Piano Practice Tips By Ruairi Leonard Introduction There is no

Introduction

There is no absolute ͚correct͛ way to approach practising. What will work well for some people will
not work for others and although specific ͚method͛ courses often produce brilliant pianists, they are
very subjective and are not the best way to learn for everyone.

Therefore, instead, of focusing on particular methods of playing, I have instead tried to write more
generally, outlining how I feel a practice session should be structured to benefit the average pianist
most. I have also included some general tips throughout which may be of use.

Please feel free to use as much or as little of this as you want, depending on what you find useful.
Whether this is how to structure a session, what to practice, or any tips to improve your session I
hope some of it will be of use!

Getting Ready to Play

It is important that you are sitting at a comfortable height when playing the piano. If you are not
then adjust the piano stool or add cushions to your chair. Your back should be straight and your
shoulders should be relaxed in order for the weight to flow down the arm. If you are with a partner
they should be able to hold your arm up and when they release it it is should flop down to your side
(be careful not to do this above a piano as it will hurt)!

Your elbow should not stick out when playing as this will stop the weight getting to your fingers.
Your wrist should be floppy but controlled and you should be able to rotate it easily and gracefully. If
you turn your hand upside down, the inside of your palm should make the same shape as if you
were carrying a ball. You may want to check your arm in a mirror and can use the other arm to
gently hold the wrist and check that all energy is flowing down the arm and into the fingers.