Turn Your Home Into A Studio

Have you ever dreamed of having your own place at home to hone your craft? Whether it’s recording music, singing, or dancing, a studio of your very own can provide the opportunities galore. The following resources can guide you toward carving out the perfect space.

Consider the Benefits

You might be surprised at how much you can benefit from a studio in your own home.

• A new home studio means you have a space to practice any time, and to reap the many health benefits performing offers. 

• You could even make money by teaching students in the space, which could be anywhere from $25 to $75 per lesson. 

• Don’t rule out the possibility of picking up online gigs as well. 

• You can even make it a flex room, doubling as a gym, office or whatever you need.

• As if that isn’t enough, it’s an improvement project that can increase the amount your home is worth if you decide to sell down the road.

Decide on Space

Certain qualities can make a home studio superior. 

• Start by selecting an area where you won’t be interrupted and sound won’t be an issue. 

• Adding soundproofing helps; the average cost is $1,700.

• Light the space appropriately.  

• Flooring is critical as well.

Tips and Hints

A great space is just the starting point. These little bonuses will make it all the better.

• A more mobile experience is possible with handy apps. 

• Those with sound equipment should be alert to electrical concerns. 

• If you have other performers or students visit, keep sanitation and health in mind as well.

• Learn how to play the piano in your in-home studio by taking virtual lessons from top musicians through STL Piano Lessons.

If you’re dreaming of an in-home studio, there are some great ways to make one yours. Decide on your space and outfit it appropriately, keep some handy hints in mind, and soon you’ll be reaping the benefits.

3 Ways Practice Has Changed My Life

If you'd asked me 2 years ago if I'd write a post like this, I would have laughed it off. 

I have been a professional keyboard player for 20 years. During my undergrad in music composition, I remember practicing long hard hours until late in the night completing assignments and working on my music.  

It wasn't uncommon for me to work from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. practicing, only to get up at 7 a.m. I would go to class at 8 a.m. and then repeat that cycle. ( Oh, to be young again! )

After my undergrad, I began to be very complacent about my skills. I only practiced when it was necessary for upcoming performances. 

Then everything changed. 

I started getting work with players that were much better than I was. I was recording often, and I wasn't liking what I was hearing. Worse yet, I started to notice my students were refusing to practice. 

I needed to do better and set a better example. 

A fellow teacher posted an article about the 100 days of practice.  This Instagram tag, propagated by Hilary Hahn, encourages musicians to post videos of their practice process. 

I got inspired, and I got to work.

Here's what I got out of it that was really unexpected: 

#1 - Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is typically defined as the quality of wanting to complete one's work thoroughly. 

 This is definitely not one of my natural personality traits. 

I had the honor of studying with an incredible classical piano teacher.  I remember that he suggested to me that I should complete small tasks unrelated to music to improve my playing. 

Clean your room, and don't stop till everything is in order (that includes no random clutter in your closet.) Dust every shelf in the house.  Put your book collection in alphabetical order. 

This sounded like some kind of waterboarding technique to me. How was that going to help anything? 

Of course, like any good student, I didn't take my teacher's advice. But the 100 days of practice changed my mind. 

I was surprised to find that instead of feelings of torture or pain, it left me with a sense of purpose. A feeling of completion and accomplishment at the end of the day. A high, if you will.

#2 - Habit/Scheduling 

I decided early on in the process of the 100 days of practice that I needed a set daily time for practicing. 

I'm not one for morning routines. Or much routine at all, frankly. 

I have actually found that redundant daily patterns really drove me nuts, so I've avoided them. 

Maybe it's because I'm a creative.  I'm totally into a Nightingale Conant kind of workday. 

However, I was surprised to find that a set practice time was an unexpected joy. 

The day felt more intentional, less random, and chaotic. It also felt more productive and full of purpose. 

This made me rethink scheduling and habits. I've been experimenting with blocking my days, which has been immensely rewarding. I was really inspired by a TED talk about POD to try and combine a scheduled routine with a sense of creative openness. 

Maybe routine and creativity can coexist. 

Maybe I am a creature of habit.....creative habits. 

#3 - Grit

Yet another characteristic I don't really associate with.....

The Angela Duckworth book on the Subject of Grit and outstanding performance was a great read. I'm fascinated by top-flight performance and was intrigued by the ideas the book laid out. 

I really didn't take an opportunity to apply that knowledge until I started my practice journey. 

Showing up, day after day, and working on things you aren't good at doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Certainly, it improves your skill, but it can wear away at your mindset if you allow it to. 

Something interesting happens when you practice that I did not expect. You get used to doing things that you can't do. You get used to tackling a new problem every day and facing things that you're afraid of. It starts to become a game, like a daily Rubik's cube. It becomes fun. 

Daily practice wasn't easy or fun all the time, but it's become part of my life and a joy for me. 

I wish the same for you!  

Perform Piano...Save The Planet!

When it's time to step onstage into the bright lights shining down on you, and the crowd is cheering wildly for the show to start, there are so many feelings that can hit you all at once.  Excitement, elation, nervousness, euphoria… and then the adrenaline kicks in with the first note!

There is so much fulfillment in performing music for a live audience. The great Billy Joel once said: 

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” 

It's on stage where we are able to deliver an experience to the audience, one that might stick with them for their whole lives. Although the audience may be contrived of many different individuals with various backgrounds and outlooks, the music somehow brings everyone together on one frequency and unites the audience, merging everyone participating into a collective consciousness. 

“Art should teach spirituality by showing a person a portion of himself that he would not discover otherwise." - Bill Evans

When we are performing music for someone, whether it be for a theatre full of people or in the living room for a couple of friends, we are opening windows of creativity within the minds and hearts of those listening. As musicians, we can help show others a piece of themselves that they had not seen before.

Through this art we can shine a different perspective into people's lives that can fill in another piece of the puzzle we are all helping each other figuring out.  With each note placement, it is like painting through strokes of sound waves onto the canvas of silence. We connect with the intention of the composition and vibrate the space around us.

The piano is an amazing instrument in the way we are able to play like an arranger would write for an orchestra. The sheer spectrum of the instrument coupled with the 10 fingers of each player allows for an amazing ability to access all frequency zones of the low-mid- high ranges.

Also with the two arms of the pianist, we are able to divide up different rhythms between the two hands, therefore a plethora of syncopations are also possible just from one player!  The depth of expression that can be achieved is infinite and really allows the personality of each individual to shine. 

With so much power from one instrument also comes the responsibility of the player. It is through the medium of piano that we are able to share our interpretations with the world not only of the great works of the past, (everything from Bach & Duke Ellington to Bob Dylan & The Allman Brothers) but also our present-day music that tells a story about our culture and the current state of the world we live in. With this power of resonance with the human spirit through aural vibrations, we are able to morph the reality around us into a world that is hopefully better off when we leave it then when we entered it.

So find the music that inspires your soul, and chances are that same music will help inspire others around you! Then it is up to you how you share that music with the world, and someday maybe it will influence you to write your own music that tells your own story about the world.

Then take it to the stage (whether it be a small coffeehouse or large concert hall), let the lights shine down, and give it your best to inspire others to be the best version of themselves they can be. This could be just one way that we create a better world to live in for ourselves and the people of the future.

Piano: My Songwriting Secret-Weapon

In the world of music, it’s common to hear the phrase “anyone can write a song.” You might hear people muttering it to their friends as they leave a pop concert, or rolling their eyes after listening to the Billboard top 100 playlist.

The truth is - a lot goes into the songwriting process. One of my secret weapons in the songwriting process is the piano.

 What you hear when you listen to a song is primarily two things: lyrics (the words) and music (the instruments and melodies). What you don’t hear is the time it takes to pour into creating clever rhymes, literary devices, images, and structure that make up a song. Any song can check those things off the list, but what makes a song really stand out?

 A great song has a perfect marriage between the music and the lyrics. The music will speak in moments of silence between lyrics, and will support and uphold the emotional intent of the lyrics. We’ve all had a good cry over a song.

Think about that song- what was satisfying to you? Was it the upper register on the piano ringing out a nostalgic sound, tied in with the perfectly timed words that hit you right in the heart? Usually these songs are so brilliantly crafted that both the music and the lyrics are primary players in the game.

 So, let’s talk piano. I’ve been playing piano longer than I’ve been writing songs, but I just recently realized in the last 5 years how imperative piano skills are in the songwriting process. Here’s a peek into my process, that you might find helpful if you already know piano, or if you’re interested in learning how to play- this could sell you!

 If you were to break the songwriting process down from the musical perspective, songs are basically made up of chords, or even simpler, triads. Different chord qualities produce different emotions or moods. For example, a minor chord produces a more ominous sound, whereas a major chord evokes a feeling of happiness or stability. Just like you have to make decisions about chords, you have to decide how you will arrange them. Different chord progressions produce different journey’s for the listener.

Once you have your chords, you can really expand on the basic triads you’re playing to enhance the song. If you listen to any classic rock song, you’ve probably heard an electric guitar solo before, and if you’ve been to a rock show, you know how much that solo gets the crowd going.

Solos, riffs, musical hooks, any little extra thing that makes the song more memorable and emotionally satisfying, is born out of the chords that you choose. The better you know the piano or instrument of choice, the more interesting you can make the song because the opportunities are endless.

 You don’t have to be an expert pianist, and you don’t even have to know how to play piano to be able to get good at the songwriting process. The most exciting part about this is that there is always more to learn. There are always more grooves to choose from or create yourself. You can make a song as standard or unique as you want it when you know the piano. You can always start simple and expand your songs as you get better and learn more.

Now go, listen to the songs you like and study them. Dig into the piano, or start if you never have before. Write good songs and share them with the world! We need good songs!

Why people quit taking piano lessons

Starting piano lessons is really fun. It’s always really exciting when someone starts. They get excited and see the possibility of it all. They dream about all the songs they are going to learn how to play. They picture themselves playing at the next family gathering and everyone singing along.

And we, as teachers, can see the hope in their eyes. It is such an inspiring and fun time for any student as well as any teacher.

But the inspiration and excitement never last forever. Those are just chemically induced emotions that go away as soon as the chemicals dry up. And the chemicals always dry up eventually. What is left after the initial inspiration wears off?

Reality. And the reality is this…

Learning anything new is hard

Learning the piano is hard. Learning anything is hard. And it takes a lot of time and effort. I think the number one reason people quit taking piano lessons is they start to see how hard it really is. Once they realize it is going to take some time and effort, they become overwhelmed. The voice of self-doubt starts to kick in and they begin to doubt that they have what it takes to stick it out.

The truth is they do. We all do. But many times we let that voice become so loud that we can’t hear the truth anymore. Once that voice is yelling in our ear, we will do anything to make it stop. This is when most people quit. Quitting makes the voice stop.

But there is another way to make it stop. And that is by NOT quitting.

The voice goes away either way. By running away from it or from facing it and yelling back. So many people choose to run away. It’s easier. It’s quicker. And then they can move on to the next thing they hope will bring them the happiness they crave. But those of us who stick it, get to feel something that these other people don’t.

Victory.

Victory shuts the voice down for good. It closes the argument. It allows you to settle into the life you have chosen. It gives you the freedom and solace from the wariness of constant searching. If you are continually searching for the next best thing, you will never find it. If you constantly live in the mentality of “I’ll be happy when…” you are by definition damning yourself to a life of unhappiness.

If you give up when it gets hard, you will never experience the good part. The victory. The victory is what causes the inspirational and fun emotions to return. The victory is where we all crave to be but tend to give up or let ourselves off the hook right before we get there.

Simple, but not easy.

The answer is simple but not easy. The answer is don’t quit. Don’t give up on something that you cared enough about to look up how to learn it, reach out to a stranger to teach it to you, and then give that stranger some of your hard-earned money to show you how to do it. You would never put that much effort into something that wasn’t really important to you.

If you took all these actions to get here, don’t give up on yourself now. The good part is coming. It is closer than you think, but you will never find it if you keep bailing right before it happens. You need to yell back at that voice of self-doubt and tell it you are doing this no matter what it takes. It will shut up eventually once it sees you are serious.

And then you will be able to settle down and get to work. Even more, you will be able to enjoy the work because you will know why you are doing the work. You are no longer teetering between giving up and sticking it out. You have made the conscious choice to go on.

Our promise to you.

Once you make that choice to go on, it is only a matter of time until you finally experience the victory you have so badly craved. It’s all up to you. It’s all in your mind. And we are here to help you along every step of the way. We won’t give up on you if you promise to not give up on yourself.

What Is The Key To Being a Great Piano Player?

There are so many things that go into being a great piano player. Patience. Discipline. Time. Energy. We could probably make a long list of things. But I think there is one quality that above all others is crucial if you want to be great.

Obsession is the key.

We often talk about obsession like it is a bad thing and for sure it can be. Obsession has been ample fodder for many Hollywood tales of love gone wrong. Or how about that detective who forgets to eat because they are so wrapped up in catching the bad guy. You’ve seen the movies. You know what I am talking about.

But there is also a positive side to obsession and it is this positive side that creates exceptional individuals, whether it is in art, politics, fitness, or any other field. Obsession creates winners.

Have you ever hung out with an exceptional musician? You may notice they can be pretty obsessive about certain things. They only like certain kinds of music. They are very specific about the gear they use. They have to sit a certain way at their instrument. If you pay close attention, you will start to see obsession at it’s best.

Why the best are the best.

There is a reason great piano players are so good at their instrument. It’s because they became obsessed with it. Ask any professional pianist and they will tell you the exact same story. It goes something like this.

When they were little, they heard someone play the piano. It may have been a parent, someone at church, or maybe they heard it on TV or the radio. Wherever their first encounter occurred, the results were always the same. They knew they loved what they heard and they knew that they had to figure out how to play like that.

They probably began tinkering at the piano before they ever took any lessons. They would sit there for hours trying to figure out songs note by note. Once they started taking lessons, they could fill in the gaps quicker which made it even more exciting.

Soon all they wanted to do was play the piano. They wanted to be the best. They wanted to play like their heroes. And as they began to learn more about music, they began to understand just how good they could be at it. It all made sense. And what didn’t make sense they were determined to figure out immediately.

Obsession or love?

This is what obsession looks like. But I think another way to put it is this is what love looks like. When you love someone, you want to spend all of your time with them. You want to get to understand them better. You want to be the best partner you can be. And you want all your friends and family to meet them so they can see how awesome they are too.

Music is the exact same way. When you know you love it, you want to spend all your time with it. You want to understand it better. You want to be the best at it. And you want to be able to share it with others so that it can bring the same joy into their life that it has brought into yours.

Embrace the obsession.

Whether you want to call it obsession or love, I am here say it is a beautiful thing. It has brought a lof of joy into my life over the years. It has also brought a lot of pain, but that’s how it goes with obsession just like love. Sometimes you get hurt, but it’s worth it in order to find the one who is going to bring so much joy into your life.

If you have the obsession don’t be afraid of it. Embrace it. Let it drive you to learn more. Let it take you to new places. It may not always be an easy road, but it will be one well worth traveling. And the world will be a better place because you did.

Why The Piano Is So Much Cooler Than Any Other Instrument

That’s right. I said it. The piano is way cooler than any other instrument on the planet.

That doesn’t mean I don’t love all types of musical instruments, because I do. I actually used to play trumpet in my younger years and I loved it.

I love my brother and sister musicians and have huge respect for anyone who learns to play an instrument well, so please understand this blog post is all in good fun.

I can’t play the guitar, at least not very well. And I sure can’t play the trombone, so hear me when I say that it takes time and dedication to be good at any instrument. Every instrument is needed to make the world of music the full and wonderful place that it is.

So that being said, here is why the piano is better than any other instrument.

Why The Piano Is So Much Cooler Than Any Other Instrument

1. The piano is the only instrument that is laid out horizontally instead of vertically. It is easier to see what you are doing and understand what is going on. The guitar is vertical. Wind instruments are either vertical or use valve combinations. Most instruments tend to be very confusing at first. But the piano makes sense. You can look at a piano and start to see the patterns. You can see the black note pattern of 2 and 3. That’s why I think the piano is the best instrument to learn first. It’s not just because I am a piano player. It’s because of the way it is laid out which makes it easier to understand and learn music theory.

2. It is super easy to play the piano. Anyone can do it. You don’t have to worry about the proper breathing techniques. Or proper mouth placement. You can just bang on the keys and music comes out. Now, that’s not to say it doesn’t take some time to learn how to make the piano sound good. But to create a sound on the piano is pretty easy compared to other instruments.

3. You can’t play the piano out of tune. As long as the piano has been properly tuned by a professional, you will play in tune every time. There is nothing you can do in your playing to make the piano sound out of tune. I can’t think of any other instruments like that. With the guitar, you have to make sure your fingers are placed right in the center of the tabs. With wind instruments, there are a million things that can cause you to play out of tune like breath support, proper embouchure, your mouthpiece, etc. But with the piano, you just sit down and play.

4. The piano makes you a one-man-band. More than any other instrument, you have everything you need in the piano. Your left hand can cover the bass and rhythm. Your right hand can cover the harmony and melody. You don’t need any other instruments to make a full sound. That’s why you see a lot of piano bars around the world. Have you ever seen a guitar bar or a drum bar?

5. Piano players can play two things at the same time. With piano you have two hands, each playing different parts. Piano players have to be able to read bass clef and treble clef. We can do it all. It’s true that guitar players use both hands, but one is only for strumming or picking. Drummers are for sure the kings of rhythmic coordination, but still, they don’t have to read notes, only rhythms. With piano, we do it all - rhythm, harmony and melody. Left hand and right hand. Bass clef and treble clef.

The best place to start.

I could go on and on but my main purpose for this blog post is to show you all the wonderful qualities of the piano. If you are thinking of learning more about music, or you have a child that you want to expose to the world of music, I highly recommend starting with the piano. They may move on to other instruments down the road, but starting with the piano is going to give them a huge jump start.

What if I don’t want to buy a piano?

The one thing that can be challenging with the piano, is buying and making room for an actual piano. But I have good news for you. With all the amazing technology in the world these days, there are some amazing keyboards out there that sound and feel just like a piano. These keyboards are easy to move, easy to make room for and always stay in tune.

I actually made a Keyboard For Beginners guide. It will give you my top 5 suggestions for really affordable keyboards that sound and feel great. Hit the button below to get the guide for free!

Whatever instrument you land on, I can’t wait to see where it takes you. There is nothing like being able to play a musical instrument. I may be partial to the piano, but the truth is you can’t go wrong. Just pick one and get started today.

Why do I need a piano teacher?

We live in an amazing age. Anything we want to learn is just a Google search away.

Just last weekend I learned how to change the headlight lamp in my car. A simple task for a mechanic, but for me, it was a mystery until I watched two and a half minutes of a YouTube video and suddenly I was an expert.

I think it is amazing what we can learn at the drop of a hat. You used to have to at least get into a car and go to a library. But now all the answers we need are in our laps. Pretty cool.

There are some things, however, that still require some human interaction. Especially if you want to get really good at something.

For instance, to figure out how to fix my car headlight, I just needed to watch a video. But if I wanted to become a mechanic and open my own garage, I would need something more. I would need a mentor to teach me and show me the ropes.

I would also need a guide to help me sort through the information overload that is the internet. Sure there are videos for everything I want to learn, but to become an expert, what order do I watch the videos in? What do I do first? Who do I trust? Which videos are giving me correct information and which videos are creating bad habits in me?

So when people ask me “Why do I need a piano teacher?” here are the 5 reasons I give them:

1. You need a guide. To learn something so complex as piano, you need a guide. There is so much information out there, how can you possibly know where to start? You need someone who can make sense of all the noise out there and show you exactly what to do. They can give you a step by step plan and help you figure out what your musical goals are.

2. You need a mentor. An expert who knows their craft inside and out, can teach you all the subtle things along the way that videos can’t teach you. You can watch them do their thing, in person. You can literally look over their shoulder and see how they do it. Then you can ask them questions and have an instant dialogue instead of hoping some YouTube creator answers your comment when they get around to it.

3. You need accountability. We all have done it. We say we want to do something, we may even start, but usually, we give up quick. We get distracted and make excuses. A teacher keeps you accountable. When you know you have a lesson on Tuesday, you are much more likely to sit down and practice.

4. You need motivation. A teacher is more than just a human YouTube video. They are an actual person. And since they are a person, they can tell when another person needs a push. Your teacher is there to encourage you, to remind you why you started taking piano lessons in the first place. You can think of your piano teacher as a personal trainer. They are there to give you the push you need when you need it. They will keep you focused and headed towards your goal.

5. You need a chance to perform. This may be the biggest thing a YouTube video cannot give you - a chance to actually perform in front of people. A really important part of learning any instrument is being able to show off your hard work. Knowing that you are going to perform a piece in front of people will drive you to work harder. It makes you a better musician. You get to perform in front of your teacher weekly. And then, as a student of your teacher, you get to participate in student recitals where you can perform in front of your friends and family. The feeling of accomplishment you get after performing something in public that you have worked really hard, is truly an amazing feeling. And I promise, once you do it once, you will want to do it again.

The bottom line is if you are serious about becoming a piano player, you need a piano teacher. With all the amazing strides in technology, there is no substitute for the real thing. The tried and true mentor to apprentice relationship still wins every time.

And surely there are some videos you can use along the way to help you learn certain things in more detail. The combination of YouTube and a teacher can make you anything you want to be. And if you want to be a piano player, we have got some amazing teachers just waiting to meet you!

Why New Year's Resolutions Are The New Black?

It’s a new year. Are you ready?

This is such an exciting time of year. This is the time to set new goals. Try new things. Make new plans. Dream and hope for the future. This is the time to get back to work on the person you truly want to be.

A lot of folks, however, get skeptical about this concept. They are the ones who make it very clear that they are against making new year’s resolutions.

And sure, we all have made a few that we didn’t stick to, but that doesn’t mean we should stop trying.

The History Of New Year’s Resolutions

I think many years ago making New Year’s resolutions was the “it” thing. Everybody was doing it. Every year people would make big proclamations about what they were going to accomplish in the upcoming year. They would gather around the water cooler and share with each other what their plans were. People got excited and people did some big things.

But then the next generation came along. We saw all these people, our elders, making these big proclamations. Even though some of them did big things, we chose to focus on the ones who did not follow through. Time after time, year after year, we watched these people fail at what they said they would do.

When it came time for us to make our resolutions, we didn’t want anything to do them. We didn’t want to be like those who came before us. We felt embarrassed for them and vowed to do whatever it took to be different.

So then NOT making resolutions became the “it” thing. The cool thing to do became talking about how much better you are than others because you don’t make New Year’s resolutions.

Don’t believe me? Try telling some people at your next party that you made a New Year’s resolution. You won’t finish the sentence before someone jumps in to tell you how stupid you are for doing it and how much better they are than you because they don’t.

People love to share their opinions, whether they are right or wrong. But what are these same people accomplishing in their lives?

Here is the truth that all these bitter people ignore…

People who win at life are people who make goals.

And goals are just another fancy word for resolutions. I challenge you to find one millionaire who doesn’t set goals every year. You won’t find one. At least not one who earned the money instead of inheriting it or winning the lottery.

Do you think the great athletes in history became that way by accident? Of course not. They set goals. And the same goes for musicians. You don’t become a great singer or piano player by wishing or hoping. You become great by setting goals and going to work.

People who win set goals. So if you want to win at life, it’s time to start making New Year’s resolutions again. It’s time to make resolutions cool again. We have had plenty of years of being too cool for them, it’s time to bring them back.

This is the time.

This is not the time to try and “cool” ourselves into a worldwide depression. This is the time to get up, set goals and try again. This is the time to push ourselves to do new things. This is the time to show all those who gave up that hope is alive and well.

It’s up to us as the next generation to take New Year’s resolutions back and show what they can really do. Don’t be afraid and don’t be too cool to win at the things you want to win at in life. We only get a short amount of time to do these things, so make some goals and let’s get to work.

Why you are practicing the piano too long

We’ve all heard it a million times. To be good at something, you have to practice.

It’s true. There is no way around that.

Matter of fact, the truth is, to be good at something, you have to practice A LOT!

For most people, the piano is an extra-curricular activity. We all have jobs, school, friends, sports, Netflix shows to catch up on, and we’d like to get some sleep in there too if possible.

How are we supposed to fit in piano practice? Even more, how are we supposed to fit in A LOT of piano practice?

Here is the answer.

Stop practicing so long.

So many of us think that in order to get good at the piano, we have to sit there and practice for hours on end. In a perfect world, yes that would be great. But here is what happens in the real world.

You tell yourself that in order to get good at the piano you have to practice at least an hour a day. You start off strong, but then life gets busy. Next thing you know, you have one full day after another and you can’t find an hour anywhere to practice. So instead of practicing a little bit, you blow it all off saying something like “If I can’t get my full hour of practice in then what’s the point?”

After a few weeks of that, you stop trying. Eventually, you don’t even touch the piano anymore. You quit taking lessons because you are frustrated and not making the kind of progress you wanted to.

Sound familiar?

Here is the truth that most people won’t tell you.

You don’t have to practice for an hour for it to count.

You don’t even have to practice for 30 minutes for it to count. Little chunks of practice go a long way.

What if you could practice 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there? Do you think you could find that time? Of course you could.

And you know what else? You would probably enjoy yourself more because you feel way less pressure to sit there for an hour torturing yourself.

And guess what? 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there still adds up to the same amount of practice. Matter of fact, I guarantee you will actually get MORE practice in this way because you are not blowing the whole thing off because you can’t get a full hour of practice in.

So here is your permission to let yourself off the hook. Stop telling yourself you have to practice an hour every day. Stop telling yourself if you don’t, then it’s not even worth practicing at all. It’s not true.

You don’t have to practice as long as you think you do.

You don’t have to be a piano practice superhero. Try getting in 10 minutes before and after work or school. Those 10 minute practices will add up fast and by the time you are sitting at your next lesson, you will see some serious improvement.

And remember, the whole reason you got into this piano thing was to have fun. Let those 10 minute practices be a break from your busy day. A little mini-musical meditation.

I’ll take 10 minutes of peace over 60 minutes of torture any day.