The Process of Learning Classical Piano
The process of learning to play classical piano music is both a journey back in time, and a journey into oneself, where you will strive to discover your inner passions, dreams, fears, questions, and beliefs, and communicate them through your music.
But before you can achieve this, there is much work to be done. Learning to play classical piano begins with studying history - learning to play the piano scores penned by the great classical piano masters of the past.
This means reading each note and expression marking with extreme care. Learning to apply the written page to the piano with accuracy and precision. Like a chef or a scientist following a recipe or formula, we piece together these instructions and study them well, to achieve our first glimpse into the intentions of the composer.
Of course we don’t stop here; music, like cooking or science, is about discovery, after all!
The discovery comes when we move past the “instructions” of the score, when we open our imagination, listen to the music we’re playing, and think about what it means to us.
But... we must still play the right notes.
The challenge of learning to play classical piano lies in the balance between the scientific precision we must achieve, and the artistic expression necessary to create beautiful piano music. There are many practical things we can do to work on our technical precision. Exercises such as learning scales, arpeggios, and studies can help. As can analysing the theoretical concepts behind our piano pieces, improving the accuracy of our reading skills, and simply practising our repertoire - always with intense focus, of course.
The process of developing artistic expression is less straight-forward. We learn this through hearing our piano teachers play for us, listening to classical piano recordings, and attending classical piano concerts. Our classical piano teachers may give us advice and suggestions that will engage our imagination. We must learn to be vulnerable, to expose our inner emotions without fear.
Learning to play classical piano requires a degree of will and discipline, but creativity and expression is equally important. Our classical piano teachers will keep you constantly engaged, making sure that along with the challenges there is always fun and enjoyment. Musical expression is the ultimate goal, and you can only achieve this by maintaining a true passion and love of music-making!
