What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?

Many students ask me a question that goesintervals from 2nds to 9ths; developing the ability
something like this:to hear chord types and recognize them;
"What all do I have to know to be a really gooddeveloping relative pitch.
piano player?"Music Theory -- Understanding form in music,
The trouble with a question like that is that itfigured bass, notation, rhythm, etc., and how it all
ignores individual differences such as talent,works together.
motivation, freedom to practice, and a hundredSight Reading -- The ability to read a piece of
other variables.written sheet music at sight and transfer that
How much did Mozart have to know? How muchknowledge to the keyboard.
did Erroll Garner know? Mozart could play farRhythm -- The ability to understand meter and
better than I can when he was 3. And Garnertime signatures and note values; later the ability to
was barred from joining the musicians unionrecognize different rhythm patterns such as
because he couldn't read music.sambas,swing, mambo, bossa nova, and many
Does that mean I don't have to practice, sincemore.
Mozart could do it without practice? Does thatStyles -- The ability to add styles such as Alberti
mean I shouldn't learn how to read music sinceBass, Country-Western, jazz, gospel, etc. to
Garner couldn't, and it sure didn't stop him.songs.
Obviously, no.Runs & Fills -- The ability to add broken chords of
I wish I had the talent of a Garner or a Mozart,various kinds as fillers; straddles, waterfalls,
but I don't. Nowhere close. But God gave metremelo-fired runs, echos, counter-melodies, etc.
some talent, and it's that talent that I need toTransposition -- The ability to play a song in a
develop to it's maximum.different key than it was originally written.
Same with you, unless you're in a class with thoseModulation -- The ability to move from one key
guys, in which case you certainly don't need me.to another smoothly.
Back when I operated Piano University &Accompanying -- The knowledge of how to "wrap
Keyboard Workshop, we had a list of skills thatchords" around a soloist so that the soloist feels
we attempted to inculcate into our students, atsupported.
least to some degree. Here is that list:Repertoire -- Creating a list of songs one can play
Technique -- the ability of your hands to do whatat a moments notice without reference to the
your brain tells them to do.written music.
Fingering -- which finger goes where, and why,Improvisation -- The ability to make up music as
and when.you go along.
Chords -- How chords are formed and all theArranging -- The ability to put your own special
variations from major chords to minor chords,interpretaion on a song by playing it in your own
diminished chords, augmented chords, and all theway.
extensions such as 7th chords, 6th chords, minorPedaling -- The ability to pedal judiciously so that
7th chords, 9th, 11th, and 13 chords, plusyour playing is smooth but not muddled.
suspensions and alterations including flat 5ths, flatDynamics -- The skill of playing at different levels
9ths, etc.of volume so that the song carries interest.
Scales -- How a major scale is formed fromFeeling & emotion -- The ability to plug-in your
whole steps and half steps. How the 3 forms ofown feelings into a song so that the listener feels
minor scales -- natural, melodic & harmonic -- arewhat you feel.
formed. How the modal scales such as Dorian,This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but
Lydian, Mixolydian, Aolian, etc. are formed. Howit's a start. So as you play and practice, think
chromatic and whole tone scales are formed.about each of these areas individually, and focus
Ear Training -- Developing the ability to hearon improving them one at a time.