Reshmi Patel • July 7, 2020
How We Can Support Students Who Learn the Piano
This is for all you beginners out there! There are certain things beginner piano players should practice to see results fast and avoid frustration (and quitting).
When you start learning the piano, it can be really hard to know WHAT you’re supposed to practice, especially if you don’t have a teacher to help you. This article will help guide you through 3 exercises you can start practicing RIGHT NOW to help you get comfortable at the keys and help your fingers connect to your brain.
1. Keyboard Geography
When we first sit at the piano as a beginner it can sometimes be overwhelming. Whether you have a small keyboard or a full-size grand piano you are sitting in front of a load of black and white keys which quite frankly all look the same!
A few ways you can begin to familiarise yourself with the layout of the keyboard is by spotting patterns. For example: notice how the black key come in sets of two followed by a set of three.
Once you’ve done this you can then begin learning the letter names of the white keys. In traditional music we only use the letter names in the alphabet ranging from A – G. After this, we repeat this pattern as supposed to using the rest of the English alphabet.
This can be illustrated in the images below.
2. Try A Variety of Warm Up Exercises
One of our favourite exercises is called ‘Pencil Balance’.
If practiced regularly, this exercise will help you master your hand position when playing the piano.
Typically, when you’re playing the piano you want to keep the wrist and arm flat so that the weight from the shoulders and back can come straight down right through the tips of the fingers. To help keep your wrist in a good position, try to balance a pencil on your hand so that your wrist is in line with your knuckles. The reason we believe this is the perfect exercise for pianists, is because it doesn’t involve too many complications. If your wrist is slightly too high or drops too low, the pencil will not balance. Therefore, it’s easy to spot when your hand position is incorrect.
3. Recap Theory Material
Often, students can forget how important the theory elements are in music.
The reason learning the theory can improve our playing is because this teaches us why and where the music is written in a particular style. Therefore, we can spot patterns quicker when reading, writing and performing the music.
Today, we are fortunate enough to have many online and physical resources which can help boost our music theory knowledge and understanding.
Online Apps we’d recommend:
- Flowkey
- Music Tutor
- ABRSM Theory Works
- Metronome
- Notes Teacher
When it comes to physically learning the material, we’d recommend using posters or flashcards which you can have a flick through regularly to either read and/or test yourself. You can either make these yourself or use the ones we’ve created on our shop page.
Reminder: 'Practice is the repetition of an action with the goal of improvement and it helps us perform with more ease, speed and confidence.' – TED Talk on How to Practice Effectively
If you wish to know more about these warm up exercises and resources, feel free to take a look around our website or connect us directly.
One of the most powerful ways to make piano practice feel like playtime rather than a chore is by introducing familiar tunes right from the start. After all, learning to play an instrument is a long journey. Alongside learning the instrument itself, the skills required to reach even an intermediate level are lifelong skills a child will use in the years ahead. When children recognize a song they already love, it instantly sparks joy and curiosity, turning the piano into a source of fun instead of frustration. This connection motivates them to sit down at the keyboard with excitement, eager to recreate those sounds themselves. We believe fun and fundamentals can go hand in hand. Our course includes simplified versions of popular songs designed for little hands, plus space for children to singing along, or even improvising their own endings. This freedom helps develop creativity while still building solid technique. If they enjoy it, they’ll likely love our new course - filled with their kind of music and paced for real learning. Check out our course ‘Five Favourite Songs for Beginner Piano Players’ here For any other piano related questions contact us using our form
For young children starting piano, structure makes all the difference. Without a clear path, learning can feel confusing or worse, boring. That’s why our online course for 5–8-year-olds breaks the process down into simple, manageable steps. From learning letter names and finger positions to playing songs hands-together at different speeds, it’s designed to grow confidence at every stage. One of the biggest keys to keeping young beginners engaged while building a solid piano foundation is balance. From our experience teaching and creating a piano course, we’ve seen firsthand how integrating theory, technique, and creativity in a structured way makes all the difference. Here’s why this balance matters: ● Theory gives students the language of music - understanding notes, rhythms, and scales. Without this, playing can feel like guesswork. But theory alone can be dry, so it’s important to introduce it in small, digestible pieces that connect directly to what they’re playing. ● Technique builds the physical skills - finger mobility, hand coordination, and posture. These fundamentals are essential for playing smoothly and avoiding frustration.. ● Creativity is where the magic happens. Allowing students to experiment, improvise, or play their favorite songs keeps their excitement alive. It’s the spark that transforms practice from a chore into a joyful experience. When these three elements are woven together thoughtfully, students don’t just memorise notes or repeat exercises they understand and feel the music. This approach helps them retain skills longer and progress well because they’re actively engaged, not just passively following instructions. Check out our course ‘Five Favourite Songs for Beginner Piano Players’ here : https://stan.store/reshmipatel_/p/five-favourite-songs-for-beginner-piano-players For any other piano related questions contact us using our form
When children hear a song they recognize, their brains light up with positive emotions, making them more eager to try playing it themselves. This emotional engagement is key because it builds persistence; they want to keep practicing to get better at something they already enjoy. It’s like giving them a musical “head start” that encourages confidence and pride in their progress. From our own experience teaching young pianists, we’ve seen how important it is for kids to feel that “aha” moment when a concept clicks. Whether it’s mastering a simple scale, learning to read notes fluently, or playing their first complete song, these milestones are like little victories. Each success boosts their self-esteem and makes practice feel rewarding instead of frustrating. Here’s why this approach works so well: ● Clear goals create achievable challenges: When skills are introduced in a logical order, children know exactly what to focus on next. This clarity prevents overwhelm and helps them stay motivated. ● Confidence fuels curiosity and risk-taking: As students master easier pieces, they gain the courage to try more complex music, pushing their abilities further. ● Consistent wins build a positive mindset: Celebrating small achievements keeps young learners excited about their progress and eager to continue. We’ve had many students tell me how proud they felt after completing a piece they once thought was “too hard.” One young pianist shared that following a structured course helped her realize she could learn difficult songs, which inspired her to practice daily and even perform in recitals confidently. By guiding children through a well-planned sequence of skills, we’re not just teaching piano we’re helping them develop a lifelong love of learning and the confidence to face new challenges head-on. That’s the true magic of a structured piano course! Check out our course ‘Five Favourite Songs for Beginner Piano Players’ here For any other piano related questions contact us using our form
