Author Archives: michaelacoburn

Why it matters, and how to get there The Premise Picture this. You are sitting at the piano. Your teacher has given you something specific to work on, and you have a good idea how to go about doing it. You take a small section and give it a try. Then you pause. Was thatContinueContinue reading “Can You Tell You Are Getting Better?”

Playing by memory is an impressive way to deliver a performance and can come with a host of benefits: deeper learning, fuller expression, and ultimately more comfort. However for some students it can take significant work or even become overwhelming. This guide can help you understand what steps to take to simplify memorizing and whyContinueContinue reading “Growing your Piano Memorization Skill”

I often tell my students there’s no real mystery to learning the piano. If you can identify the specific problems in any piece and tackle them systematically, you will always make progress. That doesn’t mean learning is easy, however. Even beginner pieces contain dozens of challenges; advanced works may contain tens of thousands. These challengesContinueContinue reading “Simplify Your Practice for More Effective Learning”

When it comes to practicing the piano your mindset can make a big difference in how much you get done and how much you enjoy yourself. How you think about your progress, your focus, and even your mistakes directly impacts how you grow as a musician. Here are a few key mindsets that can transformContinueContinue reading “The Mindset of Effective Piano Practice”