| When you are learning the piano it can be very | | | | #4 - Do not start until you are ready! This sounds very |
| frustrating when you keep making mistakes. They can | | | | obvious but many pianists do this. Look at your first bar |
| spoil your otherwise lovely playing. Here are 6 great | | | | of music and get your fingers ready. Scan through the |
| ways to play more accurately. | | | | piece to look for similar shapes and patterns before |
| #1 - Practice S..L..O..W..L..Y! This is the number 1 cause | | | | you begin. |
| of all mistakes - playing the piano too fast when you | | | | #5 - Try not to look at the piano too much! The |
| are learning a new piece. The problem is, your brain is | | | | temptation to look at your fingers can feel |
| "hearing" the tune already complete. Slow the speed | | | | overwhelming. Think of this ratio - look at the piano |
| down by up to 50%. This will give you extra thinking | | | | sheet music 90% of the time; look at the piano 10% of |
| time. | | | | the time. |
| #2 - Relax! If your muscles are tight this will cause | | | | #6 - Read the top and bottom staffs equally! When |
| hesitations in your playing. Allow your arms to hang | | | | you read text, your eyes are conditioned to travel |
| loosely by your side for a moment. When they feel | | | | from left to right and ignore the text below. Train your |
| relaxed, place them gently onto the keys. | | | | eyes to look down at the left hand part. Most mistakes |
| #3 - Look ahead! When you are reading music it is | | | | occur in the left hand because the notes are often |
| very important to look ahead so that you can see | | | | guessed! |
| what is coming next. | | | | |