"My mom told me life was like a box of chocolates," said Forrest Gump. "You never know what you're gonna get." Most people have heard of this quote yet what most people haven't heard of, though, is learning to play piano resembles how you live life. The many processes of learning a piece of music on the keyboard provide challenge that pushes you forward, and a life like that with music present is one you should cherish.
First off, there is never one way to approach a new piano piece. What I like to do is prep by listening to the song. When you're approached with a new social problem or any problem in general, it's best to listen to advice from someone who's been through a similar situation. Odds are you can find someone who has gone through what you're going through and the situation will present itself easier to solve. With piano, listening to a previous recording of the song helps establish a "feel" for the piece, which will show to make it easier to perform in the long run.
Learning the song in chunks helps the player define each and every part with solidity. Taking life one step at a time is one of the easier ways to approach every day. If you try to handle everything at once, odds are you'll overwork yourself and those curveballs might strike you out. By learning a piano piece in chunks, you make sure each section is close to perfection before putting in the transitions. It's easier to combine two well-performed chunks into one rather than figure out many at once. Don't take life too seriously.
When things aren't going your way, slow down and take a breather. If you're not getting any success during your practice session, then it's best to slow it down and handle it with caution so you can revisit with confidence. Sometimes life can be very overwhelming and things won't go your way – this is when you take a step back and reevaluate the situation. You will come back stronger by taking a break every now and then.
When you finally get a piece up to tempo and at the right musicality level, the piece transforms itself, or in other words, becomes a beautiful piece of art to be shared with everyone. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, and a good lemonade may feel like music to your taste buds.
