Can you Teach yourself Piano? My Self-Taught Piano Journey + Tips for Beginners!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- This week I talk about exactly how I taught myself to play the piano. Since I am self taught at the instrument I also provide important tips for anyone starting out who are planning to learn the piano through the self study route.
Ask me questions here: / jackykuah
Hello! I'm Jacky a 3rd year student at Monash University majoring in Software Development. I enjoy making videos about entrepreneurship, tech, and random videos that I like sharing! Subscribe if you want to see more of my content :)
I've been teaching myself the piano for a year as of now, I've made many many mistakes and developed lots bad habits. I talk about some of the most important tips that beginners should know before starting. I talk about whether you should self learn the piano or not as well as the advantages and disadvantages of being a self taught pianist.
I'm making a series to help you learn the Piano yourself! The first video is now LIVE!
th-cam.com/video/PjIhTWUui1A/w-d-xo.html
I am a self taught pianist. I took 3 lessons to learn the note names and scales then i quit and watched youtube and watched performances. I just finished the Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 by Liszt. If you’re willing to learn and put in effort then you can achieve anything on your own.
this motivated me a lot. thank you
Yes to your path. I was in band since 6th grade, learned to read sheet music which helps to advance. Now at 65, my life goal is to play piano to soothe my soul and have my own creative skill of piano. I hope you’re still doing you.
Did you also learn to read sheet music?
Thank you so much for words ofel encouragement 🤗❤️
In my case, I started from note name and music theories on youtube about a week and start my challenge with Ballade No.1 in G minor, it took me 6 months of effort to kinda "finish" the piece, I didn't regret at all and actually addicted.
I took piano lessons in elementary school, and now i’m in high school and want to re-learn and this has definitely helped!
Glad you found it useful!
Same!
Same!
I reccomend learning to read music, as it will make things so much easier in the long run. If you forget how to play a piece completely by memory, it really helps to have the sheet music to follow. I reccomend for self teaching, use Alfred Adult All in One Book and also the Bastian Adult Book. They are very inexpensive. As an adult, learning to understand how to read music notes is the easier part. It is training your brain and fingers to multitask both hands doing different things at the same time that is the hardest, and looks like you have done an amazing job of overcoming that obstacle so far. Keep up the good work.
Hi Amy, thanks so much for the advice! I’m actually looking into learning sheet music, I’ll definitely take a look at those books! And agree, multitasking is quite difficult especially at the start!
@@JackyKuah Staff Wars, an app for IOS and Android is a great fun way to learn notes! Honestly would highly recommend you learn to read music!
@@MsRiverdee is music theory necessary to learn to read sheet music? If so do you have any resources for that
@@edwardjarvis3442 There are literally hundreds of videos on TH-cam which will cover any music theory you need to learn. You really need to understand the values of the notes and time signatures to deal with timing of a piece and when you are familiar with those start to learn scales. When you ask is music theory necessary it really depends on the complexity of the piece you want to learn. Chopin, yes, a nursery rhyme, probably not! Start here: th-cam.com/video/168Y5HiYeFw/w-d-xo.html
@@edwardjarvis3442 i used ABRSM music theory Grade 1 from the very beginning... i find that invaluable - IMO... learning theory will mean full understanding of a score -
Learning scales and cords correctly is so important. I made sure I knew the correct fingering as its very important to move around the keyboard fluidly.
Very important indeed! Nice tips :)
one of the things you should rethink is the notion of "correct" fingering as everyone's hands are different with varying degree of flexibility and reach. this is especially important when you are self learning and might get so hung up on the "correct" fingering which might not be what is proper for you which might lead to frustration at best, and injuries at worst. a good teacher would be able to suggest alternatives to make the experience better.
you said it very well, the so called "correct" fingering comes about by taking into context the different phrases and designated to allow fluid movement. so achieving that fluid motion, while hopefully maintaining some level of consistency in fingering, is the fundamental aim. also to note that fingering are typically based on what the editor thinks is the best route around the keyboard and different editors could have different take on it.
I hope i've made it clear that I dun disagree with the need to be mindful of fingering position, but at the same time to be a little flexible if need be. the aim ultimately is to make music without hurting ourselves, not replicating somebody's else playing
@@ferexx r
Thanks for dropping by! I would really appreciate it if you could scroll back up and leave a like! :)
Got it!
Sorry I can't understand the phrase 'scroll back up,can you explain?
I don’t understand how people can play only 15-20 minutes/day and expect to see improvement. Maybe it’s just me. As an adult learner I am finally able to commit to consistent practice since taking an early retirement and I practice a minimum of 1.5-2 hours a day/ 7 days a week. It takes me 15-20 minutes just to do warm up Hanon exercises, scales, chords, and arpeggios. Then I move on to 2-3 songs that I’m learning and then work on refining pieces I’ve already learned. I’m not sure if I would see improvement with just 15 minutes/day.
Thank you this makes a lot of sense, I’m 13 and I’ve been wanting to play for a lot of years and I’m currently trying to learn piano by myself
Good luck! Wish you the best :)
Me too,well I'm 14 tho lol
same!
Same, I want to get a piano for my birthday (31st of this month) and I was thinking "what am I going to do next if I do get a piano?" because im really shy and get really nervous around people that I don't know so I would prefer to not have a teacher and learn watching people on youtube, but even If i don't get a piano I will still continue to see videos like this
Same im 13 and also learning by my self, But I dont know if I will make it, I have been trying for 6 months and can play well, but I dont have inuff support. we cerently dont have money for lessons and most of the time I cant learn by TH-cam because were we live does not have good network. Also I have a grand trobules with my life so im getting discuraged and I feel like I will never learn anything with the lack of my life. I will still keep trying, but I hope I will keep
going.
I didn't even know that is possible to learn playing the piano without sheet reading. Thanks for that video anyways it motivates a lot
Thanks so much for the comment Anastasia!
it's 3.31 am and I woke up, decided to learn Piano by myself coz I don't like to learn under pressure and your video helped a lot! I'll get a keyboard with pedals first and then buy an upright when I moved further!
Thank you so much, Jacky! Have a blessed new year ahead! T-T
Thanks so much for the lovely comment! All the best with your learning and Happy New Years!
So happy I found this video. Keeps me motivated :)
I play 2 other instruments, but quit piano 4-5 years ago lol but I wanna pick it up again for fun
Highly recommend it haha it’ll be worth it!
Thanks for the useful advice. I'm 20 and I love piano. I haven't taken any lessons but you inspire me learn piano byself
No problems! Thanks so much for the comment it really means a lot to me :)
I feel really inspired, thank you for sharing!
Glad it helped! Appreciate the comment:)
I've always wanted to learn the piano and this helped me out, thank you. :D
Glad it helped :)
It really does make sense to go back to the beginning when you are young etc... learn to read music!
No
Great advice , I will be starting my piano journey.
Great to hear!
Thank you so so much for this man, it's helped a lot
Glad to hear it!
Mate... You are rocking it. Haters are not. Keep smashing the videos brother. And so it goes....
Thanks Mate, appreciate the comment really means a lot!
i think the part about doing research applies not just for self learners, but even those who are under tutorage. it is extremely important for people to seek more resources, i mean we do that for most of the things we learn, so why not music.
this opinion of mine might not be the most popular, but a lot of teachers in music schools are not trained in proper pedagogy and are just following what they have experienced in their own learning to teach their students. just because they can play doesn't necessarily mean they can teach.
so even adults learners who are under instruction should make it a point to read up on more information, particularly resources from renowned pedagogues, and work with the instructor to create a good learning roadmap.
Best comment ever. Definitely agree and also something that most people don’t do and should start doing!
Great video. Thanks for the advice.
Glad it was helpful!
Omg I’m 20 RN and u starting at 20 is really inspiring
Thanks for the help brother
Glad it helped :)
Thank you so much for your help bro, I am a beginner and just started out
No probs bro
Playground piano has a good lessons plan if u want to learn how to read note/ music theory. As u progress, u can unlock Hanon exercises to get ur fingers to work independently. I got a teacher before, they also suggested Hanon exercises, they are boring, but they do help finger 4, 5. Life time subscription is about $200 for all lessons.
This is a good advice. I like learning piano too
Appreciate the comment!
Nice sir !! Awesome !!
Thanks 🙏
This video is amazing Jacky, thanks for sharing your experience. However, I have to tell you this: never is too late to learn to sight read. Just as improvising is helpful to release stress and start to understand music as a language, reading sheet music is a transferable skill that enables you to easily translate an abstract symbol into an action. Also, it helps you to improve your musical ear. I have seen several videos and some experts do recommend to actually start reading very basic sheet music even if you play at an intermediate level like you. So don´t worry about that. Perfect Ear is a good app to start with, and then going with Czerny studies, these are really good (even when they were composed to work on technique they are very musical) and scaffolded by difficulty. Just like playing, is a matter of patience, but is rewarding and, yes, it ends up feeling like a superpower
Thanks so much for your advice, appreciate it! You are definitely right, I’ve been focusing more on learning sheet music recently and it has definitely made a difference!
Thank you for this motivation 🥰
Me starting to learn piano🌚
Let’s go!
I’ve had mine for more than 6 months but now I’m learning how to play and I’m super committed
@@mixedemotions8141 good luck! 👍
@@mixedemotions8141 I just ordered mine :D
I'm gonna use this video once I find my piano that I had not use in a lot of months
I have had my piano there untouched for A real long time and I hope this time I will actually learn to play it
Good luck!
Great going!!
Thanks!
Great video Jacky. Nice video quality also
Thanks!
Helpful! I'm subscribed :)
Very cool. I work with a lot of adult self learners and it seems like you did some incredible work! I’d love to see more videos about your piano journey. Are you still playing???
Hi Ashlee, thanks for reaching out! Definitely will be working on more progress update videos in the future! I'm still playing but not as consistent as I used to be!
Thanks for sharing your experience Jacky!
One of my biggest problems when playing the piano is that I simply can't find a way to sit right as I'm too tall for most pianos, including my own ;)
Glad you enjoyed it! Haha I’m sure you’ll find a way around it!
lol! Im self-taught at piano. I knew nothing and didnt search up any tutorials but im actually doing pretty good! I think that my self taught completely self taught ( no help AT ALL) was a good idea. That my opinion
i love this canon
Thanks!
Beautiful
Wow, love it. You have a great talent.
New follower
Thanks man 🙏
Thanks this is inspiring
Thanks!
Good video! It's well organized and clear
Thank you!
Badiya bachcha hai ..lets put the like! 😀👍
Thanks for this! I've been considering paying for lessons just for the accountability but you're right, it's expensive! ($75/hr!)
Your videos are very interesting to watch :D
Thanks so much 🙏
Thanks for the video!!! I'm a 15 year old who is learning Guitar, Drums and Singing. I wan't to add piano to that!
Damn that’s really impressive. Good luck with your learning!
I am learning by myself and I'm 16. I ask my mom if I can do piano classes but she said no because I need to focus more studies.
There are a number of teachers online showing you different things. And then there are student performances. You get info from different people and put them together like pieces of the puzzle.
That’s right! 😊
Do you have a link?
@@rouahejazi2514 Piano from Scratch is very good at teaching the basics.
Edit: I just found another channel that does a good job teaching--Piano Roadmap. Maybe they'll be helpful for you.
I started my piano journey this year at 15 attending classes once a week for a month (to know the basics posture,notes,sight reading etc) and then started my self taught journey i have Alfreds adult all in one course book and a few more books given by my teacher (Abrsm grade 1 books) currently still going strong! My dream is to play Chopin Ballade, no.1, in g minor
I use a digital piano Yamaha p-125 bought second hand for a good price :D
As a five year piano player, I advise to read sheet music, it will pay off in the long run
For sure! My biggest mistake was not learning sheet music at the start I reckon….
What is sheet music
@@divyabksunar1986 Notes, they look like this>🎵🎶
Agree 100% -
@@JackyKuah yes i did not want to make that mistake...having a teacher from the start ensured of that... i recall my very first lesson... learning EGBDF and FACE score to keyboard - I had the notes for treble clef and bass cleft written out on manuscript paper propped up on the piano for many weeks! They I started learning to read the ledger line notes...and match to keys... started Grade 1 theory on the 2nd lesson and this helped me understand note lengths...rests... time sigs etc... this meant that I was able to learn pieces I liked outside of my lessons... for example... I liked Clementi Sonatina and this is recorded on my youtube channel...I learned from the score with almost no help... If i did not learn to read / study theory... I can't imagine being able to learn it... I am working through the rest of those Sonatinas with the scores...
Mahalo for sharing!!! Caitlin
Good tips
thanks!
Let’s goooooo!
🙌🙌
Thx
Love these tips!! Is there a specific piano model you could recommend that is worth the investment? Thanks! :)
I’ve been using the Yamaha ydp163 since the start and can recommend it for sure. It’s good for beginners and it’s got everything you need like full 88 quality weighted keys, sustain petal etc.. Since I’ve progressed, I’m looking to upgrade to an acoustic piano though...
@@JackyKuah Thank you! That one does look really good to start with. I was looking at the Kawai ES110 keyboard or the B Series Silent Pianos but can’t decide which is best to start with! 😄
Subscribed..!
Hi, I’m also trying to learn the piano, do you have any advice on how to control both hands to each play a different melody?
I would personally do hand independence exercises, just search it up on youtube. It helped me out alot!
How did you learn to play by ear?
Hey, what keyboard did you use when you started learning? Thanks!
Currently using the Yamaha YDP 163, nearly 1.5 years now
Wow you are so underrated
Thanks! Really means a lot!
im currently on my day 2 of teaching my self piano. im learning and practicing fur elise, i now know the first part of fur elise by memory and now trying to teach myself to be consistent but when you said you practiced the whole song before trying to be good i doubted. should i continue practicing the first part of the piece to be flawless at it before learning the rest or should i just practice the whole piece until it becomes a muscle memory and just try to get better at it after learning the whole piece?
2nd Day? Do you even know your notes
Definitely get better at the first part, it’ll help you learn the other parts much faster as you’ll find there is a lot of repetition with the left hand.
I think this is a good example of how self taught can run into problems
If you don't mind me asking, how's your piano playing going? Did you learn to fully play fur elise?
2nd day playing piano and learning fur elis???
i jus really wanna play moonlight Sonata
I want to learn but watching all youtube vids and hearing my own thought, they confuse me lol.
To me learning to play a music on a piano is memorizing how it sounds and how it's played on the piano. it can come from memorizing how someone plays like tutorials on youtube, or being able to read a sheet music myself. The sheet music itself can be from those sprout sheet music or in letters/numbers, but at the end of the day it is to know how a song sounds and how it's played on the keyboard, then map it in the brain, doesnt matter where it comes from (read or watch) and output it to fingers/hands coordination on the piano.
Sometimes even if I don't actually know the notes but if my hands know how to play it in a way, I can play that part. It's really weird feeling for a beginner, because then some other notes I need to know exactly where it's located on the piano especially when it's the beginning of a music part. In the end I'm confused. >_
Hey, I definitely know what you mean. I’ve been there before and honestly you just need to find a way that works for you there isn’t a right or wrong way of playing the piano. Just because you take a non standard approach to learn the instrument doesn’t mean anything. If you memorise and play and it works then stay with it, who cares what others think. You’re the one playing the piano at the end of the day so just take it natural and things will pan out :)
You're totally right, like Im learning Yiruma piece and the fingering is too stretched out so I change the fingering that fits my own reach. Hahah and it works better for me. Thanks for the encouragement and tips.
I agree with a couple points but not all... playing by ear / watching vid tutorials will always be more difficult than reading and playing from a score once the pieces are advanced... this happened to my sister... after 6 years and next to no theory...trying to play Debussy's Claire de Lune and using a score she could not understand (imo... if a person aims to learn advanced pieces..reading the sheet music has an enormous advantage)... i know this from my daughter who has been playing for 17years.)..
hey I'm 13, and I've been trying to teach myself piano, whenever I look at a piece of music, and it seems to complicated, I click off the video and stop playing for a week. is there any way to avoid that?
Ohh I definitely know what you mean, it’s really not motivating when you can’t play what you want. I really recommend you to play a piece that is at your current level or only slightly harder, if you jump too ahead of yourself it will take you much longer to learn the piece. This extra time needed is often what turns people off because we don’t see results as quick! Hope this helps :)
You should get the Alfred all in one book, level 1… it’s helped me with motivation and I’m sure it’ll help you too! Learning music theory is very helpful in the long term :)
Haha bro im in the same boat as u but i learned yann tirasenn comptine from amilie and i cant seem to find what i want to play next
U may like Ludovico Enaufio - I Giorni or Nivole Bianche...
Hello Jacky, what piano type/ brand/ model are you using there?
Hello, I’m currently using a digital Piano from Yamaha. The model code is YDP-163
What is the first piece called? I know the piece but just can't remember the name..
The first piece is Canon in D!
Great Video, Jacky.
In passing, I didn't know piano jokes existed till I heard this one:
Doctor to patient with broken wrist: "I'm afraid you'll need an operation for that."
Patient: "Will I be able to play the piano when I recover?"
Doctor: "Yes, of course you will."
Patient: "Well, that's great - I've never been able to play the piano."
Thanks Thomas!
Haha that sounds like an old time classic, love it!
Hi, I'm really inspired by ur progress! How do u improve your left hand coordination, I can never make my left hand do it's own part, it always messes up or syncs with the right hand.
I struggled with that at the beginning as well, one thing that helped alot was doing hand independence exercises (just search for it on youtube). Hope it helps :)
hi! i’m really wanting to purchase a keyboard for under $300 or around, i can’t afford a bunch and been saving my money up for a year. what do you recommend? i’m new to everything, and i know it isn’t quite the same as an actual piano :)
I would recommend a full size 88 key piano with weighted keys and a sustain pedal as a minimum requirement. I would look at discounted keyboards that has these otherwise save up a bit more, anything less is honestly not going to get you too far from personal experience. Hope this helps!
@@JackyKuah Would a Donner DEP - 10 be good for beginning?
Hey! What kind of piano do you have(brand, name, etc.)?
I use the Yamaha YDP-163
what's the piano piece you played at 7:52? It sounds so familiar
I believe it’s called Summer by Joe Hisaishi
What is that song he is playing at the beginning of the video? Please...
Canon in D
@@JackyKuah Thank you. I love this song. Starting to practice now...
What’s the song you were playing in the beginning?
The song name is Canon in D
How do you remember the songs you want to play ?
This is the down side of not learning to read music - i forgot a piece (out of many i have learned) for the life of me I could not remember the notes in several bars... i went in my folder and pulled out the score... sorted... my folder has every piece i have learned... pieces I am currently learning (i usually have 5 pieces in progress) and several inspiration pieces for the future that I will learn when at that level) - this is the great advantage of reading music...
So how do you play hard songs without sheet music? How is that even possible?
I can, but takes ages. I mostly improvise after learning the chords and basic melody line.
It is clearly 100 times better to learn to read the music the composers of past that we love...wrote
Hearing you how you learned what you did. I don't feel bad now because I have been doing the same thing. I thought I was all wrong.
Thank you
haha its probably not the best way to learn, but definitely works so cant be wrong right :D
I wish I learned the piano without sheet music, it must be a good training for memory and playing by ear. I am pretty good at sight reading, I can play from the sheet music, but I can't remember any complete pieces. When I sit down at a piano without my sheet music, I can only play parts of a song then blank, blank...
Learning to play by ear is definitely fun and good memory training, but l still wish I can read sheet music. I’m actually learning it right now, there’s pros and cons for both I guess 😅
@@JackyKuah imo... learning the theory of music has immense advantages - as a 1.5 years beginner... I I bought the score for Clementi Sonatinas (0p36 no 3) which is about grade 3... I learned to play it in several weeks using my theory / score reading emerging skills)... my daughter who has played for 17 years...sight read and played it on the spot... without those skills...she would never have been able to play it instantly...and after a few plays...accurately (this all from high level of understanding of theory and score reading over the 17 years)... it will always be a great advantage -
What is the name of the piece you played in the beginning
Its Canon in D
What’s the song he played in the start
The song at the beginning is Canon in D
Do you recommend any youtube channels or books?
I can mention a couple for you to check out--Piano Roadmap and Piano from Scratch are two TH-cam channels that I think do a good job of teaching the basics--I can't judge above that because that's where I am now. I have lots of books but I find they just don't work that well. It would be like learning to drive from reading a book--you'd learn some stuff but it wouldn't translate into being a real driver. Best wishes.
What piano & model please 🙏
Yamaha YDP163
Major Gem
Thanks 🙏
Which piano do you have ?
I’m using the yamaha ydp163
You don’t seem to read music when playing ? Do you read music?
I’m only a beginner at sheet music, I can’t read and play at the same time but I’m working on it! Hopefully that helps!
@@JackyKuahhaving a teacher helped me with this ten fold...now I barely look at my hands and read as I play...learning from tutorials eventually hampers progress as people end up learning this way and either never learn to read music...or avoid learning..instead returning to YT tutorials...after 3 and a half years I have never used YT. always sheet music no matter how hard...theres no short cuts...
Hi how did you find what to play? Like classical music
Hi, l literally just listen to a lot of different types of piano music and found my preference. Then searched up the songs I wanted to learn and followed tutorials 😊
Yeah u absolutely right! Situation matters! ... Chori ke paisso se toh humne keyboard kharida hai.. ab tutor ke liye paissey kahan se laye? 😁😂
Khud hi kusti ladni padegi phir. 😀
Can you read sheet music?
I'm working on it at the moment. Can read the basics, but not fast enough to play however
Me wanting to learn piano by myself but also wants to be a professional piano player lol
Why not both? 😌
How did you learn without the sheet music 😲
I watched tutorials mainly on youtube, kinda regret not learning sheet music sooner....
My mother’s name is jacky
Hi I am a 12 almost 13 year old girl and I am Hoping to get better at Piano! :)
I believe in you, keep practicing! 🙌
@@JackyKuah Thank you So much!
I’m 13 and I’ve wanted to play ever since I was really young but I never got classes and they are expensive so I just wanna teach myslef
@@abbyferrer7415 Yea same I am 13 too and I really enjoy playing the piano!
@@abbyferrer7415 You can do It!
Want to learn Canon so bad 😭😭😭🥺🥺
Haha today is the day to start learning :)
As someone who took lessons when I was little, then self taught until 24, you really learn bad habits on your own if you're just trying to learn songs. I missed out on most of the basic fundamentals and techniques. I sat down to audition at college and they said, yes you are playing the song, but your technique is so wrong we recommend you take the beginner class.
I'm completely self-taught and your comment brought my confidence way down lmao
Very good point! Big difference between playing properly and playing the song!
I'm worried and confused, not about this video but about me.
I'm Italian and my dream is to become a Voice Actor, I'm working very hard since the last year, a lot fo things changed, I changed my Teacher and now I'm giving my best to my first passion.
Of course, I'm 16 years old and I have to study hard for school and I can't forget about my Healt issues that forcing me to swim twice a week.
But...
It's been 2 years that piano has coming trough my mind and I can't let him go even If I want to.
I see all you musician and, If my dream (I'm very sure of it) It's to become a Voice actor then...
We are in 2 completlely different worlds, I Feel so little in front of all the guys who dedicate themself ONLY for piano and I don't know If i can keep it up with all of those passion and daily activities I Do...
But One thing is sure is that I love piano and I want it in My life.
I don't want to be the best or be able to play difficult pieces or anything, even touching that black and white keys make me happy (I have a Keyboard)...
So,
Should I try even by myself even if I don' have any goal about it and a lot of other passions?
Hey, I completely understand how you feel! I’m honestly in the same boat, just want to play enough to enjoy myself and nothing too seriously!
I say definitely go for it, even though you’re busy and don’t have time the occasional session here and there will certainly still bring you enjoyment! Hope that helps!
@@JackyKuah Thanks for your answer!
I want to do it, can I have fun and make practise by myself (without any goal) or I need a teacher?
Even though, I'm really happy for your response And I'm looking forward to play
Sorry I was Mistaken, I watched properly your videos and I found the answer to my question, Thanks a lot, you are an Inspiration to me :)
Manuka honey so reasonably priced
I play stand up i dont sit
i have the money i have a piano i also have anxiety..
How did you learn how to read music,?
I learnt through mostly TH-cam, I’m still really bad though I’m way to slow to keep up with what I’m playing
@@JackyKuah i recommend course of study - ABRSM THEORY Grades 1 - 8... Buy on Amazon or Abebooks... these were crucial in helping me learn accurate reading / understand the meaning of everything on the score... There are also test practice papers to check knowledge (this is great for all regardless of whether or not people want to follow exams)...