It may sound too simplistic to carry much weight, but I think it is one of the key principles that propels so many viewers from “wannabe” piano players to “I’m finally doing it!” piano players.

What I mean by “Don’t Practice… Play!” is this: Get better and increase your skill level through playing tunes or styles you enjoy. That is in opposition to feeling shackled by the mistaken notion that the only way towards recreational fun on a piano is by traveling a long, boring path filled with exercises and etudes that you never in your life would want to play for anybody, let alone yourself!

I try desperately to never do anything that I don’t enjoy at a piano. By doing so (albeit in a Pavlovian way) I have gotten myself to instinctively feel good when I see a piano. It is my refuge from otherwise negative things in my life.

Now to be very clear, in no way do I suggest that you shouldn’t spend time on things that will make your playing better or your understanding of music more complete. I just suggest finding a way to do it that coincides with you playing meaningful music and having fun at the same time!

Two examples…

Problem:

To become proficient in the style we discuss (lead sheets vs. traditional piano notation) you must learn and “get under hand” a certain number of chords.

Traditional Solution:

1) Spend 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week drilling through a family of chords in a methodical linear way until you learn them and can move on to the next chord family.
2) Repeat cycle for a period of months until you hate sitting down at your piano, then
3) quit and feel like a failure because you didn’t have the fortitude to stick it out.

Don’t Practice… Play! Solution:

1) Think of a tune that you feel your life just wouldn’t be complete without having learned how to play.

2) Go to a music store or online store to find a lead sheet to that tune.

3) Figure out just the few chords that are in that tune

4) Naturally get them “under hand” while learning them in context with a tune you’re thrilled to be learning how to play

5) Repeat steps 1-4 over and over while having a ball playing versus practicing.

Problem:

You really need to get some dexterity and speed into your fingers to allow you to move forward.

Traditional Solution:

1) Go out and get a book of Hanon exercises.

2) Get out a metronome and start that thing ticking.

3) Spend 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week drilling through them trying to tackle at least one exercise per week.

4) Quit after realizing that while fast and strong, your fingers still can’t play a tune you really like, and, that Hanon exercises with a metronome are driving your dog and cat insane.

Don’t Practice… Play! Solution:

1) Go out and get a book of Hanon exercises.

2) Go out and buy a cheap drum/rhythm machine. Better yet if you have a digital piano or keyboard, get out the manual and finally figure out how to turn on the rhythm section that sounded so cool during the store demo.

3) Play Hanon exercises over different styles. Swing one day, latin the next, rock/pop the next, whatever you like the best. Not only develop speed and dexterity, but develop great rhythmic improvisation skills almost by default.

5) Repeat steps 1-3 over and over while having a ball playing versus practicing.

See the difference? As a recreational music maker, if you don’t have fun during your always too limited time at your instrument, you’ll likely quit the effort. Go for a little more carrot and a little less stick:  Don’t Practice… Play!