What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?

Many students ask me a question that goes something like this: "What all do I have to know to be a really good piano player?"

The trouble with a question like that is that it ignores individual differences such as talent, motivation, freedom to practice, and a hundred other variables.

How much did Mozart have to know? How much did Erroll Garner know? Mozart could play far better than I can when he was 3. And Garner was barred from joining the musicians union because he couldn't read music.

Does that mean I don't have to practice, since Mozart could do it without practice? Does that mean I shouldn't learn how to read music since Garner couldn't, and it sure didn't stop him.

Obviously, no.

I wish I had the talent of a Garner or a Mozart, but I don't. Nowhere close. But God gave me some talent, and it's that talent that I need to develop to it's maximum.

Same with you, unless you're in a class with those guys, in which case you certainly don't need me.

Back when I operated Piano University & Keyboard Workshop, we had a list of skills that we attempted to inculcate into our students, at least to some degree. Here is that list:

Technique

Fingering

Chords

Scales

Ear Training

Music Theory

Sight Reading

Rhythm

Styles

Runs & Fills

Transposition

Modulation

Accompanying

Repertoire

Improvisation

Arranging

Pedaling

Dynamics

Feeling & emotion

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it's a start. So as you play and practice, think about each of these areas individually, and focus on improving them one at a time.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His book-CD-DVD course titled "How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano!" has sold countless copies around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions with over 57,400 current subscribers.

---

Google News Updated : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:08:20 GMT US MBA's Mortgage Applications Index Increased 7.5% Last Week - Bloomberg 100 Mortgages US MBA's Mortgage Applications Index Increased 7.5% Last Week Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By Shobhana Chandra July 9 (Bloomberg) -- Mortgage applications in the US rose for a second straight week, a sign that falling home prices are attracting some buyers. Mortgage applications up 7.5% last week: MBA MarketWatch US mortgage applications increased last week-MBA Reuters CNN - Forbes - RTT News - 100 Mortgages all 15 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:38:08 GMT Coalition to lobby for US health-care reform - Reuters KULR-TV Coalition to lobby for US health-care reform Reuters - 17 hours ago WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) - A coalition of unions, think tanks and other groups launched an advertising campaign on Tuesday saying they want to ensure that health-care reform tops the US political agenda after the November elections. Coalition begins universal health care campaign Great Falls Tribune Coalition launches push for health care reform Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Rapid City Journal - Tampa Tribune - Beyond Chron - Washington Post all 291 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:09:32 GMT German shares up midday as financials rebound - Forbes ABC News German shares up midday as financials rebound Forbes - 1 hour ago FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - German shares were higher midday, led by financials, which rebounded from Tuesday's strong losses, and helped by soothing words from US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and easing oil prices. Fed ready to aid investment banks BBC News Fed Sees Turmoil Persisting Deep Into Next Year New York Times International Herald Tribune - Reuters - Financial Times - CNNMoney.com all 1,484 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:46:08 GMT Polygamist sect leader swaps jail for hospital - MSNBC KVAL Polygamist sect leader swaps jail for hospital MSNBC - 2 hours ago Warren Jeffs, the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been hospitalized. Douglas C. Pizac / Pool via Getty Images FILE July 2: Michael Sean Winters, author of "Left at the Altar," joins the "Morning Joe" crew to ... Jeffs was taken to the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las ... CNN Warren Jeffs Remains In Local Hospital KXNT Salt Lake Tribune - The Associated Press - Deseret News - Las Vegas Review - Journal all 309 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:48:40 GMT Google adds third dimension to online social relationships - NetworkWorld.com Siliconrepublic.com Google adds third dimension to online social relationships NetworkWorld.com - 2 hours ago By Mikael Ricknäs , IDG News Service , 07/09/2008 Google has entered yet another space with the launch of Lively, a tool for creating 3D social spaces on Web sites, which is now available in a public beta test. Virtual world tipping point: Is there an enterprise use? ZDNet Google Introduces a Cartoonlike Method for Talking in Chat Rooms New York Times Reuters - The Tech Herald - eFluxMedia - Wall Street Journal all 263 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:04:08 GMT Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In US Pact - Washington Post ABC News Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In US Pact Washington Post - 8 hours ago By Ernesto Londoño and Dan Eggen BAGHDAD, July 8 -- Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday that his government would not sign an agreement governing the future role of US troops in Iraq unless it includes a timetable for their withdrawal. Maliki's Withdrawal Card Wall Street Journal Iraqi Officials Still Insisting on Timetable to Withdraw New York Times istockAnalyst.com - AFP - CNN - Xinhua all 1,578 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:41:08 GMT G-8 Conference Tackles Global Warming Treaty - Washington Post BBC News G-8 Conference Tackles Global Warming Treaty Washington Post - 1 hour ago By Michael Abramowitz RUSUTSU, Japan, July 9-- The leaders of the countries most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions pledged Wednesday a shared effort to combat global warming, but developing countries like China and India continued to balk at the ... Bush: 'Significant progress' on climate change The Associated Press Emerging Nations Join G-8 on Climate New York Times Aljazeera.net - CNN International - Bloomberg - Telegraph.co.uk all 2,035 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:20:59 GMT RSS For Web Pages Increased Website Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

3 Secrets To Understanding What Makes Music Tick

It's no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some... Read More

Irish Fiddle Ornaments

When I started playing jigs, my default bowing pattern made... Read More

Effective Band Rehearsal

If your band is in rehearsals, either preparing for gigging,... Read More

How to Organise a Gig or a Live Music Event - the Budget

Three times in the last month I've been asked the... Read More

How I Learned How To Play The Guitar After Giving Up In Disgust

I was 17 at the time (the Beatles era), and... Read More

Green Day: Punk Rock Masters Taming Mainstream Radio Their Way

Before they got together as Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong,... Read More

The First The American Idol Kelly Clarkson

There is a lot more to the story that meets... Read More

Music Making as Spiritual Experience

If you've been playing piano for some time, you may... Read More

Form - Giving Shape to Your Music

Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More

Patriotic Music: Surprising Secrets About Those Flag-Waving Sounds

Whether played by a marching band, an orchestra, or a... Read More

Guitar Players...Learn About The Point Of Discipline

Have you ever started learning a lick or exercise and... Read More

Play Too Loud And Well Cut The Power!

"Turn it down!"How often have you heard that command in... Read More

Legal Free Music Downloads - Songs You Want at No Cost

It's all over the news these days. Download music from... Read More

Is the Mainstream Ready Once Again for Dance Music?

Not since the heyday of Dance/Pop Artists like Taylor Dayne... Read More

Guitar Facts: A Glossary of Terms

It is said that the forerunner of the guitar, the... Read More

Try Some New Music!

Stuck in a music rut?It happens. After listening to your... Read More

How Much of Your Potential Will You Release?

Do you ever feel there is an inner voice speaking... Read More

Modal Theory for Guitar Players - Part 2

Playing the ModesWhen I used to use this pack with... Read More

Beauchamp Brings Diversity to Music

Everyone has a talent. For Miami, Okla.'s, Brian Beauchamp, it's... Read More

Playing The Piano Using Chord Symbols Instead of Being Tied To The Written Sheet Music

Piano improvising and arranging is an art but definitely not... Read More

Health Insurance for Creative Artists -- A Multi-Talented Health Investment

For the Creative Artist -- Good Health Insurance is Truly... Read More

New Age Piano and Improvisation

There are so many areas in life where one must... Read More

The Case Against Traditional Piano Lessons

How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More

Learning the Piano and Playing the Piano

Many piano students spend much time learning how to play... Read More

How the Internet Helps Musicians

Everyone talks about the negative impact of the Internet on... Read More