Welcome to LivingPianos.com. I’m Robert Estrin. This is one of the most important concepts you can apply to your piano practice: you need to think in words. That might sound strange at first. After all, when you’re playing music, especially in performance, you want to let go of verbal thought and just feel the music. You want to be in a state of flow. But when you’re practicing, it’s a different story.
Where Verbal Thinking Matters Most
There is one critical time when using words can make all the difference. That’s the moment between repetitions. After you’ve played something once, before you play it again, you should pause and clearly state what you want to be different. Use real, concrete language. Say it out loud if it helps.
Too often, I see students finish a phrase, realize it didn’t sound quite right, and immediately dive back in. But they haven’t taken the time to figure out what they’re actually trying to improve. They’re just hoping the next try will be better. Do you ever find yourself doing that?
Define What Needs to Change
Let’s say you’ve just played a phrase. The notes were correct, but it sounded flat and lifeless. Before you try again, stop and think: what could make it better? You might say, “I want to add a gentle decrescendo at the end of this phrase.” That gives your next repetition a clear purpose.
Maybe after trying again, you realize it still needs work. Now you might say, “I want the phrase to start softer, build gradually, then fall away at the end.” This is how real musical shaping happens—by clearly defining your goals, one step at a time.
Repeating Without Intention Doesn’t Help
Mindless repetition is one of the biggest mistakes students make. If you play something over and over without deciding what needs to change, you’re often just reinforcing bad habits. Even if it sounds better by chance, how will you know what worked if you weren’t sure what you were aiming for? That’s why thinking in words matters so much. It forces you to practice with intention.
Practice with a Clear Mindset
Whenever you’re practicing to improve something, stop after each attempt and ask yourself: what do I want to change? Be specific. Don’t just say, “I want it to sound better.” Say, “I want a smoother legato,” or “I need to bring out the melody more in the right hand.” This simple habit transforms your practice. It makes every repetition count. You’ll waste less time, and your progress will be much more focused.
Let Yourself Just Play—But Know the Difference
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with just sitting down and playing for enjoyment. I do that too. It’s one of the joys of being a pianist! But when you’re practicing, draw a clear line. Practice is where you stop, reflect, and decide what you want to improve. Let that guide each repetition.
Try this in your next practice session. Pause between attempts, speak your intentions in clear words, and see how much more effective your work becomes. It’s a small change that can lead to big results.
If you’re curious about how I teach these concepts in more depth, click here for more resources.
Once again, I’m Robert Estrin, and this is LivingPianos.com—Your Online Piano Resource. Thanks so much for joining me.