What Level Piano Player Are You? (How To Tell)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ม.ค. 2020
- How good are you at the piano? Has anyone ever asked you that? Maybe you've asked yourself. How do you know?! In my years of teaching, I've come up with a list of skills and techniques that I think an intermediate piano player SHOULD be able to do.
It's not exhaustive, but I think it's a great start to test your skills!
You can download the entire checklist here:
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Take your scales, chords, and arpeggios to the next LEVEL:
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Here are the timecodes:
- Technique - 0:54
- Chord Progressions - 3:14
- Music Theory - 4:45
- Repertoire - 6:25
- Dynamics & Emotion - 7:45
What do you think? Is there anything on the list you think is wrong? Or anything I'm missing?
Comment to let me know. And if you need help with any elements head over to www.pianote.com and start learning today :)
Here's a list of lesson resources to help:
Minor scales - • Why Are There 3 Differ...
7th chords - • Understanding 7th Chor...
Fills & riffs - • Right Hand Fills And T...
Reading music - • How To Read Notes (Beg...
Rhythm - • How To Play Complicate...
Dynamics - • What Are Dynamics? (Pi...
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ABOUT LISA:
Lisa Witt has been teaching piano for +20 years and in that time has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn to play the songs they love. Lisa received classical piano training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, but she has since embraced popular music and playing by ear in order to accompany herself and others. She is a songwriter and recording artist. Lisa’s contagious enthusiasm will have you excited to practice and return to the keys for your next lesson. Her teaching style focuses on you, making lessons encouraging and fun.
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After 12 years of playing, I’d hope I’m at least an intermediate player.
same here, ive been classically trained for about 16 years... haha
Joline Petram you’re probably at least an intermediate player
@@TheNutshaq yeah, I am. I don't wanna brag, but the things shown in the video are pretty easy for me...
Kia Same lol. I’ve played for 10
turned out I'm not
12 years of piano and I'm trying to figure out if I'm a beginner or an intermediate player
Yeah same 😤😂
I'm EXACTLY the same!😂
Yeah me too, l figure I'm in between beginner and intermediate so l must beintermediateginner. Pretty sure this isn't a word but somehow l know what it means.
I am trying to figure out if I can even play the piano
The same
i did not spend 10 years of my life playing piano to be called a beginner 😭
that's what i'm sayingggg 😭 😭
Felt that. I clicked this video thinking I'd know a good amount of the stuff. I was wrong. I've definitely heard of some of these things but I definitely couldn't play any of this if someone asked me to.
LMAOO literally
:)) mastering the piano it's pretty difficult, most of the instruments especially the ones you blow air into are like playing the right hand with the piano, but of course they also have their challenges...
Sameeeee😅😅😅
So according to this video Im a highly skilled advanced complete beginner
🤣🤣🤣
This 😂😂😂
ahahahha same
Yep same.
I don't understand a word she said, yet I play mozart.
So, I guess my mind is an enigma.
@@steadfastonhisword1810 you Don’t know about scales but you play Mozart?
I could be an intermediate piano player if I were not an intermittent piano player.
haha :)!
all it takes is discipline
Same here ... :-)!
I am intermebeginner :P
We may be like the proverbial "two peas in a pod." Although I enjoy playing the piano, I haven't done it/practiced consistently over the years and it SHOWS!!
Wow! I was feeling pretty good about my piano skills until I watched this!
That's okay! Don't despair! Everyone still has something they nee to learn on the piano. Just be patient with yourself! :)
Haha, same here!
Yup samee
Same I’ve been playing for 15 years but I still suck at music theory 😅
@@henrikeweinmann5540 I think the definition of "music theory" depends entirely on what style of music you're talking about. If you're talking about classical piano, a lot of it depends on scales, straightforward rhythms and time signatures, and basic chords (triads and 7th chords), and maybe some functional harmony (finding out what the words "tonic," "dominant," and "subdominant" mean). If you're talking about jazz piano, there's a lot more in the way of extended harmonies (9th and 13th chords) and syncopated rhythm. Contemporary/pop piano is more about understanding simple "pop progressions" such as 1-5-6-4 and its cousin 6-4-1-5 (way different from practicing those progressions from classical piano lessons that tend to be 4-5 chords long and start *and* end on I), and being able to play them in different keys and with different rhythms.
I'd say that your grasp of music theory isn't too terrible if you understand one of those three branches of music theory: The one associated with the style you want to specialize in playing.
8 years and I still look up the “EASY” songs on youtube
AMEN!!!!
Almost 9 for me- But I always listen to amazing pieces and say to myself, "I wonder if I can play that"
Hands: _funny haha laugh_
@@gabriellewashere7353 ikr
@@pletkoek7575 jokes on you, it’s nine years now and now I can play intermediate songs... so suck it
@@pletkoek7575 lol
I'm a beginner that likes to learn songs above my skill level
keep it up! pushing yourself above your limit helps you learn faster! so you might be an intermediate cause youre learning new stuff that are above your level, so yeah. happy practicing!!
It do be like that
@@luisaoliveira2158 literally 😅
I feel like this is the reason why we all think we're intermediate
that's a great way to progress much faster!
*doesnt play piano*
Hmm yes I wonder what level piano playing I’m at
It's never too late to start! :)
felt
Your level must be fetus level
@@PianoteOfficial thank you I needed this advice
me
My self-esteem level got down to the sea level....
On minecraft it's about 60
Same
Do you mean *C level*
Been playing for five long years, I find myself learning Kinderszenen 😭😭😭
Ive been playing piano for like 3 years and some stuff i havent learnedlike the 7th cords never plated them ever
Like many others who have commented here, I realized after watching this video a year ago that despite years of playing the piano I wasn’t actually playing at an intermediate level. I decided to dedicate the last year to memorizing my scales, arpeggios, triads, and really improving my reading skills. A year later I’m rewatching this video and I’m now confident that I can call myself an intermediate player. The skills mentioned in this video improved my playing in so many ways, they’re all definitely worth learning. Thank you for giving me the motivation I needed to move my piano playing to the next level! :)
How about now
Playing almost 10 years and I'm still a beginner
I've been humbled... I now realize, based on this, that I'm still very much a beginner. Thank you for helping me critically assess my current level of piano fluency, Lisa. I know what effort I need to put into my lessons.
Lemmie just pull out my 18th century speech… Oh I can’t find it… dog must have ate it again
Same, i only passed for intermediate for sight reading, music theory and dynamics and emotion.
So im still a beginner
A beginner that can play Fantasie impromptu and the first movement of rach 2
Lol
@@aviation8168HAHA
You dont really need a lot of the first things she mentioned, if u can sight read and play good what you read you are really good to go
Me, a piano player who learned by ear for about 4 years: “oh! I should be at LEAST be intermediate, right??”
Video: “Music theory” “Scales”
Me: *bangs head on piano keys*
MagnumOpium Me.
Almost me.
Ok...
Practice some theory. It's not that hard and it would really help you to understand more
@@zaakuuroo Bien vu bg
I’d say there is a difference between the knowledge of scales and terminology, and the skill of the player to play different things, this vid doesn’t really touch on that
Actually technique is what identifies your level of playing rather than learning advanced repertoire
@@resym7734 agreed, plenty of amazing pianist youtubers have never taken a course and play by ear (ex : Theishter)
@@resym7734
Not entirely true. I wouldn't call a person that could go up and sight read la campanella an intermediate player because he never bothered looking at scales. He's extremely good, just not at making the music himself. Actually interestingly enough my piano teacher barely bothered teaching me any of this. She just helped me practice pieces. You may call her bad, but fact of the matter is that that's what she (an experienced player) thought was acceptable.
Jake English ikr
@@lucaslucas191202 My teacher was the same, I took piano lessons for about 7 years and she told me I'd be ahead of the game in college for knowing what the circle of fifths was. Turns out that was not true. I definitely understand the need to learn all of this but it's a bit disheartening to know that I could play any of these or differentiate them by ear, but I'm not considered more than a beginner because I can't name them.
Since i’m self taught I can’t believe I’ve been a beginner for 7 years
This is focused on music theory. I think it's "good to know" especially to compose music. However, leaning to play songs probably doesn't require all the theory.
im not self taught, tho im still a beginner
@Senshine will we ever not feel like a beginner?
@Senshine do we define ourselves by how we do scales and know music theory? Personally, I consider how advanced of a song we can play to determine what level we are at. Beginner songs tend to have single notes for both left and right hands. Intermediate songs have chords in at least one hand. Of course rhythm and speed vary in difficulty. We are what we play! Just my opinion.
Me too i just ply whatever song i liked and after watching this video i relised that there's so much i don't know, like i only know a-b majors
33 years of playing, I sight read and play sing a long at old people’s homes. But I see I’m a beginner with a lot to do.
Amen Mr. Jones!!!!
Kathy D. Thanks
@@mrjones1862 LOL! You are not the only one. I am a "beginner" too, after many years of playing. But I'm going to pick up my ego, and keep it moving! I will remind myself of Stevie Wonder's song and you should too: "Don't You Worry About A Thing!" Like she said, let her video allow you to focus on your shortcomings. Doing so, you and me will be fine! If you LOVE piano, like I'm sure you do, just keep enjoying the process and you will reach your goals!
How depressing. I thought I was early intermediate. Turns out I'm still a beginner.
Don't despair! You will get better with time and practice. You got this! :)
Ugh, me too. Not even close to intermediate. 😭 I really appreciate these videos! They help me keep trying. 😁
Bro this is mostly theory u could have the skill but not the theory
I can do fast scales/arpeggios, consecutive octaves, far leaps, and thinks I'm already intermediate. But after watching those classical professional concert pianists, they blow me back to beginner level. It's actually depends per person how high they raised the bar.
it's not depressing
objective observation of reality, and brutal acceptance, are the path to progress
you must know where you are, and what is needed to move forward
this video has shown you the way (if only by providing you the topics to research and practice)
As a self taught player i always wondered where i fit.
Thank you : )
God level maybe?
@@huyvuquang9533 Intermediate slacker :)
Same here!!
Felt this!
I'm a self taught to
So a year ago I stumbled upon this video. I was only two years into my piano journey at that time, but before I saw the video I thought I had a few 'intermediate' skills nonetheless... I was mostly wrong, but also inspired... So every area outlined in this video where I was deficient I focused on improving during my practices. Now, it's a year later and I can confidently say I'm checking 90%+ of the boxes outlined by Lisa in this video. My piano journey continues and of course I have much, much, much more to learn. Lisa and the rest of Pianote, thanks for the inspiration.
Well done bro, congrats on your journey, continue strong!
At 71, I'm sure I'm a beginner... This young lady has taught me more in 3 videos than I have known in the past 60 years. She make's it somewhat easy to learn piano. Thanks
Oh🤣 according to this I've never even seen a piano
Don't stress! Leaning takes time! If there is anything you need help with don't be scared to ask, I'd love to help! :)
Lol
I can relate!!
Yep
Search
An intermediate pianist can pronounce Chopin and not say "shapan".
Don't worry my mum thought it was chop in lol
I say Chop-in... Is it wrong by any chance?
And also pronounce Ravel and not say raffle.
@UpriseNova oh okay thanks lol
I pronounce it Sho-pan
Idk if I am going to quick or too slow, but since I got a piano teacher I’ve learned quite a lot, minus diminishing 7 or whatever lol
Edit: I know literally no one has seen this comment but here I am 2 years later going strong. I would consider myself in most fields early/mid advanced at piano, and have progressed rapidly. Piano has become my passion and something that I want to grow in for as long as possible. Hopefully I can come back in a few years to this comment and we can see where we at then too.
Keep it going!
@@iamtjahan I am literally at a piano competition just watching on my phone between performances lol
Going to do buy my first piano today, though all these weird formulas that it looks like I’ll have to learn are a bit discouraging 😅. I’ll still force myself to learn though
@@salutarysix6869 it’s fun, don’t think of it as work think of it as learning something fun and you’ll get pretty far
@@prizm8530 Hope it went well!!
it's weird because I can play difficult classical songs (Turkish March, Beethoven Moonlight 3rd movement) but I got a begginer level in this video
Yeah… Idk this video is more music theory not actual playing level/skill in my opinion
Ikr this video is just about musical theory not skills both you and i wasted our time hoping to hear that we are intermediate.
You can honestly play any song if you have persistence, determination, and a metronome. A beginner can easily learn and play Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement with these three things.
What separates a beginner from intermediate is the knowledge and understanding of what they can play (music theory)
classical pieces*
Ikr. I have zero knowledge in music theory but I can play songs that are classified as "intermediate level". I don't know where that puts me.
This should be entitled "what level of a musician are you?" Instead of being a pianist. All these are mostly theory not piano technique, and not piano difficulty.
Very much aggreed.
I was going to say something similar. I have a lot of the sight reading, theory, and chord recognition ability from extensive voice experience, but that doesn't mean I can play the piano. I'd say I'm beginning piano.
As someone now looking into grad school to continue a degree in piano performance and pedagogy, and as someone who performs and teaches professionally, I one hundred percent disagree. I don't think you get it ...
@@cloudambient I do feel we have differences in perspective. Don't get me wrong, these techniques are definitely essential in let's say acquiring a degree or teaching music in general. I just fail to distinguish how the "techniques" in the video are specifically for the piano and not for let's say the violin. Going back to piano techniques, you can't go to a piano competition and display your skills with this. These are still the fundamentals in order to understand the works of romantic, and especially those of modern. I compete nationally and in Asia as a classical pianist. I have a degree in biotech, but my father's a concert master and my grandfather was a composer who has presented his compositions in Carnegie. I hope you get into grad school and pursue your dreams. Especially with the Corona virus situation, artists like us are needed by society :)
@@jaschadadap4111 I am a music educator looking to improve my piano skills and the first thing I thought about is how this video is applicable to any instrument. The name of the video could be something more like you stated above but because this is a channel for piano I think that's why the focus is on piano levels.
The video doesn’t really separate:
Technique (like guys that look like they have 6 fingers)
Music theory knowledge and experimentation
Composition capability / creativity
Maybe someone is a composition genius but lacks technique, maybe the guy plays all notes in a piano in 2 seconds. Both dont mean that you are bad, just mean that you are good at something rather specific.
Yes, the category that I really lack in is composition. I don't spend my time dancing on the piano trying to stumble across a unique order of notes. Instead I practice the things that I know play a part in my lessons and overall theory basis. The instructors don't particularly spend time on going over that either. I think that category was for people experimenting beyond their studies.
Your personality resonates with me more than any other teacher online or in person. I’ve been playing for 17 years and learned by ear through most of it. So, I’ve fallen short when it comes to sight reading and theory. I can tell that you’ve had a lot of self doubt you’ve worked through and that you have faith in people to conquer the struggles that you had to. Thank you for making sight reading so much less intimidating!! And thank you for keeping it real in all of your lessons. ❤
I played for a decent amount of time, albeit somewhat intermittently. But still around 5 years of exposure to piano.
After watching this video, I realized that I'm not even CLOSE to being a beginner.
This isn’t an intermediate player for piano this is all music theory
old man I agree
To be a piano player you should have knowledge in music theory
To be anything other than a beginner in any instruments you should have knowledge in theory
Misplay Madeline I think it’s important to have a basic knowledge but not to the extent of learning about all different diminished 7ths and stuff like that
pointlessproductions I think that having an advanced repertoire doesn’t make an advanced pianist. A beginner pianist can learn to play a difficult piece. The pianist who is no longer a beginner can understand the piece, that’s the difference
Stopped watching after
"a r p e g g i o s."
My life hurts.
When she said "arpeggio" my brain got the same feeling as when you get an unexpected item in bagging area - I thought arpeggio was a group of islands but that's the wrong word...
@A7xandria - Arpeggios are very important to playing the piano. You don't have to play them fast or anything. But knowing arpeggios, you can make beautiful songs using them. Especially using arpeggios with your left hand to create beautiful rhythms. Just go slow with them. You will love them once you start using them. Just my opinion. :)
Arpeggios are actually really fun; to make learning them easier just throw in the left hand and add some filler inbetween. The best advice I can give is don't think just feel. Learn where to place your fingers and the movements need to get to the next key and than just repeat ad nauseam. The key to playing fast isn't thinking, it's getting the motion to the point of instinctual so you can start really spicing it up.
I just learned three different arpeggios recently( my first time actually playing arpeggios actually lol) it took about three days to fully master them but I made up my own music while I was doing it and threw in little challenges like combining different Arpeggios together while moving up and down the octaves.
Michael Jackson is hiding in your closet
@@konradzareba9935 o h
That's actually really helpful! In terms of reading and playing I am definitely intermediate for a while now but in terms of theory knowledge I lack a lot and thanks to you, I finally know which points I've got to approach. Thanks a lot!
I teach a bit of keys and have had students come in not knowing what scales or even chords were and they've played sometimes 5+ years. They're a must learn!
I think this video is just a reminder that everyone is simply a beginner by the looks of it
Love this! :)
I can only play something by ear :/
Needed Privacy That means you're gifted. Some people are lost without sheet music. They have to take one hand off the piano to turn the page when they're playing for somebody. Funny thing is it's usually trained people who are envious of gifted people. I have an uncle who was invited to play for the queen he is self trained.
Well…..if we all compare ourselves to Mozart or Bach….then we are all complete beginners.
Why am I watching this I’ve been playing piano for 15 years
BritishIdiots gotta flex on those haters
My same thought but I've been playing piano for almost 13 years
You want to feel good about yourself, I guess
Even the likes of you may still have more to learn
Yup, 20 years here. Looking for some validation.
What an awesome list of goals I now have. I am the type of player who can play fairly complex pieces and definitely impress my friends, however I like that your video really holds players to a true relative standard. I think the points you have raised show that if we look at musicianship on a spectrum, many people really do have a great deal to learn. Challenge accepted!
I've been playing the piano for 13 years (on and off) but apparently I'm still a beginner xD
And now for the paradox: People not complying to these intermediate level standards, can regularly play intermediate pieces on a very good level. In the end, that is what counts the most.
Michael Jackson is hiding in your closet
You are only hurting yourself
But that is how intermediate players become intermediate, they just tackle the hard pieces with the intent of developing technique. They don’t press the keys blindly.
Example: Chopin Etudes
@@LoomiYT Silly comment. They are hurting no one.
@@Shenautic There are many ways to make music- not all of them are based on theory. You forget that people have been making music long before anyone knew what chord progression was.
I think a very important point that you missed is hearing. Like listening to a chord progression, and to be able to reproduce it. Or maybe being able to name Intervals just by hearing them.
Precisely
If you count that in, I will never be anything more than a beginner - no matter the instrument. I do need my sheet music and then I am quite okay, but without it I am lost. And I tried training my ear for like 20 years (on flute).
That is some freestyle-jazz Music school-pro stuff m8
I wouldn't bring up the naming of intervals by ear--my ear-training professor says that when he used to teach that (yes, he *quit teaching that*), he knew it was the part of each ear-training exam where he could count on his otherwise-best students to get some wrong, and his otherwise-worst students to get a few right. He figured it wasn't a real indicator of one's aural skills, so he switched over to training us entirely by solfege scale-degree recognition.
As for hearing and playing chord progressions by ear, that's a really useful skill in pop or jazz piano, but I'd say that you can call yourself an intermediate pianist without it. It's just that you should be ready to start learning that skill almost as soon as you are an intermediate-level pianist.
Love the conversation! Listening can be a big part of learning music! Becoming familiar with certain sounds and patterns can help a lot with your practice and your performances for others! You should try and familiarize yourself with the patterns and sounds that you hear with everything you play on piano, but if reading the music is your thing then that is a great way to do it too! Everyone is different and at different skill levels, so figuring out what works best for you is an exciting part of learning about music. :)
I'm 71. I recently learned I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I studied theory and composition at a highly regarded music school from 1979-1983. I was a guitar player and a singer/songwriter. Still a songwriter. We were made to study piano in college because of it's ease at teaching theory. I've played a little through the years but for the last few years I've been adapting my songs to the piano. It has been quite eye-opening and encouraging to know I can still learn muscle memory and I feel like pretty soon I'll be ready to go back out and play again. Though my right hand is a mess, I can still finger chords and almost do my scales. Your left hand exercises are quite helpful. Thanks. I'm finding it easier and easier to learn and perform covers that I like. In my case, learning repertoire gets my chops working from a lot of different angles. I'll never be great but as long as I can keep learning and growing, I'll do just fine. Thanks for the help and God bless you.
Thanks for sharing your story sir. what was the name of the school that you attended?
Also how are you doing now?
@@markwashington7518 It was Marylhurst University. They closed their doors here withing the last few years; a Catholic school staffed by many extremely well-versed, classically trained nuns. I find myself steadily growing in muscle memory and beginning to venture into the flat keys. I think better and am more facile in the guitar keys (I played guitar for nearly 60 years.) It's so encouraging to feel the unthinking ease that playing is becoming. Even at 73, all that groundwork in theory and composition, and the daily woodshedding on the piano has me excited about moving on. I am working on a new album in my bedroom studio with the piano, not my guitar, as the centerpiece.
Well after playing for 14 years, being able to play any song I want to, playing by ear, for choirs and knowing jazz and improvisation, and knowing lots of really difficult pieces.... I am beginner/intermediate 😂
when you’ve been playing for 10 years but still can’t do fast scales
If you've played for ten years you'd be able to learn that in a heartbeat. That's what I don't really like about this video. It's all knowledge that a player with a large repertoire would be able to learn pretty fast.
IExist the problem is that my teacher took out big scale books, we’d go through them until I just could kind of play them, then we’d move on.
like i can play most of them, just sometimes my fingers just don’t work. some aspects of the video are frustrating for sure
It’s just practice bro practice one hour a day for like a week and you’ll see a big difference
@@trdavid2127 Focused practice too. I can learn two bars in four months if I just "practice" by performing, or I can learn four pages in two weeks if I am committed. I've been playing for 10 years, but it's a habit I need to get out of, and actually one that got worse after I finished Grade 8.
Well, you can just start practicing in a slow rhythm and slightly increase the speed.
me: *has played piano for over a decade* why did I decided to watch this an hour after I should've been in bed lol
You haven't played for over a decade you write like your 11
@@dontreadmychanneldescripti7104 Geez, they are starting so young!
@@dontreadmychanneldescripti7104 you also write like an 11 year old lol
@@wverdult What aspect of my astronomically short piece of literature screams "11"?
@@dontreadmychanneldescripti7104 read your initial sentence again lol
i started my piano classes two weeks ago, and yesterday was my second piano class. my teacher told me I should get a professional piano teacher, because he said my level was too high for a beginner and I’ve got potential lol
Your video's are helping me piece everything together. I'm doing alittle of everything you've shown, but I get stuck reading the treble clef notes. Now that I'm learning chords it is helping. Thank you!
Thats "intermediate" in the world of someone who wants to be a musician, where the goal is excellence. In the real world of 7 billion people, that's already a good level.
Michael Jackson is hiding in your closet
For dynamics, I find it interesting you mentioned body movement. When looking at Horowitz, even at fortes like in Chopin's Op. 53(Heroic Polonaise), he didn't use his body a whole ton. It was all gravity and arm weight and it sounded magnificent. Now, using your body is a great way to visualize dynamics and give the audience something to look at, but it can be argued that its not necessary.
This video helped me realize that I'm still a beginner....but I'm very close to being intermediate. All the while being self taught for only a few months. Proud of myself.
Second this
Passed my licentiate in classical music recently, and you still blew my mind with the chord progressions lol. Never learnt anything about them, you're so on point when you said it's ignored
This video’s “intermediate”: all the scales and arpeggios
Truly skilled player: no, intermediate is moonlight sonata mvt 3
No intermediate is la Campanella
No
LOVE movement 3! But haven’t played it in years, would need about 6 months to “brush up” on it! 😂
Maybe if you're Lizst
Scarbo.
Grr im still a beginner. But I'm about to put a hour or two in now.
Don't worry, give yourself the time to learn and good things will come! :)
Same. At least now we have a list of what to work on to get to the next level.
Don’t feel bad I got ten thumbs
Me too
An hour*
I agree that a pianist should know these things, super important, but I don’t believe all these things should separate what level you are at. I think what classifies a pianist as beginner, intermediate, or advanced, is really sight reading, technique, dynamics, and being able to identify what key a song is in (scales basically). I mean I play classically, so I don’t really know if that changes for jazz or pop. But I definitely agree that pianists should learn all these things! Thank you for the video :)
Thank you. Great information. I decided to learn how to play the piano after I retired. I have been taking lessons for six years and considered myself to be a beginner. My music instructor said that I was one of her better students, but I didn't believe her. After watching your presentation, I can classify myself as an early intermediate piano player. There are lots of areas that I need to work on such as building a repertoire of 10 pieces, working on advanced theory and techniques, but most of all I need to work on my confidence to be more successful regarding performing a piece of music for anyone. I still get nervous playing for my piano instructor. I have the knowledge and skills, but lack confidence in my ability. Right now, I consider myself to be a closet piano player.
The intermediate player to me sounds like an advanced player.
Piano has so much to dive into! We are working on some more advanced concepts right now and we can't wait to share it with everyone!
I agree! If more pianists were "Intermediate" we'd have accompanists lined up at the doors to fill positions, which we don't...
Yeah. I'm wondering if Pianote did a list of what you need to know to be an Advanced Player, if I'd even understand what they she was saying.
An elementary level pianist can play a basic version of Ode to Joy with block chords in the left hand.
An intermediate player with some practice can play M. Clementi's Sonatina in C. very well.
An advanced piano player with some practice can play Debussy's Deux Arabesques, Clair de Lune, Golliwog's Cake Walk, etc. rather well.
Semi-Pro pianists can play the tough stuff, much of it at least, without some of the polish and precision of the pro's. Some pieces are still a bit beyond the semi-pro.
A pro (or VERY elite student) with a considerable amount of practice can play a Rachmaninov piano concerto, Chopin, Liszt, etc., well enough to perform publically, with a symphony, etc.
A virtuoso can handle most anything written for the piano...
@@PianoteOfficial Can you please link to this video if it's up? :)
I think I'm just on the higher beginner level
Thanks Lisa! Like always you’re the best! There are two ways out of this video one is totally discouraged and the second one is happy for having a nice road map for improvement to enjoy the journey with clear purpose! Thanks again
Very useful video, I definitely have a lot to work on. Love the videos on this channel - It's really helping me know what to work on, hopefully one day I'll get lessons, but this channel is brilliant.
I understand it all, well alot of it in my head...and find myself jumping ahead to boogie woogie and blues scales....love these online lessons!
Boogie Woogie is always a blast! :)
Steven Justice as a boogie woogie player, im probably considered advanced in some areas but beginner in others lol, theres not a lot of sheet music for boogie so a lot of it is learning by ear or watching others.
This video made me really happy. I always thought I was just a beginner because my peers are so much better than me at this instrument, but according to this I'm actually starting to be above an intermediate level. I'm very happy that I can consider myself to be a late intermediate or even early advanced player.
I found this video to be delightful! Thank you. I have a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the 1970's, and always felt that I failed as a music teacher because I couldn't play piano - I was a voice major - I love the way you distill the basics down to these few things. One thing I might add is the ability to play hymns out of the hymnal - homophonic basic stuff - as an indication of ability. I would love to reach out to you privately for help, now that I'm in my 60's, to really be a proficient pianist. Again, thank you for this.
May be a little late commenting, but I appreciate this video because it gives a good list of things to aim for. It's best not to take it personally in any way or to be discouraged. I'm thinking of it as a learning structure. Something to grind towards. Thanks for the great video, it's very informative
Looks like I am beginning to be a beginner 😂😬 I’ll keep practicing! I’ll update this comment a year from now with my progress!
Looking forward to hearing from you then! Can't wait!
hows it going so far?
Peace Ninja good - can sight read but not quickly. A few scales down. I got an adult piano lessons for beginners and about 1/3 way through.
Art Beyond The Wall - Noice. 20+ years of playing piano and I can't read to save my life. Got everything else she mentioned down tho. You're gonna have an advantage over me if you keep at it, good luck :)
How is it now
Well I think i'm an intermediate who skipped a lot of classes at beginner level...
That's alright! Everybody has a different learning journey! :)
Made my day
IKR ROFL
That's a good list. I had no doubt that I am a beginner, but it was good to hear about some benchmarks that will help me recognize when I reach the intermediate level, in the next 1 to 2 years. I tend to learn ahead of my ability to "do," so I am about 75% on the theory part. I have been working on this for about 18 months, with a full time job and many responsibilities, including choir for 25 years, but recently, I have ramped up my practicing to try to make better progress. As I told the pianist at our church recently (she has a masters in music, and is a competition winner, no less) that there is a lifetime of musicality inside me, but that guy has to dig his way out and be able to make my extremities undertake the needed movements to be able to play what is already a part of my deepest self, instead of just playing recordings of others over a commercial radio station. Aside from classical, there are influences for playing as diverse as Rick Davies (I have to be able to play that wild intro to Bloody Well Right) Donald Fagen, Chick Corea, Rick Wakemen, Tony Banks, Pat Moraz, Vince Guarldi, and Joni Mitchell, to name only a few. So, this is where I find out if I really have the guts it will take to be able to play like I can "inside".
I started learning piano a little over 20 days, this video has just encouraged me to know and practice more :) Thank you very much
I'm a gospel piano player so have chord progressions down to a science. Mostly learned everything by ear and have absolutely no portfolio lol because I play what I hear.... I'm not a beginner, not intermediate just lazy.... haha
Thank you for this! This tells me I’m still playing “with” a piano, rather than playing “the” piano! 😩
You are a delightful person and a superb teacher. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Thank you.
The last point at 8:11 is so true. One thing is to hit the keys, but to play with the emotion and bring the intensity up and down to get across the spirit of the music is another thing.
Looks like I'm still a beginner. So next goal for the new year: Become an intermediate player. ;-)
Love it! Good luck!
Wow! That’d be awesome to accomplish in one year! Way to go man
I am definitely a beginner. I am self teaching myself piano and this channel really taught me what are scales😂😂! But I've improved a lot since I began. Thank you ma'am for making piano easier for all of us. Btw love your voice😍😍
Thank you so much! Very happy to hear that you have improved! :)
Me too. I've been using a book called "Learn to play piano in six weeks or less" by Dan Delaney & Bill Chotkowski you may be interested in. It's very informative and well structured. It has a lot of practice pieces in it too. TH-cam is very helpful but I found myself lost trying to figure out what to work on next. This book gave order to my self teaching.
I'm an advanced intermediate on the guitar, but I suspect I'm an early beginner striving for intermediacy on piano. I've learned Satellite Of Love and I'm starting to get some feel into it. With the guitar it's just second nature. This is a fantastic channel by the way. Thank you so much.
Okay so after 10 years of playing piano, I've finally earned myself a beginner level xD worth
Your videos are spectacular! Most especially for piano players like me, i've learned a lot from u.... you definitely deserve more subscribers ♥️♥️♥️
I AGREE WITH YOU ! She helps a lot !
What do you think? Did I miss any?
You can download the checklist here:
pianote.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/pdf/intermediate-player-checklist.pdf
And here are the timecodes:
- Technique - 0:54
- Chord Progressions - 3:14
- Music Theory - 4:45
- Repertoire - 6:25
- Dynamics & Emotion - 7:45
Thank You for addressing this all important question we all have! This video really helped me assess where I fall in this category based solely off of your suggestions. I'm pleasantly surprised to learn I'm closer to an Early Intermediate player as opposed to the Beginner that I've consistently referred to myself as. Your video also gives me some encouragement as to what areas I should've putting more focus on for well rounded development. Thank You!!!
I'm somewhere in between an intermediate and an intermediate beginner in terms of theory and scales. My teacher told me that I play at a grade 4 however Trills are still my bane of playing piano. Do you have any tips for improving the technique?
Your missing the fact that every intermediate player should at least be capable of playing flight of the bumblebee at 300BPM, 16 notes per second, and sacrilegiously.
I think you covered every well
I played violin for nine years. The Last year i was transferred due to too many students to a different teacher, she would scream at me when i did not learn something as well as she wanted And would tell me that if i'l do this then i should leave. She disgusted my passion for music And three weeks of not showing up to her lessons i came in, gave her a chocolate box And told her im leaving. She was suprised, IMPORTANT : i hated playing violin for the First two/three years. But in my seventh/eighth i finally got into it, started composing my own stuff And Just playing for myself. So yeah, this woman Just destroyed nine yrs of violin lessons, now i dont know how to play a single song on the violin.
But then my passion for music Just left outta the Window. For one year i have not touched a single instrument. Year passed And i got a Cajon from my parents as a christmas gift, i still play it, it Filled me with Joy for some time. But then it kinda drifted away, you cant play sad music that i like, you can play along to it but not really. So when i started playing D&D, me as a DM, my crush And Four friends of ours (go Google D&D, its fricking awesome). So when we were talking my crush sat beside my grandmas 107+ yr old piano And started playing fairytale from shrek i was mesmerized. It was our most beloved song.
When they left the other Day i šat behind the piano And typed:
*piano easy lesson
I started playing along And most of my friends learned piano And did so the classical way. I started asking them for advice And they told me not to follow these videos. I didnt have time Back then to go to music school AgAIn. So I told them thank you but no. Needless to say i stuck with the approach i had, i practised for 1 Hour every Day for the past 7 months. I think i turned from piano noob to advanced beginner. It still fulfills me to play even though i am not as good as my friends or even her. But after summer break i Will start talking piano lessons. My crush ( now my bff) really supported me throughout the year, with stuff such as my granny having two brain deaths in a row And me being the only one at home at that time. So yeah, i really apreciate her being There for me
TlDR: sour And mean lady disgusted my taste for violin and music (after nine years) for over two years. But after my bff played me some piece from Shrek i got into piano And i loved it for the past 7 or so months. Next year i am talking piano lessons
This was the perfect video, as I was beginning to wonder what level my playing was at. I feel very confident as an intermediate player. 🕺🕺🎶🎶 Thank you Lisa!
Yay! I'm intermediate !!! I've been a Beginner for decades, learning theory and building skills, but not sure how my playing was going. Thanks for the nice video to help us keep a check on where we are when we're not quite sure!
This is brilliant, you are brilliant, a big thank you from morocco
You're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome! :)
Based on these points I guess I’m a beginnemediate 😀
I taught myself how to play guitar 35 years ago and I’ve been teaching myself how to play piano for the past year. Your videos have been very helpful in this journey. Thank You!
This was a great presentation and delivered a solid foundation for what to work on. I would say I'm poking into intermediate level in some areas but there are many things that aren't quite there yet. I think it's quite useful to know where you are so you can pat yourself on the back for your progress, and still make it real so you can keep at it where you need to work on. A word about teaching, however - I've discovered that no one teacher provides the perfect formula forward. It's critical to equip those that are new with a few tools so they can creatively play and enjoy themselves without frustration. For example, get people into the black keys quickly because spacial awareness that comes with time will unlock a LOT of enjoyment - like the D, lower A, lower G, lower D and back up. Inversions can move you along quickly too and every newbie needs to discover passing notes. Push beginners into things that sound good quickly. The REAL fun for me isn't mastering songs, it's learning the things I can do to train my musical ear. The interest in songs should come much later when you aren't struggling to find the notes as much. Anyway, you're a treasure and I'm getting more from you now than I did early in my journey. I'm not being critical because I know all of you are trying to find that sweet spot. I'm loving all this...and I'm 72 years old.
Why am I watching this? I know my level..baby.. I’m a 4 days self-taught piano player and proud 😤
Yay I’m intermediate!
Although now I’m curious what an advanced player needs to do... that would be crazy.
Advance players are those who:
Can play hard pieces like Flight of the bumblebee
Can play songs they only hear once on the spot
Good at controlling dynamics and rubato
Can improvise on the spot
Practice 40 hours a day
@@craiver00 Also you have to be able to turn the black keys into white keys
AsianOrganismHunter if you can play it slowly............
I would love you teaching on the different scales..harmonic..and the other scales you mentioned. And after that..I think I could call myself to the level of intermediate pianist. 👍👍👍
Thanks so much! That's exciting! :)
Thank you for putting this video together. You have highlighted some things I am doing but more importantly areas I have not been focused on. Thank you - well done.
I'm a beginner.
Thank you for this! For a long time I didn't want to practice as I think I'll be stagnant for life and I won't learn that much. But you showed me which areas to develop (actually all, haha). Kudos!
Well we are 2 minutes in and I realized after 6 years my piano teacher has teacher me nothing about scales 😄
Self taught started in july 2018, whatever she said intermediate player need to know.. I know everything. Because i learned everything early on a guitar and just shifted those scales into piano .
ive played piano for 6 years straight and then i stopped because of reasons for about 4 years (i moved, had depression etc). and recently ive been playing again, and this channel has been a great help! cant wait to go to next level!
Music is the heart and soul of the world!
@@PianoteOfficial i agree so much!! even on my lowest times, its what kept me with the feeling of being alive
I've been playing for 5 years, but I just recently found a passion for it. I've made so much progress since then, I can't wait to see what the next 5 have for me if I keep up the work.
Except scales I can do every thing in this list, will master those and will become a intermediate player.
After taking lessons for almost 2 years, I still classify as a mid-beginner 😐
Same thing ! My only teacher is Simply Piano. At least I made progress...
@@gfamad your first mistake
I was doing two hours a day in lockdown, now after watching this I reckon I'll be increasing the practice hours, at least I have a list of stuff to work to, thanks!
Wow! You certainly have given me a lot to think about! I really like the idea of creating a binder with established repertoire. I've been taking lessons since i was a child. I can't seem to get past a gr, 5 RCM level. I think I'm an advanced beginner... But I will keep at it. I've just had my 60th bday. Thanks for your great videos!
I am a beginner piano player. 8 months of practice and I'm not ashamed to say I'm still a beginner. But I can play hands together in every key, I know the diatonic chords in every key and am working on inversions. I started just practicing one chord per day but after listening to this I might just do that for a week at a time. I'm weak on my arpeggios so I'll spend more time on that. I have to gain more confidence in my musical abilities, but I lived my whole life telling people that I was born with two left ears. I'll start adding songs to my repertoire, especially Bach and Czerny.
I have two method books, one in French and Faber. I'm about halfway through on both, but my lack of musicality is evident since my pieces are lacking.
How much longer will it take me? I'm prepared for another couple years, but I'll take a piano teacher starting next year since my financial situation is becoming clearer.
I sympathize with you. I have worked very hard on my sight reading for more than 20 years, and I would consider myself an intermediate sightreader.
That's great! Keep up the good work! :)
Just keep on reading, it gets better and better.
Thank you for opening my eyes👀. I realized (after 10+years of my first keyboard purchase), I’m still a beginner. Will surely work on these skills soon so that I can at least play few songs with some confidence.
Thank you - this was so helpful! I think I'm still a beginner in technique - I can play all the scales but not double-handed, and not with confidence. In the other categories, I'm probably early intermediate, which was encouraging considering a lot of the chord progression stuff I just figured out by playing around (with a bit of background theory knowledge).
Chord progressions is basically like guitar chord strumming.
I watched this as a beginner hoping I can at least call myself an “intermediate piano player” by now😂. But man does the truth hurt!!
Thanks for the great content Pianote! Comments seemed conflicted about what elements differentiate among levels, but I do generally with all that you have said.
Some may argue there is too much emphasis on music theory but how can you write a paragraph without knowing the basics of grammar or the English language? Music is no different. Theory IS the way of communicating music.
I will take your content and turn in it into a checklist of items to master ☺️.
I'm watching this again after 16 months of playing, and while I've got most skills of an Intermediate player, I still consider myself a mid to late Beginner. I don't care about speed, I've been working technique and I'm happy with my level of theory. But the knowledge of pianists impresses and humbles me. But it also motivates me.