I’m a little between some of ur advice!! I played as a kid but stopped when I was 12 but I’ve been in lessons now for 2 yrs!! I’m 62 and an intermediate piano player now . I’m working on my level 1 RCM piano exam having just passed my prep A & B last year. So I’m working on a couple of things at once. But it has always been a goal of mine to play Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Even though it has been a little above my ability, I’ve learned a lot and of the six pages, I’m working on page 5 now!! It’s taken 18 months here and there w the other exam stuff too but I have everything memorized up to what I’m working on in page 5!! I’m very excited my dream will come true soon to play the whole “rock opera”. And I will be playing it at my piano school’s recital at Christmas. Generally, ur advice is spot on but if some piece is a bucket list piece for an adult, go for it!! You’ll learn a lot in the process but like Alicia says, mix it w other stuff ur working on! Thanks Alicia!! Love ur channel and ur webinars! Keep up the good work!!
It's really inspiring to see that you still come back to the channel even though you're SUPER busy with teaching and college. Most people would just leave their channels behind, but the commitment you show to this channel is worth immense applause and you have my gratitude for sticking with pianoTV for as long as you have. I really enjoy your videos and I hope you can continue to keep posting, even if its not very often. Thank you so much for the helpful tips in this video, there are many times where I will practice one piece the entire way through and I feel burned out afterwards, but now I'll make sure I practice multiple every time no matter what. Excited for part 2! -Eija
What you describe reminds me of something known as the contextual interference effect. An article I read recently explained how our brains are hardwired to pay attention to change and not repetition. It detailed how babies when shown the same object over and over again gradually stop paying attention, something known as habituation. Give the baby a new object and their attention returns. Adults are the same way. The piece went on to explain with regards to musical practice, that instead of practicing the same piece for an hour, a better method would be to pick several passages from the piece and practice each section for three minutes each. Or as you suggested practicing several pieces in that 45min period. Thanx for this awesome video. I've been playing piano for a year. Glad to see I've been on the right track. Thank you!
Hey Alicia, I love your channel. I've been watching from Asheville North Carolina. It has helped to keep me motivated over the years. I always love your advice and especially your videos on music books. Keep up the good work. Thanks for years of great content!
Wow, this is golden. I’m 63, have played all my life but never any technical training. Retired, I have hours to spend at the piano every day. I was learning Skyfall with its leaps and big chords, a definite challenge. Played only that trying to drill in muscle memory. Yeah, my left hand paid for it. I will be signing up for your theory series and want to say thank you for sharing your time and talents.🎼🎶🎵 many thanks! becky
When I first saw title, it amused me. I had a teacher that did not think overdoing it was possible. There was never such a thing as too much practice. But then I realized that you're approaching this based on your studio emphasis. I can see significant wisdom in your advice. Especially when pianists are first starting and that is that overdoing it can create bad habits. And you will not have the opportunity to correct these habits, and then spend time getting your student to undo what they have learned. this way, hopefully, they will remain injury free for life. I've had to completely relearn technique twice in my life. Relearning is so much harder than doing it right the first time. So, with a teacher you can improve your student's efficiency, and hopefully prevent this. Of all the things I believe piano teachers either do or do not is focus on good technique to prevent injury. And constant feedback leading to a path of improvement. All these concerns are signs, in my opinion, of a really fantastic piano teacher. As a student the #1 mistake I've made is asking myself the question - am I getting meaningful feedback. I only developed this latter as an intermediate advanced pianist. Looking back at it this was my #1 mistake as a student. My #2 mistake was not hearing the feedback well - in a way I could apply it. Do you understand. I would just say YES.
Thank you! As always very thoughtful and helpful points when approaching the piano specially when learning a new piece of music or a study. I have been applying your suggestions and they work for me. I feel the new piece is coming along with a solid structure and I feel more confident while playing it. Best regards!
Allysia, thanks for producing this video. I took your Piano 2 class and learned so much during the COVID-19 period. My piano dynamics after this course has been greatly improved. Taking your course has been one of the best things in my piano learning journey.
I had the opposite problem when I stopped taking lessons as an adult. I got good at sightreading and would just hop around to new pieces all the time. But I can totally see the other extreme. Glad to see new videos!
So glad I clicked on this. I'm so guilty of this right now. I tend towards monomania and obsessive fixation anyway. And the whole reason I'm learning piano right now is because I can't play guitar cuz of an injury. So the last thing I want to do is injure myself in a new way. The other thing I would say about fixating on one piece is that you get bored to death with it before you've got anywhere near playing it half decently. Cheers.
I'm just a beginner ( adult ) currently learning from the Alfred's Basic book. It's taking me about 4-5 days now to learn a new piece from that book to the point I can play it with a metronome comfortably at speed, I'm getting towards the end of that book now I think there might be 7 or 8 songs left. I've got a second piece of music I've been learning for about 2 months maybe ( I'll admit its above my level ) I normally do that for a bit after I feel like I've done all I can do from the Alfred book on that day. One of the things I really want to do which is the thing I most struggle with is ear training, I want to be able to play songs by ear, a lot of the stuff I listen to is stuff that doesn't have sheet music to learn from and I'd like to be creative enough to come up with my own compositions of these songs, I can pick out melodies sometimes, but I am clueless as to where to begin applying chords to the music or figuring out what key I am even in. No matter how many "How to play by ear videos" I watch I just don't seem to get it.
Nice to have a bit of a breather to catch a few of your web videos. For me, I frequently reach practice saturation, especially with having online and local classes to cover. My brain effectively starts to shut down...time for a decent, hour or so, break. Working somewhat against that is that now in my later years muscle memory takes oh so much longer to ingrain. Too little practice, whatever that is, has the perceived effect of no practice. I know that is not totally true however the next day seems like the first time seeing the piece. Consequently it is a morale killer especially if trying to get to checkpoints for oneself and others. For known scheduled pieces to learn. I try to get a head start on them so that practice is not so intense however time pressures that can come from so many directions can sabotage that plan. A saving grace for me is that I'm super sensitive to any irritation that I perceive happening in my hands and stop if I notice it. I also try to incorporate as much as I can, or know how, Dorothy Taubmann's techniques of knowing and working with the natural mechanics of the hands, arms, and body. Maybe that's just another way to overdo it. As always thanks so much for your videos.
thank you, greatly valuable. I am noticing how my finger tenden pains when i repeat a particular pattern or notes which has repeated finger patterns, it's very bad, the exercises too should not be repeated for too long.
I think it’s more of the piano teachers that don’t assign more pieces to the student rather than the students overdo it. Any decent teacher would assign more than one piece + technical exercises + basic harmony etc
Hello Allysia 🙋🏼♂~ So, first of all coach, there’s no way i was not gonna push to the end of that. I was gonna finish it, come hell or high water 🌊🙋🏼♂🌊~ Because if i couldn’t at least do that. Then there was no reason to move on 😔~ Savvy 🙏~ . . . Plus 😉~ the reason i was there in the first place was because i was working on a "broken chord" piece. Aka, Adele's "Someone Like You" . . . so I was never working on only one tune. 🙌~ In fact i could probably play the first minute of it right now, just out of my head. --- Thus 🙂the odds are high coach ... things may not be as bad as i guess i made it seem😉~ I'll be more careful coach 🙋🏼♂🙂😉~
I’m a little between some of ur advice!! I played as a kid but stopped when I was 12 but I’ve been in lessons now for 2 yrs!! I’m 62 and an intermediate piano player now . I’m working on my level 1 RCM piano exam having just passed my prep A & B last year. So I’m working on a couple of things at once. But it has always been a goal of mine to play Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Even though it has been a little above my ability, I’ve learned a lot and of the six pages, I’m working on page 5 now!! It’s taken 18 months here and there w the other exam stuff too but I have everything memorized up to what I’m working on in page 5!! I’m very excited my dream will come true soon to play the whole “rock opera”. And I will be playing it at my piano school’s recital at Christmas.
Generally, ur advice is spot on but if some piece is a bucket list piece for an adult, go for it!! You’ll learn a lot in the process but like Alicia says, mix it w other stuff ur working on!
Thanks Alicia!! Love ur channel and ur webinars! Keep up the good work!!
It's really inspiring to see that you still come back to the channel even though you're SUPER busy with teaching and college. Most people would just leave their channels behind, but the commitment you show to this channel is worth immense applause and you have my gratitude for sticking with pianoTV for as long as you have. I really enjoy your videos and I hope you can continue to keep posting, even if its not very often. Thank you so much for the helpful tips in this video, there are many times where I will practice one piece the entire way through and I feel burned out afterwards, but now I'll make sure I practice multiple every time no matter what. Excited for part 2! -Eija
I did a course once and the teacher told me something profound...he told me "sometimes the technique you're searching for is in a different room"
What you describe reminds me of something known as the contextual interference effect. An article I read recently explained how our brains are hardwired to pay attention to change and not repetition. It detailed how babies when shown the same object over and over again gradually stop paying attention, something known as habituation. Give the baby a new object and their attention returns. Adults are the same way. The piece went on to explain with regards to musical practice, that instead of practicing the same piece for an hour, a better method would be to pick several passages from the piece and practice each section for three minutes each. Or as you suggested practicing several pieces in that 45min period. Thanx for this awesome video. I've been playing piano for a year. Glad to see I've been on the right track. Thank you!
great post... thank you!
Interleaved practice.
Nice to see you again! Hope you’re doing well. Excited to get into this new series ☺️
This is such a perfect series for my ADHD brain, will be tuning in to every one to get myself back into piano!!
Hey Alicia, I love your channel. I've been watching from Asheville North Carolina. It has helped to keep me motivated over the years. I always love your advice and especially your videos on music books. Keep up the good work. Thanks for years of great content!
Exactly. I agree with every point of effectiveness announced in your suggestions! keep it up
Wow, this is golden. I’m 63, have played all my life but never any technical training. Retired, I have hours to spend at the piano every day. I was learning Skyfall with its leaps and big chords, a definite challenge. Played only that trying to drill in muscle memory. Yeah, my left hand paid for it. I will be signing up for your theory series and want to say thank you for sharing your time and talents.🎼🎶🎵 many thanks! becky
When I first saw title, it amused me. I had a teacher that did not think overdoing it was possible. There was never such a thing as too much practice. But then I realized that you're approaching this based on your studio emphasis. I can see significant wisdom in your advice. Especially when pianists are first starting and that is that overdoing it can create bad habits. And you will not have the opportunity to correct these habits, and then spend time getting your student to undo what they have learned. this way, hopefully, they will remain injury free for life. I've had to completely relearn technique twice in my life. Relearning is so much harder than doing it right the first time. So, with a teacher you can improve your student's efficiency, and hopefully prevent this. Of all the things I believe piano teachers either do or do not is focus on good technique to prevent injury. And constant feedback leading to a path of improvement. All these concerns are signs, in my opinion, of a really fantastic piano teacher. As a student the #1 mistake I've made is asking myself the question - am I getting meaningful feedback. I only developed this latter as an intermediate advanced pianist. Looking back at it this was my #1 mistake as a student. My #2 mistake was not hearing the feedback well - in a way I could apply it. Do you understand. I would just say YES.
Thank you! As always very thoughtful and helpful points when approaching the piano specially when learning a new piece of music or a study. I have been applying your suggestions and they work for me. I feel the new piece is coming along with a solid structure and I feel more confident while playing it. Best regards!
Allysia, thanks for producing this video. I took your Piano 2 class and learned so much during the COVID-19 period. My piano dynamics after this course has been greatly improved. Taking your course has been one of the best things in my piano learning journey.
I am always practicing three pieces at a time. Like a rolling box car type of method. My brain and body seems to work and function better that way.
I had the opposite problem when I stopped taking lessons as an adult. I got good at sightreading and would just hop around to new pieces all the time. But I can totally see the other extreme. Glad to see new videos!
Long time no see, good to hear from you again....your videos are always useful...
Thank you for the guidelines.
Thank you for offering the theory class. My instructor has done some theory work with me, but more won't hurt!
Great video. Thank you for the useful advice.
So glad I clicked on this. I'm so guilty of this right now. I tend towards monomania and obsessive fixation anyway. And the whole reason I'm learning piano right now is because I can't play guitar cuz of an injury. So the last thing I want to do is injure myself in a new way. The other thing I would say about fixating on one piece is that you get bored to death with it before you've got anywhere near playing it half decently.
Cheers.
I'm just a beginner ( adult ) currently learning from the Alfred's Basic book. It's taking me about 4-5 days now to learn a new piece from that book to the point I can play it with a metronome comfortably at speed, I'm getting towards the end of that book now I think there might be 7 or 8 songs left. I've got a second piece of music I've been learning for about 2 months maybe ( I'll admit its above my level ) I normally do that for a bit after I feel like I've done all I can do from the Alfred book on that day. One of the things I really want to do which is the thing I most struggle with is ear training, I want to be able to play songs by ear, a lot of the stuff I listen to is stuff that doesn't have sheet music to learn from and I'd like to be creative enough to come up with my own compositions of these songs, I can pick out melodies sometimes, but I am clueless as to where to begin applying chords to the music or figuring out what key I am even in. No matter how many "How to play by ear videos" I watch I just don't seem to get it.
Nice to have a bit of a breather to catch a few of your web videos. For me, I frequently reach practice saturation, especially with having online and local classes to cover. My brain effectively starts to shut down...time for a decent, hour or so, break. Working somewhat against that is that now in my later years muscle memory takes oh so much longer to ingrain. Too little practice, whatever that is, has the perceived effect of no practice. I know that is not totally true however the next day seems like the first time seeing the piece. Consequently it is a morale killer especially if trying to get to checkpoints for oneself and others. For known scheduled pieces to learn. I try to get a head start on them so that practice is not so intense however time pressures that can come from so many directions can sabotage that plan. A saving grace for me is that I'm super sensitive to any irritation that I perceive happening in my hands and stop if I notice it. I also try to incorporate as much as I can, or know how, Dorothy Taubmann's techniques of knowing and working with the natural mechanics of the hands, arms, and body. Maybe that's just another way to overdo it. As always thanks so much for your videos.
such a great video !!! thank you
Thank you! 💕
Love new pianotv vids
Your videos are super useful thank you 👍
Great advice!
408 like from me. Raj from Canada 🇨🇦. This is my current problem. I over practise the same piece over and over and feel that I am not going anywhere
You’re Back. 😃👍🏻
I used to keep grinding the same song until I hated it. Rotating through 2-3 songs is definitely much better for your wrists and sanity lol
thank you, greatly valuable. I am noticing how my finger tenden pains when i repeat a particular pattern or notes which has repeated finger patterns, it's very bad, the exercises too should not be repeated for too long.
Alicia 👏 👏 👏 👏 ❤❤❤❤
I been watching your channel for years, u brighten my day during harsh times Alicia Piano TV lady
I think it’s more of the piano teachers that don’t assign more pieces to the student rather than the students overdo it. Any decent teacher would assign more than one piece + technical exercises + basic harmony etc
Hello Allysia 🙋🏼♂~ So, first of all coach, there’s no way i was not gonna push to the end of that. I was gonna finish it, come hell or high water 🌊🙋🏼♂🌊~ Because if i couldn’t at least do that. Then there was no reason to move on 😔~ Savvy 🙏~ . . . Plus 😉~ the reason i was there in the first place was because i was working on a "broken chord" piece. Aka, Adele's "Someone Like You" . . . so I was never working on only one tune. 🙌~ In fact i could probably play the first minute of it right now, just out of my head. --- Thus 🙂the odds are high coach ... things may not be as bad as i guess i made it seem😉~ I'll be more careful coach 🙋🏼♂🙂😉~
I got trigger finger from playing trumpet blues over and over again
She makes me want to move to Canada and marry her...😀
The sound is a bit out of sync.
But thanks anyway! All the best.
are you talking about me?
Very good video, but you clap your hands a lot and that distracts me from what you are saying. 😔
Are you a vampire???
I got super pale too after working the night shift for a couple months now. Momma calls me dracula 🧛♂️ lol
@@PeaceNinja007 no I meant if she is a vampire because she does not age
@@agamaz5650 oh ... good point. I just noticed that now that you mentioned it lol
I not seeing an actual place to register for your theory web classes. I clicked on the link. Thanks.