The cartoon above hung in our music studio and was a constant reminder to students of the areas in their musical progress that they needed to develop. If you look closely you can see areas such as ear training, rhythm, harmony, chords, styles, and many other areas.

      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. If you need help making the best of your practice time, then latch on to the course shown below. Click on the banner to read all about it.