How to brush up on your piano practice this summer
After reading Cristoph Niemann’s recent article for The New York Times, “The Unexpected Solace In Learning To Play Piano”, we have been thinking about what personal piano practice brings. In the article, Niemann recalls the challenges and joys of why learning piano as an adult is the perfect quarantine activity and shares his newfound respect for professional pianists. In this spirit, we are sharing three online resources to further your knowledge of the piano, or even start from the beginning. We are thinking of you always, our dear community, and we hope that practicing piano brings a spark of joy to your days.
DIGITAL PRIVATE LESSONS
Taking private lessons with a teacher is the easiest way to see fast improvement, but there are other options for those looking to play for fun. There are many ways to learn from home during these surreal times including Zoom lessons, watching YouTube clips, and online learning platforms. For beginner pianists, you might want to try Flowkey. This digitally interactive app is certainly a modern take on "traditional" piano lessons. If you try it out, please let us know as we would love to hear what resonated with you.
HOW-TO BOOKS
If you prefer books to virtual learning, there are plenty of options available. Damon Ferrante’s Piano Book for Adult Beginners will help you teach yourself how to play popular piano works, read music, learn about music theory, and more. One benefit of learning from a book is that you can take things at your own pace. If you try this out and learn a fun tune, consider sending us a video of your playing.
Concert pianist and PYPA artistic director, Ching-Yun Hu
DIGITAL PIANO FESTIVAL
One of the best ways to learn is by watching other pianists in a master class format. Consider tuning into a digital piano festival this summer to sharpen your own artistry. PYPA Online Piano Festival offers 126 hours of master classes streamed live with renowned pianists like Gary Graffman, Jerome Lowenthal, Ursula Oppens, and Ching-Yun Hu. It’s the perfect opportunity for any piano enthusiast to learn remotely from experts.
It is our wish that the piano brings as much joy to your lives as it does to ours. Please let us know if you pursue any of these activities, we would love to hear from you now and always.