3 Reasons Why Tune-based Learning is the Best Way for Adults to Learn Piano

As an adult, you might feel like you missed your chance to learn how to play an instrument like the piano. But it's never too late to start! In fact, learning how to play the piano can bring numerous benefits to your life, from improving your cognitive skills to reducing stress.

If you're an adult considering taking up piano lessons, you might be wondering what the best approach is. Should you start by learning music theory and scales, or should you jump right into playing tunes? In this blog post, we'll explain why learning tunes is the best way for adults to learn the piano.

1. Tunes are more motivating than scales and exercises

Let's face it: scales and music theory exercises can be a bit boring. They're important for building a solid foundation on the piano, but they don't always provide the immediate satisfaction that comes with playing a recognizable tune.

On the other hand, learning tunes allows you to see progress much more quickly. You can pick a song that you love and work towards playing it from start to finish. This can be a great source of motivation, as you'll feel a sense of accomplishment each time you learn a new section of the tune.

In addition, learning tunes gives you the opportunity to play music that you actually enjoy listening to. This can make your practice sessions more enjoyable, as you're not just going through the motions of playing scales or exercises.

2. Tunes can help you learn music theory and technique more effectively

While scales and exercises are important for building technique and understanding music theory, they can also be a bit abstract. It's hard to see how they relate to actual music when you're just playing them on their own.

On the other hand, learning tunes allows you to apply the music theory and technique you're learning in a more practical way. When you learn a tune, you'll be able to see how the various elements of music theory and technique come together to create a cohesive piece of music.

For example, as you learn a tune, you might find that you need to work on your finger independence or your ability to play in different time signatures. By focusing on a specific tune, you'll be able to see exactly how these skills are used in the context of a piece of music, which can make them easier to understand and master.

3. Tunes can help you develop your own musical style

Finally, learning tunes is a great way to develop your own musical style. When you start by learning scales and exercises, you might feel like you're just going through the motions and not really expressing yourself through the music.

On the other hand, when you learn tunes, you can experiment with different ways of playing them and find your own voice on the piano. You can try adding your own ornamentation or playing around with the rhythm to make the tune your own.

This process of personalizing the music you play can be a rewarding and satisfying experience, and it can help you develop a deeper connection to the music you're making.

How can you learn to play more tunes?

In conclusion, learning tunes is the best way for adults to learn the piano for a number of reasons. It's more motivating than scales and exercises, it allows you to learn music theory and technique in a more practical way, and it gives you the opportunity to develop your own musical style. So if you're an adult considering taking up piano lessons, don't be afraid to jump right in and start learning tunes as a member of our VIRTUOSO Piano Club!