Theory helps to decode and understand the patterns within the music, memorize music easier, and knowledgably communicate with the teacher.
4. Aural skills encompass guided listening, sight singing, pitch recognition, and transcription to connect the ears with the hands. Aural skills are tightly bound with music theory skills.
5. Sightreading skills work with theory knowledge to make music reading easier, quicker, and effective. Skilled sight readers can play a wide variety of music for fun without teacher input. Therefore, for recreational pianists, becoming a great sight reader should be the number one goal.
6. Reviewing old repertoire builds a student's confidence that all their hard work is paying off.

​If I can help you on your journey, call me.
 
David 
Revised 2024

Tips for playing piano beautifully.
 
Concert artists have dedicated years learning to play the piano beautifully. They have studied and mastered all the elements of their craft: repertoire, technique, aural skills, sightreading, performance practice, historical awareness, idiomatic knowledge, and more. However, they all had to start somewhere. So here is a starting point for beginners and intermediate pianists looking to elevate their interpretive skills.

1. Playing the score accurately is the obvious first step.
2. Observe the dynamic markings from your first reading of the work.
3. Where the melody rises in pitch, play a gentle crescendo.
4. Where the melody falls play in pitch, a gentle diminuendo.
5. Locate any tempo changes.
6. Take a breath at a repeat sign.
7. Generally, the last note under a slur is played softer, unless the score indicates otherwise.
8. Practice with a metronome with pieces that are based on dances like minuets, gigue etc. Many contemporary pieces written in the last few decades work as well with metronome practice. However, most Romantic era music does not. Therefore, this excludes most of Chopin, Liszt, and Debussy.
9. Translate directly into the score any text you find in languages you don’t understand. These terms will always tell you how to play the piece.
10. Most of these points can be overridden by markings in the score. 

 
This is a starting point for expressive playing. To develop a more sophisticated understanding one must transcribe the performance practice of professionals from different eras performing your pieces and compare the results. For example, when comparing performances of the first 8 measures of Scarlatti’s Sonata in E K380 over decades of recordings you will discover the diverse ways the musicians interpret the trills.  Most start above the principle note, but not everyone. The intensity, tempi, and dynamics vary as well.
If I can help you further, call me.
 
David

Seven steps to learning a new piece of piano music.

1. Translate all the musical terms and write them in your score. These Italian terms tell you how to play the piece because they indicate tempo, mood, and attitude.
2. Locate three professional YouTube recordings of your new work. Play them in turn; make notes on how each musician interprets the score and musical terms from step one. If you can see their hands, note the gestures they use to interpret the score. (I write down what I hear and see directly in my scores.)
3. Using a slow metronome tempo, clap and count aloud any tricky rhythms you find.
4. If the music is complex, write in the fingering, measure by measure, hand by hand. The editor’s markings are often a good place to start. You just fill in the missing finger numbers. Experiment and carefully consider your choices. This will accomplish two things. One, you will be practicing slowly and consciously, hand by hand, chunk by chunk. Two, you will have time to play musically from the start because you will have time to consider the dynamics or articulations. Concurrently with the writing in the fingerings, consider the gestures needed to interpret the music. These might include fingers, rotation, drop, two note slurs, and other motions. If you are unclear about which gestures to use, call me. I will show you how, with the proper gestures, the composer's intentions are easier to realize.
5. After the initial consideration you gave to the fingering, dynamics, and articulations you are now ready to play with steadier time. Continue to count aloud, with a metronome, if you are having trouble with the rhythm. Don’t hesitate to work on your hands separately.
6. You now have a secure foundation to begin practicing in earnest. You have an artistic impression of the work, you’ve worked out the fingering, dynamics, articulations, and necessary hand gestures to interpret the music.

​If I can help you further, call me.
 
David
Revised 2024

Piano Practice Guide


What should I practice to learn piano?

Here are some suggestions to help you learn piano:

1. Scales and Chords: Practice playing scales and chords regularly to build finger strength and dexterity.
2. Sheet Music: Start by learning to read sheet music and playing simple pieces. As you progress, gradually increase the difficulty of the pieces you play.
3. Theory: Study music theory to understand how different elements of music work together, such as harmony, melody, and rhythm.
4. Ear Training: Develop your ear by listening to music and trying to play what you hear by ear.
5. Repetition: Consistent practice is key to mastering any skill. Try to practice every day for at least 30 minutes.
6. Posture: Make sure to maintain proper posture while playing the piano to avoid strain and injury.
7. Find a teacher or mentor: Consider finding a local teacher or mentor to guide you and provide feedback on your playing.
8. Remember, learning an instrument takes time and patience. Stay motivated and enjoy the journey!

Once again good specific advice. 

David

A Royal Conservatory student, practicing piano,
Should aim for consistency, not just a one-time show.

First, warm up those fingers with scales and arpeggios,
Then move on to pieces, to let the music flow.

Technical studies like Hanon or Czerny,
Can help to build dexterity and avoid any injury.

Sight-reading and ear training, don't forget to include,
These skills are crucial and can't be misconstrued.

Challenging repertoire, should be in the mix,
To push your abilities, and you're playing to fix.

Lastly, review and refine, what you've learned so far,
Take your time, be patient, it will take you far.

So Royal Conservatory piano student, keep in mind,
Practice regularly, and you'll see yourself shine.

I may lose my mind. 

David

How should I practice piano?

To practice piano effectively, here are some steps you can follow:

1. Set clear goals: Determine what you want to achieve with your piano practice, whether it's to learn a specific piece, improve your technique, or develop your theory skills.
2. Warm up: Start with simple exercises to warm up your hands and get in the right mindset for practice.
3. Practice consistently: Make a schedule and stick to it. Consistency is key to making progress on the piano.
4. Focus on technique: Pay attention to your hand position, finger placement, and arm movements. Make sure you're using proper technique to prevent injury and improve your sound.
5. Use different resources: In addition to practicing with sheet music, use educational books, videos, and online resources to supplement your practice.
6. Pay attention to detail: Slow down and focus on individual phrases and sections, paying attention to details like dynamics and phrasing.
7. Review and reflect: Regularly review what you've learned and think about what you need to work on next. This will help you stay motivated and make steady progress.

Have fun: Finally, make sure to enjoy the process! Playing the piano should be a source of joy and fulfillment, not stress and frustration.

----------------------------

Not bad. However, recording yourself is missing. 

David

Tempo:

1. Lang Lang: Half note =112
2. Wuja Wang: Half note =100
3. Cory Hall: Half note =113
4. Qi Zhang: Half note =110

None of the artists played with a completely steady beat, in other words, the tempo varied both from section to section and within sections. 

1. Listening every day to the recordings, supplied with your books, prepares your ears for the task ahead. (Students often play a wrong note for an entire week, because they don't fully know how the music sounds.) As the Bugs Bunny Theme song “This is it” says, “We know every part by heart.”
2. Record yourself playing. Video is best. Play, watch, make notes on what did and didn't work. This helps you avoid mindless repetition, also known as grinding. 
3. Play your scales, chords, and arpeggios with a metronome. In modern music performance and production, the ability to play with a metronome is imperative. Try these suggestions if you are having difficulty: Use a comfortable tempo. Count aloud, starting with one note per click. Later, when you are comfortable, try two notes per click. Make a note of the tempo played by date. Incrementally increase the tempo.
4. Memorise your pieces and technique at your earliest convenience. In the theater, rehearsals get serious when the actors are “off the book.” 
5. Spend one-third of your time on theory, ear training, and sight reading. These are the pillars of musical understanding, interpretation, and memorization.

If I can help you, call me.
 
David 
Revised August 2022

​This is a simple concept that can be difficult to execute. When the melody goes up crescendo. When the melody goes diminuendo. The change will be small unless the composer indicates otherwise. Exceptions are clearly marked in the score. The last note in a melody before a rest, in Classical music, is played gently unless the composer indicates otherwise. The last note in a melody before a rest, in Jazz music, is played strongly unless the composer indicates otherwise. 

Please check out the following recording. 

If I can help you, call me. 

​David
Revised August 2022

Everyone understands that the piano is played with the fingers. But not all students understand the role of the wrists, arms, and shoulders in piano playing. These techniques create a kaleidoscope of colour in our playing, and it helps reduce our chances of injury.

I wish my early teachers had spent more time on this when I was a kid. My ignorance of these techniques lead to significant arm injury in my late twenties. At age thirty I began relearning the piano with Donald Himes.  It took 15 years. Modern piano teaching methods introduce each of these techniques at the appropriate moment. 

Here is a partial list of techniques. They be observed in the playing of fine pianists. Here is a partial list.  

1. Fingers
2. Rotation
3. Forearm roll
4. Drop
5. Arm weight

I use some of these techniques in the following video. If you would like help, call me. 

David Story

Donald Himes: Music director/composer for the Mr. Dress-up show CBC. He played from the 1st show to the last. A fine pianist, great teacher and avid Francophile. 

Revised August 2022

These ten activities will simplify the process of learning a new piece of music. 
​

1. Listen to a professional recording while following the score. It is much simpler to play a score when you know what it is supposed to sound like.   “How do I get the sound in my head out of these black dots” is much easier than, “I wonder what this sounds like?” Notice the deviations from the score that the professionals present. Mark in any nuances with dynamics and phrasing you might hear. The music is not fully represented by the notation.
2. Observe the fingering suggestions in your score. I would only change the fingering in the case of obvious error or small hands.
3. Practice slowly at first.
4. If the rhythms are difficult. Clap and count aloud those passages.
5. Explore the score further by marking the form and cadences. Notice how the professionals play the cadences. You will want to do the same. If this step is new to you call me, I can help.
6. Practice with dynamics from the first reading. That way you avoid having to relearn the piece later. In my experience as a piano examiner, under stress candidates will abandon the dynamic plan and resort to their pre-dynamic performance. I know this because I often had the teachers' score in front of me. Dynamics in the scores were brightly underlined, highlighted, and punctuated coast to coast. The more frantic and emphatic the marking was, the less chance the candidate would execute them.
7. Practice in small chunks. That is phrase by phrase, or if the passage is particularly difficult, measure by measure. Consider:
   1. Fingering
   2. The required movement to realize your artistic impression: slur gestures, arm weight, rotation, and so on.
   3. Dynamics
   4. Balance
   5. Flow
8. Record yourself. Many students will find this uncomfortable. I say fight the resistance. The feedback one gets from hearing immediately of your progress or lack thereof will save you years of wasted effort. 
9. Take breaks. My attention span is short, yours is likely to be short too. So, prepare several activities when practicing.
   1. Practice the scales and chords required for your piece.
   2. Listen some more to the recordings.
   3. Jump back in.

If I can help, call me.
 
David
Revised September 2022

My first demonstration of pedaling using the Midiculous software.

This is one interpretation among many possibilities.

I have marked the right hand legato and the left-hand quarter notes staccato. These staccato notes would be a 'wet' staccato, or "portato". Slightly detached but marked to give the music some forward momentum. 

James Maddox presents a lovely rendition that closely resembles the edit above. He does place less emphasis on the broken chords of measures 9 and 16 though.  

Enjoy 

​David
Revised October 2022 

These are short, charming, easy pieces for levels 5 and 6.

Q: What can harpsichordists teach pianists?
A: How to pace the music. Listen to the subtle flexibility in the flow of the music. 

In the second video the performer talks about these works. 

Enjoy, 

​David
Revised October 2022

The music. BACH JS 6 préludes (BWV 939-943).MUS (imslp.info)

Preplanning shortens the time needed to "learn" a piece of music. I start, if I can, by listening to several professional performances. Some of the marks on the score reflect what I heard in a particular performance and other marks are a result of my own deliberations. As I revise this blog, I regret that I didn't mark down what was what and from whom. 

Planning an interpretation

1. Mark the phrases and label the cadences
2. Mark the form
3. Explore phrasing options
4. Select the gestures
5. Practice the gestures

This preparation helps a musician have a clear idea of the result before they commence practicing. 

​David
Revised October 2022

"How good do you want to be?"  “What do you want to accomplish?"

Some benchmarks from accomplished colleagues:

• RCM levels 1 to 4: 45 minutes a day
• RCM levels 5 to 8: 60 minutes a day
• RCM levels 9 and above: 90 minutes plus
• Aspiring professional musicians: 2 hours plus per day, longer on weekends and holidays. 

This amount of time is sufficient to cover all that needs to be done is the areas of technique, etudes, repertoire, theory or ear training and finally sight reading.  Though your experience may slight differ, as some point all skilled musicians have put in the time. 

Best regards,
David Story

PS: I'd like to thank my colleague Becky Yuan and former teacher Leon Karan for input on the numbers. 

​Becky Yuan: Mississauga http://beckyyuan.com/
Leon Karan: Hamilton http://www.leonkaran.com/

revised 2024