Piano and Voice Training that WORKS.

What Piano Skills do Singers Need?

What Piano Skills do Singers need thumbnail. Brenda Earle Stokes wearing a green and black shirt. Black and blue letters read What Piano Skills do Singers need? Pink border and piano keyboard.

In my 25+ year career as a pianist and vocalist, one question remains as the most asked:  What Piano Skills do Singers Need?

I have taught hundreds of singers all over the world how to find their power at the keyboard.  We have confronted their fear and shame over their lack of skills and I have created a unique method that teaches them the skills they need, in a fraction of the time.

Let's dive in and I'll show you the skills that singers need, divided up by genre.  Read through to the end and I'll give you some tips on how you can start to build these skills today!

The Exact Piano Skills that Singers Need

Piano Skills for Pop singers:

  • Play major and minor chords in 12 keys
  • Know how to play seventh chords and sus chord voicings
  • Create simple accompaniments that include a bass line in the left hand
  • Play different rhythmic grooves in good time
  • Know how to arrange pop songs
Taylor knows what piano skills singers need!

Piano Skills for Jazz singers:

Piano Skills for Music Theater singers:

  • Accompany themselves in a variety of styles
  • Play basic pop piano
  • Learn melodies and harmonies from a lead sheet
  • Fake accompaniments from their own sheet music.
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Piano Skills for Classical singers:

  • Sight read melodies in the right hand with correct articulation
  • Do simple chord analysis of scores, jotting in chord symbols
  • Play classical style accompaniments like Alberti bass and rolled adagio styles
  • Play at least 2 parts at a time of SATB choral music
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Piano Skills for Choral Conductors

  • Play 2, 3 and 4 parts at a time of SATB choral music
  • Play vocal warm-ups
  • Conduct from the piano, while playing exerpts of the score
  • Play faked accompaniments for singalongs

Piano Skills for Early Childhood Educators

  • Lead a singalong while creating simple accompaniments on the piano
  • Play and sing without looking at the keyboard (looking at student’s faces instead)
  • Improvise different moods of music for movement and interpretation

Don't be afraid to start your piano journey!

If this list looks intimidating, I promise you that it is anything but.  This list is merely a starting point: now you know what you might need to function your best as a singer at the piano.

If you have been wanting to finally tackle your piano skills once and for all, I strongly recommend Crash Course in Piano Skills for Singers.  I made this course for singers like you who want to get started and need an easy way in.

Photo of Brenda Earle Stokes overhead of the piano while she sings and plays piano. Crash Course in Piano Skills for Singers in black and pink lettering. Blue banner on the bottom that reads "Learning piano doesn't have to be hard."
Learn More

Crash Course in Piano Skills for Singers is a gentle, no-fluff, let's-get-this-done piano course that is based on the principals of my bestselling Piano Skills for Singers courses. 

The course runs live on Zoom  Thursday, June 1st at 1pm ET and Friday, June 2nd at 6pm ET and you can come to either day or both (same workshop both days).

You'll get access to the live  90 workshop, a downloadable course book and 21 day access to the replay. A STEAL at only $72.

Learn from master teacher Brenda Earle Stokes, who has helped hundreds of singers all over the world to build real skills in piano.