How should I practice piano?

Question:I've been playing piano for about 7 years now.And I'm about 1 yr and a half from completing high school.I wanted to get into a conservatory but i really doubt I'm ready.Still i want to try to get in.It won't hurt to try I guess.You guys have any idea what i should focus on when i practice?Or any music pieces that I should try?or anything technical that can help me?It would really be a large help if anyone can help me with anything.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've been playing piano for about 7 years now.And I'm about 1 yr and a half from completing high school.I wanted to get into a conservatory but i really doubt I'm ready.Still i want to try to get in.It won't hurt to try I guess.You guys have any idea what i should focus on when i practice?Or any music pieces that I should try?or anything technical that can help me?It would really be a large help if anyone can help me with anything.

A great teacher will DEFINITELY help you get into a conservatory. They can help you focus on some of your weaknesses and build up your musicality for your audition.

Make sure you check audition requirements. Most classical piano programs require a piece from each style period, usually including a Bach Prelude and Fugue and a Concerto. Since auditions are usually in winter of your Senior year of high school, I would start working on those pieces now.

Also, make sure to spend some time on etudes and SIGHTREADING. Etudes will help your dexterity and technical abilities. Sightreading is a given for auditions, and often incoming students are sorted by their ability to sightread just as vigorously as their performance abilities.

On a final note, if there's a school that you really like, take a lesson with your intended teacher there before your audition. It's helpful to decide if they (and the school) are a good fit.

Good Luck!

You've been playing for 7 years and you don't know what to practice? Start with scales, arpeggios, technique drills, play some etudes and some songs for fun and then get serious and work through a tough piece (thats what I do anyway).

I am one of the best piano tuners on the planet. REally true. I can make the piano sound magical. Try to find some-one like me to tune for you. It would expand your perception of "melodic voicing".

And hope your piano has a good musical sound to start with. Does it? That is a Big Consideration; a Very helpful thing.

David in NYC

well, i have been playing piano for 9 and i am 15 yrs old and i know what it's like to be confused on how i should practice.

theory work is always good. if you live near a local music store, there are bound to be some good theory books for you. it really increases your knowledge about piano because once you know the theory of piano, you know the theory of every single instrument there is.

also, practicing scales, arpeggios, all that musical theory is good too.

there are so many types of music out there that you could and should try. experiment. i'm sure you'll eventually find something you like.

First, you need a FINE teacher to assist you with your prepration for a potential conservatory audition. To even prepare for that teacher - you need a written plan. Each day, work on scales in duplets and triplets - multiple octaves - with the proper finering. Major AND minor - all 3 forms! You can easily find a book with those scales and fingerings in it. Then, take an inventory of all the literature you KNOW and all you OWN. Get a really good guidebook to piano literature, like the Hinson. See wher you are coming up short - and start exploring that literature. A book that is GRADED in its listings of piano lit will help you know where are you technically and musically, and what pieces you should think of next,

Plan your practice time each day - so much time for sclaes, etudes, literature, etc. Do not just PLAY THROUGH - you need to know HOW to dissect works to effectively practice them. This can be done - but ONLY if you have a decent plan of attack -and a FINE TEACHER.

Be able to play the major and minor scales in all twelve keys up and down in both hands, plus the II/V/I progressions up and down the keyboard.

Know by heart one or two jazz standards and be able to improvise over them.

Know by heart one or two classical pieces.