Playing piano in the right rhythm and tempo is one of the most important things when it comes to practising effectively. One of the most common mistakes I encounter as a teacher is that most of my students often try to play fast even though they do not know the piece well yet. This usually results in making repeated mistakes. In my whole teaching career, I have never met a pupil who was able to play a new piece or technical exercise in tempo without any mistakes straight away; despite this people keep trying to start new pieces at full speed.

Anyone playing the piano or another instrument can go through some personal crises from time to time. Just as playing an instrument is associated with beautiful moments; sometimes we can feel that we are not doing well. Sometimes we do not enjoy playing as we would expect to or we feel that we are not good enough despite all the effort we put into it.

Let me assure you that feeling this from time to time is perfectly normal and it is a part of your growth. Of course no one wants to stay feeling down too long so I have written down couple of tips that can help you to tackle your next crisis.

When I was a child I believed that the longer I practice; the better I play. I wish someone had explained how to practice piano pieces more effectively back these days as I have wasted an unhealthy amount of time by practising inefficiently. I am not saying that the length of practising is not essential, but it is vital to consider other, significant factors to get the most out of your practising: