How is piano training helpful for producers?

Answer 1

While I certainly know many music producers who can't play the piano, this doesn't mean you shouldn't know something about the piano. In music production, the more you know, the better.

Answer 2

Learning piano in an ideal way would include learning music theory. Learning music theory is incredibly valuable to a producer so that you know you are making good choices when you come up with your melodies, chords, and other ideas. For instance, a producer with no music theory training might have a song in the key of E minor but come up with a melody in the key of C major, not realizing why that doesn't work or knowing how to fix it.

Piano proficiency also helps you play your MIDI controller in a fluid, faster, and more accurate way. Technique learned in piano translates directly to your MIDI controller. Overall, the best producers are the best musicians and there's no better way to become a great musician than to become a proficient pianist in multiple genres.

Answer 3

1. Advanced MIDI controller finger aptitude. There's just so much more a pianist can do with a MIDI keyboard, using all of its 88 keys and playing techniques, than a producer tweaking the same 7 notes of a digital piano and manipulating them in the DAW.
2. Exposure to repertoire nurtures creative imagination, and learning to play it nurtures improvisation
3. Concepts between the two fields are transferrable. For instance, crescendo and diminuendo hair pins in scores translate to automation in production. Similarly, gain staging principles s in production apply to principles of dynamic control in piano performance.
4. The list goes on. See me in lessons to discuss further ;)