Until a few months ago, if you’d asked me why I play piano, I’d have said, without much thought, “to get better.”
And my practice routine?
I’d tell you it would involve a series of warm-up exercises, scales, then repeating difficult passages until I reached some vague definition of improvement. At that point, I would stop playing.
I suspect many of us out there would have similar responses.
Only recently, as I’ve delved into how to make practice more effective and deliberate, was I struck by the thought that there are several different reasons I sit down to play piano on any given day.
Sometimes I’m preparing for an upcoming service.
Other times, it’s because my day was particularly trying, and I want to restore a sense of order within my soul.
Recognizing the various roles practice plays in my life is oddly freeing.
Freeing in that it gives me permission to sit back and enjoy the process rather than making practice strictly about “getting better.”
There’s a time and place for “getting better,” but practice quickly gets stale if you don’t explore the other reasons we sit down to play the piano.
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We Practice To Get Better
The very notion of “practice” implies repetition to get better.
And I think every piano teacher everywhere longs for students who dutifully prepare for their piano lessons with regular practice sessions.
Until recently, I never considered that practice could serve any purpose other than getting better.
Whether it’s scales, Hanon, or big pieces from the classical repertoire, practice is what moves the needle.
Practicing to improve takes a specific mindset and a certain curiosity.
It takes a willingness to experiment and open responsiveness to feedback, whether from yourself or others.
This type of practice may not be fun in the moment, but the satisfaction we take in struggling towards goals is what makes us uniquely human.
After all, accomplishment without struggle is like cheating to get an “A” on a test.
And if you’re reading this, I know you’re no cheater!
We Practice To Prepare For Something
In a way, practicing to prepare is similar to practicing with the general goal of getting better.
But practicing in preparation gives you a more solid, definite goal.
It may include preparing for a recital, church service, audition, competition, lesson, or informal performance for family or friends.
Aside from learning the piece itself, you’re honing other skills:
- Running an entire piece without stopping.
- Practicing performance conditions.
- Memorizing.
- Working on difficult sections.
- Building confidence.
Practicing to prepare for something tends to bring its own flavor of satisfaction because you put in all this effort towards one goal.
The event arrives, you play, and it seems like it’s all over before you even know it.
And hopefully, you feel an amazing sense of accomplishment from doing what you set out to do.
This type of practice can become quite addictive!
We Play To Unwind
After a long, hectic day, you may not have much energy left.
On those days, sitting down to play might serve as a meditation of sorts or a way to unwind from your day.
Playing something familiar feels like decompression and feeds the soul.
This type of playing is meant to transition you from doing to being.
It helps you feel more aligned and connected with yourself.
These are not the sessions where your technical skills advance or you gain speed in your scales.
But these sessions are equally important because they bring you back to yourself.
Playing to unwind reminds you who you are and helps you forget about the world and all its demands.
This might be my favorite reason to play!
We Play to Express Something
Playing can be a way to express emotions that are otherwise difficult to express.
When you’re feeling sad, it can feel good to play a nocturne in a minor key.
Or something particularly upbeat when you’re feeling energetic.
You may even decide to play something that puts you in the opposite mood you’re currently feeling.
For example, playing something calm when you’re feeling full of angst.
In these situations, it’s not about playing notes correctly.
It’s about expressing something you can’t quite put into words.
The notes are the starting point. What we do with them—and why we do it—is where music becomes personal.
We Play to Explore and Be Curious
Not every practice session has to accomplish something.
Some sessions are all about exploration and curiosity.
- What happens if I play this chord differently?
- Can I figure out that melody by ear?
- What would this piece sound like if I played it slower?
- Can I improvise over these chords?
- What happens if I change the rhythm?
- Can I figure out a song I heard recently?
I love these sessions when my brain is too tired to focus on scales and technical exercises.
These are the sessions when I give myself the freedom to explore whatever I want.
They often turn into karaoke sessions where I’ll think of a song and sing while just playing basic chords.
In these types of sessions, mistakes are simply feedback.
Not right or wrong.
Just whether it sounded the way I wanted it to, and if not, how I can get it to sound that way.
We Play To Connect
Connecting with others is one of the best reasons to play piano.
When you have the opportunity to play with other talented musicians, take it!
I absolutely loved accompanying in college because it meant playing with other talented musicians, and it was so easy to get lost in the music together.
I also adore playing for church services because it gives me a sense of community and togetherness.
You can also connect with your family by playing for them.
Or sharing music you love with someone who loves it as much as you!
Sometimes it can be easy to get stuck in your own head about practice and whether or not you’re making the progress you think you should be making.
It’s easy to lose sight of why you started playing in the first place.
And connection can be one of the best reasons to play!
We Play Because It Reminds Us Who We Are
Whatever drew you to the instrument in the first place, piano is part of your identity.
It’s woven into the fabric of who you are.
And sometimes we play to bring that piece back, especially if we’ve been away from it for too long.
Playing piano is what reconnects us to that deeper part that gets buried under work, parenting, and everyday life.
Sometimes the reason we sit down at the piano is simply that we’re pianists and that’s just what we do.
So, What Counts As Practice?
Any of the above!
Depending upon your time, energy, and daily schedule, sneaking any of the above into your day is perfectly legit.
If you’re genuinely working toward improvement, nothing beats deliberate practice.
It’s also helpful to identify why you’re sitting down at the piano on any given day so you can tailor that session.
If it’s all about curiosity, frame your time in that lens.
And if you’re preparing for a performance, you know that session will involve honing those specific skills.
But it’s ok to weave these different reasons into deliberate practice and, in doing so, strengthen your love for the instrument.
Final Thoughts – Give Yourself Permission to Play
Maybe the next time you sit down at the piano, ask yourself a simple question:
What do I need from the piano today?
Maybe you need to improve.
Maybe you need to prepare.
Maybe you need to unwind after a long day.
Maybe you need to express something.
Maybe you’re curious.
Maybe you need to connect with someone else.
Or maybe you don’t need anything at all. Maybe you just want to play.
Not every piano session needs to be productive. Not every session needs to move you measurably closer to some future version of yourself who plays better, faster, or more confidently.
There is certainly a time and place for deliberate practice. If you have a goal you’re working toward, intentional practice is one of your most valuable tools.
But I think it’s equally valuable to remember that we don’t play piano solely to become better pianists.
We play because music adds something to our lives.
It gives us a place to concentrate, create, express, connect, rest, and sometimes be ourselves for a little while.
So give yourself permission to play.
Play the piece you’ve already mastered. Play the wrong notes. Play something you’ve never tried before. Play for an audience, for your family, for God, for yourself—or for no one at all.
And if all you accomplish in today’s session is walking away feeling a little more like yourself than when you sat down, I’d say that’s a pretty successful practice session.
The piano doesn’t always have to be something you’re working on. Sometimes, it can simply be somewhere you go.
If you enjoyed this post, you may be inspired by the following:
- How to Build a Piano Practice Habit When Motivation Fades
- Beyond the Notes: Why Feedback is the Missing Piece of Piano Practice
- Why Do I Forget Piano Music So Quickly? Tips to Improve
- Learn How You Can Practice Piano Without a Piano
- Why Most Adults Quit Piano Right Before Real Progress
Until next time, happy practicing!
