Several students have recently asked for a ‘practice reminder list’ consisting of important elements to consider during their daily practice session. We all want to ensure fruitful practice. There’s nothing more depressing and dispiriting than spending an hour or two working away at the piano only to discover later that nothing has really been achieved. We’ve all done this at some point. Helpful, solid practice can only take place when the right physical and mental conditions have been instilled. This does require some thought and preparation at each practice session.

These suggestions can be applied to any level and should hopefully serve as a reminder. It is important to establish good habits. This helps you purely to ‘feel’ comfortable during practice time. These tips have all no doubt been mentioned before around my blog on many occasions. However, frequent reminders are necessary. They help keep students on track, alleviate any tension, and provide food for thought. When you sit down at the piano try to remember the following:

1.

Good posture at the piano is crucial, so when seated, ensure the stool is at the correct height for you, and try to eliminate slouching! A straight back will change the sound produced and proffer relaxed shoulders and arms. Many find sitting towards the edge of the stool, nearest the keyboard, allows for greater control. As a rough guide, when the hands are placed on the keyboard, the forearms should be virtually parallel to the floor. Keep shoulders down at all times. Mirrors can be helpful here – apparently Claudio Arrau often practised using them.

2.

If feet are placed firmly on the floor, you will feel anchored or solid, in control and much more comfortable. This is an easy tip and will become a good habit if regularly considered.

3.

Allow plenty of space between yourself and the keyboard. Lots of space provides ample opportunity for free arm movement.

4.

Wrists must be flexible. Probably the most important tip of all. Locked, stiff or solid wrists will only encourage tense, uncomfortable and restricted piano playing. Banishing this all too common problem requires effort. A good teacher is paramount. At the start of each piece, technical study, scale, or sight-reading exercise, keep a running commentary in your mind. Encourage the wrists to ‘unlock’ and feel loose. You might need to constantly remind yourself at first. Many find making a circular motion when using the wrists helps enormously, disengaging any building tension.

5.

Keep an eye on your hand, watching for changing knuckle positions. Knuckles should really be pronounced or at a slightly higher, elevated position, thus forming an arched hand. Watch for any sign of a collapsing hand. This is particularly important around the third, fourth, and fifth fingers, the latter two of which are generally considered the weaker fingers.

6.

Playing on the tips of each finger is another often forgotten element. Ensuring all fingers work properly, engaging all joints takes lots of focus and concentration. However, if it is built into a practice session, it will become a good habit.

7.

Keep moving. The more freely you move around the keyboard, the less chance there is of becoming ‘stuck’ and therefore tense. There are always many notes to negotiate in piano music and sadly, these notes don’t magically appear before us. Rather we have to be able to move freely in order to get around the keyboard and reach them all. This point is rather obvious but significant. It is always worth remembering. It is as important in a Grade 3 set work as in a Liszt or Chopin concert study.

8.

Mental focus. Surprisingly, this is one of the hardest elements to learn. Notice when your mind begins to wander (it happens to everyone) and quickly correct it. Regular prompting will serve as a useful refocus.

Hopefully these tips might serve as reminders at the beginning of daily piano practice.