Common Mistakes for the Piano Beginner

Nobody expects you to be perfect right away.

What every novice piano player should keep in mind..

The moment is finally here: you bought a piano and are ready to begin learning to play it. But where to start? Different people prefer different learning strategies; some would like an actual piano teacher next to them that puts them through their paces. Others prefer to learn at their own speed. Whatever you prefer, there are a few beginner’s mistakes that you are likely to encounter. If you are aware of them, you can avoid them and as a result your playing of the piano will be much more enjoyable.

STAY CALM. RELAX.

First, stay relaxed. Yes, learning to play the piano can feel overwhelming at times. So much information to retain, so many things to learn. But if you tense up, it will only become more difficult, and even worse, you will soon loose the joy you would otherwise feel from playing the piano. Just remember, Rome was not built in a day, i.e. nobody expects you to achieve piano mastery within a week or month. Take your time. Develop a committed regular practice schedule. Playing the piano should become a habit for you. If you stick to your practice schedule, you will notice that you are making progress, bit by bit. Another helpful tip: it has been shown that practice is more effective if you do so in regular small bits, rather than try to cram your entire weekly practice schedule into one session.

KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO..YET..

Second, keep in mind that you are a beginner. You cannot expect to play the piano with the same mastery that others took years to achieve. Stick to lessons and musical pieces that are appropriate for your skill level. You will only feel frustrated if you try to do too much — i.e. play something much too difficult for your skill level — and find that you simply cannot do it, yet. And this ‘yet’ is important. You will get there, but it will take practice. Remember that your body needs to adjust to playing the piano as well.

Just remember that in the end, patience will be rewarded.