Since it was first invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori in Italy more than 300 years ago, the piano is a musical instrument that has brought joy to millions of people around the world with its magical and soothing sounds. It’s no wonder that the piano is one of the most popular musical instruments there is. According to statistics, there are more than 20 million piano players in the US and approximately 750,000 pianos are made every year.

Knowing how to play the piano is a skill that most people would love to have. If you are learning to play the piano then this post is for you! Let’s debunk some piano playing myths!

You Need to Be a Master of the Music Theory

While learning music theory is an important part of learning to play the piano, you don’t need to become a pro at it in order to start. With the help of a teacher and digital aids such as music notation software, you can learn to play the piano before you have mastered the music theory.

You Need Long Fingers

Don’t be put off from playing the piano if you have short fingers because this is a complete myth. The ability to play the piano well depends upon using the right technique and has nothing to do with the shape and size of your fingers. Furthermore, your fingers become stronger and adapt better the more you practice. 

Children Learn How to Play the Piano Faster than Adults

This is another misconception. Your learning ability doesn’t disappear as you grow older, but in fact, it gets better. Learning to play the piano at an older age can be a much more satisfying experience than learning it during childhood. Moreover, you can never learn the piano completely anyway because it’s such a diverse and complex instruments. Even people who have been playing the piano for decades can find new things to learn.

You Need to Start With Classical Music

Most music teachers recommend that you start learning to play with classical music because it is simpler and easier to learn. However, you can learn the piano with any type of music that inspires you. Just make sure that the music piece you start with isn’t too complex or complicated.

Always Learn a Song from the Beginning to the End

When it’s about learning to play the piano, there’s no one size fits all. Everybody has their unique way of learning. Sometimes it’s better to learn the more difficult parts of the song first. This way, the rest of the song becomes easier and you will learn it faster. However, there is no right or wrong way. It’s just a matter of preference.

Music Jotter is music notation software that offers a virtual keyboard and digital notation features which make it easier for students to learn the piano. Try out our free demo version!