The ADHD Strategies You Need to Know to Learn Piano!

If you have ADHD, learning a musical instrument comes with some extra challenges. In this video, I outline what to watch out for and suggest some strategies that will help.
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[@bakerfx4968]

I have adhd and I’ve been playing since January thanks to amazing teachers on KZbin like you!

[@dagmarintreble]

#Team Hyperfocus. The other option is distraction. Guitar, drums: distraction, that's why I don't progress there. Piano: total hyperfocus. I start at 5, practise 20 minutes and it's 9 🤪 Also I often go like: let's start a new piece, this one here! Oh, for the right musical approach, let's see: when did the composer live? Let's Google... ah, he was friends with Satie, where did Satie live. Ah, Paris.... oh, he was addicted to alcohol, die young...where is he buried?... riends with Ravel... Debussy... have I ever played something from Debussy...might be too difficult. Google difficulty levels of Debussy.... oh, here is an easy one.. ah, it's by Mozart... I should play Mozart.. I have the score of Alla Turca somewhere...where is it? Starts happily practising Alla Turca.

[@LeCheileMusic]

Ah yes, our beloved rabbit holes 🤣

[@lovelivelaughforever8781]

For my toddler, I wanted her to take piano lessons to help with her adhd. We took piano lessons for a year and it has helped her focus during carpet time in school. So every time she plays a song, I give her a block to build with. She loves that it is a game.

[@oliveoil315]

Thank you for explaining it in terms I can understand. My memory is awful and my ADHD with depression makes it really difficult for me to even get started with my day so thank you for some great tips.

[@sopranogirl13]

I wish I could give you a huge hug!! Here is a great tip, never ever schedule a child to take a lesson right after school, by the time a child gets to the end of a school day their “gas tank” is empty, they have spend all day trying to focus and concentrate on class work even if they’re on meds. When I was 10 and started my lessons I would take a school bus to my piano teachers house. I remember telling her I couldn’t play because I was hungry, so the dear lady would feed me cookies, unfortunately that didn’t help. Long story short I am now an adult at an intermediate level that I achieved in adulthood after being diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed adderall. I still have difficulties with learning at this late age, but my passion to play is great. Thank you for this wonderful video, I hope it helps others like us. ❤

[@LeCheileMusic]

You’re welcome - Glad it helps! 🥰

[@pianissimo369]

I love the feeling of "flow" with hyperfocus...nearly always go with it! 😊

[@cathieproffitt6432]

Bingo! The best way to hyper-focus on the piano for me is to know I have pressing things to do out of the house with other people….I can squeeze out every available second at the bench and still be (almost) on time for my social engagement. I thought I was weird, but apparently I am diagnose-able.

[@mattolenn]

This is an amazing ten minutes of advice for ADHD neurotypes and learning in general, let alone piano. I recently watched an ADDitude webinar on KZbin that said ADHD neurotypes throw themselves into the middle of a problem, absorb the problem, intuit a solution, and then work backward from that solution to be able to explain the solution and repeat it. Your reframing of "Eat the Frog" into "Eat the Cake" encapsulates that approach so incredibly well. I hear it as, "Don't sit down at the piano thinking that you have to go through this step-by-step practice routine. Fling yourself joyfully onto the piano so that you can puzzle out that incredible song that you love and would love to be able to play! Eventually you'll embrace the formerly boring stuff because you'll need it." On a related note, I bought a stage piano (Roland RD-2000) last week because I want to be able to play The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie from Billy Joel's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant". Probably not the first thing someone should start on piano, but it's the first thing I'll be working on. I'll also be watching many more of your videos during the journey. Thank you!

[@LeCheileMusic]

Definitely not the first thing you should be working on but best of luck with it! (I hope you’ll also work on a beginner’s method book too - it’ll make everything else much easier) 😁🎶

[@mattolenn]

​@@LeCheileMusic I got Alfred's Basic Adult Beginner course. Thought I was some kind of prodigy until it took me from C-position to G-position and everything I'd wired my brain to do was shifted. It has been hard but still lots of fun since then. I haven't tackled Billy Joel yet but I keep "Rock The Casbah" close by to mess around with when learning the basics starts to get boring. The hours are flying by. Side note: Learning piano has made my primary instrument, guitar, much more accessible and seems to have brought back all of my sight-reading ability from grade school.

[@abigailluzvideos]

What I’ve been doing is actually finding ways to get a keyboard available to me apart from my main one in the living room. Like a small Casio I have on my desk that I can see and makes me practice theory just because it’s right there. Even toy pianos that are small enough for a couch or just to have it near me. Basically I have to bait my brain into it since anything can turn into an obstacle that causes executive dysfunction.

[@LeCheileMusic]

I love this, Abby, you’re turning “out of sight, out of mind” on its head and making it work for you! 🥰

[@MotifMusicStudios]

I love your statement right away that it's actually about 'too much attention' and interest-driven brain. I just got my adult ADHD diagnosis this week after walking through diagnosis for my children and it's ALL making sense now! This video is fabulous and so well explained!

[@lpa9974]

My first thought is that you are such a wonderful piano teacher! You are very thoughtful and clear with your explanations. I don’t know if I have ADHD, but I have a feeling there are so many parts of this video that apply to many people whether they have the condition or not. Thank you so much-I love watching all your videos and so thankful to have found you! 👍🍀🙏 (I am a real person-not a commercial.) Ha! Take care.

[@LeCheileMusic]

Thank you! 🥰

[@cherierussell5017]

Thank you sooooo much for this video!!! It is so spot on with my issues regarding playing the piano. I know I can play. I know I can get better. I have had moments where I'm just on fire with it. But I have sooooo much trouble with distractions in my own head. Highly frustrating! This video has been the answer to many of the questions I had about my focus problems. You are just so amazing for bringing this wisdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏🥳🎉🥳🥳

[@GeorgeLoch]

I literally just started searchign for help on learning a musical instrument with ADHD this week and you released this video around the same time. So glad you did.

[@yesucanuknowucan]

A really big thank you for the practical ADHD tips. I've recently retired and also recently recognised that I have ADHD, and want to learn piano. You described the ADHD traits so well (and I certainly recognise them). Your explanation of strategies is incredibly valuable (and rare). Very very much appreciated 😊 👍

[@gilesbrennand7529]

A wonderful video. So many things that I have never put a label to. And such sensible advice. Really helpful. Thank you. P.S. Half-way through my instinct was to stop watching and to drop down and make a comment. But I resisted P.P.S. Before that, everything you said resonated to all of my life, not just piano playing

[@relicofgold]

Such great advice, I subscribed. Your neat and organized shelves say you do not have ADHD, but your knowledge of the subject says that you do. It appears you have it under control and I applaud you and hope I can do that one day.

[@LeCheileMusic]

Haha - you don’t get to see the doom piles outside the camera shot! 😆

[@relicofgold]

@@LeCheileMusic Ok, so you are human, one for whom I have great respect. Ty for your channel/assistance and I'll be paying attention to your videos!

[@scarfyoid8192]

I don't have ADHD, but I've started playing piano a year ago and really struggles with it (can't don an exercise for more than a minute, wants to play new pieces 10 minutes after starting a new one, sometimes forgets for several weeks that I have a keyboard even tho it's in my room, or only have the energy to play at random inconvenient moments...) This will be really helpful, thanks a lot ^^

[@katiesethna]

A really useful video though I dont have ADHD ! Thank you !

[@RoastedMarshmelon]

Great video. I identify with everything you said and your tips make a lot of sense!

[@lorrainedaugherty3451]

Thank you for explaining ADHD as I've had it all my life, but didn't know. I got no help for it as all those symptoms just seemed like me. I learned the violin with much struggle and still love it, but progress was always slow. Now because of you and this wonderful youtube, I'm understanding myself and my paths to learning so much better. Thank you so much for all your help and especially for this youtube about ADHD strategies!

[@decemberhare]

A really nice video full of practical advice which is strength based and doesnt just focus on areas of difference/difficulty. I enjoyed it.

[@daytimegriefer]

Nice thanks for this definitely revisiting this one

[@Hajjoy]

Oh you give me hope…. Fancy being able to play as you do with awareness of every other bright and shiny doorknob/rabbit hole. I can relate! Thanks.

[@minipily1841]

i needed this years ago thank you

[@guillermiro2079]

And then in the middle of the explanation sounds Ludovico ❤. After 30 years playing classical guitar, being bored because of my adhd condition, I am learning piano…and that hiper focuse feels so good, so conected with myself 😍

[@LeCheileMusic]

Wonderful! 🥰

[@guillermiro2079]

@@LeCheileMusic Absolutly! Thanks for your work, this is a great challenge that is transform my concept of myself. 🫶

[@stevenchambers2013]

Thank you for your tips I have switched my thinking lately and I am looking at adhd and dyslexia as super powers!!! Instead as a wellness it's my creative strength thank you for tour positive point of view

[@annie5247]

Thank you..much needed video.

[@ilovevideostories]

Thank you! This is great!

[@loadiam]

Thank you, very good takeaways to think about as I begin my piano journey.

[@pyramidsinegypt]

This video is the best!

[@panoramicviolinist]

Very informative, thank you

[@RacquelTBrooks]

I am so glad I found your channel ❤

[@CoryBry86]

Hi I just learned I have ADHD after 37 years. I’m just learning the piano don’t know how to read music yet will tomplay help with that

[@fr-rm9dt]

I don’t know how to either haha. here’s to hoping we both learn to!

[@CoryBry86]

@@fr-rm9dt we got this

[@LeCheileMusic]

Hi Cory, they have very easy music for beginners but it does require you to be able to read at least a little; it doesn’t teach you to read but it’s a great way to practice what you’re learning from your method book.

[@foodmailleofood9165]

Amazing❤❤

[@LadyPettaway]

You've got my pegged perfectly. Subscribe😂!!!!!

[@kairitkolk6641]

I have ADHD and it's hell :/ I can focus for hours when practising , just to forget I'm playing in the middle of an exam or just to have my thoughts going everywhere. I havent completely failed but I get barely passing grades when I practised for weeks. 😢

[@LeCheileMusic]

It’s so hard! 🥲 One thing that I find somewhat helpful is to hear the music in my head while I’m playing it - not foolproof but can be enough to keep me centred on the piece.

[@craigdouglas9979]

Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@pappyg76]

Thanks

[@dspumoni7365]

Thank you for this wonderful video :) Depending on the day, I'll either laugh or get irritated when I notice the ADHD creeping its way into my practice sessions! I think my biggest challenge tends to be the first 10% (eat the d*mn frog!!) and tying up the last 10%. Once I've got some momentum, that middle 80% is a breeze & so much fun!

[@jessicavanrooyen85]

Thanks this helped❤

[@unclemick-synths]

I use music to reliably trigger hyperfocus at work. Unfortunately it doesn't work for piano practice. 😂 My strategy is to start the practice on one of my synthesizers. Eventually the synth keyboard doesn't hack it and I switch to the piano. Eat the cake is the way for me. Eat the frog guarantees I don't start at all.

[@LeCheileMusic]

The struggle is real! 🥰

[@heyitsella117]

A big problem as well is reading the sheet music and missing a lot of little stuff and detail like timing or little repetitions

[@LeCheileMusic]

It’s so hard to pay attention to the detail when we just want to hear the music! 😁

[@user-xj5ds9ug6r]

Years ago, I watched a doctor give a couple of drops of IODINE to a ADHD 16 year old young man and within 30 minutes he became very focused. The Doctor, MD, explained that AHDH person's are deficient in Iodine. But, I would check with your personal physician because some people can have an allergy to Iodine.

[@LeCheileMusic]

Yes indeed, I believe severe iodine deficiency can look a lot like true ADHD.

[@GeitGeit-vz3ip]

when i start learning i learn the first 30 seconds of the song sand after that it’s no longer motivating for me so i just go learn something else

[@LeCheileMusic]

I hear you! 🙄😅

[@chrisbown317]

I have the motivation to learn fairly complex songs i love but when it comes to scales and chord practice my brains is just like nope, its annoying because i really want to write my own music but i need to expand my theory 😢

[@LeCheileMusic]

Linking to a video here that will hopefully make harmony more fun: Step by Step Guide to Playing Any Song by Ear kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIXSmaKMidh6erc

[@chrisbown317]

@@LeCheileMusic thanks very much, will check it out 😁

[@pianissimo369]

Don't do it then 🤷

[@homamellersh8446]

Thank you very much for your explanation . I do eat the frog 🤮first if my available time allows , and never the cake , maybe I need to do it the other way round 🤔 .