Piano Guidance
Photo by cottonbro studio Pexels Logo Photo: cottonbro studio

What two senses do you use most when playing the piano?

With the combination of visual and kinesthetic, your ears can guide you through your memory as if you are feeling and hearing the score outright.

What turns yellow to white?
What turns yellow to white?

Oxygen Bleach The most gentle method to whiten washable clothes is to mix a solution of warm water and oxygen-based bleach. Follow the package...

Read More »
Do you need a keyboard for flowkey?
Do you need a keyboard for flowkey?

The courses will have you playing a few basic songs and practicing some foundational techniques. To get started, you'll just need a flowkey account...

Read More »

As musicians, we have the unique opportunity to exercise all of our senses as we’re playing an instrument or singing a song. (Ok, maybe not smell, unless you’re using this bacon guitar). It’s not just about listening. It’s about envisioning the notes, exploring the physical movements involved, and of course, feeling the music inside of you – that elusive 6th sense. For some, the ability to really lose yourself in the music and start feeling it takes time. With practice, you can hone your musician’s intuition and learn to trust yourself. And working on refining your other senses in regard to your music is a great way to help develop that skill. For the typical pianist, memorizing music is one activity in particular that requires using several different senses – sight, hearing and touch. Each of these senses translates to a certain type of memory, and recognizing the importance of each will definitely improve your next performance. The three memory types involved are: – Visual Memory – enables you to visualize the sheet music in your head, even if it’s not in front of you. – Auditory Memory – one of the most important types of memories for musicians, and often the easiest once you’ve had a good amount of ear training. With the combination of visual and kinesthetic, your ears can guide you through your memory as if you are feeling and hearing the score outright. Should you play the wrong note, in most cases your auditory memory would pick this up. – Kinesthetic Memory – allows you to internalize movements in your feet, arms, individual fingers and more. All physical activity calls on kinesthetic memory to perform (e.g. remembering how to ride a bike). The more you practice, the more effective your muscle memory will be when you perform. Once you understand these three types of memories, you can move on to certain exercises that will get your brain and senses working overtime. Here are some ways to really heighten your senses and strengthen your playing: – Focus on the sensations you feel during particular sections – the excitement of a group of staccato notes, the sense of calm created by a legato phrase, or the build-up of moving from pianissimo to forte. – Create a story that goes along with emotions of the piece. Close your eyes and imagine the storyline with all of your senses, right before starting to play. – Close your eyes and practice finding certain keys on the piano solely by touch. – Run through practice strategies and visualization techniques when you’re away from the piano. – Mark certain passages with distinctive symbols, different colors or sticky notes to help it stand out when you’re visualizing the score – Once you’ve memorized the music well enough, make sure you’re looking at your fingers. By ingraining this visual into your mind, you’ll be able to visually anticipate where your hands should go next.

– Run through the piece very slowly and concentrate on the sounds. What types of intervals or chords are used? Where do they fit in, and why did the composer place them there?

– Enhance your auditory memory even further by singing through the score several times. Don’t forget to listen, of course!

What is the easiest piece to play on piano?
What is the easiest piece to play on piano?

9 easy piano pieces to get you started on keys Beethoven: Für Elise. ... Debussy: Clair de lune. ... Mozart: Sonata No. ... J.S. ... Einaudi:...

Read More »
Is D# and EB the same?
Is D# and EB the same?

Technically a D# and an Eb are exactly the same, they just appear in different contexts. Hence why is you take a look at the scales above, each...

Read More »

How much does Simply Music cost?

Teach Simply Music the cost of our Initial Teacher Training Program to $395.00.

Search Help

For best results, keep these tips in mind while you search:

Try using general search terms like interview , music , or piano

, , or If your search returns too many results, try using more specific terms or adding additional terms to your search To search for specific words or phrases, put quotation marks around your search term If you're using more than one search term, separate each term with a space

You can search for post titles, content, tags, and categories

You can also view all posts in a category or sub-category by clicking the links in the categories list. If you have any questions, or need additional help, please contact us at [email protected].

Can adults use Suzuki method?
Can adults use Suzuki method?

Suzuki is quoted as saying, “Every Child Can.” Thanks to his kind heart and penetrating genius, the Suzuki violin method makes it possible not only...

Read More »
Can you learn to play piano at 40?
Can you learn to play piano at 40?

“Learning piano has no age limit. In fact, activities like learning piano can stimulate the brain, increasing the ability to recall information....

Read More »
How do you copy a key without a key?
How do you copy a key without a key?

If you don't have the original key or it has been too worn down over time, you'll need to see a professional locksmith who can use a code cutter to...

Read More »
What is the most iconic rock riff?
What is the most iconic rock riff?

The Top 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time as voted for by YOU are: Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water. Black Sabbath - Paranoid. Uriah Heep - Gypsy....

Read More »