How to play piano: how to set a goal.
Playing the piano artistically is not the real goal of learning to play music, just as acting on stage is not the reason we learn to read. Recitals, instrumental contests, and the prospect of grooming prodigies are not going to help us learn how to play the piano.
How to play piano by sight-reading music is one of the main goals of music education. People who know how to play piano first must have the ability to read music notation and produce multiple sounds aloud on the piano while using the fingers of both hands or while playing the notes inside the mind. Playing any other musical instruments is a PLUS, of course, but the piano is the true voice of music literacy
How to Play the Piano: What Exactly Should We Learn in Music Class?
Many music educators do not consider (or just do not realize) the difference among the types of music education. However, there are three main avenues in learning how to play the piano:
1) Secluded music making--when a person sings or plays a musical instrument for him or herself without any listeners, playing for personal enjoyment;
2) Joint music making--when a person sings or plays for friendly emotional communication with others (learning how to play the piano with other instruments or to sing in an ensemble);
3) Public music making--when a person sings or plays with the goal of creating a performance that will impact the inner emotions and spiritual conditions of other people-- listeners.
Playing the piano in the first two avenues of learning is for the personal, spiritual, and intellectual growth of the player. Jjont music making is more powerful than playing in public--and playing music alone is more powerful than in a joint performance.
The goal of learning how to play the piano should be the ability to make music for oneself. Public performances are for professionals. Only very advanced players get to master the trade of playing the piano artistically in specially created music environments. However, before they become artists, professional musicians have to pass through the stages of secluded and joint music making as they master the skill of reading music fluently and thoughtfully.
How to play the piano without getting hurt. When teachers or/and parents try to make a concert player from any beginner who just wants to learn how to play piano, they are not providing a harmless extravagance, but making a harmful educational mistake. When turning children into performing artists is our only goal, we force children to memorize pieces of music for future performances and make them repeat the same music over and over again. We should instead be giving them the chance to read something new so they can truly learn how to play the piano for themselves. This will help them enjoy the experience and continue studying.
How to play the piano for children. Players have to sight-read many pieces of music to be able to play the piano with sheet music. Otherwise, beginners won’t read music fluently, but will be able to reproduce something by drills. The child also will be under a lot of pressure to demonstrate passionate "feelings" during the performance--this supposedly enhances music making with "expressiveness" and demonstrates an "exceptional talent."
How to play the piano thoughtfully. What would you say if after graduating from public school your child could not be able to read any literature, but instead could only recite memorized poems and chapters from novels? Most likely, you would say that your child remained illiterate. But it happens in music classes all the time--when music educators want to teach our children to recite without teaching them to make music for their personal enjoyment or jointly with others for their personal pleasure. This is not music literacy-- not without teaching kids the elementary skills of reading and writing music.
How to play the piano successfully. Successfully learning how to play the piano is laid on a foundation of reading and writing music for personal enjoyment. Our Soft Way to Mozart computerized curriculum and interactive Gentle Piano System give every beginner all the necessary components for learning to play the piano: the ability to see the notes and piano keys and their connection from the very start, with interactivity and a healthy balance of developing finger coordination and sight-reading .