By Teacher Chew Yi
Music undergraduate at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
ABRSM Grade 8 Piano, Classical Vocal, Harp
Many people come to piano lessons wanting to learn piano as a hobby or wanting to play like those skilled pianists on TV. However, learning to play takes time, and the path from beginner to pianist is built on fundamental skills. Here are some things a typical piano lesson includes that can help you become a better pianist.
Scales and arpeggios
Scales and arpeggios are all a type of fundamental finger exercises. They are very important for piano lessons as they boost your technique and help develop finger independence. When you are practicing a scale, you are focusing on making the best sound on the scales with a better technique, whether with another fingering or another way of moving your wrist. Different types of scales and finger exercises can help hand coordination, making them great warm ups before going into more complex pieces.
Many songs and pieces use scales and sequences, which means when you master your scales, you can now play your pieces much more easily. You can also sight read faster as you now recognize the pattern.
Sight Reading
Sight Reading is when you see the score and play immediately, without prior practice. Practicing sight reading can allow you to play music you have never seen before much faster. Reading and practicing the notes can feel tedious from time to time, but with a good sight reading skill you can now skip that part! Now your practice session is much more efficient, and you can enjoy ensemble music making with your friends and family with minimal preparation.
Another factor people often ignore is being able to sight read well gives a big boost to your confidence. Being able to sight read can make you feel much more at ease when encountering new music and make you feel accomplished.
Music Theory
Music theory is basically how music works. It is the language of music. Without theory, playing piano is just like trying to code without learning the programming language.
The beauty of music theory is that it applies to all instruments. Whether you’re playing piano, guitar, or another instrument, understanding theory helps you interpret composers' intentions and play their music as it was meant to be heard. This skill of analysing is especially important if you are planning to take music seriously.
Knowing your terms which are also included in music theory can help you communicate with other musicians. And if you are interested in composing, music theory provides a foundation for music composing!
Genre and Pieces
Music comes in many genres, and each one offers something unique. While classical music helps us develop our technical skill, pop music can give some people more joy and fun. I myself have students who prefer pop music. Which is why in my lessons, I strive to balance both and try to make the lesson enjoyable while ensuring their technical growth. Which is why the pieces we learn in class typically include music from different genres, and also some that my students want to learn.
It is important to remember that even when playing more fun pieces, mastering the basics such as etudes or scales are still very important. This is so that you can have a good technique base, which will help you in the future and prevent bad habits that could hinder your playing or even cause injury down the line.
Summary - A typical piano lesson and how it helps you
If anything, music does not require a lifelong commitment. Even just learning for a year can give you many benefits. If you are curious or interested, why not give it a try? It is never too late to start, and you might find yourself enjoying the progress more than you expected!
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