Maximizing Your Practice Time: Top 3 Tips 4 Piano from Marina Petrov

As a pianist, practicing every day is essential for improvement, especially when it comes to developing the hand movements and coordination that lead to mastery. Marina Petrov, a renowned pianist and teacher, shares her top three tips to help you get the most out of each practice session, focusing on technique, sight-reading, and aural skills.

1. Focus on Piano Technique and Reflexes

To build a solid foundation, start by practicing scales, arpeggios, and broken chords. These exercises are essential for developing finger movement and maintaining proper hand position. Begin with one-octave scales, playing them in a non-legato (detached) style. This helps focus on wrist movement. Then, switch to legato playing to work on smooth finger transitions.

Marina emphasises the importance of thumb movement—make sure your thumb slides underneath your hand when you change finger positions. This technique helps you maintain a fluid, relaxed movement and builds your finger reflexes. Each exercise should be practiced a minimum of six times to create muscle memory.

2. Improve Your Sight-Reading Skills

Sight-reading is a critical skill for any pianist, and Marina recommends practicing each hand independently when learning a new piece. Start by playing each hand alone a few times before trying to play them together. This approach helps you become familiar with the music before adding complexity.

Marina also suggests using the "Parlato" method: say the notes aloud (both bass and treble clef) in time with the music. This builds rhythm and helps internalise the music’s structure. Before you play, try clapping and counting the rhythm to solidify the timing.

3. Enhance Your Aural Skills and Musical Expression

One of Marina’s favorite techniques is singing the melody line, particularly the right-hand notes. Singing helps you connect with the musical phrases and understand dynamics. When you sing, your voice naturally rises during ascending notes (crescendo) and falls during descending notes (diminuendo), mimicking the expressive qualities you should aim for on the piano.

By listening closely to how you sing, you can translate these natural dynamics into your piano playing. This approach sharpens your ear, aids in memorization, and helps you develop a more expressive performance.

With these tips in mind, you can approach your practice more mindfully, honing the skills that will elevate your playing.

Find out more about Marina here on her website

Stay Connected and Keep Learning

If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to check out my piano method book, Hey Presto! Adult Piano Method, designed to help beginners and returning players master the keys with confidence. You can also explore my comprehensive Adult Piano Beginners Course, which offers a wealth of resources to support your musical journey.

For more tips, educational content, and repertoire recommendations, join me on this exciting musical adventure. Together, we can make learning piano rewarding, fun, and stress-free.

Happy practicing!
Marcel Zidani
Award-winning composer, performer, and piano pedagogue