Oclef Q&A: EP006 - What is your advice for someone just starting piano?

Reading.


 


My best advice for a student just starting piano, at any age
(5–105) is to develop your reading ability.


 


While you’re working on your reading here are two super helpful
tips:


Have a very diverse set of books to read from. Don’t stick to one
book or one piece of music.


Develop your ‘visual vocabulary’. Music is built from patterns
and if you look, intervals (or the spaces between notes) are the
building blocks of almost everything (chords, cadences, melody,
counterpoint, etc.). Get very good at reading music by interval
and you’ll start to see how music is assembled.


If you’re working with a child, we’ve developed a piano method
for parents to help their children. You can follow us on YouTube.