The old saying, “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks,” couldn’t be more wrong when it comes to a creative field like playing the piano. After all, creativity is boundless and comes at any age, while coordination can be picked up through repetition and memorization. 

Of course, starting at an early age has distinct advantages, given how a young mind is like a sponge for learning, but picking up piano playing at a more advanced age is certainly possible. In fact, a 2023 survey conducted by Pianote revealed that 27% of advanced players, 56% of intermediate pianists, and 82% of novices learned when they were adults. 

So, don’t let age hinder you from learning to play the piano. This guide will help you understand the psychology behind learning to play the instrument at any age, the modern avenues for learning, and how online platforms make this easier. 

Why It’s Possible to Learn at Any Age

Adults need to let go of the notion that learning stops at a certain age. Even if you think you lack the talent, you might surprise yourself with what you can do through sustained practice over a substantial period. 

According to the realm of neuroscience, the brain is capable of neuroplasticity, which means it can adapt and form new neural connections throughout life. These new connections can originate from learning a new skill like playing the piano or picking up a foreign language. This applies to even older adults who are aged 60 and above.

Besides the brain’s capabilities, adults have traits that give them an inherent advantage over youngsters in terms of playing a difficult instrument like the piano. Adults typically have greater persistence since they have clearer goals in mind than kids. They can also use their piano learning exercises as a means to combat negative emotional states such as depression and anxiety. 

Moreover, the ubiquity of online streaming platforms and software solutions has led professionals to post comprehensive instructional applications and videos that cater to beginners of all ages. Adult learners can digest these and start learning to play the piano. They have the option to primarily learn online or use the videos as supplementary material to formal lessons. 

Psychological Benefits of Learning the Piano as Adults

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Besides gaining skills, playing the piano has a host of benefits for adult players, especially seniors. Playing keeps the mind sharp and boosts one’s mood. It also allows adults to reconnect with their passion and gain meaningful connections. This is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. To give you a clearer view, the psychological benefits of playing include the following: 

• Improved Memory and Problem-Solving: Engaging multiple brain areas, particularly those responsible for memory and problem-solving, piano playing can enhance cognitive function. Studies have shown that piano training can improve working memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency.
• Boosted Brain Connectivity: The act of reading sheet music, coordinating hand movements, and processing auditory feedback strengthens the bridge connecting the brain’s left and right hemispheres. This leads to improved coordination, problem-solving, and creativity. 
• Enhanced Motor Skills and Multisensory Processing: Playing the piano is a multisensory experience that engages the brain’s motor, visual, and auditory cortices. This improves hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness.
• Neuroplasticity: Learning to play the piano, even at an older age, stimulates neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections.
• Delayed Cognitive Decline: Engaging in new skills, such as piano playing, can help delay cognitive decline in older adults.
• Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Playing music activates the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Simultaneously, it lowers cortisol, the stress hormone.
• Boosted Emotional Well-being: Learning to play the piano can provide a sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction, contributing to improved emotional well-being.
• Improved Professional Skills: For adults, learning piano can improve focus, time management, and problem-solving skills, which are valuable in professional settings.

In addition to the given benefits, adults feel a sense of achievement in completing each piece. This can boost the body’s production of dopamine, which can make you feel good. You’ll be happier as you go along learning to play the piano. 

Advantages of Learning the Piano Online

In this day and age, learning the piano does not strictly require attending class in a music school or hiring a piano teacher. You can learn on your own online through music education apps and educational videos on streaming websites. Doing so brings a slew of advantages. 

• Sizable Selection of Piano Pieces: Music education apps and video streaming platforms have a staggering collection of piano pieces you can learn. Education apps and some videos also provide instructions on how to do every part of each piece, including the toughest sections. Some also offer sheet music, so you can easily follow. 
• Progress Monitoring: Advanced music education apps provide feedback as you play a piece’s various sections. It also allows you to hear the notes you played and perform quick adjustments to any mistake encountered.   
• Step-by-step Tutorials: Beginners can grasp the basics of piano playing and how to play certain songs through a music education app’s tutorials. There are also courses catering to different skill levels, designed to advance one’s capabilities. 
• Flexibility: Online platforms offer unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to learn at your own pace and convenience. Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, you can learn music anytime, anywhere with a stable internet connection.
• Personalized Instruction: Many online platforms offer personalized learning experiences, tailoring lessons to your individual needs and learning style.
• Affordability: Online music education is often more cost-effective than traditional in-person lessons. Music education apps offer affordable subscription fees, while numerous instructional videos on streaming platforms are free to access.  

Tips for Learning the Piano Online

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Learning to play the piano online is a systematic process that focuses on various areas with progressively increasing subject depth, akin to taking perhaps the cheapest online doctorate in psychology. The courses require mastery and a lot of dedication from learners. Here are several tips to help you persevere throughout the learning process: 

• Set Clear Goals: Define your musical aspirations, whether it’s mastering specific songs or improving your technique. Clear goals keep you focused and motivated.
• Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key. Aim for short, daily practice sessions rather than infrequent long ones. Even 15 minutes a day can lead to significant progress.
• Choose Enjoyable Repertoire: Select music that you love. Playing pieces that resonate with you will make practice more enjoyable and fulfilling.
• Be Patient and Kind to Yourself: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Celebrate small victories and avoid self-criticism.
• Join Online Groups: Joining online communities and social media groups dedicated to piano playing is a great way to connect with fellow musicians. Sharing your musical journey, learning from others, and receiving encouragement can significantly boost your motivation and skill development.
• Leverage Online Resources: Utilize online tutorials, apps, and courses designed for adult learners. These resources offer modern teaching methods tailored to your needs.
• Track Your Progress: Maintain a practice journal that documents your progress as a student, from the pieces learned to the exercise completed. Some music education apps do the tracking for you. 
• See Mistakes as Exercises: Mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process. Instead of feeling discouraged by errors, view them as opportunities for growth. Analyze what went wrong and work on those areas during practice sessions. This mindset will help you develop resilience and improve your overall playing ability.

An Instrument for All Ages

Age is not an impediment to learning the piano and making notable music. In fact, playing at an advanced age brings a good number of benefits, including improved mood, mental health, and cognitive functions. In addition, comprehensive music education apps and streaming platforms have made piano lessons more accessible, easier to follow, and more convenient. 

It won’t take long before you can play your favorite songs. If you’re particularly creative, you can eventually create your own symphonies that can perhaps rival the riveting musical scores of John Williams or Danny Elfman. After all, the piano is one such instrument that can capture the moments of your life, one scale at a time.   

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The piano is one of the most loved instruments in the world. Get inspired and inspire others to become pianists with these beautiful piano quotes.

Everything from the piano’s sleek design to the beautiful sounds it emits is the result of individuals investing time, focus, and energy into the instrument. When you devote yourself to something, particularly playing an instrument, you develop a relationship with it. Eventually, it becomes a means of expression, in some cases, one that is more articulate than language. 

There are many pianists capable of leaving listeners in awe. Their fingers effortlessly glide across the majestic keyboard, producing sounds that take us to places we may not have thought possible. Truly, sound, music, and piano are marvelous. 

Many of those adept at playing the instrument have left our listeners and practitioners with words that give us a taste of what playing the piano can mean.

But why exactly does the piano affect people so profoundly?

The article provides insight into why the piano impacts people and presents 20 lovely quotes from pianists, musicians, and authors that describe the piano from their perspectives. 

Sound.

It all begins with sound, or rather, vibration. 

Science finally backs up the claim that everything in existence moves and vibrates. Regardless of what science says about vibration, we are no strangers to sound. Everything from rustling leaves to the words we speak creates vibrations. 

The point is that vibrations play a central role in our lives, affecting our mental and emotional states. 

Humans are pretty good at making sounds. Many people devote their lives to making sounds by making music.

Music.

Music is the expressive art of arranging sounds in a combination of form, harmony, melody, and rhythm.

It hugely impacts us, and we can’t get enough of it. It speaks to us in ways we still don’t fully understand–affecting our brain in measurable ways. 

If you’re curious about how playing the piano affects the brain, check out our blog Why Playing Piano Is a Brain Booster. 

Music makes us feel happy, sad, angry, and all sorts of other ways that we can’t necessarily describe with language. Music brings us closer together through collaboration and dance. 

And through these musical experiences, whether it’s be creating or listening to a mind-blowing sequence of notes, or profound lyrics, music can bring us closer to the essence of life.

Piano.

We create music in many different ways. There are countless musical instruments that we use to make diverse sounds. Surely one of the most beloved is the piano. 

With 88 keys, 230 strings of varying widths, and a massive soundboard, the piano is a unique instrument that touches the hearts of countless musicians and listeners. 

Piano quotes on expression.

The piano is far more than a musical instrument. To many, it’s a tool that offers the means to express themselves beyond words. 

1. “The piano as a medium for expression is a whole world by itself. No other instrument can fill or replace its own say in the world of emotion, sentiment, poetry, imagery, and fancy.” — Leopold Godowsky, Polish-American Pianist

2. “To me, the piano in itself is an orchestra.” — Cecil Taylor, American Pianist, and Poe

3. “One of my biggest thrills for me still is sitting down with a guitar or a piano and just out of nowhere trying to make a song happen.” — Sir Paul McCartney, English Singer-Songwriter

4. “I’m able to sometimes express things even more articulately on the piano than I am with singing.” — Harry Connick Jr., American Musician

5. “I tell my piano the things I used to tell you.” – Frederic Chopin
6.  “Sometimes I can only groan, and suffer, and pour out my despair at the piano.” – Frederic Chopin

7. “The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.” – Ray Charles

8. “I had never before thought of how awful the relationship must be between the musician and his instrument. He has to fill it, this instrument, with the breath of life, his own.” — James Baldwin, American Author

Funny piano quotes.

Quotes don’t always have to be profound. Sometimes, someone’s description of the piano can be lighthearted, allow us to see the instrument uniquely, or point out human characteristics. 

1. “The piano is a monster that screams when you touch its teeth.” – Andre Segovia

2. “I wish the government would put a tax on pianos for the incompetent.” – Edith Sitwell

3. “The public is like a piano. You just have to know what keys to poke.” – Al Capp

4. “What has keys but can’t listen to the beauty it unlocks? A piano. – Jarod Kintz

5. “The piano is a monster that screams when you touch its teeth.” – Andre Segovia

6. “There’s nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.” – Johann Sebastian Bach

Philosophical piano quotes.

Vibration permeates existence. And the manipulation of sound can be an intense and profound experience. The following quotes express the sense of wonder we can plunge into thanks to the piano. 

1. “The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air.” — Kenneth Miller, American Biologist

2. “Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.” –Tom Lehrer

3. “The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind.” — Maria Cristina Mena, Author

4. “Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you’re listening. Playing the piano allows you to do both at the same time.” — Kelsey Grammer, American Actor

5. “There are eighty-eight keys on a piano and within that, an entire universe.” ― James Rhodes

6. “The piano as a medium for expression is a whole world by itself. No other instrument can fill or replace its own say in the world of emotion, sentiment, poetry, imagery and fancy” – Leopold Godowsky

Music is a wondrous phenomenon. Musicians and listeners gather regularly to celebrate and take a melodic journey inward. Just as the sounds emanating from the piano can be emotionally captivating, so can the quotes and sayings that describe this instrument. 

While listening to the piano can be a beautiful experience, playing it can be much more fulfilling. Even the adventure of learning the instrument can be fun and rewarding. 

Are you learning how to play the piano?

Simply Piano is a fantastic app that provides students everything they need to learn how to play, from reading sheet music to playing your favorite songs. Give it a try today!

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Are you toying with the idea of learning how to play the piano as an adult? Do it! Learning piano as an adult is often so much better than it was when you were a kid. You have the time, you have the headspace, and you know what a valuable skill it can be to enjoy a fulfilling hobby at home. There are loads of benefits to learning how to play as an adult!

A growing trend shows that people regret not having devoted themselves to their piano lessons with greater vigor, and they are now subjecting themselves to practicing scales. A BBC report from a year ago (October 2014) investigated why, and discovered that beyond music being a passion in general (and we know that it is), the percussive element of hitting 88 keys (or some percentage thereof) can be therapeutic. Moreover, playing any musical instrument rewires the brain, as it were, with increased connectivity and therefore sophistication. It’s not incidental – or inaccurate – that people say playing an instrument makes you smarter!

[bctt tweet=” Playing any musical instrument rewires the brain with increased connectivity and sophistication.”]

In fact, being an adult gives you several advantages when it comes time to learn to play.

Your mom’s not nagging

First and foremost is the fact that you are doing so on your own volition, and not because your parents or grandparents have insisted that you learn an instrument. When you choose your own path, you are more likely to find your passion in it.

You KNOW that practice makes perfect.

The odds are good that you have had experience with the effects of practice in the past, and you know that if you want to develop a skill truly, you need to practice. Even if you don’t aspire to Carnegie Hall, you still know that whatever practice, practice, practice you undertake will serve you well (a tidbit that many children don’t realize as they are burdened with practice sessions).

Your ear has earned the advantage of time

Finally, the fact that you want to learn to play as an adult suggests that you have a love of music, and the very fact that you have been listening to music your entire life puts you in an enviable position when it comes to learning the technicalities. That is, once you already have a feel for the music itself, learning which keys to depress is a matter of fulfilling what you already know, as compared to the child who starts from nothing.

Music education isn’t what it used to be!

The other advantage you have is the advancement of educational technology, which has harnessed gaming features that provide feedback in real time, and applies them to learning to play piano, so that the student is guided through the process note by note.

Check out Simply Piano, the latest app from Simply (formerly JoyTunes) to learn the piano basics step-by-step.

Read more:

• How to learn piano in 5 easy steps 

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When playing the piano, posture is a vital aspect that a pianist must perfect. Learn how to avoid common mistakes and how to improve your piano posture. 

Posture is an interesting topic. It’s not something we give much attention to other than the occasional “yeah, I have terrible posture” conversation, yet it’s crucial to maintain. 

Though we may not put the two together right away, sitting with proper form substantially impacts how we play the piano. Sitting comfortably helps you play for longer, with greater control, and improves your general health.  

So what is the ideal posture for playing the piano? It’s time to shape up and perfect your posture!

Why is posture important when playing the piano?

Proper posture is essential in everything you do; maintaining it while playing the piano is no exception. 

Consider that a piano bench never comes with a backrest. Can you imagine a pianist like Chopin or Beethoven indolently slouching back into an overly plush lazy boy while performing one of their famous masterpieces? 

It’s not conducive to playing your instrument and can lead to some form of chronic pain in the future. 

Proper posture also helps you sit for extended periods without feeling sore and strengthens your shoulders, back, and abdomen, enabling you to play your instrument more effectively. 

What is the proper posture when playing the piano?

People have been studying and playing piano for centuries. Over the ages, they’ve refined how to sit in front of a keyboard and improve their ability to play. 

So how do you sit properly? Let’s start with the lower body.

To learn more about the instrument’s history, check out our blog, A Complete Piano History.

Lower body.

The lower body serves as the base for your posture. It’s where your body meets the bench. 

Upper Body.

Arranging your upper body the right way gives your shoulders, elbows, and hands greater mobility and enables you to play your keyboard more effectively. 

Most common mistakes.

While assuming proper posture may sound like an easy thing to do, maintaining it can be a challenging experience when you first start.

You may be overzealous with keeping your posture, accentuating specific muscles more than necessary.

Keep in mind that there are natural curves in the body. Therefore, correct posture doesn’t mean sitting perfectly straight. Doing that puts unnecessary tension on the body, possibly resulting in injury. 

A proper posture is a balancing act between relaxation and tension.

Final tips.

Posture can be a little confusing when you’re just starting. It can feel unnatural—especially if you’ve been slouching all your life. Be patient with yourself. 

Here are a few tips to help you correct your posture safely:

1. While maintaining good posture is vital for playing the piano, staying relaxed is also essential. Take a small break if your body is sore or tired.

2. Try to maintain proper posture in your day-to-day life. Posture is a habit you can build.

3. At first, proper posture may feel unnatural depending on how you’ve been carrying yourself throughout your life. Be patient with your body. In time, sitting with proper posture will become second nature. 

4. To explain posture, we broke the body down into different parts. However, the body is one organism, one process. So if one piece of your system slacks, it inevitably affects the others. 

Ultimately, knowing how to carry yourself changes how you feel and optimizes your motor functions. And learning how to assume proper posture can enrich your experience with the piano.

There are countless avenues to pursue when learning and playing an instrument. Finding the best resource to teach you all those things can be challenging.

Simply Piano offers users many tips and tricks on various subjects surrounding the piano (posture being one of them). The app makes learning the piano fun. It’s a fantastic supplement to piano lessons. You can use it as a primary resource for your piano journey. 

FAQs.

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If you’re looking for the best keyboard piano for beginners, look no further! Simply Piano has the perfect instrument for you.

When choosing your keyboard, it’s essential to strike the right balance between cost and a beginner-friendly instrument that motivates you and provides room to grow.

There are all sorts of keyboards. Some prioritize portability, sound quality, and even aesthetics.

A lot goes into a keyboard. Each design offers unique qualities and capabilities that may be what sways your decision. 

So let’s dive into the world of keyboards and find the best keyboard piano for a beginner.

The number of keys for a beginner.

Generally speaking, most keyboards come with 49, 61, 73, or a full 88 keys, like a piano. There is no correct number of keys per se, but you may develop a preference as you continue practicing. Until then, you might not know the type of music you want to play or what qualities you will most appreciate from your keyboard. 

And there are qualities aplenty!

Keyboards come in various shapes, sizes, styles, with different numbers of keys and tools built in. You can learn a lot about playing the piano with just 49 keys. However, we recommend going with 88. You won’t be able to make the most out of all 88 keys when you begin. But that’s okay –  you will have plenty of room to grow. 

Weighted versus unweighted keys.

As a beginner, you will need to consider buying a keyboard with weighted versus unweighted keys. You have a third choice too – semi-weighted. Each of these keys offers unique qualities and changes how it feels to play.

Why weighted keys are better.

Weighted keys are better because they provide a similar feel to a classical acoustic piano. As such, keyboards with weighted keys have greater articulation and sound control than keyboards with unweighted keys.

For instance, applying more pressure on a key produces a vastly different sound than using a softer touch. These subtleties can drastically affect the energy and emotion in music.

This will help you understand and feel the sensitivity needed to push down the keys with different levels of control.

Number of sounds.

Part of what makes the keyboard so fun to play and an excellent instrument for beginners is its number of sounds. 

Keyboards can have from ten to 400 different sounds! This gives you the chance to explore a range of possible musical styles.

So if you’re feeling funky, you can adjust the settings and play funk music. Additionally, you can synchronize your sounds to mesh with other musicians because of the electronic nature of your keyboard. 

The best keyboard piano for beginners.

Whether you’re just starting out or nearing the level of masterhood, it’s essential to be inspired by your instrument. 

Playing on a keyboard that feels more like a toy than an instrument can negatively impact your experience. That’s why we recommend the following keyboard as the best keyboard for a beginner.

Introducing the Korg B2N. 

This keyboard has 88 semi-weighted keys on an NT (Natural Touch) keyboard. 

The NT keyboard reproduces the touch of an acoustic piano, with heavier action in the low register and a lighter feel in the upper register. 

Korg gives the right balance of beginner-friendly playability while allowing you to dip your toes into the intricate world of sensitive key strikes. 

As far as aesthetics go, the Korg B2N makes most beginner keyboards look and feel cheap. For a portable keyboard, it’s on the larger side and costs just over $500. 

The B2N comes with twelve different sound settings, from the electric organ to the harpsichord. These sounds create powerful and vibrant reverberations thanks to Korg’s latest piano engine. 

Another helpful feature is the USB port that you can plug into various music software and hardware. That means you can create and record music from your tablet or phone! 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with any pedals. However, you only need a sustain pedal for digital pianos and keyboards that you can find a separate pedal and plug into your keyboard.

There’s a lot to consider when purchasing an instrument. Knowing what you want from your keyboard, the kind of music you want to play, the price, and its portability should all factor into your decision. 

Regardless of what keyboard you choose, it’s ultimately a tool – a rather important one, to be sure – in the journey of learning and playing music. 

Many tools can help you get better. It’s just about knowing where to look and what to look for.

Add some spice and speed up the process of your keyboard journey with Simply Piano!

FAQs.

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Learning the piano isn’t so bad when you know the basics of reading notes. In this short article, we walk you through the basics of piano notes for beginners.

When you see sheet music for the first time, it could look like some kind of cave-man script from another eon. For the beginner, this can be very unsettling. 

We got you. Let’s begin by walking through the fundamentals of all you need to know to start reading music notes and playing them on piano. 

Reading music notes for beginners

Music is a language of sound. 

When an instrument produces a sound, that sound vibrates at a particular frequency or pitch.

In Western music, we use twelve specific frequencies, called notes. These twelve frequencies repeat themselves across high and low registers of pitch. 

In other words, we call the frequency of a sound pitch and organize them in a system of symbols we call notes. 

We use letters from A to G to name seven of the twelve notes and use sharps and flats for the remaining five. The symbol sharp (#) means slightly higher than the note it’s in front of, and flat (b) means slightly lower. 

Flat and sharp notes have two names, depending on the context. In the end, it looks something like this:

Notes appear in various ways, but all have a circle and sometimes a line. The vertical line attached to the note is called a stem. The circle is the head, and it could be full or empty. These determine the rhythmic value of the note. 

You can write and read all of these notes on a visual structure called a staff.

Learn more about How to Read Sheet Music on our blog.  

The staff and the ledger lines

A staff is a stack of five horizontal lines.  

There are five lines and four spaces between them. Each line and space represent a note, with the low notes on the bottom lines and the high notes on the top. 

Of course, the range of instruments usually exceeds the lines of the staff. To write notes below or above the staff, we use ledger lines. These are short horizontal lines written through or below the circle of the note.

We write piano notes on a grand staff with ten lines altogether, split into two groups of five.

Grand staffs are for instruments with a wide range of pitch or music that requires two separate but simultaneous parts (like a right hand and left hand). 

The middle C note, which is more or less at the center of the keyboard, sits between the two staffs on a ledger line.

The clefs

A clef symbol appears on the far left side of the staff. It indicates which note falls on which line. The range of your instrument determines the clef you use so that the notes are in the right places. 

You use the treble clef for piano to write music for your right hand. The center of the circle of the treble clef sits on the second line from the bottom of the staff and indicates the note G. This is why it’s also known as G clef. 

We use the bass clef to write music for instruments with a lower register, such as the piano’s left hand or a bass guitar. The line between the two dots of the bass clef is an F below the middle C. This is why it’s also known as the F clef. 

Key signature and time signature

There are two more crucial pieces of information at the beginning and to the right of the clef. 

The first is the key signature. It tells you how many sharps or flats are in the music. If a sharp or flat appears in the key signature, it will not appear in notes. If the composer adds an extra sharp or flat beyond the key signature, they write it next to the notes.

The time signature is to the right of the key signature, just before the actual notes appear. This indicates the division of rhythm in the song, alongside the bar lines, which create vertical divisions along the horizontal staff lines to group the notes according to rhythm value. 

The top number of the time signature is the number of beats per bar. The bottom number of the time signature is the type of beat (half note, quarter note, eighth note). You can read more about time signatures in our blog post How to Play Music in 4/4. 

Learn to read music notes with Simply Piano

If you practice on your own, your progress with piano learning can become stuck and frustrating. Download the Simply Piano app to learn all the piano basics at your own pace and space. 

Simply Piano is highly popular and has even won awards like Apple’s Editor’s Choice Award, Parents’ Choice Award, and Best App from Google Play.

The app works with any piano or keyboard and has the following features:

•  Tons of fun songs like Imagine, Chandelier, All Of Me, and also J.S. Bach.
•  Courses for different musical tastes and playing levels.
• Step-by-step learning for everything from reading sheet music to playing chords.
•  Slow down library songs to choose your own pace for easy learning.

Simply Piano currently has 27 different courses divided into two streams: Soloist and Chords. You don’t have to choose between them; you can do them simultaneously, one after the other, or just focus on one. You immediately receive access to two free courses when you download the app. Once you purchase the premium subscription, you receive access to all lessons and songs, updated and expanded monthly. 

Make a note of this 🙂

When you dive into a new world of concepts, language and practice, it’s very common to feel scared and insecure. Have faith in the process, and don’t rush the learning. Learn the limitations of your capacity for new information, and try to touch something new daily. With time, persistence, and patience, you can acquire this new language, and before you know it, you are speaking music! 

FAQs

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If you are learning a musical instrument, then you know it is hard to keep your motivation going every day. Learning an instrument is tough work, and you can easily put it down for a day or two, and have it turn into a month. However, doing small things every day to work on yourself and your craft can improve your musical abilities dramatically.

By developing routines that will make you both learn your instrument quicker and master your skills, you will be well on your way to becoming the musical genius you have always dreamed of. Apply these five habits in your life and see the progress immediately!

1. Exercise Every Day

The odds are unless you are a professional musician on stage every night, the amount of energy you will spend playing your instrument is minimal. This can lead us to believe that we do not need to be in top shape to play music. This is mistake number one. You are constantly utilizing your muscles when playing, and you have to make sure they are ready for the demands you will put them through!

See Also: 3 Ways Playing an Instrument is like Working Out

2. Practice. Practice. Practice!

It is not a popular idea for everyone, and it can be tedious, but the best way to become a musical professional is to put in the work. There are tons of different exercises for any instrument in order to work on different skills related to playing. From fundamentals to speed to technique, practicing can take your musical ability to new heights.

See Also: These 7 Great Songs Make Piano Practice Fun Again

3. Learn About Your Instrument

One of the most important things for any musician, and one that is easy to overlook when learning how to play, is to familiarize yourself with the instrument you are playing. The best way for you to get started is to learn everything you can about the tools of your trade. Some of the best music that has ever been made came from artists who pushed the boundaries of their instruments. Find out the sounds you can produce, the different styles you can play, and get started on your musical experimentation.

4. Get Back to Basics

One of the easiest ways to develop poor techniques and musical habits is to skip the basics course and forget about the essentials of playing an instrument. Basic skills can be developed early on, but are hard to maintain after some time. Skills such as timing, pacing, rhythm, and keeping a constant beat can seem unimportant, but can make your music sound a million times more refined when done right.

5. A Different Style Every Day

The best way to expand your musical horizons is to explore new sounds and styles while journeying into different genres. In order to truly push your learning, you should also make sure you are working outside of your musical comfort zone as often as possible. Even if you do not necessarily like the music you are listening to, you can always learn something new by paying attention to skilled and talented musicians from every genre.

Get started and develop these habits to take your music skills to the next level!  

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Nailing harmonies requires a trained ear and solid timing. Learn how to skillfully sing them with these helpful tips.

Practically every genre of music harnesses the power of harmonies, from holiday carols and hymns to your favorite pop song. You can recognize harmonies when two or more voices sing in unison. It adds a unique and aggrandizing effect to the music. 

When first listening to harmony, you may find them to be complex, angelic echoes. It can seem like creating your own is out of reach. However, just like learning any new skill, learning and improving is much smoother by taking small purposeful steps.

So let’s dive into the majestic world of harmony and build your skill up with these simple steps.

Learn basic music theory.

While it isn’t essential for singing harmonies, knowing basic music theory is an excellent place to start. 

Understanding the framework and the essential moving parts of anything grants you insights you wouldn’t otherwise have. For instance, knowing how intervals work or putting chords together makes timing easier, and choosing notes that resonate comes naturally. It can help with the cohesiveness of your harmony. 

• Intervals–represent the distance between two notes within a scale.
• Chords–are a series of notes that you play together.

Understanding chords and intervals make creating harmonies much more straightforward. In essence, they’re the same thing.

Sing along to your favorite harmonies.

An easy way to get some practice in is to sing along with your favorite songs! However, we’re not talking about the casual shower singing (although perhaps that could be useful too). Start with simple harmonies to get your bearings. Once you’ve got the hang of it, try writing your own!

Timing.

When it comes to harmony, timing is everything. Part of what makes a harmony create the effect it does is how it is used. You can memorize lyrics by heart and sing pitch-perfect, but none of that matters if your timing is off.

While some music genres implement harmony throughout the song, other styles use harmony at specific times–which means timing your entry is crucial. 

But how exactly can you improve your timing? 

(How about a bit of…)

Practice.

Practice, practice, and then practice some more! Like any skill you’re honing, the more time you spend engaging with it, the more innate it becomes. 

There are many unique ways to practice on your own and with others. If you’re feeling creative and have the tech, record yourself and sing along to your recording. You sharpen your harmony skills, but you’ll also get better at songwriting. 

Another great way to practice is to sing with a group. Find other people who like to sing harmonies and practice together. You may even find singers who have a deeper understanding of harmony, which can quickly help you to improve. Not only can singing in a group helps you learn at a faster rate, but it can make your experience more enjoyable. 

Pro tip: Stay positive. No matter what activity you engage in, overcoming obstacles is part of the journey. Our worst practice sessions also define our best practice sessions. Maybe you aren’t hitting the pitch or you don’t feel like singing–whatever the issue is, you just have to accept that it’s part of the journey. Keep coming back for more and it’ll pay off.

Join a choir.

A sure-fire way to practice and improve your harmony skills is to join a choir. It’s the perfect environment, and it’s literally designed to help people develop their ability to sing in harmony. 

You’ll be able to meet other people who are sharpening their skills, and under your teacher’s guidance, you’re bound to make drastic improvements early on in your lessons. Sharing a space with experts for putting together harmonies is the ideal atmosphere to take your singing to the next level.

Singing and composing vocal harmonies takes time, research, and practice. At times the journey may be frustrating. However, with a dynamic approach, and consistent practice, you’ll get the hang of it. 

Harmony is not just for singing. It’s very similar to the chords you play on the piano, and music is a beautiful form of expression where you can mix and match many arts. Another approach to improving vocal harmony and perfecting chords is playing the piano.

Don’t have time to learn everything at once? Try out Simply Piano and see how easy it is to learn to play piano in your free time.

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