Learn to play beautifully

There is a rule of piano technique that is sure to do more to advance your piano playing than any other. All amateur pianists I have ever witnessed break this rule every time they play, and doing so costs them their progress and creates frustration and self-doubt.

How many times have we all heard...

Question: Can give us an idea how to go about the mastery of technique? Is practicing technique more important that practicing songs?

– Tejas

Albert’s reply: Practicing actual music should always be preferred to practicing technique. There’s a problem inherent in the very...

Question: How does a pianist learn to play the piano without always having to look at his hands as he plays as well as make those octave leaps on the piano without having to look at where his fingers are going?

I would appreciate any tips or suggestions.

– Antwane (Amherst, New York, USA)

...

Question: I wonder how I can practice playing chords with both hands so the notes sound together. I’m talking about complex chords which need to be played with almost all the fingers of both hands. Thank you.

– Marina Kolykhalova (Olot, Spain)

Albert’s reply: Playing chords...

Question: Hello Albert,

First of all, thank you so much for this website I appreciate the work you put into all this just to help us!

Here is my question: I play piano on a keyboard at home. But I’ve noticed that when I play on a real piano somewhere else (for example at school) it is kind...

10 Expert Tips

New: Major Scales for Piano for free download!

A thorough study of piano scales is vital to playing musically and with confidence. Nonetheless, while virtually all piano music has scales literally left and right, all too many students view scales as needless tedium rather than...

Question: How would you stop a pupil lifting their heel when using the pedal?

Albert’s reply: To resolve this pedal problem you’ll need to show your student that good piano pedal technique involves the toes as much as it does the ankle.

Pianists need to gain control over various...

Question: Where do your hands go when you are beginning to play a song?

– Bob (New York, New York, USA)

Albert’s reply: You’re referring primarily to hand position here, and secondarily to piano fingering.

Hand position refers a block of keys which fall underneath the fingers...

Question: How should you place your hand while you’re playing the piano?

– Oliver

Albert’s reply: The hand should be curved in a smooth arc, roughly forming a half-circle.

If you place your hand flat on a table and slide your wrist forward while keeping your fingertips in...

There is no more necessary evil in piano playing than piano exercises. I would love to be a musical idealist and deem all such exercises superfluous, as what piano students should really be doing their whole time at the piano is practicing actual music. Yet an “instrument” is by...

Question: I would like to know what exercises I can do to strengthen and train my left hand. I have been searching the internet and have only found a few, but there are thousands out there. Any suggestions where I can get specific exercises/drills for the left hand would be appreciated.

–...

Question: Hello Albert,

Firstly, many thanks for the positive feedback you have given me to my questions which is a tremendous help.

My question today relates to technique, working the fingers in a proper way to enable them to become supple, strong, thus enabling the student to tackle difficult...