(NEWER POSTS ARE BELOW THIS ONE)
I keep this very old post up top because, as one of the commenters says, it looks at the BIG picture of how we learn to play. You’ll find practical tips here as well as exercises, resources, and the philosophy behind the DoctorKeys piano courses.
Whether you’ve been playing the piano for years or are just getting started, what you think you know may be holding you back.
Here are the common fallacies we’ll debunk:
• It all starts with learning to read music.
• It’s all about the fingers.
• Practicing means playing a piece over and over.
Welcome! If you’ve come to this page because you’ve enjoyed one of my free YouTube tutorials, please know that I—Bruce Siegel, aka DoctorKeys—am alive, well, and eager to support you in your musical journey. The video you saw probably came from one of my online courses, the first of which, Play & Sing, is in its 10th year of helping students get off to a great start at the piano. read more…
The Right Step At The Right Time
I recently received an email from a subscriber to Play & Sing named Robert. He needed some help. Based on what I was hearing I suspected that something was amiss, so I asked, “Are you practicing the lessons in the order I present them?”
He replied that he hadn’t understood that the lessons “were in a logical order.” read more…
A Treasure Trove of I V vi IV Songs
Recently, while helping one of my students choose some new music to learn, I came across a really cool (and free) resource. I had gone online looking for a list of songs that stress the chords in her current vocabulary—I, IV, V, and vi. (“vi” is lower case because it’s minor.) In the key of C, that would be the C, F, G and A minor chords. read more…
If you first learned about my courses by watching my YouTube video Piano Technique, A Whole Body Approach, you’re not alone. For the past seven years now, I’ve been reminded of its value over and over through the comments it receives (not to mention its over 100,000 views). For example:
“I scrolled through so many videos before this on ‘wrist movement while playing’ before I came across your video and I wish I had found yours first! Thank you for explaining this so simply and humbly! It really made sense!” read more…
Haven’t posted here in a while. So to help me get back on Santa’s “nice list,” here it is: my second longest post ever. A free tutorial, really. Enjoy!
I’ve said it elsewhere and it’s worth repeating: there’s a huge difference between singing a song in a key that sort of works, and singing it in the key that brings out the best in your voice. Clearly, you want to spend most of your time singing notes that are comfortably within your range—not too high or low. read more…
Assorted Musical Goodies
First: Making Music Magazine recently asked if I’d be willing to share one of my tutorials on their excellent site, and I told them I’d be delighted to. The lesson is entitled Piano Accompaniment Styles For 50 Great Songs, and, as they describe it:
Get started playing your favorite songs with this jam-packed video. You’ll learn the basic chords (I, IV, and V) at the heart of countless tunes, how to arrange (invert) them for maximum effect, and how to make it all come alive with rhythm and bass line. Virtually a complete course in one crystal-clear tutorial.
Is A Bouncing Wrist A Good Or Bad Thing?
I just received another great question, this one from a subscriber named Florence. She asks:
My piano teacher has been complaining that I bounce my wrist a lot when I do scales… but you are suggesting raising the wrist and letting it drop so that the wrist and arm is parallel to floor which makes sense. When I asked what is wrong with bouncing the wrist, she said that it may slow me down when I want to play faster…. can you tell me what your thoughts are? i am really struggling with proper technique.
This is a frequent and understandable source of confusion. So here are my thoughts. read more…
Do I Need To Learn Scales?
I recently received this question from a woman named Lecia:
I’m trying to learn how to play the piano by ear for fun and enjoyment, and although I know how very important it is to learn scales, my question is: Does one learn the scales (all 12) so that they’re so ingrained in your brain that your fingers know exactly where to go when forming chords to play songs? All the videos and info that I’ve watched and read, push ‘learning all the scales’ so much, that I’m beginning to get paranoid about them.
Great question! I’ll bet other readers are wondering the same thing. So here are my thoughts on the matter. read more…
Back in the 1950’s, I was taught to play the piano through a process of learning to read notes on a page. Though this is characteristic of instruction to this day, I’ve posted here before about the reading-first approach and its limitations.
Happily, over the years, my interest in music persisted, and I thrived despite what I now see as a less-than-ideal start. But how I envied those who could improvise, or spontaneously play by ear their own versions of familiar songs. read more…
Saved By The Tick
Do you ever use a metronome when you practice? I don’t mean all the time, but sometimes?
If not, it’s probably because you haven’t yet learned how helpful this little device can be.
Starting with the most basic of the metronome’s functions, here’s what I mean:
1. It can help you learn to play in time.
Pianists have a reputation for terrible timing. Do you know why? It’s because we so often play by ourselves. read more…
So now that my shameless headline has grabbed your attention, perhaps I should explain. The songs aren’t here on DoctorKeys. They’re on UltimateGuitar.com (and similar sites).
I’m thinking about this today because someone just asked me if I provide PDF downloads for the songs I teach. So I told her that for copyright reasons, I can’t do that. But because of UltimateGuitar, I don’t need to.
If this sounds too good to be true, let me be clear: virtually every pop song in existence is available for free, including chords and lyrics. UltimateGuitar even has a feature you can use to transpose the song into the ideal key for your vocal range. read more…
A subscriber named Stan writes:
I have really enjoyed both of your courses! I’m playing piano for a local senior citizen group and leading a sing-along, and have been struggling with ‘It’s Almost Like Being in Love.’ I cannot find a rhythmic pattern to fit the song. Can you suggest one, Bruce?
I’ll be glad to, Stan! In this audio-only lesson, I present a pattern you can use for countless ballads of that sort. I’ll also provide a variety of options to keep it interesting, teach a simple intro, and show you how to apply the same style to two other standards: I’ve Never Been In Love Before, and Isn’t It Romantic. read more…
My back never hurts or gets tired while I play, but it wasn’t until recently that I understood why: since I play using arm weight, my hands rest on the keyboard, supporting me and helping me to stay upright. The result—my back does a lot less work.
Without question, back discomfort is a problem for many pianists. If you’re one of them, and you’d like to do something about it, this post’s for you.
When I was a music major in college, practicing many hours a day, my back would often become fatigued and begin to ache terribly. It was a real problem, one which I was never able to resolve. At least, not while I was in school. read more…
Four Secrets to Becoming a Better Reader
Now I know that music reading is the last thing you expect to see me write about. After all, my courses teach you to play by ear, through understanding chords and rhythmic patterns.
But I recently got an email from a subscriber with a problem I address constantly in my private teaching. And in thinking about how to help her, I realized I had the makings of a great change-of-pace post for this blog. So here goes.
Andrea Stramiello writes:
I am completely intrigued by your Play and Sing lessons. read more…
How To Love Your Practice Sessions
There’s obviously no getting better at the piano without practice. And the more you know about how to practice, the quicker you’ll learn, and the more fun you’ll have doing it. read more…
