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Why is practicing so much fun…?

sparky · 16 July 2024

So you’re ready to start learning the piano, but do you have a piano or keyboard at home?

If you don’t have a piano or keyboard – you will need one to practice on. Each has its pros and cons;

Acoustic Pianos

Pros

A traditional learning instrument, 88 keys
Perfect touch response to strengthen finger technique and learn dynamics (soft and loud)
A lovely instrument to look at (part of the furniture)
Incredible dynamics from soft to loud – the piano is truly magic!
Holds its value for resale purposes

Cons

It is a large instrument for small spaces
It can be very loud
It will need 2 or more strong people to move it
It will need tuning every year
It is usually more expensive $$$ to buy a piano
Very old pianos tend to sound honky tonk and don’t have the same touch as newer models.

Digital Pianos

Pros

A great alternative to a piano
88 key or 76 key options
Good piano touch response
Can plug headphones in
Easier to move – some are more portable than others depending on the stand
Has a wide range of sounds built in or choose a basic model with limited sounds
Some have recording features and band accompaniments
Newer models have internet access, bluetooth etc

Cons

Middle range $$ depending on what you want
Electronics may need repairing
Touch response not usually as good as a piano but not far off
Audio comes out of the speaker system and can sound limited. Quite different to acoustic piano where the sound comes from the huge soundbox!

Digital Keyboards

Pros

Small, lightweight and portable
Great selection of sounds available
Can plug headphones in
Rhythm accompaniments – band or orchestra styles
Very economical $
Recording feature
Newer models include internet access, bluetooth etc
Good to start on but if the student shows promise it is recommended to invest in an acoustic/digital piano to support technique

Cons

61 keys; may need to upgrade in a few years if student outgrows it
Touch response not as good as acoustic or digital piano
Sounds rhythm accompaniments on older models are dated
Speaker system is limited on older models
May need repairs

Header Photo credit: Thank you, OC Gonzalez, Instagram @OCVISUAL

July 16, 2024

True statement, it actually is fun! But why?

It is super satisfying hearing yourself improve!
And you feel good because you just keep getting better and better.
You get to learn new songs and pieces that you love.
It gives you a sense of achievement and accomplishment that is hard to beat.

Sounds fun to me!

But practicing is hard!

Ok, so practicing can sometimes feel hard. But that is actually where the fun is! When you sit down and work through something that feels tricky, and then you finally get it right — that feeling is incredible. The challenge is what makes it rewarding.

Why should I practice? I can already play my pieces … sort of

Practicing is not just about learning new pieces. It is about refining what you already know.
When you practice, you build muscle memory so your fingers know exactly where to go without thinking.
You develop better timing, dynamics, and expression — the things that make music sound musical.
Even if you can play a piece “sort of,” practicing takes it from sort of to sounding amazing.

Take your time while you practice. Then hear the magic unfold!

When should I practice? I mean, I just don’t have time

We all feel like we do not have time. But the truth is, you do not need hours and hours. Even 10 to 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference if you are focused and consistent.

Find what works for you and stick with it. The important thing is that you do it regularly, not that you do it for a long time.

What happens if I don’t practice?

If you do not practice, your progress will slow down significantly. Your fingers will forget the patterns they have learned. It is like learning a language — if you do not use it, you lose it.

Ok, then how should I practice?

Start with a warm-up. Play some scales or simple exercises to get your fingers moving.
Work on the tricky bits. Identify the bars that trip you up and focus on those. Play them slowly, hands separately if needed.
Play through your pieces. Once you have worked on the hard parts, play from beginning to end.
End with something fun. Play a piece you love or try sight-reading something new.

How long should I practice for?

Beginner (10–15 minutes): Short, focused sessions are all you need when you are starting out.
Intermediate (20–30 minutes): As your pieces get longer and more complex, you will need a bit more time.
Advanced (45–60 minutes+): At this level, you have more repertoire to maintain and more challenging technical work.

The bottom line: do you want to sound good or not?

If you want to sound good, you need to practice. There is no shortcut.
Every great pianist you have ever heard has put in countless hours of practice.
It does not have to be painful or boring — it just has to be consistent.

And give yourself an advantage

When you practice regularly, you walk into your next lesson feeling prepared and confident. You can focus on learning new things instead of catching up. Most importantly, you start to really enjoy playing the piano — when practice stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like something you genuinely look forward to.

So go on, sit down at the piano and have some fun. You will be glad you did.

Are you interested in developing your practicing skills? Check out our courses here.