How to play a new song

Hello
When practicing a new song, should you first listen to a recording of how the song should sound or should you try to first play from the sheet and then compare it to the recording?

First listen to one (or more) recordings of how the song should sound. You will get an idea of how it is supposed to sound. Well more about how to start of learning a piece in a good way can be found in the Fundamentals of Piano Practice (mainly these parts):
http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.II.4
http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.II.5
http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.II.6

Anon wrote:Hello
When practicing a new song, should you first listen to a recording of how the song should sound or should you try to first play from the sheet and then compare it to the recording?

I guess that's up to you. For myself, it's easier to know what the piece is supposed to sound like first so I will listen to a couple of versions. Everything is on You Tube, so it's a great resource for that.

However, a few times I've tried just going from the sheet. I've learned a lot from those experiences, so it's worth doing every now and then. Also, I would eventually listen to a recording of it and discover that I read *something* wrong, so at the beginning stages it does help to listen first!

I'm not so good at counting beats, so I usually listens to a few recordings, then while playing it I add my own sound to it, or atleast I try.

I usually only learn to play pieces that I already know and like (to listen to), which makes learning a piece much easier. If I do get interested in a piece I haven't really heard before, I will listen to it and get familiar with it before I try to play it too. If I don't know how it is supposed to sound, how would I know whether I'm playing it right or wrong? Also, I find that it is easier to read the sheet, if I know where the tune is going.

I was thinking that perhaps it is better to first try to figure out how to play the song from a sheet. This way, you have to create the rhythm and place the notes correctly. By listening to a recording, you play the song in your head as you play it on keyboard. It's not much practice in keeping to a rhythm. What do you guys think?

Why not give it a try both ways? Two different songs, two approaches.

When we play "piano solo", I think we all "interpret" the music, that is to say we play it the way we feel it or like it, as we "have it in our head". I don't think that is wrong. Professional pianists do that too (not that I would dare compare myself to any of those), and everybody play a piece differently. But yes, we should practice keeping to a rhythm. I usually do that by playing modern pieces to some rhythm on the keyboard, both fun and practice at the same time

For me it is clear that it's better to start with the sheet music! You show your true interpretation, not a copy of another one!
If you always play with the help of a recording, then what do you do if you have to play something that had never been recorded before?...