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Music Information |
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What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?
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. Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His book-CD-DVD course titled "How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano!" has sold countless copies around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions with over 57,400 current subscribers.
MORE RESOURCES: The ‘Race Against Time’ to Save Music Legends’ Decaying Tapes The New York Times Sabrina Carpenter to White House: Don’t use my music to tout ‘inhumane’ agenda - The Washington Post Sabrina Carpenter to White House: Don’t use my music to tout ‘inhumane’ agenda The Washington Post Tell us your favourite albums of 2025 The Guardian Apple Music’s Replay 2025 is here TechCrunch “Apt,” “Luther” and “Die With A Smile” Lead Apple Music’s Top Global Songs of 2025 The Hollywood Reporter Supreme Court Hears Copyright Battle Over Online Music Piracy The New York Times Efforts to block internet music piracy hit Supreme Court skepticism The Washington Post My Deezer Year 2025: The music that defined the year and a retrospective of your own musical love story Deezer Newsroom Grammys will celebrate Latin music with prime-time CBS musical special Los Angeles Times Words & Music with Marfa wmot.org MSU experts: How divisive concepts laws affect music classrooms Michigan State University Historic Heights Theater sold to owners of Chicago's Music Box Theatre Bring Me The News Sony Music Publishing Elevates Jeff Smarr MusicRow.com A Ass Pocket of Blues NUVO.net CSB and SJU music community unites for Christmas shows College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University Udio 2.0 Could Face Consumers Reluctant to Embrace AI Music luminatedata.com URI music professor releases new album inspired by representation – Rhody Today The University of Rhode Island A joyful noise: Rounding up some holiday music offerings in and around Evanston Evanston RoundTable 11 Musical Love Letters From Artists to Their Heroes The New York Times Roundtable: What’s your favorite holiday music? dailycampus.com Clements to be inducted into Oklahoma Music Educators Association Hall of Fame Southeastern Oklahoma State University Sabrina Carpenter slams White House for using her song in 'evil and disgusting' social media video NBC News Interview: Composer Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Winner of the 2026 Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music Blogcritics Chicago’s Music Box Theatre Expands, Adding Screen and Acquiring Minnesota’s Heights Theater IndieWire Tosco Music Holiday Party Charlotte Parent Angel Du$t Premiere New Single & Music Video "DU$T" From Upcoming New Album "COLD 2 THE TOUCH" Metal Underground.com NWACC music drive fuels growth, sparks funding push, December concerts KUAF Public Radio Pittsburgh’s People of Year 2025 — Music: Danielle Mashuda and Maddy Lafferty Pittsburgh City Paper Music on the holiday horizon at MCC Meridian Star Paleface Swiss Premiere New Single & Music Video "Everything Is Fine" From Upcoming New EP "The Wilted" Metal Underground.com Tampa Bay’s best live music and concerts happening December 4-11 Creative Loafing Tampa Christian 'Mississippi soul' singer is AI. His music hit No. 1 on iTunes The Clarion-Ledger Fullerton College Breaks Ground on State-of-Art Music & Drama Complex Fullerton Observer Nominate Your 2026 Barefoot Country Music Fest Theme Ideas Now Cat Country 107.3 After 43 Years ‘Thriller’ Still Outpaces Modern Music The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Apple Music Reveals the Top 5 Songs of 2025 — and the Internet Isn’t Letting One Detail Slide parade.com The Heavy Heavy with Laney Jones and the Spirits at The Southern Café & Music Hall 12/6 C-VILLE Weekly Drake Named Apple Music’s Most-Streamed Artist Worldwide in 2025 Ratings Game Music White House trolls Sabrina Carpenter with her own lyrics after she slams Trump admin for using her music in ICE video New York Post Blackpink’s Rose dominates Apple Music's year-end chart The Korea Herald Andy Nevala’s “El Rumbón (The Party)”—Afro-Cuban Jazz, Reimagined World Music Central |
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