The Big Buying a Piano FAQ A lot of people have a lot of questions when it comes to buying a piano. And for that, let us introduce the Piano Blog Big Buying Piano Questions page! Have a question? Just contact us on social media and we’ll add it to the list. What do I need to know before buying a piano? Let’s start at the start. There are some things to consider before making your purchase. In short you want to know what the piano will be used for and how often and for how long you will use it.  For example, if you are looking to buy a piano that is used for beginner lessons, what you ..read more

Here’s a bit of a wandering about on why fingerings are SO important at the piano and why you should always write them in during your practice. I hope you enjoy it. Click here to watch “Why you should always write in piano fingerings!” If you like this video please make sure to like the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel – it means a lot! Want to learn piano but don't know where to start? I've taught hundreds of happy students! Click here for my free beginner lesson course. The post Why you should always write in piano fingerings! appeared first on Piano Blog ..read more

In this video I discuss several aspects of practicing cross handed patterns at the piano, such as those involved in a two handed arpeggio. This includes, quick jumps, hand alignment, hand choreography, and many other topics. I hope you enjoy! Please make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel Here. Want to learn piano but don't know where to start? I've taught hundreds of happy students! Click here for my free beginner lesson course. The post Cross Hand Jumps and Arpeggios appeared first on Piano Blog ..read more

This piano piece is a  beautiful miniature by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Le Sapin, or the “The Fir” or “The Spruce” is from a larger set of 5 piano pieces called The Trees (Op. 75). We don’t often think of Sibelius as a piano composer, but he has some real gems that are extraordinarily beautiful and ought to be heard more often! I hope you enjoy the video below, and please make sure to Subscribe to My Youtube Channel Here. Want to learn piano but don't know where to start? I've taught hundreds of happy students! Click here for my free beginner lesson course. The po ..read more

Like it or not, you’re going to make mistakes. A lot of them! But mistakes at the piano can either be the best way to learn or leave you feeling frustrated and stalled. The difference? That’s what I talk about in the video below . . .  P.S. Please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel Here. Watch Below to Learn about Good Mistakes and Bad Mistakes in Piano Practice: Want to learn piano but don't know where to start? I've taught hundreds of happy students! Click here for my free beginner lesson course. The post Mistakes at The Piano appeared first on Piano Blog ..read more

Voicing at the piano means the ability to play one note or notes louder than others. (There are other uses of the term, by the way.) Developing voicing and sound control at the piano is one of the clearest signs of an accomplished pianist, but also one of the most difficult subjects to master and practice. In this video, I discuss three broad concepts relating to learning to voicing: The importance of developing a “sound image”. Using a positive feedback loop. Practicing sound control slowly in single “instants” in time. If you are working ..read more

A boy in Africa offers me a gift he made on the side of the road Everything is a matter of perspective. I have a dear friend who lives in a developing nation, and by many standards many people might consider him extremely poor.  Once he told me “Matt, I should be grateful because I have so much and my life is so good. I only feel bad that I cannot help people don’t have such a good life as I do.” Yesterday he told me: “I feel very happy and relaxed. Life is ..read more

Pause practice is a GREAT technique to add to your arsenal of piano practice. In this free video I cover: – What is pause practice? – Why slow practice doesn’t always work. – How to correct a bad technical habit. – An example of me correcting a bad physical habit in something I learned at the piano (includes a detailed analysis of the correct and incorrect physical habits!) Did you enjoy this video? If so you might be interested in ..read more

I recently had a student start her journey as a piano major in college. It’s always very gratifying when a student goes on to study piano. But as a teacher you also know that there’s a long path ahead. So over the years I’ve come up with a loose list of advice I give to students who take this path in life. Maybe it seems preachy – and sorry if it does – but this really is stuff I wish someone had told me. And it doesn’t just apply to music majors. . . a lot of it is just practical advice I’ve learned the hard way. So take it for what it’s w ..read more

Here’s the Biggest Mistake I see when people start learning piano keys. Check it out: If you want a step-by-step approach to learning the piano from scratch, make sure you check out my Free Beginner Piano Lessons. Want to learn piano but don't know where to start? I've taught hundreds of happy students! Click here for my free beginner lesson course.The post Confused by Piano Keys? appeared f ..read more