My old piano teacher said I played like I was scared of the keys

I wanted to be a jazz pianist when I was younger, but I gave it up after high school. She told me that about 15 years ago, and it stuck with me because it was true. I just started playing again last month, and I'm trying to focus on hitting the notes with more confidence, even if I mess up. It's slow, but I finally got through a full chorus of 'Autumn Leaves' without stopping. Anyone else pick up an old instrument and have to unlearn a bad habit?

4 comments

4 Comments

violaramirez2mo ago

Totally get that. I had to do the same thing with my guitar. My teacher said I was "asking" the strings to make noise instead of telling them. I started practicing simple blues scales but made myself play each note like I meant it, even if it was too loud or wrong. It felt weird at first, but now my playing has way more guts to it. That confidence in your fingers changes everything.

kim.jake27d ago

Scared of the keys" really hits home. I read this blog by a jazz pianist who said you have to "own the silence" between the notes, like the space is just as important as the sound. That idea made me realize playing with conviction isn't just about hitting hard, it's about trusting yourself to fill that gap.

victorh812mo ago

Scared of the keys" is such a real critique.

vera_robinson362mo ago

That phrase makes me think of my old piano teacher. She used to say you had to attack the keys, not just tap them. Victorh81 probably gets what I mean.