| When you first start to learn a piano, keyboard or | | | | politely asked to leave and never return. (That's |
| organ, you have to be patient, because this is the only | | | | happened twice in thirty years as a music teacher) |
| time in your playing life that you cant actually play | | | | 3. After your half an hour practice, play the pieces of |
| anything, you can only practice. Like your playing ability, | | | | music you have already learned. This is now you're |
| your practice should evolve. Therefore, for a beginner I | | | | playing time, your enjoyment of what you have |
| recommend a minimum of half an hour practice a day. | | | | achieved so far. |
| Using simple five-finger exercises for both hands and | | | | 4. Have a goal, is there a piece of sheet music you |
| learning to read sheet music, you should be able to | | | | really want to play? Is there a music exam you want |
| play, with both hands, one or two simple pieces of | | | | to pass? When I took my Grade 4 Royal Schools of |
| music within a month or less. | | | | Music practical exam for piano, I practiced four hours a |
| When you initially start to learn, your interest in playing | | | | day for six months because I wanted to pass with |
| the piano or organ is very heightened, so it is very likely | | | | distinction, and I did, just. I was twelve years of age |
| you will practice a great deal more than half an hour a | | | | and learned a valuable lesson at that time. If you have |
| day and your progress will be a great deal faster. As | | | | a goal, it drives you to success. |
| the weeks and months go by the novelty will wear off | | | | 5. If you are a parent and your child is loosing interest |
| and you may start to miss the odd days practice. This | | | | you have to try to encourage your child with the |
| is the time you need to set a schedule for yourself, or | | | | above suggestions, but ultimately you must insist they |
| maybe it's your child that's learning to play the piano. | | | | practice every day. (I know some people out there will |
| Now you need to be strict with yourself or your child. | | | | disagree) If your child wont practice every day then its |
| Remember we started of with a minimum of half an | | | | time to call it a day. Now I can tell you that the threat |
| hour a day, as a keyboard teacher I would still be | | | | of stopping the piano lessons has worked for the |
| asking for half an hour. Its very normal for the novelty | | | | majority of my pupils. I have done this myself many |
| to wear off, it's probably more common in children. So | | | | times with pupils and it works like a charm. |
| here are some tips to get you through this brief | | | | Some of my pupils from years ago are now teaching |
| negative stage. | | | | me a thing or two. They have also become teachers |
| 1. Make sure you have a piano teacher or organ | | | | themselves and because they, like all music teachers, |
| teacher. Your teacher will see and hear your progress | | | | have been pupils themselves, they are very aware of |
| more clearly than you will and can offer | | | | the minor problems that can occur when learning to |
| encouragement and remind you of what you have | | | | play a musical instrument such as the piano, organ or |
| achieved so far. | | | | keyboard, in fact any musical instrument. |
| 2. Ask yourself if you want to carry on playing the | | | | So if you want to be a keyboard player for a hobby, |
| keyboard, after all, you are paying for lessons, but | | | | half an hour a day should do you. If you want to be a |
| paying for keyboard and piano lessons is not enough, | | | | concert pianist then ten hours a day should just about |
| you must do the practice. I have had pupils that don't | | | | cover it, or just start at half an hour a day and |
| mind paying but don't want to practice at all. As far as I | | | | gradually evolve your practice time to what you want |
| am concerned, they are wasting my time and are | | | | to do with your new talent. |