First of all, why do we need to keep the fingertips firm? It is about the transfer of energy from your arms all the way to the tips of your fingers. Instead of trying to keep everything stiff, focus on which parts of your hands should stay relaxed. If your fingertips are stiff but your wrists are not relaxed, the energy cannot transfer properly. You will end up relying only on finger strength, which can eventually cause injury.

Try to direct the energy of your whole body into the piano. If you find the correct angle, your joints will align in a way that helps you stay firm without unnecessary tension. Always remember the reason behind each technique, rather than just following instructions without understanding.

Focus more on the intervals rather than the individual notes. Practice sensing the direction and flow of the music. Instead of thinking in letter names, think in terms of steps, leaps, and whether the movement is upward or downward.

Moreover, are you keeping a steady pulse? It helps you identify which sections need more attention. Do you truly understand the meter of the music?

Feel both the melodic and rhythmic space. Singing while you play is also a good practice.

Practice hands together as soon as you’ve learned the notes and rhythms. Focus on coordination early. Start with short sections and build up gradually. You can simplify or complicate the rhythm of one hand to strengthen hand independence. Sometimes, just tapping the rhythm of one hand while playing the other can also help.

You need a regular practice schedule. Many students, especially those who are really passionate about music, tend to practice a lot during certain periods but stop when they don’t feel like it. Practice is not always as enjoyable as playing music, but it helps you achieve specific goals. It is inevitable that progress sometimes feels difficult. However, if you follow an effective and consistent practice routine, your motivation will last longer as you gradually achieve harder goals, especially pieces you want to play but find challenging.

Learning music is a long journey. Think about why you loved it in the first place and why it feels hard now. You need to accept that progress takes time - just like learning a language or any new skill - but it is worth it in the end.