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Home » Practice Tips

How to Practice the Piano Effectively

Published: Nov 14, 2020 · Modified: Jul 20, 2021 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn me a commission.

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No matter how much you enjoy practicing the piano, it's easy to give in to distractions when you're playing. Whether it's your family talking to you, notifications from your phone, or daydreams, it can be difficult to concentrate and get the most out of your practice session. Here are some practical tips you can implement to remove distractions and to help you get more done.

music books on the piano music stand

Silence your phone/tablet. That way, dings and notifications won't break your concentration. You can even leave your devices in another room as well.

Set aside time each day to practice and ask family and friends to leave you alone during that period. Treat your practice time like a scheduled appointment.

Take one or two days off per week. This will refresh your mind, remove some mental roadblocks, give your body a rest, and help you stay inspired.

Start by warming up with scales and arpeggios. About 20% of your practice time should be devoted to this. Get a good scale book, memorize the key signatures, and practice the scales; it will work wonders on your sight reading and finger strength.

sonatina sheet music with a timer and pencil

Only practice as long as necessary. Beginners should aim for 30 minutes per day, while intermediate students should aim for about 1 hour. Advanced students and professionals can play anywhere from 2-7 hours per day, depending upon how much material they are learning. Beware of over practicing, as it can introduce issues into your playing. (Here's some tips on managing your practice time wisely.)

Practice slowly. Rushing through a piece or simply going through the motions will hurt your playing. Always practice slowly until you can play the piece perfectly, then work on increasing speed.

Practice deliberately. Pay close attention and stop to work out hard spots and mistakes as you go through the piece. Don't gloss over mistakes or shy away from the difficult measures; work on those first.

Practice material at your level. It's best to select pieces from a graded music book or play something your piano teacher recommends for you. Choosing a piece that is too difficult will be frustrating, time consuming, or even impossible to learn at this time.

Work on new material first. Learn a new part of your piece first rather than settling down into the familiar pages you already know. This keeps pushing you forward.

metronome and sheet music with roses

Don't tackle too much information at once. Learn pieces in small, 2-measure chunks, playing hands separately first, if needed. Don't try to learn the whole piece at once.

Split your practice time into a few small chunks. This is especially effective if you are an advanced student or professional or preparing for a concert. Taking breaks is essential for giving your mind and body a rest.

Record yourself. Hearing yourself play your pieces is an eye-opening experience! You'll notice where you are making mistakes, and that will help motivate you to fix them.

Listen to others' recordings of your pieces. Listening to expert musicians playing the same pieces you're learning will give you something to emulate, and will inspire you to become a better musician.

As a pianist, I've implemented these techniques, and noticed a big difference in my learning ability and focus while practicing. Playing new parts slowly and learning new information in small chunks has been especially helpful to me when learning a piece. Recording myself in audio and video formats has been beneficial! It's eye-opening to see and hear one's playing from a listener's perspective.

Do you have suggestions on how to practice the piano effectively? How do you remove distractions and work efficiently? Let me know in the comments below.

Follow Emma on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for more tips on becoming an amazing pianist!

Other Resources to Help You Become a Better Pianist

  • How to Choose a Good Piano Teacher
  • The Top 5 Beginner Piano Exercises
  • 10 Tips for Correct Piano Posture
  • Why Are Scales Important?
  • How to Stay Motivated to Practice the Piano
  • How to Choose the Right Piano Music
  • How to Play the Piano Faster
  • How to Prepare for a Piano Recital
  • 15 Ways to Motivate Teens to Practice the Piano
  • How to Help Your Child Learn Piano

More Practice Tips

  • How to Play the Piano with 2 Hands
  • Should You Practice Contrary Motion Scales?
  • 5 Techniques Beginner Piano Players Don't Practice
  • How to Play Octaves on the Piano

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brooke

    November 14, 2020 at 10:50 pm

    When I was practicing the piano regularly, I would play the piano in a room by myself. I realize not everyone has that ablility to shut a door or two to keep out other family members when they are practicing the piano

    but it was effective. I also had family members hold me accountable for my regular practice sessions. They also were there to give a helpful critique when asked.

    Wonderful post. Keep them coming!😊🎶

    Reply
    • Emma

      November 14, 2020 at 10:54 pm

      Thank you! It’s so wonderful to have the support of family and friends while playing the piano.

      Reply
  2. L

    November 24, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    My favorite pointers you gave are warming up, taking days off when necessary, and recording yourself. Those are all such good tips!! I like to remember the 3 goals of practice: Remind. Repeat. Challenge. (Practice something old, keep what you already know up to quality, then learn something new). Keep up the great posts!

    Reply
    • Emma

      November 24, 2020 at 6:33 pm

      Thanks for sharing those great tips! I'm so glad that you're enjoying the posts so far.

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Emma Blair, a pianist and music teacher.  It's my goal to inspire you to improve your piano technique and to become the best pianist you can be!

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