Modern Isn't Always Best: Why Learn To Play Classical Music On The Piano

What is the best style of music to learn when learning to play the piano?

If your goal is to become very good at the piano than there is only one answer to this question.... Classical Music! Although we love to listen to our favorite bands on the radio or on our ipods, if your goal is to truly become an advanced pianist the only way is to study classical piano music. Although that may seem outdated or something that you or your child are not interested in, you may change your mind after you start seeing all the benefits you are gaining from a serious piano education and training. You may even find out that you prefer playing classical piano music.

Why will learning classical piano music make me better than learning modern pop music?

There are many reasons that classical piano music is the way to go. We'll start with skill level. Classical music is by far harder than current music. You see your chord progressions with a fairly easy melody line. Now if you look at classical piano music you will see that it is extremely more complex. If you choose a piece of piano music from the Baroque period you can even notice that there are multiple melodies going on at the same time. Classical music was all about composing intricate pieces of music to keep audiences entertained. Their living situating depended on it. Soooooo..... if you wish to develope a high skill level with the piano, classical music will get you there, if you stick to pop music you will never achieve an advanced skill level.

Also with classical music being the basis of your piano lessons, you will develope amazing technique skills with the piano. Since classical music has so much going on as far as tempo, dynamics, not to mention the music itself, it's no wonder your technique will be excelling so quickly!

Does that mean that I should only learn to play classical music on the piano?

Absolutely not! Exposing yourself to different styles and genres of music is great for your skills as well. You will learn different techniques learning rock, blues, jazz, pop etc., you would hate to miss out on any of that. But your main focus should be on classical music and the other music should be supplemental to your classical studies.

Learning modern music is also fun and switches things up a little for students. And one of the most important things is that you enjoy yourself while learning.

What about if I'm starting my child in piano lessons at an early age, is classical music over to advanced for my child?

When you are first leaning to play the piano, no matter what age you are, there are method books that teach simplified versions of classical pieces. If your child is very young, like a preschooler, than they would be learning classical music at a slower pace. They will have music at a specific skill level longer than an older child. Just like a teenager or an adult might prefer a more accelerated style of leaning since they can retain more information at one period of time. Younger children might need a few lessons to really understand and retain a certain concept. But yes, classical studies are wonderful no matter what age you begin your journey to learning the piano.

It is also not uncommon for younger children learning to play the piano to prefer playing and learning classical music. Thinking that modern music is too boring and classical music gives them fun patterns and challenging pieces of music for them to learn. If you are thinking about starting your child in piano lessons at an early age, I would completely recommend a classical piano education, if you want to see them excel at the piano.