Something I never thought of. Play the piece slowly to begin with, rather than trying for the correct speed right away. I can stop wasting money on books about learning to play that have never helped me. You are the best.
Thank you so very much for these videos! I'm a 47-year-old who started taking piano lessons in January of this year. I try to supplement my weekly lessons and daily practice with TH-cam videos. I find your videos to be especially informative, helpful, and inspirational. I love your saying: "Practice at the speed of no mistakes," and I am going to strive to do exactly that every day. Thank you again!
Thank you so much for your tips! I particularly like and will start using right away, “PRACTICE AT THE SPEED OF NO MISTAKES”. I am new to your channel and I can see that you are serious about helping others learn the skills to play piano better. Love your lessons! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos!
Thank youfor another insightful video, I'm so glad I found your channel Leah. Thank you for all the tips. I realise now why I'm progressing so slowly, even though I'm loving every minute. Playing at the speed of no mistakes will help me immensely.
Brilliantly put together as always and so much generous information in a short space of time. My resolution from this is SLOWWWW DOWWWWNNN. I try, but always find myself speeding up in the easier sections and slowing down at the harder. My tutor says keep the whole piece slow until it’s all correct. I will try! Happy 2022 to you. X
I set a goal of learning to sight read better last year. I think I failed to improve as much as I'd like because I try to play at full speed from the get-go. I even look up beats per minute for each song so I put that added pressure when I'm still figuring out fingering and rhythm. I'm going to take your advice and practice at the speed of no mistakes. Thanks for all you do.
so, I am really happy to say that I finally managed to get into the habit of playing again and while I sit at the computer after that I always listen to your videos. and after that I go to sleep. it has become a fixed chain of habits. :) it's very comfortable to listen to your videos after having played which is more the intense concentrated part of learning while listening to your videos is the comfortable part of getting some long term tips in that help on my journey. ^^ I think what also helps is knowing what you want to do or to train today, meaning to be able to operationslize it. When you think you have to play the piano and there is so much you have to do and it is all just a blur, the overwhelm makes us not begin playing in the first place. whereas when I know that today I want to first fix the most difficult rhythms and tomorrow I want to practice these parts with a speed of 60 bpm, then the day after tomorow 65 bpm, the brain doesn't feel as overwhelmed. it knows what to do and it knows it's not much. there is a structured plan that will lead you to finish the piece. of course, if that is too fast or too slow, one could break it down further. part of my Resolution is also to take protein shakes after intense practice sessions because I can tell that I am practicing pieces that aren't too difficult technically but they are exhausting to my muscles and taking enough protein has helped me build the arm muscles to play certain pieces more easily which includes all the nutrients that are necessary for the brain to learn and build new neurons. I want to practice hard and smart which is why I give my brain and muscles the nutrients they need to develop the infrastructure to be able to play at a demanding speed. thanks to your video an idea formed in my mind about using a little book to note down which parts I practiced today and at what speed. it will make me practice difficult parts up to speed intentionally and over time I will have actually written down the progress I have made. it'll rewarding to look at it and it makes practice more intentional. and I want to clean my piano more often. 😅
That’s great - I’m a firm believer in systems, so let me know how you get on with yours! And yes, pianos are absolute dust magnets, so have fun with the cleaning! 😁
Thank you for this AHA moment! I don't know why I had not thought of it before but "play easier pieces to develop FLUENCY" makes so much sense. I remember when I was trying to learn classical guitar. My playing was pathetically clunky and dead - except for one of Eric Satie's gymnopedies, which always sounded beautiful when I played it. I had been trying to play too many notes at once which required more coordination they I had and now I've doing the same thing with keyboard. SO ver glad to come across this excellent advice!!
Thank you for this beautiful lesson. In my first lesson I took my hands off the piano, as if I had put them on a hot iron. I started six months ago. Happy New Year to you too, with health and joy!
Thanks so much for the great videos. My resolution(s) for 2022 are (1) playing slower and (2) learning to play with a metronome! For the 15+ yrs I’ve been “playing”, the metronome has eluded me…. So, I’ve downloaded practice workbook and will be starting with your suggestions on metronome work. Again, thanks for the time you spend making these videos! Happy New Year!
Thanks Kathleen, I'll be making a video soon on using the metronome so watch out for that. Good luck with the practice book, hope it helps! And a very happy new year to you too 😊
I have neglected sight reading for 2 weeks by now. Althought, l sight read before playing a piece....l'm avoiding sight reading for at least 5 min. I must go back to do it!
I have adopted slow practice sometime ago, and it is really effective. Obviously, I will continue with it, remembering the wise advice of the composer you mentioned and your own advices. My first resolution, based on your suggestions, is to get rid of stress and make good posture a goal to achieve. Simultaneously, I will finished my daily practice playing any piece that is pleasant to me.
Thank you so much. This video was the most helpful I’ve ever found. I’ve been struggling with motivation because I’m so terrible at the piano but I really WANT to do this.
You're welcome Carolynn, thanks for watching. Finding motivation is a tough one alright, but just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you'll get there! 😊
I really like the videos and find your comments very useful and clearly put. I look forward to listening to more. I must say, though, that I find the music bed distracting and wonder if you plan to continue putting it into the sound mix. It makes it much harder to focus on what you're saying and doesn't seem to add any value. Thanks again for all your work and words of wisdom.
Playing slow! Terrible habits to correct! Still, a joy to work at it. Would love a video of demystifying timing. I wasn’t taught that as a child, theory either. I’ve gotten theory in the last two years (one great thing from the pandemic!), but the lack of proper timing makes my playing sound muddy. I really appreciate your approach!! Thank you!
You’re welcome. Yes, timing is one of the biggest challenges to overcome. I have a video on rhythm but I’m planning another, so keep an eye out for that! 😊
You’re welcome. Yes, timing is one of the biggest challenges to overcome. I have a video on rhythm but I’m planning another, so keep an eye out for that! 😊
i haven't even thought of one resolution and here you are giving me five at once 😄 just kidding, my number one resolution is getting better in reading, it's holding me back so much. whish you the very best for the comming year, stay happy, stay healthy, achieve everything you want to 🍾
Interesting, motivating video! Your lessons are great. Thank you for all of them! Happy new year! Besides many other good wishes to you, I wish you continue to make us happy with your videos...😊
Happy new year to a wonderful teacher. Your previous video suggested to concentrate while playing. So true , I now try not to get my brain to multitask when practicing . Yes mam I will try to slow down playing tricky parts 👍. Thank you.
Regarding practicing slowly, often the issue in a piece is a particular jump on the keyboard. If I do it slowly, it's easy especially if you look at the keys but as soon as I try to put some speed in it, it's terrible.
I find it difficult to play with a metronome. It’s an annoying sound because I don’t know how to use it. I want to tackle a bad habit too. But I don’t know which one first. What’s the most important thing to learn correctly before it’s (too late)?
Thanks FFF, I'll be doing a video on using the metronome soon, so watch out for that. If I was to advise only one bad habit to avoid, it would be not paying enough attention to what's on the page at the beginning of the learning process for any piece - in other words, trying to guess the notes and rhythm based on what sounds kind of right, or trying to figure it out from memory. When someone does that, not only do they learn the piece incorrectly, but they miss an opportunity to get faster at reading music. So if that's something you ever find yourself doing, it's a good place to start!
Hi Rhoda, if you're play something that requires you to move around the keyboard, it's fine to look down occasionally. When you're playing a piece or a passage where the notes are under your fingers, for example a piece or a couple of bars played in a C position, you could practice thinking about which finger is on a particular note. So for example if the music has the notes c,d,g,f in the right hand then you'll play fingers 1,2,5,4. While this is probably self-evident, it's about learning to trust that you know which finger is where without having to look. It'll be a slow process at first but once it clicks it'll get easier. Good luck!
Did you download your free piano practice workbook yet? 🤩 Get it here: mailchi.mp/bccb1e32807f/practice-workbook-giveaway
Yes I did! Thank you so much!
Something I never thought of. Play the piece slowly to begin with, rather than trying for the correct speed right away. I can stop wasting money on books about learning to play that have never helped me. You are the best.
Thank you so very much for these videos!
I'm a 47-year-old who started taking piano lessons in January of this year. I try to supplement my weekly lessons and daily practice with TH-cam videos. I find your videos to be especially informative, helpful, and inspirational.
I love your saying: "Practice at the speed of no mistakes," and I am going to strive to do exactly that every day.
Thank you again!
You’re very welcome ☺️
Thank you so much for your tips! I particularly like and will start using right away, “PRACTICE AT THE SPEED OF NO MISTAKES”.
I am new to your channel and I can see that you are serious about helping others learn the skills to play piano better.
Love your lessons! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos!
Thanks Jim, glad to help! 😊
The tips that really hit home with me is to play slowly but accurately and also play some easier pieces. Great video!
I don't even play the piano. I play a different instrument but your videos are so helpful I love watching them. Thank you for all your great advice!
Thank youfor another insightful video, I'm so glad I found your channel Leah. Thank you for all the tips. I realise now why I'm progressing so slowly, even though I'm loving every minute. Playing at the speed of no mistakes will help me immensely.
You’re welcome Elaine! 😊
I've joined your group and bought the Accelerated piano book on Kindle so I can follow your lessons now. Very excited to progress . Thank you. 😊
Welcome to the group, Elaine, let me know if there's anything you'd like to see a tutorial on! 😊
Brilliantly put together as always and so much generous information in a short space of time.
My resolution from this is SLOWWWW DOWWWWNNN. I try, but always find myself speeding up in the easier sections and slowing down at the harder. My tutor says keep the whole piece slow until it’s all correct. I will try! Happy 2022 to you. X
Thanks so much Starbuck, best of luck with the resolution and a very happy 2022 to you too!
Practice at the speed of no mistakes...this is my goal. Thank you for your great teaching!
You are very encouraging and thank you for all the great advice.
I set a goal of learning to sight read better last year. I think I failed to improve as much as I'd like because I try to play at full speed from the get-go. I even look up beats per minute for each song so I put that added pressure when I'm still figuring out fingering and rhythm. I'm going to take your advice and practice at the speed of no mistakes. Thanks for all you do.
so, I am really happy to say that I finally managed to get into the habit of playing again and while I sit at the computer after that I always listen to your videos. and after that I go to sleep. it has become a fixed chain of habits. :) it's very comfortable to listen to your videos after having played which is more the intense concentrated part of learning while listening to your videos is the comfortable part of getting some long term tips in that help on my journey. ^^
I think what also helps is knowing what you want to do or to train today, meaning to be able to operationslize it. When you think you have to play the piano and there is so much you have to do and it is all just a blur, the overwhelm makes us not begin playing in the first place. whereas when I know that today I want to first fix the most difficult rhythms and tomorrow I want to practice these parts with a speed of 60 bpm, then the day after tomorow 65 bpm, the brain doesn't feel as overwhelmed. it knows what to do and it knows it's not much. there is a structured plan that will lead you to finish the piece. of course, if that is too fast or too slow, one could break it down further.
part of my Resolution is also to take protein shakes after intense practice sessions because I can tell that I am practicing pieces that aren't too difficult technically but they are exhausting to my muscles and taking enough protein has helped me build the arm muscles to play certain pieces more easily which includes all the nutrients that are necessary for the brain to learn and build new neurons. I want to practice hard and smart which is why I give my brain and muscles the nutrients they need to develop the infrastructure to be able to play at a demanding speed.
thanks to your video an idea formed in my mind about using a little book to note down which parts I practiced today and at what speed. it will make me practice difficult parts up to speed intentionally and over time I will have actually written down the progress I have made. it'll rewarding to look at it and it makes practice more intentional.
and I want to clean my piano more often. 😅
That’s great - I’m a firm believer in systems, so let me know how you get on with yours! And yes, pianos are absolute dust magnets, so have fun with the cleaning! 😁
Practice at the speed of no mistakes is terrific advice! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Just watched it wholly. Thank you,, your words are so encouraging and valuable. Greetings from Argentina. Have a good year
Thanks so much for your support Cristian, and a very happy new year to you too 😊
Thank you for this AHA moment! I don't know why I had not thought of it before but "play easier pieces to develop FLUENCY" makes so much sense. I remember when I was trying to learn classical guitar. My playing was pathetically clunky and dead - except for one of Eric Satie's gymnopedies, which always sounded beautiful when I played it. I had been trying to play too many notes at once which required more coordination they I had and now I've doing the same thing with keyboard. SO ver glad to come across this excellent advice!!
Thank you for this beautiful lesson. In my first lesson I took my hands off the piano, as if I had put them on a hot iron. I started six months ago. Happy New Year to you too, with health and joy!
And the same to you Helen! 😊
Thanks so much for the great videos. My resolution(s) for 2022 are (1) playing slower and (2) learning to play with a metronome! For the 15+ yrs I’ve been “playing”, the metronome has eluded me…. So, I’ve downloaded practice workbook and will be starting with your suggestions on metronome work. Again, thanks for the time you spend making these videos! Happy New Year!
Thanks Kathleen, I'll be making a video soon on using the metronome so watch out for that. Good luck with the practice book, hope it helps! And a very happy new year to you too 😊
I have neglected sight reading for 2 weeks by now. Althought, l sight read before playing a piece....l'm avoiding sight reading for at least 5 min. I must go back to do it!
This was one of your best videos! It was filled with so much helpful information. Thank you. Happy New Year!
Thanks so much, Kevin, glad it helped. And a very happy new year to you too!😊
I have adopted slow practice sometime ago, and it is really effective. Obviously, I will continue with it, remembering the wise advice of the composer you mentioned and your own advices.
My first resolution, based on your suggestions, is to get rid of stress and make good posture a goal to achieve.
Simultaneously, I will finished my daily practice playing any piece that is pleasant to me.
Great goals Rose, best of luck with them 👍😊
Thank you so much. This video was the most helpful I’ve ever found. I’ve been struggling with motivation because I’m so terrible at the piano but I really WANT to do this.
You're welcome Carolynn, thanks for watching. Finding motivation is a tough one alright, but just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you'll get there! 😊
Thank you for the good advice & encouragement! I really find your tutorials very helpful.
Thanks Amanda!
I really like the videos and find your comments very useful and clearly put. I look forward to listening to more. I must say, though, that I find the music bed distracting and wonder if you plan to continue putting it into the sound mix. It makes it much harder to focus on what you're saying and doesn't seem to add any value. Thanks again for all your work and words of wisdom.
Yes, my experiments with background music haven’t been happy, so I’ll be dropping it in future videos!
All your tips are very useful
focusing on focusing. already love her
Playing slow! Terrible habits to correct! Still, a joy to work at it. Would love a video of demystifying timing. I wasn’t taught that as a child, theory either. I’ve gotten theory in the last two years (one great thing from the pandemic!), but the lack of proper timing makes my playing sound muddy. I really appreciate your approach!! Thank you!
You’re welcome. Yes, timing is one of the biggest challenges to overcome. I have a video on rhythm but I’m planning another, so keep an eye out for that! 😊
You’re welcome. Yes, timing is one of the biggest challenges to overcome. I have a video on rhythm but I’m planning another, so keep an eye out for that! 😊
i haven't even thought of one resolution and here you are giving me five at once 😄 just kidding, my number one resolution is getting better in reading, it's holding me back so much. whish you the very best for the comming year, stay happy, stay healthy, achieve everything you want to 🍾
Thanks Lode, the same to you 😊
Interesting, motivating video! Your lessons are great. Thank you for all of them!
Happy new year! Besides many other good wishes to you, I wish you continue to make us happy with your videos...😊
I'll do my best, Rose, thanks so much for your support! And a very happy new year to you too 😊
❤️❤️❤️Thank you for sharing with us and we bless you with a new year,❤️❤️❤️
You're very welcome, thanks so much for your support! 😊
Happy new year to a wonderful teacher. Your previous video suggested to concentrate while playing. So true , I now try not to get my brain to multitask when practicing . Yes mam I will try to slow down playing tricky parts 👍. Thank you.
Thanks Homa, I'm blushing at your praise 😁 So glad my videos are helping. Happy new year to you too! 🥳
Great tips. I love your videos! Thank you.
You are so welcome!
This is so encouraging! Happy New Year Leah! Thank you for all your helpful videos this year :)
Happy new year to you too, Ms. Murphy 😊
Thanks a lot.
Thank you for the great video. So helpful!
Thanks Elaine! 😊
valuable advice...SPEED...👏
This is really good!!! Thank you!!
Glad you like it!
First here! Happy new year! I shall follow you assiduously this year! I shall practise SLOWLY.
That’s the spirit! Happy new year Katie! 🥳🥂
Regarding practicing slowly, often the issue in a piece is a particular jump on the keyboard. If I do it slowly, it's easy especially if you look at the keys but as soon as I try to put some speed in it, it's terrible.
I’m planning a video on this very topic!
I find it difficult to play with a metronome. It’s an annoying sound because I don’t know how to use it. I want to tackle a bad habit too. But I don’t know which one first. What’s the most important thing to learn correctly before it’s (too late)?
Thanks FFF, I'll be doing a video on using the metronome soon, so watch out for that.
If I was to advise only one bad habit to avoid, it would be not paying enough attention to what's on the page at the beginning of the learning process for any piece - in other words, trying to guess the notes and rhythm based on what sounds kind of right, or trying to figure it out from memory. When someone does that, not only do they learn the piece incorrectly, but they miss an opportunity to get faster at reading music.
So if that's something you ever find yourself doing, it's a good place to start!
How can I keep from looking at my hands when sightreading?
Hi Rhoda, if you're play something that requires you to move around the keyboard, it's fine to look down occasionally. When you're playing a piece or a passage where the notes are under your fingers, for example a piece or a couple of bars played in a C position, you could practice thinking about which finger is on a particular note. So for example if the music has the notes c,d,g,f in the right hand then you'll play fingers 1,2,5,4. While this is probably self-evident, it's about learning to trust that you know which finger is where without having to look. It'll be a slow process at first but once it clicks it'll get easier. Good luck!
I'm learning Traumarei. I can't move that slow.🥵
Best of luck with it! 😊
Please eliminate the background music in your videos. It's distracting and makes it harder to understand your dialogue.
Thanks for the feedback, Richard, I’ll take that into account. 👍
Thanks a lot.