Guide to becoming a piano virtuoso

Becoming a piano virtuoso was a frustrating experience initially. I practiced and practiced and seemed to be perpetually stuck in beginner's limbo. My playing was, at best, passable but I didn't know how to go from there. I spoke to one of my friends who's an absolute genius on the piano and I played for him and he told me that my technique was all wrong. As well as this, he told me the way I was practicing was very inefficient: basically all I was doing was taking out a piece of sheet music at random and trying to make it sound like a coherent work of music; most of the time, I'd fail. Then I found this guide. It sped up the whole process to no end. Try it for yourself, it makes the whole process as well as enjoyable.

Find a decent piano light

If you're serious about becoming a true piano virtuoso, finding a decent piano light is a must. Even if you're just starting out on the piano, you NEED a good piano light. Make sure you find the right piano lamp, though. There are different lights for different types of pianos, for example, there's a piano lamp for grand pianos, for standard upright pianos, etc. Although it seems like a peripheral issue, good lighting is essential for good comprehension levels and will greatly improve your learning, if only on a subconscious level.

More tips to come!

Guide to becoming a piano virtuoso

Is it too late for me to become a piano virtuoso?
No! Most people will tell you that it is theoretically impossible to become a piano virtuoso unless you start from the age of three. I started in my late teens, I'm twenty now and, while I'm not playing in concertos I can now do stuff on the piano that I never thought would be in my grasp to do. Put simply (and I say this with all the humility I can possibly muster) I'm a big deal when it comes to piano, I hear a song and I can play it - I never thought it was actually possible to 'play by ear'. Practice is an important factor, but there's more to becoming a piano virtuoso than just practice. The brute force of practice will only get you so far; you've got to approach it from the right angle. If you practice without the right guidance, you're going to be average and it's going to take a lot longer for you to get there. I was lucky because I had the right guidance so getting through the beginning stages were relatively easy for me. There are certain learning techniques that you can use to speed up the process. I'll cover a few brief points here:

1. Don't rush through material. I know it seems self-contradictory to tell you that there are ways 'to speed up the process' only to say 'don't rush' but bear with me here. Piano virtuosos are so amazing due, in part, because they can execute vastly complicated pieces of music PERFECTLY. Rushing through early material before you've fully grasped it simply because it's boring is like skipping through basic arithmetic to tackle calculus. Fundamentals are important. I know this sounds corny and I hate myself for writing it but you need to get a FEEL for the notes, rather than just mechanically pressing them. There's a reason concertos aren't played by robots and it isn't because we don't have the technology. You'll find that the best players have appear to have some sort of deep emotional connection with the music. It's all about mindset. So before you even think of going near some really complicated sheet music, make sure you understand the notes as they appear on the page. Good learning books will include these elementary exercises.

2. Position your fingers correctly. This probably goes without saying but you'd be surprised at how many people get this fundamental step so terribly wrong. When I say 'position you fingers correctly' I don't simply mean hitting the right notes; there's a certain angle you should hold your fingers and hands. While playing the piano, pretend that you're holding two perfectly round spheres so that your fingers are almost hitting the keys at right angles. Your hands should not be flat. That's a mistake that many people make and their fingers (not to mention their playing skills) suffer for it.

3. Don't agonize over mistakes. Even with a great guide, remember, you're probably going to make a lot of mistakes, unless your Mozart or something, so don't get disheartened. When you make a mistake, keep playing. I know this kind of goes against the whole 'don't rush through material' principle I advocate so much but there's a fine line between a perfectionist and an obsessive-compulsive. The key is to learn from your mistakes, when you make a mistake, ask yourself 'why?' so that next time you play through that particular piece you can anticipate it. Sometimes it's just a matter of coordination; don't worry you'll get there.

Exploring your creative potential
OK, perhaps you've gotten to the point where you sound pretty good but that rift between you and virtuosity is still noticeably wide. When the piano was introduced in the 18th century, it allowed musicians to do things that had never been done before. The piano has a lot of little nuances which you need to harness and synchronize to become a true virtuoso, it isn't simply hitting the right keys at the right times (although this does help). You can't truly be great at piano simply through independent practice; for instance, you need to take into account key velocity (the force with which you strike a key), exactly when to use the foot pedal switches (una corda, sostenuto, & sustain) and exactly how they complement your sound. Unfortunately, I'm not really qualified to cover this here (nor can I, really). But if you really want to be AMAZING, you need to understand these subtle nuances.

So there it is: practice thoroughly, deliberate over your mistakes but maintain a positive mindset (that's important) and then focus on developing into a true virtuoso.

Happy playing!