Category: Practicing
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Stop Trying to Play Better It is not your responsibility to play better. If you knew how to do that, you would be doing it already. Are you not already doing the best you can do? Why do you expect more? So, what’s the alternative to this mindset? The way you play is a direct result of how you practice.…
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Is My Piano Playing Good or Bad?
“Is my piano playing good or bad?” If you’re asking this question, you should already know the answer to it. You are the one playing, not me. Do you like the results you’re getting? If so, what more do you want? If not, great. Now you have an opportunity to improve something. Stop asking other…
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A New Way of Looking at Piano Practice
A pianist posted a video in an online forum, along with the question “Am I doing this right?” I spent a few minutes trying to decipher the motivations behind this post. I began suspecting that this pianist did not look at the world the same way I did. But, I can’t blame them. After all,…
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Tension is a CHOICE
It’s not some random force that happens to you. The reason you get tense is because you are trying really hard to get it right. It’s not because of your posture, or because of your technique is wrong, or because you’re stressed out. It would be great if there were such a simple fix. It’s because you’re trying…
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Enjoying Your Mistakes
You have to enjoy your mistakes. This is non-negotiable. If you are spending all your time trying to prevent mistakes, this whole thing is going to become a drag, and sooner or later, you will just quit. Or worse…you won’t. “But, how can I enjoy my mistakes!? I hate making mistakes!” You will enjoy your…
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Big Picture vs. Details
You can’t have it both ways. Either you are concerned about the big picture, or you are concerned about the little tiny details. Or, you could be focused somewhere in between. The point is, you can only focus on one thing at a time. Either you’re trying to play that note correctly, or you’re trying…