Play fast and repetitively

[Mike B]

I'm relatively new to piano, deciding to learn to play as my New Year's Resolution in January 2019. I log my practice hours and now total 1900 hours. It took me that long to feel able to play and sing a few tunes to my family on Christmas Eve recently. This came shortly after my first performance exam, grade two keyboard from the London College of Music exam board, which I passed with a distinction.

The most important tips I've picked up during this time go against some of the advice I see, so I thought I'd share them.

I often see posts suggesting learn a piece slowly then progressively up the speed. My approach is different.

While I might first carefully pick out the melody then chords to get an overview of how a piece should sound, my focus then is on phrase by phrase, or even shorter sections. This is true whether I'm learning a piece from the music or from one of Jonny's videos. I work out the fingering for the phrase and then get it flowing, trying to make it sound as close to the finished performance sound as I can. I play it repetitively until it works - if that takes me 30 minutes that's fine. 

Once it's flowing, I'll play it faster than performance speed. I continue like this through the piece. Once I have a few phrases working in isolation, I'll work on joining them up, perhaps just playing the notes in the transition from one to the other using the same "play it fast" technique.

I add in the left-hand in the same way, phrase by phrase, or just a measure or a shorter sequence of notes. I look to see how the hands work together, so my left hand helps my right, rather than being something else to think about. In trying to get it flowing, I'll often focus on one hand and keep playing after I lose the way with the other. Then I switch the hand I'm focussing on.

A key skill I've been developing is not stopping if I make a mistake. The modular approach of learning phrase by phrase makes it easier to pick things up, and this technique of dropping a hand means I don't lose time, which will be essential if playing with others or accompanying a singer. When I saw I didn't need to stop and start again, it really boosted my confidence to play to people - and take my exam.

When I can play the piece, I aim to make it sound as natural as possible, playing against the demo. if there is one. I also find it helps to play with my eyes closed (at least when I don't have to look at a tricky section) or while watching a streaming programme on my phone or tablet - which I call the distraction technique. It's amazing how much insight I can get into a piece when I stop concentrating on it and let my subconscious take over.

Then I'll do the opposite and analyse the piece further, paying closer attention to the chord progression, the intervals the melody, and the relationship between the melody and chords. Playing the piece in other keys is a great way to force this.

At this stage, if not before, I'll also visualise playing the piece on my mental piano, when I'm cooking or washing up, running, driving, going to sleep or waking up. This visualisation is key to building mental representations, which Anders Ericsson explains in his book Peak is central to becoming an expert.

This puts skills into long-term memory, which is very different to muscle memory. It requires deep understanding, which provides multiple landmarks to help me through a piece. If I play a piece from muscle memory, I don't really know what I'm doing and have to start again if I trip up at any point.

One of the most useful pieces of advice I came across recently is attributed to Julie Andrews, who said her voice coach told her amateurs practice until they get it right, but professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

So, a piece isn't finished if there is any part that I'm not comfortable with. I'll focus in on that part and play it repetitively until it becomes a place of safety, which I look forward to reaching in the music.

I say that mistakes are my friends, because they show me what to work on - a great time saver.

When there are no parts that trouble me, I'll play the piece faster or in other keys to force mistakes, so I can identify my weakest places and strengthen them.

To wrap things up, I'll make a recording and post it to the PWJ group. Recently, to gain experience of performance pressure, I've asked my wife to film me and posted the first take.

If I want to retain the piece, then I'll add it to a set list to practice regularly. I currently have three lists of 6 or 7 pieces each, and will play through one list each day. Sometimes I'll do a deep dive into one or more pieces, perhaps transposing it on the fly to the key I'm learning on the beginner's track.

I'll finish here with a set of trigger words I used to combat nerves - the emotional fight or flight response to stress - when doing my first performance exam.

My fingers were literally shaking when I started playing the first piece to the examiner and this prompted me to think of these words - and they worked.

1. Listen - hear the music.

2. Play - have fun making music.

3. Trust - the experts who have trained me and the practice I've done.

4. Entertain - welcome the fact there is someone listening.

5. Grow - be in the moment in the performance and take lessons from it.

As a newbie, I don't expect this post provides any great insight to anyone who has been playing for a while, but I hope it might prompt some ideas if you are also starting out. I'd also recommend reading the book Peak.

 

[Brendan D]

@Mike B This is a great post! I like your approach and there's much here for us all to learn from! Congratulations on your growth as a  pianist!

[Victoria S]

Hi Mike:  Thank you for posting this very detailed pathway you have created for yourself.  It has so much useful information that everyone can benefit from!!!  The fact that you started piano just a little more than 2 years ago, and have come this far, including overcoming stage fright (my biggest challenge) is encouraging beyond words.  I am also happy to realize I had already adapted some of the ideas you have been using.  I felt that I was on the right track for my own process and your post validates my feelings.  I intend to incorporate more of your approach.  

In fact, I think your approach is so powerful that I am going to suggest you strongly consider expanding it into a short book.  It would help millions globally, not just the PWJ community (which I love!!)

Don't know if you have ever heard of the short book, "First, Learn To Practice", by Tom Heany.  The cover itself is two columns of 7 colorful drawings, each drawing illustrating one point in his "Seven Big Ideas" and "Seven Good Habits".  It might stoke some creative ideas for you if you ever decide to write a book of your own (seriously, I think it would be a gift to all piano students).  Also, thank you for mentioning Anders Ericsson's book "Peak".  I was unaware of it.  Sounds very much worth investigating.  Victoria😀

[Mike B]

On 2/23/2022 at 8:28 AM, Victoria S said:

Hi Mike:  Thank you for posting this very detailed pathway you have created for yourself.  It has so much useful information that everyone can benefit from!!!  The fact that you started piano just a little more than 2 years ago, and have come this far, including overcoming stage fright (my biggest challenge) is encouraging beyond words.  I am also happy to realize I had already adapted some of the ideas you have been using.  I felt that I was on the right track for my own process and your post validates my feelings.  I intend to incorporate more of your approach.  

In fact, I think your approach is so powerful that I am going to suggest you strongly consider expanding it into a short book.  It would help millions globally, not just the PWJ community (which I love!!)

Don't know if you have ever heard of the short book, "First, Learn To Practice", by Tom Heany.  The cover itself is two columns of 7 colorful drawings, each drawing illustrating one point in his "Seven Big Ideas" and "Seven Good Habits".  It might stoke some creative ideas for you if you ever decide to write a book of your own (seriously, I think it would be a gift to all piano students).  Also, thank you for mentioning Anders Ericsson's book "Peak".  I was unaware of it.  Sounds very much worth investigating.  Victoria😀

Thanks for your encouragement, Victoria.

There is another book out there already that I should mention. Jonny flags it up in his welcome email on joining.

It is called Fundamentals of Piano Practice by Chuan C. Chang and is available free online at:

http://www.pianopractice.org

A lot of the tips I mention picking up have come from this book. I should return to it myself as much more of it will probably make sense and be useful to me now.

[Victoria S]

Hi Mike:  Thanks for the reminder about Chuan C. Chang's Fundamentals of Piano Practice.  I remembered downloading it, perusing it and thinking it was great, then filing it away, and then forgetting to get back to it.  I will definitely reconsult it.  A jazz piano playing friend of mine described her recently frustrating practice session, followed by the comment, "Why do I do this?  Because it is fun."  I think that sums it up.   And, the process continues.  👍