Top 5 Essential Practice Tools Every Pro Pianist Has

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing all of your hard piano practice pay off when you nail your winter, fall, or spring recital piece. The moment you step onto the stage, with the spotlight illuminating your presence and the audience's anticipation palpable in the air, you can feel the culmination of countless hours spent perfecting your craft. Each note you play is a testament to your dedication, perseverance, and the countless repetitions that have led you to this point.

Practice is a necessary component of mastering any musical instrument, and it holds even greater significance when preparing for a recital, where the stakes feel higher and the desire to impress is strong.

In this article I offer you tools that will not only help you during your practice time, but may also help your practice times not feel so boring and bland!

1. Metronome

Have you ever heard the saying "practice makes perfect"? Really, it should be "practice makes permanent". If you aren't practicing the correct thing, you will be able to play the wrong notes or all the wrong rhythms very well. This is why having a metronome is sooo important.

Metronomes help musicians hear where all of the rhythms are supposed to fall in a song, and it helps them stay on rhythm when they may want to speed up or slow down.

This is a must-have tool while practicing and I have all of my music students use one during their practice times.

Buy One Here:

Sondery Digital Metronome

2. Adjustable Piano Bench

A lot of people don't think you can get hurt playing piano. However, there are many things you can do to hurt your body while playing piano. One of the biggest issues among piano players is developing carpal tunnel or tendonitis. These issues can stem from improper posture while sitting at the piano.

An adjustable piano bench will set you up for success so that you won't have to deal with these physical issues later on in your piano-playing career.

Buy One Here:

Liquid Stands Piano Bench Adjustable Stool

3. Keyboard, Stand, and Foot Pedal

This might seem like a ridiculous thing to put on this list. You might say "Duh, of course you need to have a piano to practice piano!" However, I have had many parents that get piano lessons for their children without ever buying them a piano.

The Yamaha P-71 is my number one suggested practice piano. It is cheap and has decent sounds that are perfect for a starter piano.

Buy Keyboard Here:

Yamaha P-71 88 Key Keyboard

Buy Pedal Here:

Sustain Pedal for Yamaha Keyboard

Buy Keyboard Stand Here:

Amazon Basics Classic Adjustable Keyboard and Piano Single-X-Shape Stand

4. Headphones

There is not much worse than involuntarily subjecting your family to the ticking of the metronome while you smash your way through each stage of your practice pieces. Why not save them some pain and at least let the ticking be heard by you alone.

Headphones are also great when you want to practice the piano, but everyone is either asleep or tired of hearing the same songs over and over again. Some decent headphones can go a long way in making your practice time enjoyable for everyone!

Buy Some Here:

OneOdio Wired Over Ear Headphones

5. Tablet

The first thing my university had me buy for my classes was a tablet of some sort. There are countless reasons why a tablet is helpful for practice. It can store all of your favorite pieces of music without a giant binder full of paper that you have to keep track of, and you can play along to all of your favorite songs.

You can even use apps to track your practice time, setup a metronome, or even play note-reading games that increase your ability to play well and with confidence. If you would like suggestions on what some of these apps are, click here.

Buy One Here:

Apple iPad (10th Generation)

In conclusion, having the right tools can significantly enhance your piano practice sessions and help you achieve your musical goals more efficiently. Whether it's maintaining rhythm with a metronome, ensuring proper posture with an adjustable bench, practicing on a reliable keyboard, enjoying private practice with headphones, or utilizing a tablet for various educational apps, each tool plays a crucial role in your journey to becoming a proficient piano player.

Invest in these essential practice tools, and you'll find your practice sessions more productive, enjoyable, and rewarding. Happy practicing!