Are you intimidated when you see a large leap coming up in your piano music? Don't fret! Take control with these tips from New York, NY teacher Nadia B...   Leaps are one of many piano techniques, but an especially important one because they are common and often challenging to execute; moreover, in learning to execute leaps you will also master other important piano techniques, including preparation, rotation, breathing, and making use of the weight of the hand. The following tips wi

Think piano practice is all about physically practicing scales and exercises? Think again! Piano worksheets can be great "homework" for young students - and as parents, you can use them to help your child brush up on what they've learned! Find out more in this guest post from Des Moines, IA piano teacher Mariana P...   During the past few years piano worksheets have been getting a bad rap. Many parents and teachers feel worksheets waste time, as they only “teach” what a child alr

Feeling stuck? Read on as Memphis, TN teacher Kevin F. shares how to diagnose your struggles and find the right fix...   You've had it. You've been playing the piano and working on a particular piece for six months and have gotten nowhere. There’s a good chance you’re suffering from one of the following reasons for not improving, so let’s take a look at common problems and their common fixes. 1. You’re not practicing enough. There is a great propensity among musicians, be

We talk a lot about the benefits of piano lessons (you know, making you smarter, teaching discipline, relieving stress, and so on and so on), but have you ever thought about the lessons to be gained from looking at the lives of famous piano composers? These seven celebrated composers have lots to teach about life, creativity, and how to make your mark on the world. 1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Competitors Can Be Your Friends Like Mozart, you can achieve greatness by focusing on deve

Are you wondering how to practice piano effectively? Want to get more out of your practice sessions? If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times… “practice makes perfect.” Throughout every musician’s life, we are told that practice is the one thing we must always make time for. Whether we are beginners, committed students, or seasoned professionals, the need for consistent practice doesn’t change. What changes for many pianists, however, is the amount of t

We've discussed how to practice the piano before... but what if you don't have 30 minutes or an hour to commit to practicing every day? Answer: Condense it into a 10-minute quick-practice! Read on as Austin, TX piano teacher Aimee B. shows how to make this piano exercise work for you... Are you a busy student with no time for a lengthy piano practice session? If so, this 10-minute challenge is perfect for you! In just 10 minutes, you can work on your technique, dexterity, and reperto

Do you want to take your piano practice to the next level? Below, piano teacher Julie P. shares tips on how to use a piano metronome to help improve your playing... If you’re serious about improving your piano playing, you might want to consider using a piano metronome during your practice sessions. Metronomes are great for developing a strong internal beat and testing yourself on how accurately you play your music. Not sure what exactly a metronome is, or how to use it? Below is

Did you know that teaching others is one of the best ways to learn piano -- as well as continue learning, if you're at an advanced level? Here, St. Augustine, FL teacher Heather L. shares what it takes to teach...   Being a piano teacher can be tremendously rewarding and fulfilling. The art of guiding a student on a journey of learning is one that comes naturally to some, but can certainly be learned by others who have the right skills. The phrase "piano teacher" brings to mind d

Do you like animals? Do you like music? What about animals playing the piano? If you said yes to any of those questions, then you're in for a treat!  They say that music soothes the savage beast. If that's true, these amazing animals are miles away from savage. Get ready for some seriously cute material, and check out these four-legged pianists! In this blog post, we'll be featuring some videos of animals playing the piano. You won't believe your eyes – or your ears! So without further

Don't know what piano style you want to learn? Below, piano teacher Liz T. shares the five most popular piano styles to give you a better idea of what suits you... Having the ability to play different types of piano music will help you become a better overall piano player. What's more, knowing the important composers, performers, and pieces of each piano style will assist you in your musical studies. Below, I've listed the five most important piano styles, which include classical, j