Congratulations on beginning your piano journey! The best thing you can do for yourself as you navigate these new musical waters is to remain curious and view it all as a journey of discovery.
While it is best for your progress and self-esteem to be okay with making mistakes (such as a wrong note), the “common mistakes” we’re referring to here are more “big picture” errors – approaches to learning music that can end up holding you back.
We don’t want you to struggle as you get deeper into your piano, so we’re sharing the ten most common mistakes beginners make when learning piano… so that you don’t make them! Being aware of these pitfalls allows beginning pianists to avoid them, and as such, establish a firm foundation at the piano.
Why Learning Piano Feels Tricky Sometimes
The Initial Excitement Meets Reality
When you begin piano lessons, it’s all new. You choose a popular song or a classical piece and you just want to dive right in and play it. Then, reality sets in. All beginners quickly find out that playing the correct notes, with the correct timing, isn’t quite as easy as it appears.
It can feel like your hands are not obeying you, especially when reading the grand staff (treble and bass clef together) and trying to play both hands simultaneously. You can feel overwhelmed when there are many notes on the staff, and you’re trying to read and play them in time. It is hard not to lose motivation when your progress stalls, despite going to lessons and practicing daily.
The reality is, learning an instrument is a process of building upon the last thing you learned. You can’t rush the process. But take the time to absorb and apply each “building block” to piano and you will succeed and watch your skill steadily improve.
Getting Comfortable with Putting It All Together
There is quite a bit of multitasking when one plays the piano. There is the physical act of striking the key (which should be done with correct technique). You have to process the visual language of notes and rhythm on the page, and associate the notes with the correct keys on the piano.
With consistent practice, muscle memory is developed, and over time, the language and physical act of playing piano become more natural. However, it is important to build up good habits (proper technique, steady speed) so that what comes naturally to you at the piano is efficient and to your benefit.
Daily practice, even if it’s just 15-30 mins, very much helps to develop your skill and help you acclimate to this new activity. Habitual, frequent practice is important because you must associate the physical aspect of playing the piano with the mental components, which often occur simultaneously. Only through frequent practice will you become comfortable with the physical and mental link in playing an instrument.
Active listening – listening to yourself as you play – is crucial, as you are assessing your accuracy and engaging problem-solving as you play.
Most importantly, play as slow as needed in order to play the correct notes with a steady speed and accurate rhythm. You should only play as fast as you can think. If you’re struggling, or feeling anxious as you play, or feel like you can’t think as you play, the golden solution is: play slower.
It’s Okay to Be a Beginner
It’s okay to be a beginner. We all learn at our own pace. Remember that every pianist, even professionals, had to start with the basics.
You’ll feel more motivated on some days than on others. That’s normal; we’re all human and our moods change. It’s all just part of the learning process. Be kind to yourself, and recognize the big picture: consistent, steady practice will lead to progress. A bad day doesn’t make a difference in the long run; your habits over the course of weeks and months do.
Mistakes are simply stepping stones along the path to success. They are a way to find out what works and what doesn’t.
Top 10 Piano Mistakes Beginners Make
These are common mistakes that both young and adult beginners make. Understanding what mistakes to avoid is the first step to making progress with greater ease. Here’s a guide to the 10 beginner mistakes that happen most often, why they’re important, and how to correct them.
1. Ignoring Technique
Playing piano is a physical act. Getting a sound out of the piano is not enough; you have to use your arm, hand and finger properly. The efficient use of the body to play piano is what constitutes proper technique.
Technique helps you maintain power and control at the piano; allows you to get a pleasant, majestic tone out of the piano (rather than a harsh tone); increases your longevity at the piano (your arm won’t get tired); and prevents injury. If your arm feels tired or any part of your body is in pain during or after practice, that is your body sending you a clear message: you are holding tension when you’re playing the piano. You absolutely must fix it, or you will injure yourself.
Some guidelines for technique: use arm weight to create power, keep your wrist loose, and don’t curl or adjust your fingers. Your fingers only flap down from the knuckle as you use your arm weight to strike the key. Never hold the wrist static; it should move freely. Use wrist bounce for detached notes or chords, and forearm rotation for legato. The arm should always be “behind” the finger that’s playing; another way of putting this is that the arm, hand and finger are a single unit, and should all be aligned as you play. It is difficult to convey the proper use of technique in text, so learning from a teacher is essential.
2. Playing Too Fast Too Soon
Let’s get one thing clear: nobody ever played a fast piece with clarity at full speed the first time they sat down to learn it. So why should you put so much pressure on yourself?
Too many beginners want to play songs very quickly, just like what they hear in the recordings. What is speed without accuracy? Just a thousand mistakes. Learning music at a slower tempo is best; then, you can concentrate on playing clearly and accurately. You will have a solid foundation and won’t panic when you’re playing at a fast speed. You should only play as fast as you can think. Start slow and gradually raise the tempo; then the results will be what you’re seeking. It’s a process.
3. Not Learning to Read Sheet Music
Most people can play by ear to some extent; the problem is that it takes much longer to learn a piece only by ear than if you can read sheet music. Take the time to learn guide notes (specific notes to memorize on the staff), and do daily sight reading. These endeavours will pay off in the long run; if you can read sheet music easily, you’ll learn pieces at a faster rate.
4. Improper Bench Height and Position
Don’t underestimate the importance of bench position. To determine proper bench height, place your hands on the white keys. Your elbows should be in line with or slightly above the surface of the white keys. For proper bench distance, make a fist with a straight arm (don’t bend at the elbow) and place it on the keys. Your fist should reach the back end of the piano keys. Adjust accordingly if this is not the case.
By positioning your bench at the proper height, your arm is balanced as you play – your wrist and elbow will be taking equal weight. By giving yourself enough distance from the piano, you can easily access the entire breadth of the keyboard.
5. Practicing without Listening
Passive practice (being on autopilot) is non-retentive. Developing the habit of active listening. Listen to yourself as you play. If you are not doing so, you’re either not concentrating or playing too fast. Slow down and be present. Concentrate on sound quality, phrasing, and dynamics; this will build your musicality. Recording yourself helps you to spot mistakes and track progress.
6. Inconsistent Practice
Even 5-10 minutes of practice everyday is better than sporadic, long practice sessions. (You should still practice more than ten minutes, however.) Regular practice will help you feel more comfortable at the piano; you’ll not only improve your musical skills, but your confidence as well. Committing to a specific time each day means practice will become part of your routine, keeping you more engaged and focused.
7. Unrealistic Expectations
An important thing to remember is that progress takes patience. You will not be able to play complex classical works in a matter of weeks, and this is normal. You will have to build up your skill over time starting with basic concepts and simple pieces. Having basic, manageable short-term goals is what helps you stay motivated and focused to continue your progress. Focus on enjoying each step along the journey, not on pursuing quick outcomes. Most importantly, view each new piece and concept you learn as part of a journey of discovery, and stay curious about learning more.
8. Ignoring Music Theory
Having a foundational knowledge of basic theory, such as intervals and harmony, will help you to learn more quickly and understand how the music you are playing functions. Being able to recognize patterns in music not only makes you a more proficient reader, but a better player.
9. Picking Songs That Are Too Hard
Picking music that’s too advanced causes frustration and mistakes. Choose easy songs at first and gradually build towards more difficult ones. Teachers and online tutorials are great resources to assist you in selecting appropriate music for your ability.
10. Zero Expression
We are making music, which is emotion put into sound. Don’t just enter the song or piece into the piano. You have the opportunity to express something! Dynamics are already a good indicator of expression. But another thing that will help is imagining a human voice singing the piece you are playing. Better yet, sing it yourself. A singer will add slight variations in dynamic and tempo to a melody. It’s this human quality that makes the music moving and compelling. Try to add it to your pieces; the intention alone will already make a difference. Create a sound that you would want to listen to when you play the piano; you have the power to convey the expression as you wish.
Getting Over Practice Hurdles
Hitting Learning Walls
Inconsistent practice (i.e. less than 4x/week), trying to skip ahead of your level, and not improving weak spots (such as sight reading for note identification, or clapping exercises to keep a steady pulse) create obstacles pretty quickly. Your practice habits will determine how well you can work through difficult passages in a piece: practicing slowly, maintaining a steady pulse, and playing correct notes and rhythm at the same time.
Receiving feedback and guidance from a qualified teacher can help you overcome hurdles in your practice. Even recording yourself and listening back can help you identify aspects of your playing that need attention. Ultimately, though, you have to put in the work with the tools that you have. Maintaining the discipline to practice, as well as finding the joy in discovery and musical achievements big and small, will enable you to achieve steady, measurable progress.
Hard Songs Feel Impossible
A song or piece can be challenging; in this case, you can probably orient your way around it, learn a few new things, increase your skill, and complete the piece with focused practice. This is good.
If a song or piece feels impossible, you have chosen a piece above your level. Some telltale signs include: making no progress on the piece, confusion over the notes and rhythmic configurations on the staff (“what am I supposed to play here? What should it sound like?”), and taking a painstakingly long time to play through a passage.
The worst thing about choosing a piece above your level is that it can sap all of the joy out of playing piano. You won’t feel rewarded stumbling through the piece, but stuck and frustrated instead. Be patient with yourself, and choose an easier piece that you can successfully play. An easier piece can still be a challenging one! But recognize when the challenge is intriguing, exciting and surmountable – that’s the piece you’ll derive joy from playing! If the piece feels impossible to play, as well as joyless and overwhelming, you’ve overshot.
It’s all too easy for novices to dive right into their favorite works, only to run into a wall. Successfully learning and playing simpler material first builds student confidence.
It’s important to give students the opportunity to experience music outside of an exam syllabus. When practice doesn’t feel like practice, students challenge themselves deeper and maintain focus longer. Combining easier songs, exercises, and a few popular songs can help maintain momentum and develop new abilities.
Discomfort or Pain in the Fingers/Hand/Wrist/Arm
Overlooking minor discomfort or maintaining incorrect hand positions can accumulate into more serious issues. Over time, this can lead to serious injury.
The fix is simple: pay attention to how the hands and arms feel during practice. Your body will tell you if you’re holding tension. Find a teacher who understands and teaches technique.
Adjusting your bench to the proper height helps a great deal. A bench at the incorrect height can force you into playing with poor technique, even if you’ve corrected your technique otherwise.
Proper technique will not only protect your body and ensure the longevity of your piano career; it will also help you play with more precise expression, allow you to achieve more control and evenness, and enable you to play fast passages with ease.
