6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting The Piano

“I wish I knew this before”! Sounds familiar? Learn 6 things every beginner piano player needs to know if you are seeking top tips for getting better at piano faster.

This need to know piano tutorial will reveal best piano tips and tricks on learning piano chords and scales, piano practice tips and much more!

If you want to progress fast, do not ignore these must know piano tips in this beginner piano lesson, as they will get you to the next level before you know it. But more importantly, these beginner piano tips will inform your deeper understanding of music inner workings from the start.

If you like to learn more how to play piano for beginners and start with best piano chord progressions, watch this video next:

To claim your FREE GIFT just get in touch with us at the London Contemporary School of Piano:

Join THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN: Piano Essentials Online Course with Tom Donald which will transform your musical journey (live interactive sessions start on 7th June 2023):

If you enjoyed this ‘I wish I knew’ piano tutorial and would like to get more top tips on learning piano basics and much more, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel right here:

#londoncontemporaryschoolofpiano #startingpiano #mustknowpianotips

[contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Thank you for watching and hope it is helpful! What are your practice techniques and strategies?

[Moondancer]

Wow, all the years I’ve practised scales and never realised the C and the F thumb - strewth, I’m enlightened.
You are truly a gifted tutor. 🙏

[Rollinglenn]

I am 68 years old. I wish you had been my piano teacher! In fact, I wish you had been my mother's piano teacher even more! She was so afraid that I would grow to hate piano lessons that she never sent me for lessons - we didn't even have a piano in my childhood home!😥 Only my hanging out at my neighbor's house, trying to replicate the lessons that Elissa and Karen played, got me into trouble with their parents - I was keeping the girls from practicing! They told my parents to get a piano so I would get out of their house! My parents agreed, and I started learning piano, but only with my mother's lesson books! Nonetheless, I majored in theory & composition at uni, became a church organist, and currently work on research projects based internationally.

How I wish scales were explained as beautifully as you do. I am an analytical person, and your explanations make perfect sense. I will now practice all major scales more easily - then the minors!

Thank you again, and please send me your free reference materials. I will share them with others who need them, too!

[edgarsnake]

Years ago I had brain surgery that wiped out 40 years of music. I decided to start from zero and learn to play piano but minus the fear of sharp and flat keys. The impact has been dramatic and I am a far more sophisticated musician today.
Thanks for the great tips.

[bencenlove]

Thank you, I have pop music degree but I abandoned my musicianship as I have always struggled with theory. I thought I just wasn't smart enough so I gave up. Watching this video has helped me to grasp the things that I had been taught, but have never truly understood. Thank you, thank you and thank you again maestro. I will be back on my dusty keys this evening and recommencing my journey re-invigorated.

[mclricardo]

Sometimes the thumbs fall on the C and F, but sometime the thumb is placed on B and E. Wonderful lesson!!

[edwardhenderson]

There are many teachers, but you make it all simple and doable. I am pleased to learn from your method. I look forward to more ways to improve my playing. Thanks. Ed.

[dennyps]

Thanks so much for simplifying what traditionally is very confusing about playing piano. Got a quote for you.
Technique is the mind telling the body what it should sound like, and when muscle memory is trained to the point of achieving that sound, then you will have good technique

[ChocolateJewels]

Holy s$it! This makes so much sense! Your way of teaching has been the missing piece for me all these years (I'm 53, started with piano at 12, then a hate/hate/hate/like/hate/hate relationship on and off, but I couldn't let it go completely)... to be able to make the piano "my own", it's the scales and chord progression where it's at. Dissecting a piece, practicing in sections, etc. OMG, a whole new world with the piano has opened up to me these past few years, especially this last one. I "happened upon" you a few days ago. I'd love to learn with you.

[JamesMichael-qybl]

Thank you. You actually want to impart your knowledge and love of music! That takes kindness and generosity. This is a great lesson for all those wishing to teach, let alone wanting to learn the piano!

[lawrencetaylor]

You last point was a huge revelation for me. I only started piano at 65 years old, and had joked that I was born with two left ears. My choir classes were a breeze since every teacher from 3rd primary until 2nd secondary told me to move my lips and not make a sound. My voice helped me develop my comedy chops.
And for 8 months I'm trying to change that. But I don't have music in my head when I play piano. Until now the technique was filling my brain with music, and I need to learn to reboot my thinking. I am listening to lots of piano music now, and I know if a note or chord is wrong.
I'll try to practice differently from now on.
Merci beaucoup.

[MrPianist]

First time I've really looked at your videos and looking through the comments I'm just going to add the sentiments already made. I've being playing or trying to play for nearly 70 years and never properly grasped a technique. Looking forward to working with your methodology.

[christinacortez-zbqx]

All of the music teachers that trained me in sight reading had us learn a measure at a time. Piano was my first instrument that I learned how to play but I also played B flat and alto E flat clarinet and bass clarinet in Jr high and high school. And all of my teachers made us play our music a measure at a time until we got pieces flawless. The same principles are applied to piano as well. When I play a piece on piano I play a measure at a time until I have gotten the whole piece down. This method works well for me. I thank all of my music teachers for teaching me strong study habits of learning pieces each measure at a time.

[stephulph]

Really appreciate your videos. I originally only bought a keyboard to do scales along with singing and have really enjoyed simply learning circle of 5ths and improvising each scale and working out chords within scales and improvising with each bit of new knowledge. I find this fun and intuitive, only thing is I do find I lack structure a little and have to sort of figure out what I need to learn next. Grateful to come across a method of teaching that I relate to. You're an excellent pianist and teacher.

[jaykim]

I've been watching countless videos of piano theories, but none of them explains the theories in ways that makes it easy to actually put them into practice as you do. Your lessons make it easy for my fingers to learn. Thank you for these videos.

[marphilremoto]

I don't usually comment, but I find your content actually helpful. I also watched your tip on sightreading I'm blown away. In this vid you made me realize the keys are related. I'm interested in the fingering where you mentioned there are about 3 types of scales to hand positions. Can you elaborate on that and of possible show? I have a feeling it would finally solve my fingering challenges. Thanks, Tom

[richardb]

The incredible insights and advice you provide in this video are beyond comparison. I've watched 500 or more piano- instruction videos on YouTube and none of those have had an impact on me like this one. To borrow one of your thoughts, now I have a clear picture of how to get the sound out of my head that I am chasing and working on enabling my fingers to achieve that sound. Thank you!

[malandshardonald]

Thank you Tom....a bit of a lightbulb moment for me. I'm off to stack some scales!

[timallen]

This channel is an absolute find. Empowering enthusiasm and serious sensible ( etc etc) I could add words but it just encourages me to add PRACTISE and practise ideas and routes. Thank you so much, phew.

[W-jo]

Just solid gold. I took notes during the whole video, and I NEVER do that. And then I listened to it again. You hit all the areas I am having trouble with. More info in my message to your website. Thanks.