Discover resources to help you learn music theory while playing piano
In this article, we will explore Hoffman Academy resources that can assist you in improving your knowledge of music theory and enhance your piano skills. Whether you are new to the piano or are an experienced performer, incorporating music theory into your practice will greatly benefit your overall performance abilities and musicianship.
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The fundamentals of piano music theory
Understanding the fundamentals of piano music theory is essential for any practicing musician. A mastery of concepts such as melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, articulations, and form provides the foundation for the creation of beautiful music. By exploring these core elements, a pianist can bring their interpretation, emotion, and artistry to life.
Here’s a quick description of the most important and basic elements of music creation!
Melody: A satisfying sequence of notes, also known as a tune
Harmony: When two or more notes are played at the same time
Rhythm: The organization of musical sounds, such as rests, long notes (half notes, whole notes), and short notes (sixteenth notes, eighth notes)
Tempo: How quickly or slowly the music is performed
Dynamics: How loudly or softly a note is sounded, such as forte (loud), piano (soft), pianissimo (very soft), mezzo forte (medium loud), etc.
Articulations: How a note is played, such as staccato (short and bouncy), legato (smooth and connected), accented (louder than the notes surrounding it), etc.
Form: The structure or musical organization of a song or piece of music, such as ABA (A theme, B theme, then A theme)
Should I learn music theory or piano first? How can the piano help me understand music theory?
Most people want to learn piano to enjoy making music, so if that’s you, starting with learning to play the piano makes the most sense and is extremely beneficial. This allows for hands-on experience of music theory concepts from the start. Learning music theory without learning a musical instrument would be a little like learning the rules of grammar for a language without speaking the language. It’s possible, but it works best if you’re putting what you’re learning into practice.
It’s best to learn music theory while learning to play the piano. Learning music theory provides valuable context for playing the piano because it helps pianists appreciate and interpret the meaning behind the notes and the musical structure. Music theory and music performance go hand-in-hand to reinforce one another and will strengthen your overall musical skills. The piano can help a student learn music theory because if you know the layout of the keyboard, then it becomes easy to apply your knowledge of the notes to theoretical concepts. Knowing where each key is very important to understanding chords, phrases, and so much more!
An important tip: For very young pianists, it’s important to make sure they are developmentally ready before embarking on music theory lessons. A student working to learn music theory should be old enough to read and write. Especially for students under ten years of age, it is probably best to begin learning piano first, then include music theory in the lessons. This is how students learn at Hoffman Academy!
How can I improve my piano music theory?
Here at Hoffman Academy, we have lots of resources that you can use to expand your knowledge of music theory. Check out some of these in the list below:
How To Read Music – Need help reading music? This article contains tips and information to get you started!
Music Theory for Beginners – Not sure how to get started learning music theory? This article will help you on your learning journey with an introduction to the basic principles of music theory.
Grand Staff Guide – Deepen your knowledge of the grand staff by downloading our grand staff guide!
Learn Music Theory Online – This blog article includes games, downloadable theory activities, tips, and other fun resources!
The Ultimate Piano Chord Chart – This chart can help you learn more piano chords so that you can play new music!
Major and Minor Piano Scales – Learn all major and minor piano scales with the downloadables in this article!
A Music Terms List for Deeper Understanding – Are you unsure what musical terms like ostinato, adagio, and fugue mean? Check out this article to find out!
Building Rhythm Skills in Beginner Musicians – Need help with your rhythm skills? Read this article and learn how to develop a strong sense of rhythm!
Can you play piano without knowing music theory?
Yes, some people are able to learn piano simply by listening to music and then playing what they hear. They can develop an amazing capacity to memorize music and play it by ear. But, for most people, learning to play the piano only by ear would take a lot of effort and patience. While it is possible to play the piano without knowing much music theory, a knowledge of music theory greatly enhances a pianist’s abilities and understanding. It creates a deeper connection to the music as well as a capacity for more nuanced interpretation.
Make music theory a part of your piano learning and watch your performance skills grow!
Now that you have an introduction to the basics of piano music theory and resources that can help you learn those basics, you can further your understanding and advance your piano skills by integrating them into your practice routine. Always remember to have fun and keep practicing!