How to practise piano effectively
20 minutes a day to real progress
Like many things in life, piano practise is more about quality than quantity. It's about how you use
your time. Even 20 minutes of focused practise a day can lead to real improvement if structured
well. So, here's how to make the best use of your time with an easy-to-follow 20-minute practice
structure.
STEP 1
WARM UP 3-4 MINUTES
Start by getting your fingers and your mind ready. Play some scales, whether they be the ones you're working on for your ABRSM piano exams or some that will help you play the piece you're currently tackling in the relevant key. Or keep it simple with a C major scale – you know best where
you're at.
Also, try some simple finger exercises such as those described in 'Finger strength and dexterity exercises for new pianists'. Focus on evenness and relaxed movement as you do so. Your goal here is to build finger strength and coordination, getting you ready for the main part of your practise
session.
STEP 2
TECHNIQUE4-5 MINUTES
Now move on to working on particular technical skill, for example, chords and inversions, arpeggios, or hand independence. Remember to go slow – speed comes later.
STEP 3
REPERTOIRE
8-10 MINUTES
It's time for the heart of your practise session, the songs you're working on. Devote your time to looking at one or two pieces you're learning. We recommend breaking them down into small sections, of perhaps 1 to 4 bars to tackle at a time. These might be problem areas that you're struggling with, or simply learning the piece a section at a time.
Patience pays off, it's easier to learn a small section at a time and get confident with it, than it is to keep playing the entire piece over and over again, hoping to iron out the mistakes. As Mike always says – 'bite size chunks' are the key.
First, work on separate hands until you're confident before you put them both together.
Be sure to fix any mistakes immediately. Tempting as it is to think you'll fix it later, this will only lead to repeating them, causing them to become ingrained and harder habits to break.
STEP 4
REVIEW OR PLAY FOR FUN
2-3 MINUTES
End on something enjoyable or familiar. Replay a piece you already know or have a tinker around on the keys improvising and experimenting. This will ensure you stay motivated as you remind yourself – 'yes, I can do it' - and reinforces your learning.
IN SUMMARY
- Consistency beats duration every time. Think about it like this – 20 minutes every day works out at 2 hours per week.
- Slow practise is powerful. It helps the brain and muscles learn correctly.
- Repetition with awareness. Don't just seek to repeat, but to improve each time.
- Listen actively. Pay attention to rhythm, dynamics and tone.
TOP TIP
Why not record yourself? You'll spot mistakes more easily and will be able to measure progress.
PRACTISE PLANS
To get you started, on the path to more effective practise sessions, we've put together some sample
plans whether you're beginner, intermediate or advanced level.
Beginner
Start out on the right foot. Build the fundamentals, coordination and reading skills. Try to look at
your hands less over time, count out loud to improve rhythm accuracy and remember to prioritise accuracy over speed.
1. Warm-up (4 minutes)
- 5-finger pattersn (C, G, F)
- Simple scales (1 octave, hands separately)
2. Technique (4 minutes)
- Basic chords (C, G, Am, F)
- Practise switching between them slowly
3. Repertoire (8 minutes)
- Very simple songs (hands separately at first)
- Work in bite-sized chunks (1-2 bars)
- Clap rhythm before playing if needed
4. Fun/Review (4 minutes)
- Play something easy that you enjoy
- Or improve using white keys
Intermediate
Follow this practise plan to help improve fluidity, expression, and hand independence. Be sure to
isolate mistakes instead of restarting and start shaping your musical expression.
1. Warm-up (3 minutes)
- Scales (2 octaves, hands together)
- Contrary motion if possible
2. Technique (5 minutes)
- Arpeggios or broken chords
- Practise difficult finger transitions
- Add dynamics
3. Repertoire (10 minutes)
- 1 main piece + 1 easier piece
- Focus on: problem sections, hands separately and together, and dynamics and phrasing
4. Quick playthrough (2 minutes)
- Play something familiar or improvise
Advanced
Follow this practise plan to improve your precision, musicality and efficiency.
1. Warm-up (2 to 3 minutes)
- Fast scales or arpeggions
- Focus on relaxation and control
2. Technique (5 minutes)
- Target a specific weakness: voicing (melody vs. accompaniment), polyrhythms or advanced
articulation
3. Repertoire (10 to 11 minutes)
- Deep work on small sections
- Use methods like slow practise, rhythmic variation and 'stop before mistake' training
- Refine tone, phrasing and pedaling
4. Performance mindset (1 to 2 minutes)
- Play a section as if you're performing it to an audience – no stopping allowed! It's also a good idea to record this an critique yourself.
TOP TIP
Set a clear goal for each session. For example, 'Today I'm going to perfect the fingering in bars 5 to 8.'
If you found this helpful, don't forget to check out our other blog posts, tutorials and courses.