9 Ways to Improve your Piano Playing

Playing the piano can be a fantastic method of relaxation, and the achievement of mastering a new piece of music can give real satisfaction. Over time and with experience a pianist's abilities and skills naturally increase, along with their confidence in attempting more complex pieces of music. However, it is quite common that at some point piano players find they have hit a brick wall in their playing, and they are no longer seeing the improvements they once did, no matter how much they seem to practice. 

Don't worry, this is usually only a temporary rut you are stuck in and below we have detailed 9 different things you can try that will hopefully get yourself out of the rut and back to more enjoyable and satisfying playing.

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1) Practice little but often

Sometimes the desire to improve quickly can mean you sit down with the intention to practice for an hour or two. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the most productive use of time. Playing for too long at once can mean you begin to tense up and become uncomfortable, and this can affect your playing.

​Believing you need to practice for long sessions at a time can also mean you sit down to play the piano less frequently as you are put off by the length of time required. However, more frequent short sessions, of even 10-15 minutes at a time, can really benefit your playing. A routine of regular playing is better for improvement than a few irregular long sessions, as you start fresh each time and more frequently remind yourself of what you learned so that it settles in your mind.

2) Place your piano in a pleasant space

To encourage regular practice, it also makes sense to position your piano in a pleasant airy and bright spot in a central part of your home. If your piano is shut away in a dark or cold little used room, you may find yourself less inclined to go play it.

3) Consider changing teacher

It can be hard when you have had the same teacher for many years, but sometimes if your playing abilities seem to have hit a brick wall a fresh perspective can help break through it. A new teacher may just approach something from a different angle, may suggest a different piece or style of music to expand your skills, or may notice something in your playing that can be improved. If you are really attached to your current teacher you could consider mixing up the lessons, so you have a combination of lessons from two teachers. 

4) Record yourself

Musicians and singers of all varieties often find that recording themselves playing or singing and listening back to it helps them to identify improvements they can make. When you are in the moment and caught up in the music it is hard to objectively hear your playing. When people record their voices and play it back the common response is “do I really sound like that?”. Though this is particularly the case with singers, all musicians, when slightly removed from the music, can benefit from hearing how they sound to a listener, and pinpointing areas of their playing that could be improved.

5) Ensure correct posture

Your playing will not flow as well if you are tense, over stretching, hunched over, or uncomfortable. Ensuring your seat is at a good height, and your back is kept straight. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor, and you should be able to reach the piano keys without stretching forward or needing to raise your shoulders. Your feet should be able to sit flat on the ground. If you feel tension in any part of your body, consider changing your positioning.

6) Use a metronome

The steady beat of a metronome can be helpful for keeping your playing at the correct speed and rhythm. Often bought to help children learning to play the piano, they are incredibly useful for more experienced players too. Indeed, Beethoven and many other composers are known to have used a metronome for their playing. If you don’t usually use a metronome and then try using one while playing a piece of music you often play, you may identify areas of the music that you tend to play too slowly or quickly out of long-term habit. This could be beneficial in making you more conscious of that aspect of your playing.

7) Start slowly and get it right first before speeding up

It can sometimes be tempting to want to jump into a new piece of music and play it at the speed it was written to be played at. However, it can be beneficial to start slowly, realize that you are sacrificing speed for accuracy and flow at the start, and only after becoming happy and confident with the piece try to play it at the speed it should be played at. Rushing into fast playing at the beginning can mean bluffing through certain notes without getting them just right first. 

8) Play for people

Though it can be nerve-wracking sitting down to play for an audience, it is an excellent way to focus the mind and perfect your playing of a piece. Whether it is a performance in front of family, friends, or even at a local café or venue, knowing you have a performance coming up helps to keep you practicing regularly and really striving to improve your playing through various methods. However, keep your playing enjoyable and don’t overstretch yourself too much. If the performance is likely to cause you too much anxiety in the lead up to it then it could put you off piano playing for good. However, if you aim for the right level of performance for your skills, the encouragement and praise you should get from people after you perform can be a real boost to your playing.

9) Make sure your piano is properly tuned and maintained

No matter how good your piano playing is, if your piano has not been tuned and maintained recently your music will not sound as good as it should. There is nothing more distracting when playing than coming across a key that sticks or sounds off-key. This can be discouraging when you are trying to improve, practicing regularly, but just know something is ‘off’ in the sound you produce. Pianos should usually be tuned about every 6 months, but this depends on factors such as the humidity and temperature fluctuations of the surroundings and how often it is played. Pianos need 3 or 4 tunings in their first year, and after a house move. A piano that hasn’t been tuned in over a year may need a pitch adjustment.
 
If your piano is correctly tuned to A440 pitch, but still doesn’t quite sound ‘right’ it may be that the hammers have hardened and are producing a sharper sound than they used to when they strike the strings. A piano technician can perform Voicing, where they carefully pick at the felt hammers to soften them and reduce the harshness of the sound.

Pianos that are older or have been moved a lot may also benefit from a process called Regulation. Regulation ensures that all the moving parts of the piano are well aligned and are performing as they should and fixes any sticking keys. This can improve the sound and overall playing performance of the piano, as well as prolonging its life.
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Fortunately, if you are in the Fort Worth or Dallas areas of Texas, Piano Tuning Fort Worth can help get your piano back into top playing condition. Give us a call today if you have any concerns about the performance of your piano.

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​If you are unsure if your piano needs tuning, or if you would like to get a quote or book an appointment, please give us a call or fill in the enquiry form on this page and our friendly staff will get back to you to advise or arrange a visit.

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