8 Mistakes People Make When Learning Piano

[@Abigail-Rebecca]

I self-taught myself about forty years ago because mum couldn't afford a piano teacher and my school didn't offer courses and I now play regularly for my church (pre Covid). I have also had my playing assessed by professional pianists since and they have been impressed my playing. My ultimate goal would be to gain a recognised music qualification. One point I would make is the learning process must be fun, which agrees with number five. For me it is playing music styles you enjoy, albeit simplified versions (in the early days), goes a long way towards your motivation to carry on. That's not to say that drills, scales, etc aren't important to learn, they most certainly are - you need to learn them for correct technique for a start. However, don't focus all of your practice time on them, remember to have some enjoyment too. My simple philosophy was to have fun in the early days, then move on to learning the more regimented stuff, but always remembering to factor in time to reward yourself by playing the fun stuff you like before you leave your practice session for the day.

[@arthouston7361]

I can supply an exception for "self taught." When you have motivation and accountability it can be done. I have about a year in now, and I have been singing bass in choirs for almost 25 years. Being able to play my part in the left hand is very valuable, and learning theory and scales is enhancing that process as well. If you have small steps you can take with music you have known for decades, that also helps. Working through bits of Joni Mitchell's River, or punching up organ mode for a little Whiter Shade of Pale can make you glad you are learning to play all those scales, both hands together, and you can see yourself buying the Hanon book at some point.. There are plenty of channels where you can learn bits and pieces of a song, even if you aren't ready for Steely Dan.JMHO.

[@cassandraatsea]

Talking about self-taught. Do you know that there is a fisherman in Japan who never touched piano nor never knew how to play any musical instrument til 52 years old. He was a fisherman all his life. Then one day, when he was 52 years old, he was touched by Fujiko Hemming playing La Campanella. It motivated him and wished one day he would be able to play La Campanella. He practiced totally self-taught for 7 years, and at age if 59, he accomplished to play La Campanella at a concert hall. It’s a true story.

[@michelprimeau4531]

I have to agree that self-taught is not the best or the easiest. You need a tons of motivation. I started by my own for 4-6 month, learned to play a few simplified songs which sounds simplified by the way when you hear the real thing. Then I took piano lesson, now stop because of the pandemic. So I'm still on my own but I pratice about 30min every day and maybe watch or read for an hour of piano video or tutorial which I don't count. I'm missing a structure and an objective measure of my improvement. I have a hard time to judge the piano level of pieces and to find something not to easy but not to hard. I'm in for the long run. So I practice the basics everyday.

[@zerksari]

Damn. Can't beat passion. Well time to keep watching your old videos and catch up.

[@joemaniscalco780]

Another great video guys. So much of your advice is applicable to learning any new instrument!

[@tenjouin1]

Thanks for a great and important video. I think I have all these mistakes. After some years of having wished to have a piano and start practising, I finally started piano practicing, but too late, i. e. 10 years old. My parents bought me a bad Soviet built piano, yet I played with it. I am a lazy, unsure and shy depressed person, thus I have great difficulties to be consistent with practicing, even now as I restarted in my middle-age. My teacher back then 40 years ago was nice but I do not remember any special technique he could help me learn to read the notes. In fact I still cannot read sheet music without unpleasant feelings first. I should get a teacher, but I fear the teacher would not be nice to me. I agree with you that self-taught is not an option to follow solely, you have make the connection and communication with other people because the social environment can help you learn things you never learn alone. This same goes with any other learning, too, and the whole life as well.

[@rayderrich]

Point 3: wrong instrument. Oh boy have I seen and heard awful bad instruments (more like toys) in a piano learning Facebook group and without being snobby I try to steer people to a better investment for the long run. I can hardly play myself at this point, but good touch and sound is paramount to me. Thanks for this video!

[@gustough]

Really amazing video. Thank you very much. I like your style approaching the different topics in kind of a discussion or dialogue. Currently I really strongly think about starting playing the piano. I come from the guitar (not professional, more like a supporting campfire-style of playing and picking the instrument) and would like to try new shores and embrace new horizons of music. I like listening to the piano. And I would not only feed my own curiosity in this instrument, but would also make my parents happy which could not afford me a piano when I was a kid back in the day. Having heard your suggestions and thoughts on the eight mistakes seems to drag me closer to playing the piano; I like that. I just need to figure out which instrument to get. And I struggle with my decision, whether it shall be a Yamaha P-515 (with all the gear to make it stationary and still have the portability as an option), the DFX 670 (least likely) or the Clavinova CLP 745 or 785 (which I gravitate to most) (and btw: great comparison video of yours).

[@thomasfeldbauer5025]

HiThisIsTedInAlamoMusicCenterBeautifulDowntownSanAntanioTexas - Iove when you re saying this! So cool!

[@Runner466]

What is your take on piano learning apps? Like simply piano?

[@michelprimeau4531]

Can you do a video about great book to learn the piano? (With no jingle Bells song in it if possible.) My teacher (pre-Covid) brought me a lot in terms of rhythm and is a great mentor but I feel I could add to that with a great book.

[@bradgriffith8297]

This question might go against point #8, but ... I just purchased a previously owned acoustic piano from a local piano dealer. Is there an app for an adult beginner that you could recommend?

[@alicaramba7680]

You may try Hoffman piano lessons on YT, just ignore kiddish stuff.

[@bradgriffith8297]

@@alicaramba7680 Thanks Ali. I had looked at the KZbin Hoffman channel. I'll give it a second look.

[@alicaramba7680]

​@@bradgriffith8297 If you never played piano before keep in mind your fingers needs to adapt to a new job. So don't push yourself too hard. Start slowly, 15 minutes a day. Your fingers likely never made such intense moves before, it may take 6 to 12 months before you feel comfortable with piano. Meanwhile you can learn theory stuff. For kids it's easy because they have plenty of time to take piano lessons and their hands adapts while growing. For adults it's a different story altogether. Luckily you bought acoustic piano and not cheap digital, otherwise you would be risking to damage your finger tissues playing too hard at the beginning. Still, I suggest to play softly in staccato before venturing further. Another thing to mention, if you will look for advice or example on YT. There are classically trained pianists and there are jazz trained pianists (Hoffman among the latter). You should look at classical pianists because their musical scope is much much wider than that one of jazz pianists, unless your intent is specifically to learn jazz tunes or improvise along 12-bar blues.

[@alicaramba7680]

​@@bradgriffith8297 Oh, you should work on hand separation, ear training and music reading almost from the beginning. A lot off stuff to learn before you actually will be able to play piano.

[@normmadson5381]

I agree the teacher is the most important. Most of the teachers out there can’t even play but they’re still trying to teach. What a joke.

[@Piddeaux]

Beware of people who play piano and then think that qualifies them to teach others to play. I've had 5 teachers over the years and none of them really understood how to teach others. They were worthless and I've learned more from KZbin than I ever learned from any of them.

[@effablepiano7239]

00:12 great piano video..I congratulate you on your success.regards from my piano channel :))

[@maartensmitswork]

#9: Not practising 40 hours a day

[@thomasfeldbauer5025]

#10 wrong music Especially piano can play so many genres, why not focus directly to the music you like best. I have the impression every piano course is focused to classical music. I guess everyone learned Für Elise. Why not starting with film-music, pop, blues, jazz. For every music there are beginner arrangements. This goes hand in hand with your #5. If you like the music, more fun. And #6: If you have fun, you practise more.

[@michelprimeau4531]

No Jingle Bells, please. I'll burn the book.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

@@michelprimeau4531 LOL🤣🎹🎶

[@mrdarbab]

Tell someone you play and there is a good chance "do you know Fur Elise or Moonlight Sonata" will be heard. so unfortunately, we have to learn those to make people happy. now there is a river song ?? that is popular I guess