One of the biggest mistakes in learning to play piano is prioritizing songs over skills.

If you are really particular about what music you're willing to learn, you'll often spend more time picking music than practicing, and you might be inclined to play music that you are not ready for yet.

In other words, you might end up wasting a lot of time.

When you are learning, prioritize skills over songs.

Pianists who are very "song centered" end up denying themselves the chance to improve their reading and practicing abilities. They also miss out on much needed exposure from different musical ideas.

If you really want to focus on building your skills and becoming a better musician, you'll need to adjust your priorities when learning music.

#1. Focus on learning as many accessible pieces as possible.

When you are learning, you need level-appropriate experience. This means you should play a lot of music that you find accessible (notes and rhythms in 3 weeks or less) and don't worry so much about how each piece sounds.

#2. Let the music make an impression on you.

You will find many pieces enjoyable if you take the time to figure them out.

Learning how a piece is constructed can significantly increase your interest in that piece, and you will be better for it.

#3. Focus on the skills.

Every piece is a chance to practice reading, phrasing, memorization, balance between the hands, rhythm, and so on. Seek to uncover the musical essence from every piece, and you'll unlock better skills as a result.

Use every piece as an opportunity to improve your skills and you will realize your potential as a musician.