Practice & Performance
Warming up, practice habits, gigging, showmanship, and band/studio work.
13 articles
Studio Tips
Get an overview of the three stages of recording a CD — tracking, mixing, and mastering — and learn when a home studio works and when you need professional help.
Band Work
Learn where to gig with your band, matching original rock, covers, and acoustic jazz to the right clubs, bars, restaurants, and listening rooms.
Joining or Forming a Band
Find ways to join or form a band, from local music-store bulletin boards and rehearsal studios to ensemble classes, when you're missing some or all of your bandmates.
Solo Work
Explore the pianist's edge in solo work — playing melody, harmony, and rhythm at once — and find your first solo gigs at open-mic nights and coffee houses.
Showmanship and Faking It
Pick up performance survival tips from the trenches, including the golden rule of never stopping mid-piece and staying "in the pocket" so the audience misses your slips.
Interpretation and Improvisation
Discover when to play a piece exactly as written and when to improvise, with guidance on interpretation across classical, pop, and jazz performance settings.
Preparing for the Gig
Get gig-ready with practical advice on rehearsing your parts, running your set on consecutive days, and preparing to perform live whether it's a metal bash, jazz gig, or recital.
Arpeggios
Break left-hand chords into flowing arpeggios in a new version of "Wonderful Tonight," working with a metronome and the damper pedal for a lush pop-ballad sound.
Playing the Melody with Both Hands
Play your first true hands-together song with "Jingle Bells," doubling the melody an octave apart in both hands while staying in C position.
Getting the Most Out of Your Practice
Turn limited practice time into real progress with productive habits that keep your sessions focused, effective, and even fun.
Warming Up Before Playing
Prepare your hands and mind with warm-up routines built around scales and arpeggios, so you arrive at any performance ready to play your best.
Benches and Chairs
Find the right bench or chair height and learn why sitting properly helps you develop correct hand, arm, and posture habits from the very start.
About the Audio
Discover the online demo recordings, including hands-separate stereo tracks and full-band accompaniments you can play along with by turning down a channel.