The Importance of Technique

How Let’s Play Music Builds Confident Musicians from the Very Beginning

When it comes to learning piano, most parents think of reading notes, playing songs, and developing a love for music. But one essential building block often gets overlooked: technique.

At Let’s Play Music, we understand that developing proper technique from the start is key to creating strong, confident, and expressive musicians. That’s why all of our programs are thoughtfully designed, whether for a curious five-year-old girl or an eager ten-year-old boy, to introduce age-appropriate piano techniques in a way that’s fun, memorable, and effective.

We don't believe in dry drills or boring repetition. Instead, we teach technique through imaginative play, movement, and discovery---because that’s how children learn best.

For Ages 5–7: Playful Foundations in Let’s Play Music

During the early years of childhood, our Let’s Play Music program helps children fall in love with music while naturally developing proper piano technique.

One of the foundational tools is the Bubble Hand, a playful way to teach the proper rounded hand shape needed for playing piano. Children begin by holding a small plastic bubble that naturally molds their hands into the ideal position: relaxed, curved, and ready to play. Through class activities and at-home practice, this physical guide helps their muscles remember what great hand position feels like. Over time, even as the bubble is removed, the almost tangible bubble imagery inspires the child to recreate the correct hand shape on their own. Paired with posture tips like "sit up tall" and "feet on the floor," students build a full-body awareness of how to sit and play with comfort and control.

Through pieces like The Caterpillar Song, an engaging finger play, our students build finger independence and strength, essential for later piano success. Even techniques like roll-offs, where students lift their hands gently after a chord, teach musicality and graceful movement from the very beginning.

Technique concepts are layered in through play and exploration, turning technique into something children look forward to rather than resist.

For Ages 8–12: Engaging Technique in Presto

Older beginners in our Presto program are ready to dive deeper into piano-playing technique, and we make sure they have a blast doing it.

We start with the basics: proper bench height, short fingernails (yes, they really do matter), and our favorite silly strength-builder, the Bubble Smash. Students create a strong rounded hand shape, then smash their fingers together to check for strength and nail length. It’s funny, but it works.

The Bubble Smash

From there, we introduce piano push-ups. "Press all five fingers into the keys…now do five push-ups without your knuckles collapsing!" These physical challenges build hand strength and control in a way that sticks.

Piano Push-ups for Ages 8-12

Then comes one of our most exciting lessons: the Puppet Arms. Using the concept of a marionette puppet, students learn to release tension and feel "dead weight" in their arms. We guide them to discover how loose, relaxed wrists create fluid, natural movement at the piano. It's a moment of magic when they feel the technique click.

Puppet Arms for Ages 8-12

We even turn it into a game: "Touch my hand with your wrist…lower…there you go!" These simple, in-the-moment corrections help make technique click and stay with them.

Why Technique Matters (Even at Age 5!)

Proper technique isn’t just about "looking good" at the piano. It’s about more important things:

• Creating beautiful tone

• Preventing injury and strain

• Building confidence in every note

• Setting the stage for future musical growth

At Let’s Play Music, we’re proud to teach technique in a way that feels like play but delivers real, lasting results. From the Bubble Hand to puppet arms, we’re giving students imagery and tools they need to become expressive, capable, and joyful musicians.

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