Oclef Q&A: EP006 - What is your advice for someone just starting piano?

Oclef Podcast

Reading. My best advice for a student just starting piano, at any age (5–105) is to develop your reading ability. While you’re working on your reading here are two super helpful tips:

1. Have a very diverse set of books to read from. Don’t stick to one book or one piece of music.
2. Develop your ‘visual vocabulary’. Music is built from patterns and if you look, intervals (or the spaces between notes) are the building blocks of almost everything (chords, cadences, melody, counterpoint, etc.). Get very good at reading music by interval and you’ll start to see how music is assembled.

If you’re working with a child, we’ve developed a piano method for parents to help their children. You can follow us on YouTube.