I agree with the answers so far, but also make sure you play a variety of classical music. Personally, I dislike any music pre-1850, but find that learning a three-part Bach fugue really helps my technique. Playing the pieces you enjoy is then easier, and you can add more expression to them and it is more rewarding. On the same point, let your teacher know what kind of music you like.
Also, as well as challenging yourself with the occasional difficult piece or etude, try to master an easier piece to perfection. An example of a piece which sounds terrible if simply played note by note and with bad technique but is not necessarily hard to play is ‘Menuet sur le Nom D’Haydn’ by Ravel.
Its very boring, but try to learn one scale or two- it really helps with pieces and scales are the ultimate technical exercises. If you are serious about piano playing, learn a Czerny exercise or two, though unless you are really serious I would not recommend doing so at your level.
Lastly, do not think of practice as a chore; it should be something you enjoy.
keep interested..and practice,practice,practice..and you won’t stay long in your low level..
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experience
You have to be friendly to the person that is teaching you otherwise you dread it every time and also if you are under 20 and the teacher is older than you she might try to act as if you are a baby. Like if she laughs at a childrens comic and you laugh too than she might treat you more and more like a baby and then humiliate you in front of your friends. Or if she says a word wrong and then to encourage her you laugh than she might start doing it on purpose. Arrgh i hate that. believe me it is coming from a lot of experience Good luck! Also make sure you have all your books the night before as to avoid panic on the day!
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Myself annoyingly don’t suffer like i did! Not worth it
Learn bagpipes!
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Practice at least fifteen minutes a day, no matter how boring or hard it is. Trust me, it gets better.
Work on reading notes, not just learning by ear. It gets easier as time goes by.
If your teacher makes comments about your personal life, find another one. You’re paying him or her to teach you piano, and since you’re the employer, you can fire your employees. Being told to practice more or making you do something hard and possibly embarrassing because of its difficulty is a necessary part of learning. Being told that you would have been able to practice more if you spent less time with that boyfriend/girlfriend of yours, or something to that effect, is completely inappropriate and grounds for firing your teacher. One slip, maybe. But you can end up with a teacher giving you sermons about your personal life which waste tons of time.
My first piano teacher would spend half of our lessons telling me I had a terrible relationship with my parents (bear in mind I was 10) and making me build barriers against my cat (the lessons were in my house). On top of that she was a horrible teacher. I stuck with her for two years and it almost killed my love of music. Save yourself some time and money- fire snotty teachers.
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Bring a notepad and a pencil to your lessons (at least the pencil) and mark up what your teacher tells you to work on.
Don’t be afraid to write (lightly) on your music to give yourself reminders.
Do practice every day at least 15 minutes
… it’s easier than thinking up alternatives to "my dog ate it."
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I agree with the answers so far, but also make sure you play a variety of classical music. Personally, I dislike any music pre-1850, but find that learning a three-part Bach fugue really helps my technique. Playing the pieces you enjoy is then easier, and you can add more expression to them and it is more rewarding. On the same point, let your teacher know what kind of music you like.
Also, as well as challenging yourself with the occasional difficult piece or etude, try to master an easier piece to perfection. An example of a piece which sounds terrible if simply played note by note and with bad technique but is not necessarily hard to play is ‘Menuet sur le Nom D’Haydn’ by Ravel.
Its very boring, but try to learn one scale or two- it really helps with pieces and scales are the ultimate technical exercises. If you are serious about piano playing, learn a Czerny exercise or two, though unless you are really serious I would not recommend doing so at your level.
Lastly, do not think of practice as a chore; it should be something you enjoy.
References :