13 Mistakes You Should Avoid While Playing The Piano

The entire journey of learning the piano is incredibly fulfilling. The gift of playing soothing music makes the art of learning the piano a beautiful experience. However, mastering the piano is no easy feat. It demands a ton of time, focus, perseverance, dedication, and patience.

And without proper guidance, it is natural for beginners to make mistakes without even realizing that they’re doing it wrong. Having a piano teacher suited to your needs can help prevent this scenario. A good piano tutor will patiently help you achieve your learning goals and point out if you’re going wrong to stop it from becoming a habit.

In this article, we have listed 13 of the most basic mistakes beginners make while learning the piano. Without further ado, let’s dive in to know what to avoid.

13 Mistakes You Should Avoid While Playing The Piano

1. Not Paying Attention To The Fingering

Most beginners don’t pay attention to proper fingering? Why?

Because it doesn’t feel as necessary as it is, and that’s the first mistake made by piano enthusiasts.

Every piece of music has a specific set of finger placement. And following the cue will help your fingers stay stable while playing. Practicing the piano with collapsed fingers can prove to be more troublesome than you’d imagine. It does not seem much of a deal in the beginning when you start with easy songs, but you’ll find it difficult to play a difficult song at an advanced level.

A good piano tutor can help you focus on proper fingering techniques. As such, you’ll be able to learn better and form a good habit at an early stage.

2. Not Taking Piano Lessons

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Okay, unless you’re a born pianist, the piano isn’t something you can teach yourself overnight. Sure, you can learn how to play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars’ on your own, but you can’t master the same skills as Beethoven or Eunadi.

Taking piano lessons from a piano teacher not only gives you the continuous guidance you need from an expert but also helps bring consistency to your learning routine. And The Best Piano Teachers can help you with just that.

From our online database of more than 2700 teachers, find the one most suited to your needs. Even if you can’t attend in-person classes, you will be able to partake in online piano lessons with a qualified tutor. As a student, all you need to do is create an account for FREE by stating your name and contact details. The Best Piano Teachers will handle the rest for you.

3. Sticking To An Easy Chord

Most piano learners usually start playing songs with C major because it’s practically the easiest chord to play. While that is perfectly okay in the beginning, the last thing you need is sticking to it like glue.

Not all songs in the world are in C, and more often than not, learners tend to avoid those songs because they seem ‘too difficult.’ As a beginner, you need to weed out that mindset altogether. Learn to play songs in D and G, and move on to the next chords.

4. Playing Too Fast

While learning the piano, you might feel like being able to play fast is a reflection of your honed skillset. But in reality, that can do more harm than good. Every song has a specific tempo, and it’s best to stick as close to the original as possible to bring out the beauty of the music.

You may want to play slower at the beginning to catch the rhythm properly, but do not make a habit of playing fast. If you’re struggling with the tempo, ask your piano teacher to help you find your right fit.

5. Considering Keys And Notes To Be The Same

No, as opposed to popular belief, keys and notes aren’t the same things. The 12 main musical notes per octave are A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, and G#. Each of these notes consists of 3-4 keys, which form the note itself. Piano notes can be written in different formats. Make sure you don’t get confused between the two while writing your piano lessons.

6. Neglecting The Scales

As a beginner, never underestimate learning piano scales. While it may seem boring initially, it will later take your piano lessons to new heights. You eventually need to get your scales right if you want to be even moderately good at playing the piano. Don’t cross this off your list just because it seems daunting.

7. Losing Heart And Getting Frustrated

Yeah, we’ve all been there. You keep practicing the same music over and over again, only to witness little to no progress. The learning curve is steep, and it’s all too natural to feel frustrated during the learning process.

However, that certainly does not mean you give up on your interest in learning the piano. Patience is key. Learning the piano can take you a while, but with the right push, you’ll eventually get there.  Your piano teacher should be able to help you to work through your frustration.

To remain motivated to learn the piano, try practicing simple songs you love. This will help you uplift your mood and get back to practicing again. You can also practice easy songs for beginners to kickstart your journey. Remember - one step at a time.

8. Inconsistent Practice

On most days, you’ll probably feel like cutting yourself some slack and skipping your piano lessons. Before you know it, you lose track of when you’re supposed to practice, which leads you to sit with your piano once in a blue moon.

Don’t make that mistake of being inconsistent with your lessons. You will never learn this way, and all your efforts will go in vain. Set aside at least 40 minutes every day for learning the piano. Having a piano teacher can help you maintain your schedule since they can push you to be punctual and consistent with your practice.

9. Not Performing In Front Of An Audience

Yes, performing in front of an audience is important in your journey of learning the piano. That’s not to say you have to perform in your school auditorium in front of hundreds of people. However, you need to push yourself out of your comfort zone and muster the courage to play in front of your family and friends. This step is essential for your growth as a piano enthusiast. So, the next time you get a chance, play your favorite piece in front of your mom.

10. Not Recording Yourself

Record yourself while you’re playing the piano. This will help you evaluate yourself and assess how you sound, where you could improve, the volume and tempo you’re playing at, etc. You can then take notes and mark the points you’d need to practice better.

11. Having A Poor Posture

Not maintaining a proper posture while playing the piano is perhaps one of the most fundamental mistakes you need to avoid. Starting from hampering how you play, it can cause stiffness and severe backache at an early age. Hence, having a proper posture is a given while learning the piano.

Remember not to sit too close to the piano as it may limit the free movement of your arms. On the flip side, don’t keep your palms at a position too low. It can strain your fingers and thus slow them down.

To form the habit of maintaining a proper posture, try to always sit in an upright position. Expand your elbows and keep your forearms parallel to the floor. Ask your piano teacher to help your correct your posture and maintain it accordingly.

12. Having Long Hours of Practice

Playing the piano is fun in its own way, but don’t the enthusiasm lead you to practice the piano for hours together. This usually doesn’t go a long way. You eventually end up with strained fingers and feel like skipping practice altogether after a while.

To avoid this mess, start with 40 minutes of practice every day and split the time in two. Practice for 20 minutes in the morning and then for 20 at night. Be consistent in your learning period. It will help you stay focused and relaxed. Don’t feel the urge to rush into things and learn everything overnight.

13. Playing But Not Practicing The Piano

Just like keys and notes aren’t the same things, playing the piano differs from practicing the piano. Of course, it’s good to do both, but set aside a particular time of the day for PRACTICE.

Playing a song you love or have mastered will surely help you relax, but it won’t help you hone your skills further. Practicing the piano means learning new things. It means breaking down the sections of a new song and getting those arpeggios right. Make sure you do that practice every day.

Want To Avoid These Mistakes?

Beginners tend to make these 13 mistakes that eventually hinder their progress. Now that you know what to avoid learning the piano should now be a smoother process for you. If you’re all set to take your piano learning sessions to new heights, we’d suggest getting a professional piano teacher who can continuously guide you through your journey. A good piano tutor should be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses and help you work on those to avoid forming any bad habits from the start.

The Best Piano Teachers is there at your disposal for just that. As a student, you can sign up right today and find a teacher near your location as well as suited to your needs. So, without further ado, get started!

Which of these mistakes have you made while learning the piano? How did you overcome them? Let us know in the comments below!