Practice makes perfect

There’s a reason behind the cliché – the more you practise playing the piano or keyboard, the easier it will get.

The easier something is, the more likely we are to do it!

Forming a habit is the hardest part, but the best way to power through is to practise at least once a day.

This doesn’t mean hours of slaving away, giving way to boredom. If anything, that’s a surefire way to end your passion for the piano. Little and often is the key.

Five minutes can make all the difference – and if you’re always on the go, the more compact the instrument is, the better!

The VISIONKEY-1 is a nifty portable keyboard, perfect for a learner on the go. Small in size, it’s big in function, with one hundred sounds and rhythms. You can also power it using a variety of options.

Its keys are smaller than standard, which is brilliant for people looking to master their first chords.

Perfect practice makes perfect

Staring down the barrel of endless practice can be somewhat daunting, regardless of whether you’re starting from scratch or endeavouring to play more. You need to remind yourself why you want to play the piano and keep track of your results. The fastest way to improve, and reach any milestones, is to make sure you’re practising properly.

We recommend starting with a warm-up, such as scales, before tackling the music that you’re trying to learn. When looking at a new passage, make sure you take it a couple of bars at a time, and that you’re comfortable playing both left and right parts separately before attempting them together. Once you’ve completed this section, cool down by playing pieces you already know.

The Casio PX S1100 Digital Piano connects to the Casio Music Space app, which is a brilliant learning aid. It has a “piano roll” mode that allows you to see which note to play by its position – a great option for those that don’t yet know how to read music. There’s a score mode too!

Timing is everything

One of the most important basics to master. Often tripping up even the most experienced of players, it can be difficult to maintain a consistent rhythm while learning a new piece.

Easier passages tend to be sped up, while more difficult, or newer, sections are stilted. It’s better to slow down, relax, and make sure that you play everything at the same rate rather than try to be as fast as possible.

Speed can come after you’ve mastered the entire tune!

Solving this issue isn’t always difficult if you have the correct equipment.

The Gear4music SDP-2 Stage Piano has an in-built metronome, and you can select the tempo as needed.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and it’s better to have the support you need for the correct techniques to flourish. This package also comes with everything you need to get started, including a music rest, a keyboard stand, a sustain pedal, and headphones.

Find a connection

An easy way to stay motivated is by having as interactive an experience as possible.

Practice doesn’t have to be just scales and hand exercises – the Dust Buster piano game app teaches you how to play songs via a game and the Piano Maestro app has songs by popular artists.

By embracing technology, you can find new methods of learning and keep things interesting.

Gear4music’s JDP-1 Junior Digital Piano has a USB port, allowing it to be connected to a range of smart devices and laptops.

This particular piano is smaller than average and designed for children, and it has 61 velocity-sensitive keys.

Its ability to link to iPads and other similar equipment opens up a world of possibilities, helping to encourage learning and maintain motivation.

Out of sight, out of mind

Something to consider when purchasing a piano is how it looks and how it will fit into your space.

Being able to pack your piano away is often listed as a benefit, but while it saves room, it could actually hamper your progress.

When you can’t see physical reminders, it’s easier to push the thought of practice to the back of your mind.

Keeping your instrument on display means you’re reminded to play. And if you purchase the correct stand, you can also make your piano or keyboard a display piece.

The DP-10X Digital Piano comes with an attractive wooden stand.

You can also protect the piano when not in use with the in-built dust cover. Get the upright piano look with all the benefits of a digital!

Play with your friends

A great motivator for progressing with an instrument is playing with other people. Jam sessions and group performances offer a social benefit and a sense of community that will keep you entertained. Plus, as an ensemble, you’ll have short and long-term musical targets to work towards.

By starting a band, you provide yourself with companions to encourage your growth.

Learning new music with friends means you have a combined goal, and if you’re getting ready to perform then you’ll have the incentive to work hard.

Small, realistic objectives are better motivation than only having bigger targets that take longer to achieve. Frequent milestones maintain momentum so that you can reach your ultimate goals.

If you’re wanting to play with others, you’ll need a good keyboard amp. Due to a piano’s wider range of frequencies, a guitar amp is unsuitable.

The VISIONAMP is lightweight and has Bluetooth capabilities. A detailed frequency response accurately reproduces your sound while the 2-band EQ means you can adjust it to perfectly fit with your bandmates’ performances.

Handy techniques

When learning the piano, it can be difficult to use the non-dominant hand with the level of dexterity needed.

There are plenty of guides online featuring hand exercises to help you gain the required stamina, and doing these will ensure playing becomes easier over time. Once you have these mastered, you can focus on technique. You’ll notice that you’re sounding better in no time!

If you want to make sure you’re playing properly, you need a good key response. You want a graded hammer action such as that of the Kawai ES120.

Acoustic pianos have keys that activate hammers, striking a string in the cabinet. Due to the mass of the hammers and strings, each note needs a different level of force and “bounce”. Learning to play with this kind of response ensures that you’re able to use the correct techniques when going from digital to acoustic!

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Boredom is certain to kill any hobby.

Experimenting with different genres of music means you’ll find new pieces without falling into a rut.

You can also play with different sounds, rhythms, and voices to find unique tones that keep you hooked!

Changing up your practice can stop fatigue from creeping in, keeping everything fresh.

The Yamaha PSR E273 Portable Keyboard is a superb blend of practicality and fun.

Lightweight and compact, this keyboard is portable enough for any situation.

You’re spoilt for choice with the hundreds of voices, and there are built-in lesson functions. This is a great option for maintaining your interest.

Get creative

Everyone starts playing a new instrument for different reasons. Composing your own music may not have been one of them, but admit it – wouldn’t it be fun?

Learning how to write tracks is a great goal to keep you motivated, and it’s extremely rewarding. Even if it’s only a couple of bars at a time, creating your own tunes soon becomes addictive.

Whether it’s to eventually perform or for your ears only, it’s sure to keep you playing long after New Year’s Resolutions become a thing of the past.

The Casio LK S250 keyboard is portable and comes with an easy carry handle. And conveniently, there’s an intuitive interface, too.

What makes it really special, though, is the Dance Music Mode. You can produce amazing dance tracks straight out of the box.

Its array of 50 styles (including EDM, house and hip-hop patterns) gives you a great start to compositional techniques such as layering and texture. You can use this to create full dance tracks!

Do what you love

Something to remember when you’re playing the piano or the keyboard is that it should be fun.

Improvement takes practice, but starting takes passion – and that needs to be fuelled.

As soon as you’re able, play what you love. Listen to as much music as possible and discover pianists that you like. Find electronic tracks and reproduce them. Your excitement is important when learning a new skill.

The Yamaha P145 Digital Piano  is compatible with the Smart Pianist app, which provides a plethora of features.

It can scan the songs loaded in your music library, analyse the chord progressions, and then display them for you on the screen of your smart device. You can play along with the song through your piano speakers.

Loading MIDI songs into the app will also allow you to follow along with digital sheet music while you play, and you can record to your device.

Final thoughts

Whether your resolution is to start playing or to carry on, Gear4music has you covered. Find everything you need to keep you on track. You can shop our range of pianos, keyboards, and accessories via the link below.