The right way to practice piano

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, there is definitely a right way—and a wrong way—to practice piano.

It’s not complicated. In fact, the right way to practice can be summed up in just two words:

Go slow.

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But if it’s so obvious, why do so many of us ignore it?

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Why Playing Slowly Matters

Think about the last time you sat down to learn a new piece. Did you try to play it at full speed straight away?

Most people do.

And what happens? Unless the piece is well below your level, mistakes creep in—often lots of them. Before long, those mistakes become habits, frustration builds, and sometimes you end up abandoning the piece altogether (I’ve definitely been there myself).

Slowing things right down might feel unnatural at first, but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do. In the long run, you’ll progress faster, make fewer mistakes, and actually enjoy the process more.

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Avoiding the “Mistake Loop”

When you repeatedly play something incorrectly, you’re not just “having another go”—you’re actually practising the mistake.

That’s where frustration sets in.

If you’ve ever given up on a piece because it felt impossible, there’s a good chance you were trying to play it too fast, too soon.

So instead, give yourself time. Be patient. It might feel slow in the moment, but it will absolutely pay off.

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How Slow Should You Practice?

The answer is simple:

Slow enough that you don’t make mistakes.

That’s it.

The tempo you choose depends entirely on the difficulty of the piece. If you’re still making errors, slow it down even more—yes, even if it feels ridiculously slow.

At this stage, don’t worry too much about perfect rhythm. Focus first on:

• Playing the correct notes
• Using the correct fingers

Once those are secure, you can gradually bring in the correct timing and expression.

And that point about fingering? It’s crucial. Using the wrong fingers might seem harmless early on, but it will almost always hold you back when you try to reach full speed later.

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Break It Down Into Sections

One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to play a whole piece from start to finish every time they practise.

Instead, break it down.

Work on small sections—sometimes even just a single bar—until you’re comfortable with it.

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Two Ways to Practise Sections

There are a couple of ways you can approach this:

1. Build Up to a Moderate Tempo First

You can practise each bar individually until you can play the entire piece at around two-thirds of the intended speed.

From there, start linking everything together and gradually increase the tempo.

This approach can work well—but be careful. It’s easy to slip back into playing too fast and reintroducing mistakes.

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2. Focus on Small Sections (Recommended)

A more reliable method is to stick to very small sections—one bar, or a few bars at most.

For example, if a passage flows across bar lines (like with continuous quavers or semiquavers), it can make sense to group a few bars together. Otherwise, stopping and starting constantly can make things harder.

The key is to keep your focus narrow and manageable. Master a small section, then move on.

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Patience Is Everything

At the end of the day, ask yourself why you’re learning a new piece in the first place.

It’s because you want to play it—and play it well.

So what’s the better option?

• Rush through it, make mistakes, get frustrated, and possibly give up
  or
• Take it slowly, stay methodical, and eventually play it properly?

It might take longer upfront, but the second approach is the one that actually gets results.

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Final Thoughts

There’s no shortcut here.

Slowing down, paying attention to detail, and practising patiently might not feel exciting in the moment—but it’s exactly what separates progress from frustration.

The choice is yours.

But I know which one I’d rather take.