How to Practice the Piano Successfully Without Doing Penance

How to Practice the Piano Successfully Without Doing Penance

I’ve been playing the piano for a long time. Over xxxxx years!

Mrs. Ford was very patient with me, especially the years I just didn’t get “it.”

It’s hard to believe but I took lessons from her for almost 10 years. I convinced my parents, and her, that in my senior year of high school I would be too busy with band, the Senior Play, and all the activities of the year. So, I was able to take a year off and resume in college.

But, one of the things you are “supposed” to do as a piano student is to practice.

Each week Mrs. Ford would write down exactly what songs and exercises I was to practice.

It’s one thing to know what to practice.  It’s another thing to know how to practice.

There are a couple of ways to practice a new song, or even an old song.

One way is to target the harder sections and just work on a few measures at a time. You might do that 5 times, or 50 times. You don’t move on until you get it right.  Sometimes you may start with just three or four notes at a time, then gradually add more of that section to your practice.

Another way to practice is to start at the beginning of the song and play through until the end.  That way you learn how it sounds as a whole piece, because we all know that a song is more than just a few measures in a section. Also, going through the song in its entirety will reveal the weak areas that you need to go back on put in the time with.

As a kid or young teen you don’t know this stuff, at least I didn’t.  I just liked to practice the songs I could play well and write down that I had practiced for the allotted 30 minutes.

Piano, Practice, and Penance

 

Here is the critical mistake I would make in my practice time…

While I was playing the song, if I “messed up”
I would go back to the beginning and start over!

I doubt if Mrs. Ford told me to go back to the beginning of the piece if I made a mistake.

I apparently taught myself this flaw in learning. I think I looked at it as penance to punish myself for the mistake. It took me several years to unlearn what I had been doing.

The correct way to practice and play a song is like this:

            If you encounter a mistake while playing…KEEP PLAYING!

As a performer in churches, restaurants and weddings I have learned that most people do not even know if you make a mistake. They don’t have near the critical ear as you do! So, just keep playing.  Don’t stop.

The same is true in Life.

Oh, it would be great to have a “do-over.”

It would be great to have an Easy Button like Staples.

The truth is you get one shot at this life.  If you make a mistake, put it behind, learn from it, and move on.

You’ll get nowhere in the future if you keep looking in the rear view mirror of your life.

I know a lot of people who keep rehearsing their hurts, habits, and hangups.  I’m not against counseling.  I’m not against AA or Celebrate Recovery. But I think a lot of people just like to

hear the sound of their own voice!

So, if you make a mistake, like practicing the piano, don’t go back to the beginning. Move on.  Don’t beat yourself up.  You are only human. 

Everyone makes mistakes.  Just admit it. Keep going. 

Finish Your song!

Piano, Practice, and Penance