One of the most annoying things at the beginning of your learning is repeating the same mistakes on the piano over and over again. When I started, I wanted immediate results, so I ignored everything that seemed unnecessary to learn. As a result, I started to pick up bad habits that were very difficult to fix later.
But you don’t have to repeat my mistakes! So here is my personal list of common piano playing mistakes so you don’t fall for them:
Mistake # 1: Bad Posture:
At first I didn’t pay much attention to how I sat at the piano. It is now when I have realized that the position at the piano is fundamental. If you sit too high or too low, or too close or too far, chances are you will eventually have shoulder problems and back pain.
To avoid this, it is best to think about how you feel at the digital piano. Start by placing your feet on the ground parallel to each other. Maintain an upright and comfortable posture in the chair. To give you an idea, imagine that you are balancing with a book on your head (or with a crown, if you see it better).
The next thing is to leave your arms and elbows relaxed hanging on each side of your body. Now keep your forearms parallel to the ground. The idea is to reach the keys without having to lean the body forward or raise the shoulders.
Golden Rule:
If your belly plays the piano when you are breathing in air it means that you are too close.
If you have to extend your arms long enough to reach the keys, you are too far away.
If a cat can lie on your legs while you play, you have managed to reach a distance close to ideal.
Now that you’re sitting down, and before you start pounding on the keys, let’s talk about the hands: rest your fingertips on the keys. To do this, arch them slightly, as if you were holding a small ball.
Mistake # 2: Long Sessions
When I wanted to learn a song that I liked, I always started with a lot of enthusiasm. I was trying to learn everything in one sitting. Unfortunately, this always resulted in frustration and stiff fingers.
In the beginning, just practice 10 minutes each day. Keep in mind that your muscles need to adapt to new postures and movements, which is not easy. It is better to make small efforts little by little than to take a piano marathon a week.
As you progress, you will be able to practice longer. Even professional musicians need breaks during their rehearsals, and most typically don’t practice for more than 40 minutes per session. For an adult, it is convenient to practice for 30 minutes a day. For younger learners or children, it is best to divide the essays into two or three 10-15 minute sessions.
Mistake # 3: Not getting into a routine:
Simply put, you will never be a good pianist if you don’t make rehearsals a habit. At first we are usually excited and spend a lot of time practicing. After the first few weeks, our sessions become less frequent and suddenly there comes a point where you realize you haven’t played the piano in centuries.
In order not to lose background, I recommend that you make the sessions one more habit in your routine (such as brushing your teeth). After a few weeks, the body will ask you to sit at the piano. You just need to put on at least 10 minutes a day, the same time as two commercial breaks on TV! Why not take advantage of them by doing something productive?
Mistake # 4: Bad fingering:
Another thing he wasn’t paying much attention to was which fingers to use. Basically, I wanted to learn the keys as quickly as possible, choosing the shortest or easiest path. So in the end, I always used the fingering that made the most sense to me.
The problem here is that the most obvious fingering is not always the most correct. Sometimes we don’t realize until later that it is difficult for us to play a song at the right tempo, with the aggravation that later it will be much more difficult for us to change this bad habit. Why? Well, because our muscles have learned to play the notes in a specific way. The only way to correct this is to start over with the correct fingering and repeat all the steps. This can take weeks and a high cost of frustration.
So when you start with a new song, take time to figure out which finger plays which note. When you take a look at the flowkey videos, see which fingers our pianists use. They are professionals and therefore have been working for a long time on the most suitable fingering for each piece. If you already have an advanced level, it will also help you to compare each piece with your own fingering.
Mistake # 5: Forgetting the keyboard in a corner:
Well, this also applies to the piano. The less visible you have your keyboard in your room, the more it will cost you to sit down and spend time on it. That is why I recommend that you keep the piano away from the closet or from little-traveled corners.
Put it in a place where you can easily cross it. One idea is to organize a rehearsal area in the best spot in your room. It will help you feel like playing your favorite songs every time you pass by. At the very least you should find a comfortable, cheerful and well-lit place for your piano. Nobody likes sitting in a dark corner of the basement full of boxes and dust.
Well, this was my list of common piano mistakes. I hope these tips help you at the beginning of your learning. If you still want to discover more tips and tricks, visit our guide 4 techniques and tips for playing the piano: master your favorite pieces or discover why it is never too late to start with our article Start playing the piano as a major.
