How to Start a New Piano Piece: 5 Tips that Will Save You Time

December 21, 2020 / Lani Elston

How to Start a New Piece: 5 Tips That Will Save You Time

Starting a new piano piece? Try these time-saving tips to help you learn it faster:

Step 1) Divide your piece into small sections. Identify where the most challenging sections are and start there first - keep in mind that this may be someplace OTHER than the beginning. Also important: rotate sections OFTEN. Don’t get stuck on one area during your practice session.

Step 2) Identify difficult rhythmic passages. Solve how to count BEFORE attempting to play... write in the main beats or counting if needed. This is so you don’t learn it incorrectly and have to re-learn it later.

Step 3) Write in the fingering. Have a plan and stick to it! If you can, have consistent fingering for similar passages too.

Step 4) Look for scales and arpeggios in your music. Warm-up with those scales/arpeggios to become comfortable with the patterns found in your new piece.

Step 5) Find 3-4 professional recordings of your piece. Listen while following along in your sheet music. I recommend listening to different recordings so you don’t copy a specific artist, but also because you will learn so much! This is very beneficial for interpretation but also helpful for preventing incorrect playing (wrong notes, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, etc).

Enjoy your new piano piece!!!

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