Creating a Piano Practice Room that Inspires!
Perhaps you're lucky enough to have a whole room dedicated to playing piano. Or maybe your piano shares a wall in your living or dining room. Or maybe you don't yet have a piano and your practice space is just the corner of your bedroom, where your keyboard sits.
Whatever you've got, you can use your piano practice room to add inspiration and motivation to your practicing. Really!
Think about it a moment: wouldn't it be great to walk by your piano or keyboard, and be so uplifted by what you see that you just can't wait to sit down and play?
Step one -- clean!
Any decorator or feng shui expert will tell you the wonders of a good cleaning! Your room will feel lighter, more open, and more inviting instantly.
I know it's not glamorous. But cleaning truly is the first step toward an amazing practice space.
Vacuum, dust, and get rid of cobwebs. Sort and organize music, books, and CDs. Get yourself a pencil holder (and some good pencils) and a basket for your metronome, sticky notes, and whatever else you like to keep around your piano.
Step two -consider your style.
Now your room is sparkling. What next?
Think about your style. What kind of room (or corner!) would inspire your practice? What would motivate and energize you?
Maybe you love jazz. A bold wall color, a couple of posters of jazz greats, and an old, cheap instrument from a pawn shop mounted on the wall. Instant character!
Crave a retreat? Soft green walls, plenty of plants, and maybe a water fountain on a small table. Instant spa!
Perhaps modern and contemporary fits you. White walls, a few modern piano prints in simple black frames, no clutter, and a rug with a geometric pattern.
The possibilities are really endless -- it's all about what you love.
Step three -- get creative!
You don't need a lot of money to create your dream piano practice room!
A gallon of paint and a Saturday afternoon can transform your space. Paint the room or just a wall! If you're artistic, you could create a mural.
Scour thrift shops and garage sales for frames, old music, and album covers to put. You'll also find fabric to make bench cushions, a decorative runner for the top of the piano, or a keyboard cover.
Head to an art supply store and pick up a blank canvas. Paint it or make a collage. A small bookshelf can hold music and supplies. Cork tiles can give you an instant bulletin board for pictures and motivational quotes!
You're on your way!
An inspiring piano practice room is a joy to be in. And being happy makes for great practicing!
Kimberly Luker is a studio owner, piano and flute teacher, and webmaster of You Can Play Piano! - a friendly, informative site full of resources to get you playing piano and loving it. She believes that everyone is deeply and naturally musical -- including you!
For more creative piano practice room ideas, visit Your Piano Practice Room at You Can Play Piano! And while you're there, sign up for our free newsletter, PianoForte!