Students!
It is time once again to visit my favorite topic related to piano study and performance. No doubt most of you will not be surprised. Please read the following and by all means, please let me hear your feedback.
Piano Practice: Revisiting the Mighty Five Components of Effective and Engaging Practice
Practice is a central concern for all musicians, fully worthy of frequent reflection and refinement. While I do not advocate for a singular method or fixed system, I believe there is great value in revisiting the obligations, objectives, and practical skills that musicians are called upon to cultivate. The ultimate goal is to transform notes on a page into the vivid and compelling music the composer envisioned.
Marshall Goldsmith’s book entitled “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There,” offers valuable insights concerning the necessity of ongoing assessment, adjustment, and strategy review essential among business leaders in managerial and organizational environments. Many of the same principles and insights Goldsmith describes can be useful for the serious musician and music student. In music study, we will likely find that, at least in relative terms, simple tasks call for simple solutions, but what about when the challenges become more complex? Simple tools will most likely not be sufficient for advanced demands. The heightened state of complexity calls for a practice approach characterized by expanded awareness, understanding, approach, and skills – in short, deliberate change and a resetting of the stage as needed.
This transformation requires both discipline and creativity—and your participation in the process deserves reexamination and revitalization. May your practice be a joyful and fruitful journey of discovery.
So, just what are the Mighty Five?
1 – Attitude
Cultivate a mindset that is not only positive, but also:
• Alert to detail
• Patient and engaged with the learning process
• Constructive in self-talk — guide yourself with kindness, clarity, and insight
2 – Insight and Investigation
Fuel your imagination and curiosity:
• Visualize musical ideas — bring the score to life in your mind
• Uncover the emotional language hidden in the music
• Examine expressive markings — phrasing, dynamics, and articulation
• Study the formal design and structure of the work
• Understand the stylistic context — aim to reflect historical and expressive norms
3 – Define Objectives
Work with intention and clarity:
• Let the score be your guide — focus on N, F, R, A, D (Notes, Fingering, Rhythm, Articulation, Dynamics)
• Practice slowly and thoughtfully — this is the key to thorough, lasting progress
• Learn in layers — isolate elements, then gradually integrate them into the whole
4 – Explore Modes of Approach
Engage creatively with your process:
• Vary your strategies to deepen learning and retention
• Zoom in and out — deconstruct individual elements, then reconstruct the whole
• Try diverse practice techniques:
- Hands-separate practice
- Isolating textures
- Memorizing small sections
- Working at different tempos
- Using the metronome
- Altering rhythms or articulation
- Exaggerating balance or dynamics
- Changing registers
- Mental rehearsal
5 – Refine and Polish
Elevate your performance through focus and sensitivity:
• Heighten your awareness of sound quality
• Bring to life the composer’s creative and artistic intentions
• Aim for accuracy, definition, and nuance in your touch and tone
• Let your playing reflect your unique expressive voice
There are countless additional facets to consider, but my hope is that this brief outline serves as a powerful reminder of the core components of effective and inspired practice.
Enjoy the adventure—may it be engaging!
Dr. Steven L. Havens