Playing piano and keyboard has been my number one hobby for my entire life. There are so many ways that you can use this hobby and skill to make your life more enjoyable, challenge yourself, develop as a person, and meet people that change your life. I’ve compiled a list of things that you can do while you learn piano to ensure you playing piano or keyboard is as fun and meaningful as possible!
1. Learn to Play Your Favorite Songs
It’s always fun to be able to play songs you enjoy! This is a really good way to ensure that you’re having fun, and makes your hard work worth it. I’ve seen a lot of people end up not enjoying piano because they’re not playing the music they like. For example, some students think you have to learn classical music to be good at piano, and don’t even realize they can play whatever genre of music they want to!
Of course, if you’re a big fan of certain types of music like rap or EDM this might be somewhat difficult, although not impossible. Another thing to remember is that you can learn your favorite songs even if there’s no piano in the song. Just start by learning the chords and melodies, and don’t be afraid to get creative.
Learning material is the most important thing to do when learning piano. For more information about how to effectively build your repertoire, check out my definitive guide on improving your piano skills.
2. Perform for Your Friends and Family
This can help give you motivation to practice and get better, and it’s an opportunity to show off. You can put on shows, do sing-alongs, and entertain guests when they come over. Don’t worry if you feel nervous or don’t think you can pull it off. Your friends and family hopefully will be more forgiving than the public, and ideally will appreciate anything you can play.
Some examples – I always used to play at family gatherings, and take requests when I can. Some of my family members like singing, so I do a lot of campfire-type songs and it’s a nice time. Another thing I do when friends come over is ask them to put their favorite songs on the TV, and then I’ll do my best to play along, which is a fun game and a crowd pleaser.
3. Play in a Band
This could be a band with your friends, your school’s jazz band, local groups that play open mics – whatever you can find. It’s a great way to get involved playing in your community, develop yourself as a person, and meet music friends! There’s something that bonds people uniquely when making music together, and it helps make the hobby meaningful.
Playing in my high school’s and college’s bands was a great experience, and I met a lot of friends who I still know today. When you play in a band, there’s lots of opportunities to develop musically, and also to have fun. There may be parties, events, and networking for you to take advantage of. It also just feels good to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
4. Take Classes/Lessons to Expand Your Musical Horizons
A different perspective, and a different set of eyes (and ears) is always beneficial. When taking lessons and classes, you may discover things about playing music and piano that you hadn’t considered. Some of my favorite songs, genres, music techniques, etc. were introduced to me by teachers or discovered in online videos/teaching material. I was actually introduced to jazz because my classical piano teacher would mess around on jazz songs during our breaks. It’s a great feeling finding new music that you connect with. If you’re not sure if you’d want to take take lessons, check out this article with my advice on how to decide.
5. Film, Record, and Document Your Learning Process
It can be really fun to post on social media and and show your friends what you’ve been learning and playing. No matter what level you’re at, people appreciate the effort you’re putting in, and might even get inspired themselves! Don’t be afraid to share your music with the world. In addition, if you want to start playing shows or gigs, it will be massively helpful to have a portfolio of documented content to prove to venue owners that you’re legit.
You can use TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and anything else you choose. One TikTok video I made just showed a moment at one of my gigs where I played a song with a kid in the crowd, and got a great reaction. I think a lot of people really enjoyed watching, and I felt really good receiving love and knowing that I connected to a larger audience.
6. Explore Other Genres of Music to Play
Become a well rounded musician and learn to play a different genre! Piano is an especially good instrument for this because it’s so versatile – you can play classical, jazz, pop, R&B, funk, country, etc. If you’re the type of person who listens to all genres of music, this should make a lot of sense for you. If you focus on a few genres, try something else out and see if you like it. You may be surprised.
Several years ago I had really been focusing on exclusively jazz when I discovered a jazz pianist named Robert Glasper had been playing on a Kendrick Lamar album. At that point I found out I liked rap, which led me to learn about another huge body of great music of rap and related genres. A lot of these songs are popular with a large audience and work really well in my gigs and playing for friends. It’s been really beneficial for me to expand my horizons to new music that I hadn’t considered before.
7. Teach Others What You’ve Learned
They say that teaching is one of the best ways to learn. It also feels really great to share your skills with others and add value to their lives. If one of your friends or family members wants to learn to play, or just wants to know how to play one song, you could try to help them out! If you want to take it a step further, start a Youtube channel or even start writing a blog.
8. Play Gigs and Shows
Getting yourself in front of an audience is the best, albeit scary, way to grow. It will help you perform under pressure, and get comfortable being uncomfortable. In addition, getting onstage and allowing yourself to be scrutinized by others will help you build confidence in every area of your life.
When you have scheduled performances of gigs, it also helps motivate you to learn new music because you have a deadline. They say that work will expand to fill the space it’s permitted to fill – if you have to learn the song before you play it for people, you’ll find a way to make it happen. You’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment when you set your mind to learning material and actually pull it off.
Finally – if you’re the one booking your gigs or finding shows, you’ll get a chance to get to know your community! This could be the happening bars and restaurants and their owners, locals throwing private parties, or event planners. Gaining exposure to other people and industries in your area is a good way to become a more well-rounded person.
9. Go to Local Jam Sessions
If you have these in your area, you’ll definitely want to go check it out. It’s common to see jazz jams in major cities, as well as a rock jams. Musicians will come in and rotate on stage, taking turns playing songs. You can either watch or participate – either way, you’ll get to see a lot of great music and get exposure to what other musicians are doing.
Taking a turn onstage at a jam is an easy way to test your skills – you’ll have to play a song with minimal preparation, and you’ll know that you’re being watched by other musicians who understand the difference between good and bad. Although this pressure isn’t for everyone, if you’re up for it you should take the chance to prove yourself.
From going to jam sessions in San Diego, I’ve gotten to meet a lot of the music community in the area. It’s a fun social circle to have, and the people I meet share similar values. After (or during) shows we will hang out with each other and audience members, get drinks and food, and have a good time. Overall, I highly recommend checking out any jam sessions you know about.
10. Watch Other Musicians Play and Get Inspired
Go to shows, concerts, jam sessions, or other venues with live music and check out who is playing! If there’s really good piano players in your area, find out their gigging schedules, show up, and learn from the best. Additionally, make sure to keep track of when your favorite musicians are in town. If you’re a musician yourself, going to a concert is not only a fun activity but a way to get inspired and see how experienced musicians play.
Of course, in recent times seeing live music has been more difficult. If I’m not able to see live music, or I haven’t found any shows around me, I’ll check out YouTube. A large number of really great artists post videos of them playing instrumental music for free – this is a massive opportunity. Channels like Tiny Desk are constantly putting on concerts with the highest caliber musicians, many of whom have keyboard players in their band. There’s so much good content on the internet that you can take advantage of.
11. Challenge Yourself to Learn Difficult Music
Playing piano should also be an opportunity for personal growth. Fortunately for you, there’s no shortage of difficult things you can learn on piano. Whether it be playing a classical etude, or learning how to improvise in jazz, it will be very rewarding to achieve your goals. Following through on things you set out to do can also bleed over into other areas of your life and give you confidence.
One challenge I took on a couple years ago was to play a classical etude in a jazz show I did. At that point in time I hadn’t touched classical music for years, but I wanted to see if I could do it. I made plenty of mistakes, and even had to completely stop in the middle. Despite the shortcomings, the rest of the piece went well and the audience enjoyed! It was a great feeling knowing that I achieved my goal, and the pressure leading up to the show helped me focus my practice.
12. Find Mentors
Getting a good teacher can have a huge impact on both your playing and your life. Especially if you’re younger, it’s harder to learn piano on your own, and having an adult that can serve as a role model both musically and as a person will help you grow. I had a long time piano teacher as a kid, and the encouragement I got from him was important to keep me dedicated. I’ve had other teachers throughout my life as well, who each added their own unique different perspective. You’ll become more like the people you surround yourself with, so try to find piano teacher(s) that will enhance your musical life.
13. Enter Competitions
If there’s piano competitions in your area, this is a great way to challenge yourself. If you’re a student, it’s likely that there will be more options for you. As an adult this may be harder to come by, but you never know! Ask friends and get involved in your local community to ensure you’re aware of the programs you have access to.
I’ve competed in student jazz competitions for Ventura and SLO county, done California honor bands, and auditioned for spots to play with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. These are some examples I’ve seen, and you may find similar opportunities around you.