“The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.” – Thelonious Monk
Setting realistic and achievable goals is one of the best ways I’ve found to progress on the piano. Small steps really do add up to huge leaps over time. Now that the first month of the year has passed, I’m checking in on my piano journey and setting clear, achievable goals to keep myself on track.
Whether I want to improve my scales, chords, repertoire, or theory knowledge, practicing with Skoove helps me reach my goals in an enjoyable and structured way. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are the goals I’ve set for myself this year!
- Fall in love with the music - Learn your favorite songs, at a level suitable for you.
- Enjoy interactive piano lessons - Explore courses covering music theory, technique chords & more.
- Get real-time feedback - Skoove's feedback tells you what went well and what needs practice.
My piano learning goals as an adult beginner
Learning how to play piano as an adult beginner can be a difficult task. Between work, family, and social life, it can be tough to find consistent practice time. Some weeks, I manage to play daily, while others, I barely get to touch the keys. But I’ve realized that the key to progress is setting goals that I can actually stick to.
Mastering all 12 major scales
“When you play, never mind who listens to you.” – Robert Schumann
One of my main goals is to learn all 12 major scales by the end of the year. Since scales are the foundation of melodies, mastering them helps me play more fluently and confidently.
To keep things manageable, I’m focusing on one scale per month. That gives me enough time to get comfortable with the finger patterns, improve my speed, and incorporate them into my playing.
Learning major and minor triads in every key
Since I’m already working on scales, I want to go a step further and learn the major and minor triads in all 12 keys. Chords are the building blocks of music, and knowing them well helps me understand how songs are structured.
By practicing all seven triads in each key, I’ll be able to play more freely and experiment with different harmonies.
Strengthening my rhythm skills
Rhythm is just as important as melody and harmony, so I’m making it a priority this year. I’ve often found myself struggling with tricky rhythms, so I’m setting a structured plan to improve.
For the first few months, I’m focusing on recognizing and counting basic note values like whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes. Then, I’ll work on different time signatures like 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8. By the end of the year, I hope to have a much stronger sense of timing.
Learning one new song each month
I love the idea of expanding my repertoire, so I’ve set a goal to learn one new song every month. With Skoove’s library of over 400 lessons, I have plenty of choices, whether I’m in the mood for pop, classical, or jazz.
By the end of the year, I’ll have at least 12 new songs in my collection, giving me a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going.
Performing at least once this year
Performing in front of others is something I’ve always found a bit intimidating, but I know it’s a great way to grow as a musician. This year, I’m challenging myself to perform at least once, whether it’s for friends and family, at an open mic, or even recording a video of myself playing.
Preparing for a performance pushes me to refine my skills and boosts my confidence.
Final thoughts
By setting clear and achievable goals, I’m making steady progress in my piano journey. Learning piano isn’t about reaching perfection, it’s about enjoying the process, staying consistent, and finding joy in every note I play.
No matter where you are in your piano journey, I hope my goals inspire you to set your own and keep moving forward. Now, time to get back to the keys! 🎵
Author of this blog post
Eddie Bond is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and music instructor currently based in Seattle, Washington USA. He has performed extensively in the US, Canada, Argentina, and China, released over 40 albums, and has over a decade experience working with music students of all ages and ability levels.
