"The piano is a complicated instrument."
This, or some variation of this, is what I hear from many students who are just starting out on the piano. If we break it down playing the piano is quite simple. Like many long term goals it is always easier to break down the task into small chunks.
In this post I'll show you 5 quick and easy techniques you need in order to play piano. Master these and you'll be well on your way to stardom.
The Techniques
1. Legato Playing
Legato is a musical term for playing smoothly. In other words, you need to connect all of the notes together. Legato notes are notated with a line over the top of each note. Looks like a rainbow connecting all of the notes.
The best way to start learning legato playing is to do the Yellow Pages walk. As one finger goes up the other should be going down.
2. Staccato Playing
Just the opposite of playing notes in a legato fashion is to play notes staccato. These notes are indicated by a dot above or below the note depending on where the note is placed on the staff. Staccato notes are short and crisp.
To play a staccato note put a block eraser on your wrist. Quickly flick your wrist as you play a note. The eraser should end up on your piano's music stand.
3. Scales
Most students find scales to be boring, we've shown how you can practice scales for fun. Either way scales makeup a large portion of how music is structured. Because of this it is important for you to master this technique.
Think slow an controlled when you first start learning scales. Master the five finger scales first then move onto full octave scales and eventually multiple octave scales. Practice scales in as many different touches and rhythms as you can think of. Remember, slow and controlled.
4. Arpeggios
Arpeggios allow you to span the keyboard quickly. Played expertly with the pedal it can have a harp sound. Arpeggios take the form of a chord but are played in a scale type fashion.
Once you develop flexibility in your hand arpeggios will become easier. Your first task is to learn how to cross your thumb under your hand. Try to keep your muscles loose as you play. Start slow to build confidence. Continue to think of your legato technique. It will also benefit you to do these in staccato form once in a while.
5. Dynamics
We're not talking about physics here...Well maybe we are.
Dynamics are indications in the music about how loud or soft to play. It is notated through a system of symbols that I will cover in a future blog post.
Dynamics are largely controlled by the weight and speed of which you play a note. If you want to play softly then play with less weight and less speed. The opposite would be true for loud dynamics. You should practice this technique while practicing the other techniques. For example, when you play a scale start soft and gradually get louder.
Bonus Technique
6. The Pedal
My students love when they first get to use the pedal. It's a good part of what gives the piano its characteristic sound. The pedal I am going to talk about is the pedal on the right. It is called the sustain pedal. Its job is to bring the dampers off of the strings and let the sound ring, hence the name sustain.
To practice this I recommend counting a simple rhythm and playing the pedal on a predetermined beat. For example, bring the pedal up on beat one and put it down on beat two then hold it for beats three and four..
Jordan Stevens has been instrumental in inspiring people of all ages to learn music and perform at their best. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and Mohawk College where he studied piano and composition. Experience, knowledge and a crazy amount of patience is what sets him apart from his peers. Get a free 5 minute video music lesson at cjsmusic.ca
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