| Learning new piano songs can be difficult sometimes, | | | | time, instead of have you racing ahead trying to learn |
| and it can happen for no reason that you can | | | | the whole piece. One line of piano music, well learned |
| understand. You can be learning new piano music | | | | and correctly played each day, will do wonders for |
| without any difficulty, then along comes the next song | | | | your confidence during this dry period of learning new |
| to learn and for some reason it becomes unbelievably | | | | piano songs. |
| difficult to pick up. | | | | It does not much matter whether you are learning the |
| Why do pianists sometimes hit this roadblock when | | | | piano songs by ear or by reading music, in my opinion. |
| learning new piano music? Some music teachers call | | | | Some might disagree and advise those who are |
| this a plateau. You achieve a level of skill playing the | | | | learning the piano by ear would advance quicker by |
| piano, and you become stuck on that level, for a period | | | | learning music theory, such as piano chords and scales, |
| of time, hence the term plateau. | | | | arguing that they will learn new piano music faster this |
| What can piano players do about getting off this | | | | way. It depends on the individual piano player and it is |
| plateau so they can continue learning new piano | | | | best to stick with the method you find easiest. |
| songs? Practice. Yes, practice, and plenty of it, is the | | | | In the final analysis, it comes down to motivation and |
| answer. Concentrate on just the one piano song you | | | | practice. If you know how to play some piano songs, |
| are having difficulty with, and learn it one line at a time. | | | | there is no reason why you should suddenly become |
| Keep going over it until you can play every note | | | | stuck on one song only. There is no logic in that. Work |
| correctly. Sounds tedious and boring, does it not? | | | | you way through it, as suggested, and you will be well |
| The reason for recommending this method of practice | | | | on your way toward the next level. |
| is that it will concentrate your attention on thing at a | | | | |