This post is inspired by Episode 2 of Season 3 of The Bear, a drama series about a young chef, Carmy Berzatto, trained in the fine dining world, who comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after a heartbreaking death in his family. By the third series, the noisy sandwich shop has been transformed into an elegant fine dining restaurant and Carmy is seeking a coveted Michelin star. In this episode, Carmy draws up a massive list of what he calls “non-negotiables”: the things that the restaurant must do on a consistent basis to achieve greatness.
Jeremy Allen White as Carmy Berzatto in The Bear
Looking through the list, while some of the non-negotiables are explicitly related to cheffing and kitchen/restaurant management, a number could apply equally to the musician in pursuit of consistency and excellence in their practice and performance of music.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that noticeable progress, at whatever level you play, comes from a well-organised, consistent, focussed and thoughtful approach to practicing. It’s not quantity (of hours spent practicing) but the quality of practicing that counts.
This, for me, is where Carmy’s non-negotiables come in.
These principles, though originally used in contexts like culinary arts or other forms of craftsmanship, translate beautifully into music practice.
Change the Menu Every Day
Boredom is the enemy of progress, so incorporate variety into your daily practice routine. Instead of doing the same exercises daily or beginning with the same piece in the same place, try different approaches to challenge yourself in new ways.
No Repeat Ingredients
Avoid getting stuck in repetitive patterns. Constantly seek new skills, concepts, and exercises to enrich your practice. Challenge yourself with new materials rather than only practicing familiar ones. For example, if you’re used to playing pieces in a specific genre, try something completely different, like a jazz standard if you usually play classical repertoire.
Know Your Sh*t!
Fully understand the fundamentals of music, including theory, notation, and instrument mechanics. This knowledge helps you interpret music more intelligently and aids problem-solving
Respect Tradition
Appreciate and study the foundational pieces and techniques of your instrument. Understanding the work of past masters and traditional techniques gives you a solid framework of musical knowledge. BUT don’t let tradition or orthodoxy stand in the way of your approach to your music making or your personal interpretative choices. Remember, you can use the pedal in Bach!
Push Boundaries
Explore new techniques, unusual genres, or challenging pieces that lie just outside your comfort zone. This pushes your growth and helps you develop your own musical voice and autonomy as a musician.
Technique, Technique, Technique
Build a strong technical foundation. Mastering technique gives you control, precision, and freedom to express yourself without being limited by physical obstacles. But always remember that technique should serve the music, not the other way. Don’t let technique become the be all and end all of your music practice.
It’s Not About You
Remember that music serves a larger purpose – whether it’s storytelling, emotional expression, or creating a shared experience. Approach practice as a way to honour the music, not just to showcase your skills. If we become too emotionally attached to our music and instrument, it can cloud our objectivity: don’t let a bad practicing session translate into general negativity. Reflect and move on.
Additionally, be open-minded about taking advice from others – teachers, mentors, trusted colleagues and friends.
Less is More
Instead of overplaying or adding unnecessary elements, focus on clarity and purpose in each note. Embrace simplicity and avoid cluttering your performance or practice. For example, avoid false sentiment or the over-use of rubato to add more “expression” – it can sound contrived.
Details Matter
It goes without saying that we should pay attention to small details- dynamics, articulation, tempo changes, phrasing, pedal markings. These details bring music to life and distinguish good from great performances.
Confidence and Competence
Cultivate both confidence and competence through thorough preparation (“deep practicing”). Knowing you’ve practiced well allows you to play with conviction, which listeners can feel.
Constantly Evolve Through Passion and Creativity
Approach each practice session with curiosity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to improve. Use your passion to fuel your creativity and push yourself to develop.
I haven’t touched the piano for months. I have a beautiful early 20th-century Bechstein model A grand piano which has been sitting, untouched, in my piano room/office. There is music open on the stand – Schubert’s Piano Sonata in A, D664 – suggesting intent, but I have not played it seriously in over six months.
Why? Lack of motivation, lack of time, yes. But also something which I think is particular to the amateur musician – the knowledge that, unlike the professional musician who must practice regularly to maintain their skill and artistry, one can come back to the instrument at any time and pick up where one left off.
But it can be hard and the first line of that wise saying of violinist Jascha Heifertz – “If I don’t practice one day, I know it…” holds true as much for the amateur as for the professional musician. The more time passes, the harder it becomes to start over again.
But it’s not impossible.
Rekindling the habit of practicing and playing the piano after a pause, however long, can be both challenging and rewarding. The key to a successful return lies in setting realistic goals, cultivating patience, and reviving your passion for music. Here’s a guide to help you navigate this journey back to the piano:
Set Realistic Goals
One of the first steps in returning to piano practice is setting achievable goals. Begin by assessing your current skill level and recognising that you may not be able to play at the same proficiency as before. Setting short-term goals that focus on gradual improvement, such as playing music that is already well-learnt or attempting a short piece or study, help you reacquaint yourself with the instrument, build confidence and provide a clear sense of progress.
Establish a Routine
Consistency is crucial in developing any skill, and piano playing is no exception. Create a practice schedule that fits comfortably into your daily routine. Practice “little and often”: even 15 to 30 minutes a day can make a significant difference over time. Ensure your practice sessions are regular, but also be flexible and kind to yourself if the demands of daily life/work interrupt your schedule.
Revisit Familiar Pieces
Playing pieces you were once comfortable with can be immensely satisfying and a great confidence booster. It allows you to gauge how much you remember and where you need to focus your practice. These familiar pieces can act as a bridge, easing you back into more challenging repertoire while providing a sense of accomplishment.
Explore New Repertoire
While revisiting old favourites is comforting, exploring new music can really reignite your interest. Choose pieces that inspire you and reflect your musical tastes. Don’t feel you have to learn certain pieces because they are good for you; play the music that interests you. Learning new repertoire not only keeps practice sessions interesting but also broadens your musical horizons and challenges your skills in different ways.
Seek Guidance and Support
If you have taken a long break from the instrument, consider taking lessons, even if only temporarily. A teacher can provide personalised guidance, help you set realistic goals, and correct any bad habits that may have formed during your hiatus. Additionally, joining a music meetup group can offer support, motivation, and opportunities to share your progress with others.
Be Patient and Positive
Returning to your instrument after a break requires patience and a positive mindset. Progress may be slow at first, and you might feel frustrated by the gap between your past abilities and your current performance. Set realistic goals and celebrate small victories – and, above all, remind yourself of the joy that playing the piano brings. With time and persistence, your skills will improve, and the music will flow more naturally.
Enjoy the Process
Ultimately, the journey back to the piano should be enjoyable. Embrace the process of relearning and rediscovering your love for the instrument. Allow yourself to experiment, make mistakes, and have fun. Remember, the ultimate goal is the joy and fulfilment that comes from making music.
Happy practicing!
This site takes many hours each month to maintian and update. If you find value and pleasure in what I do, why not
The second in Dakota Gales series of guest articles, Notes from the Keyboard, aimed at adult amateur pianists
When my wife gifted me a smooth and shiny Yamaha keyboard for my birthday in 2020, I couldn’t play Chopsticks or even find middle C on it. As an adult learner, I also had limited time, so focused practice was of the essence.
After flailing about, I developed the most effective practice mindset and routine that I could. I’ll share it below.
Over the next four years, I dug into playing piano, but also into how to learn to play piano. Four years later, I’m playing pieces I thought were a decade out. Chopin. Beethoven. Debussy. I sometimes can’t believe my fingers can fly the way they do.
A portrait of Debussy I did while learning to draw people.
None of this magically arrived in a brain chip from Amazon. I didn’t buy Pianist Hands on Ebay and splice them onto my arms.
Nope. This progress was achieved through good old-fashioned dedication. *yawn* I know, I know…show me the TikTok video that has you playing 650 pieces in a week using JUST FOUR CHORDS!
Riiight. The faster success is gained, the shakier it is. Get Rich Quick with this money-making scheme! Learn a language in a week! Get a six pack sitting on the couch! Earn a college degree between episodes of your favorite Netflix series!
Hogwash. Easy come, easy go. There’s so much satisfaction to be found in the effort, the daily scales, the consistency. I’d wager that every pianist who continues to play must embrace the daily grind.
After years of doing this, I’ve realized something important: the toughest part of learning piano is… BEING PATIENT.
It takes as long as it takes. Want to learn a Beethoven sonata or Chopin etude in your first year? That’s nice. It’ll be built on a shaky foundation. Even pros like Andras Schiff didn’t even feel capable of tackling Beethoven’s sonatas until he was in his 40s!
However, if you create a smart practice routine and stick to it, you will improve. Not a matter of maybe: you will.
Ten minutes of practice per day is 60 hours per year. Thirty minutes is 180 hours! I’d wager that you can find 10-30 minutes each day to learn a new skill. Trade some social media or Netflix time for piano. Your future self will thank you.
That said, I’ve wasted plenty of time in the four years since a piano dropped in my lap. Since we’re adults and lack the time to futz about, we’ve gotta maximize our time at the piano!
Here are four key things that benefited me the most:
When I started playing piano, I’d do some scales, arpeggios, whatever to warm up. Then straight into repertoire, which consisted of just trying to play something, over and over. I had no plan, just “start at the beginning and wear this down via submission.”
Picture me with a catapult outside a Piano Piece Castle. If I lobbed enough rocks at the walls, eventually I could break it down! The problem: I wasn’t being thoughtful about where or when to throw the rocks. Sometimes I attacked Castles that were WAY too big for my artillery.
Since then, I’ve learned to use deliberate practice to simplify things and hammer concepts into my brain in smaller chunks.
I break pieces down into their smaller parts (e.g. only working on 2 bars at a time, or breaking an arpeggio into block chords, or an octave into only the root note). I slow pieces to 50% and only increase the tempo once I can lights-out play it. I might play the same bar 25 times in a row, firehosing it into my brain, coating that brain circuit in myelin so that it’s a superhighway, not a goat trail.
It feels slow in the moment, but I learn pieces not just better, but faster, one bar at a time. Deliberate practice builds a stronger structure, brick by brick, versus throwing up a stick built house that blows over in the wind of live performance.
Book recommendations: The Musician’s Wayby Gerald Klickstein,Effortless Masteryby Kenny Werner, andThe Art of Practicing by Deline Bruser. These have helped me dial in my practice routine and develop a different mindset around performing (and mistakes—they’re just feedback!).
Scoring a couple hours of piano in a friend’s studio on a sweet grand piano.
Learning music theory
BLERGH. Music theory, the Brussels sprouts of learning piano. Give me the repertoire, the chocolate cake!
Well, I quickly realized that trying to learn pieces without knowing the basics of theory meant it took forever to figure out a piece. If we compare it to reading, I was basically sounding out letters vs. reading sentences. Th…e. THE. C…aaaa CAT.
Painful. By learning key signatures and basics like major and minor triads (and then their inversions), I made much faster progress. I also developed the ability to memorize pieces quite well because I was thinking in chords and chord progressions instead of individual notes. Now I play all my pieces from memory.
In my experience, spending some time on music theory will drastically speed up your learning progress. I’ve grown to enjoy the analysis that I do with pieces before even putting my hands on the keys. Brussels sprouts as the appetizer, thank you very much.
Resource: This Skillshare course by professor Jason Allen is fantastic.
Hiring a teacher
There are SO many resources for online self-paced piano lessons. They’re affordable and easy to use. They help. I still occasionally do.
Let me encourage you to also hire a teacher, local or online. I cast about for nine months before starting lessons and am so so so glad I didn’t wait longer.
Mine, a Brazilian named Antonio, offers me feedback and insight on my playing a video course could never provide. “Hey, what if you shifted your wrist 10 degrees? In most renditions, pros play that piece like ____. Perhaps this fingering for that passage works better for your hand?”
I’ll write more about my experience with online lessons, but real quick… Not only are online lessons more affordable, they offer the benefit of being portable. When I travel, I can bring my keyboard and still take lessons.
My progress accelerated dramatically when I hired Antonio for a weekly lesson. He corrected things I’d never even considered (like pivoting on my 3rd finger for big left hand arpeggios, not the 2nd finger). If almost every pro had a teacher when they were learning, it’s probably worth it for us amateurs!
Resource: Just search “online piano teacher.” Many popular YouTube pianists also teach lessons.
Piano with a view in my camper van.
Don’t get too big for your britches
Many intro piano pieces felt too simple or boring for me. Right out of the gate, I wanted to play the beautiful pieces.
When the Saint’s Come Marching In? HAH. March on OUTTA here: give me Chopin’s Nocturne in Eb, baby!
The problem: I had zero piano skills. I couldn’t even read music or play a scale!
I was learning how to bungee jump by wingsuit jumping. Less risky on a piano (no bridges to smash into), but certainly a waste of time.
I spent HOURS learning the melody line to the Chopin nocturne…with zeroooo chance I’d be able to actually play it with the left hand added in. I didn’t even know what the key of Eb meant.
My teacher helped me understand which pieces would push me vs. shut me down. Instead of expending hours on a piece I had no chance of playing, I started grabbing achievable pieces. They still took work (I’m looking at you, Consolation No. 3 and your mind-bending triplets), but I could do it!
But I still dream, keeping a list of “goal” pieces. These are pieces that I really want to be able to play that are too difficult for me to learn efficiently at this time. This gives me a long-term set of goal trajectories, which helps me focus on what to work on now. (I’ll also work hard sections of pieces slowly, over months, such as the fast cadenzas in Liszt’s Liebestraum #3 or Chopin’s Db nocturne.)
To keep track of pieces, I created a spreadsheet that I update regularly. I also have an ongoing Spotify playlist to which I add pieces that catch my fancy. (After four years, it’s a tour of my listening.) I listen broadly to different eras of piano music as well as different continents. Albeniz from Spain, Villa Lobos from Argentina, Copland from America, and of course the core canon from Western Europe.
Keep dreaming, but stay reasonable! No wingsuiting just yet…
Your future self will thank you
In college, on a whim I test drove a Lexus I had zero chance of affording. The sound system was top-notch, crystal silky magic.
Later, I chatted with a friend about how I couldn’t wait to own a car like that and listen to classical music while I drove.
“Don’t turn into an old man TOO fast,” she cautioned.
Now I’m an almost-old man at the ripe age of 42. I get to listen to classical music while I drive…but I can also PLAY a bunch of it!
Sure, it took focused work and required shifting time from other activities.
It was worth it. I’ve launched a ship I can sail on for the rest of my life, a journey into a whole new language—nah, world— I hadn’t visited before.
A gift my younger self forwarded to future me that I gratefully accept.
When he isn’t playing piano, Dakota Gale enjoys learning languages (especially Italian) and drawing. He also writes about reclaiming creativity as an adult and ditching tired personal paradigms in his newsletter, Traipsing About. He can often be spotted camping and exploring mountain bike trails around the Pacific Northwest.
This site is free to access and ad-free, and takes many hours to research and maintain. If you find joy and value in what I do, why not
I came across this phrase on Twitter, to describe doing short bursts of practicing, rather than long stretches. This may seem counter-intuitive: surely we should be practicing for long stretches of time to see noticeable progress?
It’s a myth, which unfortunately persists, that professional pianists do hours and hours of practicing, cloistered in solitude with just the instrument and scores for company. In reality, many of the professional pianists I know personally or have interviewed acknowledge that after about 45-60 minutes the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in, one’s concentration and energy starts to flag, and it’s time to take a break.
Practicing the piano requires commitment and consistency, but many people, especially amateur pianists and children, may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of long practice sessions; this can be dismotivating too.
Time is an important factor for the busy professional, amateurs pianists who need to fit practicing into the realities of daily life, and children. While it may be tempting to cram in hours of practice at a time, small amounts of regular practice can be much more beneficial in the long run.
Enter the notion of ‘practice snacking’.
When I taught piano, mostly to children and teenagers, the hardest aspect of the job was encouraging them to do their practicing. 30 minutes can seem A Very Long Time to a young child or a teenager who wants to be hanging out with friends rather than with Chopin and Co. I often pointed out to my students that 3 slots of 10 minutes each adds up to 30 minutes, and that it is possible to do very useful work in just 10 minutes.
I didn’t confine this advice only to my students. I applied it to myself, because when I was working towards my performance diplomas, I was having to fit in my practicing around my teaching and other work, and I became adept at practice snacking. Doing small amounts of practice allowed me to focus more intensely on specific aspects of the pieces I was studying.
A “little and often”, snacking approach to practice can be extremely beneficial. It is a truth universally acknowledged that consistency and quality of practice wins over quantity. Mindlessly hacking away at that Etude for 2 hours is not only boring, but is largely wasted time. It’s far better to take a focussed approach, to know exactly what needs to be practiced – perhaps that tricky arpeggiated passage or the left-hand accompaniment – and to break down the practicing into manageable, ‘snackable’ sections. Focusing on specific areas during shorter practice sessions can help you to identify and address any problem areas. When you only have a short amount of time, you are forced to be more efficient and targeted in your practice. You can work on a specific passage, technique, or even just one hand at a time, and really work at improving it. Additionally, breaking down more complex pieces into smaller, more manageable segments can make learning them feel less daunting. Keep a regular note of what needs work and know exactly what you want to do/achieve at each practice session.
One of the most significant advantages of doing small amounts of piano practice like this is that it helps build consistency. Consistency is key when it comes to learning a new skill and by committing to a few minutes of practice every day, you are more likely to build the habit of practicing regularly. Regular, ‘practice snacks’ can help you build good habits, routine and discipline. It’s much easier to commit to practicing for 15-20 minutes a day than it is to find hours at a time to dedicate to the piano. By making a habit of practicing every day, even for a short amount of time, you are actually setting yourself up for success in the long run; over time, this consistency will result in noticeable progress.
Small amounts of piano practice can also help you avoid burnout and fatigue. Practicing for hours at a time can be mentally and physically exhausting, leading to frustration and even injury. By breaking up your practice into smaller chunks, you give yourself time to rest and recover in between sessions. This can help you stay motivated and engaged with the piano over a longer period of time.
Nutritionists tell us that snacking can be bad for us, but in the case of piano practice, it’s definitely beneficial!
This site is free to access and ad-free, and takes many hours to research, write, and maintain. If you find joy and value in what I do, please consider making a donation to support the continuance of this site
The Cross-Eyed Pianist is free to access and ad-free, and takes many hours every month to research, write, and maintain.
If you find joy and value in what I do, please consider making a donation to support the continuance of the site
The Cross-Eyed Pianist 