Are Hanon exercises really effective at teaching piano students? Below, piano teacher James F. shares seven reasons why he believes Hanon exercises aren't as useful as many think... There's a good chance you've heard of the Hanon piano exercises. They're often touted as a great way to improve your technique and musicality. But is this really true? In this post, we'll take a look at some of the reasons why Hanon exercises may not be as effective as you think. A lot of piano teachers s

Struggling to get through the fast piano songs you're dying to play? Here, Helendale, CA teacher Sylvia S. shares her tips for success... Piano is an easy instrument to learn. You push a key, and a note sounds. Compared to instruments like the violin, which can take months and months of dedicated practice before a pleasant sound comes out, piano seems like a walk in the park. But because of this, it’s also one of the easiest instruments to learn to play poorly. Many piano students be

Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Stevie Wonder—so many names top the list of influential piano players in music history. But for a while there, as dance, metal, and grunge took center stage, piano was relegated to the sidelines. One artist who changed that, however, was Ben Folds. When he hit the scene with his band Ben Folds Five in the mid-90s, a new musical sound emerged—pop heavily infused with piano. Who is Ben Folds? Ben Folds grew up in in North Carolina listening to piano grea

Think you have a child piano prodigy on your hands -- or simply want to encourage your son or daughter to explore music and art? Here are some tips for providing encouragement from Aurora, CO piano teacher Jon F...   Parents, I know what you are thinking: people who play piano are either born with a given talent, or none at all. I believe that is simply false, because whether you're a genius or a simple person, piano is one of the best activities that everyone can learn. I come from a

Playing piano doesn't have to be limited to practicing scales and chords. You can have a lot of fun if you find the piano notes for songs on the radio or classic pop and rock tunes you've always liked, and go from there! This is a great way to break up the monotony of rigorous practice, and keep yourself motivated and having fun as you learn how to play. Finding piano notes for songs isn't usually that hard, either - you just have to know the right places to look. Here are a few of our favorite

Want to make sure you know how to clean a piano the right way? Check out these quick tips from Olympia, WA teacher Tali H... How Do You Clean a Piano? When it comes to cleaning a piano, there are a few simple things to know about what to do and not do. While these tips are relatively straightforward, following each one is important! How to Clean a Piano: The Do’s Wash your hands before playing. Most grime on piano keys comes from the player’s hands. So be sure to wash your hands thor

No two piano students are the same. As a teacher, it's important to take a unique approach to teaching different age groups. Below, piano teacher Rhonda B. shares some helpful tips on how to teach piano to every age group... Imagine a department store where every item of women’s clothing is labeled size small. The store’s designer has decided on a certain ideal, and that’s what’s offered. If you don’t like it, you’re obviously ignorant of good taste. As silly as this seems

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

Think you're a piano know-it-all? Whether you're an ace at recognizing famous piano composers or you're a viral piano video connoisseur, you might be surprised to learn the interesting facts on this piano trivia infographic! Whether you love classical, jazz, or pop, the piano is a versatile instrument that can do it all. If you've always wanted to learn to play but never got the chance, the best time to start piano lessons is right now! What do you think? Did any of this piano trivia

You may have heard of guitar tabs, but what about tabs for pianists? Learn about how to read piano tabs, the difference between tabs and lead sheets, and more in the guest post by Tulsa, OK teacher Chris F... When learning songs on piano, you’ll find that there are a few ways the music can be notated. Often if an artist is popular enough, a music publishing company will notate their music and sell it, often by the album. This notated version of the music is generally referred to as a lead s