The Beginner’s Practice
Template
How To Structure an Effective Practice session
List of things to master.
• Major Scales
• Minor Scales (Natural, Harmonic, Melodic)
• Blocked Chords
• Broken Chords
• Arpeggios
• Ear Training
• Chord Progressions (Triads, and Seventh Chords)
• Repertoire (based on your preference)
As a beginner, your sole focus should be on learning the
fundamentals and strengthening your theoretical and
practical foundation. I strongly recommend you stick to the
Beginner’s Practice Template outlined below and get
comfortable before moving on to other materials.
This template is structured for one-hour practice sessions,
but you can scale each session-time based on your personal
preference and availability.
Categories Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Technique - • C major & G • D major & A • E major & F • Bb major & Eb
15mins major Scale
major Scale
major Scale
major Scale
Hands Separately Hands Separately Hands Separately Hands Separately
5-7 minutes total
5-7 minutes total
5-7 minutes total
5-7 minutes total
• Triads in • Triads in • Triads in • Triads in
Blocked Blocked Blocked Blocked
Chords, hands Chords, hands Chords, hands Chords, hands
separately. Pick separately. Pick separately. Pick separately. Pick
any 4 triads any 4 triads any 4 triads any 4 triads
(major or minor) (major or minor) (major or minor) (major or minor)
5-7 minutes 5-7 minutes 5-7 minutes 5-7 minutes
total. total. total. total.
Ear Training - 10 Interval recognition Interval recognition Interval recognition Interval recognition
mins using notes from using notes from using notes from using notes from
one key at time, one key at time, one key at time, one key at time,
Use only major Use only major Use only major Use only major
keys for now. keys for now. keys for now. keys for now.
Progression Key of C - I VI V Key of C - ii V I Key of C - I vi ii Key of C - I iii vi
Practice - 10mins I V I IV
Repertoire - Work on a Continue the same Continue the same Continue the same
25mins maximum of two songs until songs until songs until
songs in each completed. completed. completed.
practice session
Categories Friday Saturday Sunday
Technique - 15mins • Ab major & Db major • F# major & B major • Day Off :)
Scale
Scale
Hands Separately - 5-7 Hands Separately - 5-7
minutes total
minutes total
• Triads in Blocked • Triads in Blocked
Chords, hands Chords, hands
separately. Pick any 4 separately. Pick any 4
triads (major or triads (major or
minor) - 5-7 minutes minor) - 5-7 minutes
total. total.
Categories Friday Saturday Sunday
Ear Training - 10 mins Interval recognition Interval recognition • Day Off :)
using notes for one key using notes for one key
at at time, Use only at at time, Use only
major keys major keys
Progression Practice - Key of C - IV vi V I Key of C - V iii IV I • Day Off :)
10mins
Repertoire - 25mins Continue the same Continue the same • Day Off :)
songs until completed. songs until completed.
NOTE: Start with simple songs and start learning the chord
changes.
You can often find the chords to most songs by merely typing
into Google “Chords for (insert title of the song, and the name
of the artist).”
This is an easy way to start working on the songs you like,
however, start with the easier songs and work your way up to the
more complex.
Tips for working on songs
• Learn the lyrics and melody to the song as if you were learning
it to sing ( you don’t have to learn it entirely perfect, but know it
well enough). When you know the lyrics and melody of the
song, you’ll also understand the structure, and this is when
you’ll begin to see the harmonic and melodic patterns ( which
is a crucial skill for speed learning in the intermediate level).
• Learn how to play the melody of the song in the right hand,
and the chords in the left hand. By doing this, you’ll begin to
understand how melodies are harmonized.
• Lastly, when you feel you can play the song(s) reasonably
comfortable, trying playing along to the actual recording. If you
can do this, then you have thoroughly learned the song(s), and
it is time to move on to other songs.
Now that you’ve completed your first week of structured
practice, I’m sure you’re feeling motived, excited, and
accomplished (as you should). It's a beautiful feeling, isn’t it?
What should you do next?
Well, if you’re not feeling as comfortable as you’d like with the
materials you’ve been practicing over the past six days, then my
recommendation is that you repeat the week as many times as
needed until you are comfortable. And don’t feel bad if you need
to repeat the week, this is not a contest or a race - you’re saving
your future-self the time, energy and heartache from having to
redo this grunt work months or years from now, so take your time
to get comfortable with the material.
Once you’re comfortable ( whether it took you one week or four
weeks), then it is time to start switching out the scales, keys,
progressions, and songs for new ones. You should keep the
same practice structure, and practice new materials.
To help you dive deeper into how you can effectively execute
each category listed in the practice template, I have provided
some resources below that can all be found on my website.
Resources:
* https://pianolessonwithwarren.com/downloads/category/
beginner/*
• The Beginner’s Guide
• 12-weeks Progression practice (beginners)
• The Early Intermediate’s Guide
• Building Technique
• Seventh-Chords 12-weeks practice regimen
