I have been working my way though the Alfred's level 1 piano book by myself. I was looking for help with this song and I found this video. This has been very helpful! I will have to go back and watch some of your other videos. Thank you!
thank you for your attention to detail on use the Pedal. Your explanation allows the student to understand why one is using the pedal rather than just blindly follow a set of rules .
it took me two weeks! and it was all worth it. the piece is just my type, the melody with pedals and the dynamics and the bit of arpeggio at the end all made a nice combination. thank you.
Lol, I like the comments about the pedal. I am the opposite. When I touch the pedal everything gets muddy because I'm bad with the timing. Still learning it. It takes a lot of brain power to add in a foot along with the syncing of two hands...
Absolutely love the series of videos you have. I actually got through the book by myself, and now I am repeating by following your videos. Next best thing than having a piano teacher -- actually might be better in certain aspects. You mentioned "highlight the top note", in this and a few previous pieces. Do you have any recommendation or video showing how to do it? Or I just need more attention and "will get it"? Thanks
On the 11th&12th bar of the piece, or the 4/5th bar of page 125, I find the fingering difficult. Instead of 1-5/3-1/3 | 1/2, I'm finding it easier to do 1-5/2-1/2 | 1/2. Basically, my fifth and third fingers aren't coming down on time and I'm finding much less strength on my fifth in that formation. What do you think of that?
@@LetsPlayPianoMethods Thank you for your valuable inputs!! I will persevere with the prescribed fingering and build strength. They work fine on usual white key thirds, but on this one, it's kind of really difficult. But I guess I'll soldier on.
Is there an easy way to read the key signature and tell what Key the song piece is in? I heard that if you look at the key sig and look at the sharp or flat that is FARTHEST TO THE RIGHT and then just GO UP a key letter.... THAT’S the Key the piece is in. Thus far it seems to work with sharps only. But not flats? Not looking for shortcuts. I definitely want every morsel of piano knowledge!.... however, with these tired old eyes, I’d love not to have to squint to see each and every tiny little sharp & flat in the key Sig area. Q: So is there a tip you can share with us on this subject? Thank you kindly, Sir. 😃😊😊 You’ve been tremendous help. Thank you for covering these Arthur-books in complete lesson form. I truly appreciate your hard work for us all. ❤️😊
Yes, there is a tip on identifying flat key signatures, but it has the same problem as the way to identify the sharp key signatures. That is, it does not always work, which is why I don't teach it. The best way, in my opinion, is to learn the scales for the different keys. That way you don't need to see which sharps or flats are in the key signature, only how many. Remember, there is a minor scale with the same key signature as each major scale. You have to look at the music to determine which key the piece is in. I look at the end of the piece since most pieces end on their I chord, although not all pieces do this.
For multiple flats, look at the second-to-last flat and that's your key. If you see Bb and Eb, the second-to-last one is Bb, key is Bb major. Bb, Eb, Ab - Eb major. Bb, Eb, Ab, Db - Ab major (like he mentioned in his comment though, this doesn't work for minor keys or pieces written in other modes. If you learn the Circle of Fifths, it's easier to remember which relative minor/major keys correspond to each other, but it's been 7 months since your comment and you maybe already know that :p )
Question about the pedaling in general. I can't comfortable rest my foot on the pedal, rather I have to keep the foot it in a tense state just above the pedal and press down when needed. This gets quickly very weary, to keep the foot tense like this. I don't know if my pedal is too sensitive or if it's supposed to be this way? (I have a FC5 pedal from yamaha)
Yes, the pedals for electronic instruments can be really high, which makes for more tension in the foot. You might try putting something under your hear to raise it up a little and see if that helps any.
Do you recommend learning the pedaling for a piece after you've perfected everything else? I usually practice a piece measure by measure until I get the whole thing down pretty well, then add in the pedaling but then I tend to start making a lot of mistakes in the music when I add it in. Should I be learning the pedaling as I am learning the notes and rhythms?
I suggest learning the piece well as far as notes and rhythms go before adding the pedal. This way you can make sure the hands are dong what they need to and not getting lazy in depending on the pedal to cover up bad technique. If adding the pedal messes up stuff, it is an indication that you don't know the stuff very well yet.
Great video as usual! One question, I feel that as I practice a piece I’m memorizing how to play it rather than truly reading the notes. Is this normal? Does it get easier to read the notes as I continue to practice or should I find another way to improve sight-reading? Thank you 🙏
It is different for different people. If you memorize, fine. If you don't memorize, fine. You will read the notes easier as time goes on. It takes time. I think you seem to be doing fine.
I took one year of piano when I was 10, and that was 70 years ago but there's one thing that I have never forgotten and that is the order for the sharps and flats in the key signature. I don't know it in English however because I learned it in French. FA DO SOL RE LA MI SI for the sharps and for the flats it's SI MI LA RE SOL DO FA which is the exact reverse. Does it matter that I don't know what key these correspond to? Or should I make an effort to memorize that as well?
I find the jump between the previous pieces and this one kind of extreme so I think I'm going to skip learning this one. But I do appreciate your lesson very much!
Hello, just a basic question on tied notes: I thought the keys are held down for the combined values of both notes (as stated on page 35), but not play twice. Thought I heard you played as separate notes? Can you please explain? Thanks.
@@LetsPlayPianoMethods thanks for replying. On the 1st line, 2nd measure A-C is tie to 3rd measure A-C. Should I hold both A-C across two measures or should I play A-C again on the 3rd Measure?
@@LetsPlayPianoMethods I re-reviewed your “Play with Me” session several times, and noticed that you were holding the keys at all times with the tied notes. I noticed it incorrectly previously and now got my answer. Thanks again for all your efforts in producing these really helpful videos!
I love this guy! Best online video tutorial out there
Thank you.
Thank you so much for your teaching. 🙏❤❤❤
You are welcome.
I have been working my way though the Alfred's level 1 piano book by myself. I was looking for help with this song and I found this video. This has been very helpful! I will have to go back and watch some of your other videos. Thank you!
You're welcome!
thank you for your attention to detail on use the Pedal. Your explanation allows the student to understand why one is using the pedal rather than just blindly follow a set of rules .
You are welcome.
Your videos are fantastic. I just wanted to thank you for sharing your time and talent with beginners like me.
You are welcome.
I love the tension in this piece and how it resolves
it took me two weeks! and it was all worth it. the piece is just my type, the melody with pedals and the dynamics and the bit of arpeggio at the end all made a nice combination. thank you.
You are welcome.
Your videos are amazing. Thank you for taking the time and effort, it is much appreciated.
You're welcome.
Thank you Teacher, I followed your instruction in this video and it's much easier for me to learn this song. You're a great piano teacher.
You're welcome!
Lol, I like the comments about the pedal. I am the opposite. When I touch the pedal everything gets muddy because I'm bad with the timing. Still learning it. It takes a lot of brain power to add in a foot along with the syncing of two hands...
So helpful, thankyou yet again
You're welcome.
Absolutely love the series of videos you have. I actually got through the book by myself, and now I am repeating by following your videos. Next best thing than having a piano teacher -- actually might be better in certain aspects.
You mentioned "highlight the top note", in this and a few previous pieces. Do you have any recommendation or video showing how to do it? Or I just need more attention and "will get it"?
Thanks
I really appreciate these videos, especially the tips on the pedal !! They were a big help :) thanks
You are welcome.
Thanks for your work!!
You're welcome.
Thanks a lot for your tutorial.
You are welcome!
Thank sir This was very helpful.
You are welcome.
Thankyou sir for all yr effort.
You're welcome!
On the 11th&12th bar of the piece, or the 4/5th bar of page 125, I find the fingering difficult. Instead of 1-5/3-1/3 | 1/2, I'm finding it easier to do 1-5/2-1/2 | 1/2. Basically, my fifth and third fingers aren't coming down on time and I'm finding much less strength on my fifth in that formation. What do you think of that?
It's fine if that works for you, but keep working on the 5/3 combination working together because in some pieces it needs to be that way.
@@LetsPlayPianoMethods Thank you for your valuable inputs!! I will persevere with the prescribed fingering and build strength. They work fine on usual white key thirds, but on this one, it's kind of really difficult. But I guess I'll soldier on.
Is there an easy way to read the key signature and tell what Key the song piece is in? I heard that if you look at the key sig and look at the sharp or flat that is FARTHEST TO THE RIGHT and then just GO UP a key letter.... THAT’S the Key the piece is in. Thus far it seems to work with sharps only. But not flats?
Not looking for shortcuts. I definitely want every morsel of piano knowledge!.... however, with these tired old eyes, I’d love not to have to squint to see each and every tiny little sharp & flat in the key Sig area.
Q: So is there a tip you can share with us on this subject? Thank you kindly, Sir. 😃😊😊 You’ve been tremendous help. Thank you for covering these Arthur-books in complete lesson form. I truly appreciate your hard work for us all. ❤️😊
Yes, there is a tip on identifying flat key signatures, but it has the same problem as the way to identify the sharp key signatures. That is, it does not always work, which is why I don't teach it. The best way, in my opinion, is to learn the scales for the different keys. That way you don't need to see which sharps or flats are in the key signature, only how many. Remember, there is a minor scale with the same key signature as each major scale. You have to look at the music to determine which key the piece is in. I look at the end of the piece since most pieces end on their I chord, although not all pieces do this.
For multiple flats, look at the second-to-last flat and that's your key. If you see Bb and Eb, the second-to-last one is Bb, key is Bb major. Bb, Eb, Ab - Eb major. Bb, Eb, Ab, Db - Ab major
(like he mentioned in his comment though, this doesn't work for minor keys or pieces written in other modes. If you learn the Circle of Fifths, it's easier to remember which relative minor/major keys correspond to each other, but it's been 7 months since your comment and you maybe already know that :p )
Thanks!
You are welcome! And thank you.
Question about the pedaling in general. I can't comfortable rest my foot on the pedal, rather I have to keep the foot it in a tense state just above the pedal and press down when needed. This gets quickly very weary, to keep the foot tense like this. I don't know if my pedal is too sensitive or if it's supposed to be this way? (I have a FC5 pedal from yamaha)
Yes, the pedals for electronic instruments can be really high, which makes for more tension in the foot. You might try putting something under your hear to raise it up a little and see if that helps any.
Do you recommend learning the pedaling for a piece after you've perfected everything else? I usually practice a piece measure by measure until I get the whole thing down pretty well, then add in the pedaling but then I tend to start making a lot of mistakes in the music when I add it in. Should I be learning the pedaling as I am learning the notes and rhythms?
I suggest learning the piece well as far as notes and rhythms go before adding the pedal. This way you can make sure the hands are dong what they need to and not getting lazy in depending on the pedal to cover up bad technique. If adding the pedal messes up stuff, it is an indication that you don't know the stuff very well yet.
@@LetsPlayPianoMethods thank you!
Great video as usual! One question, I feel that as I practice a piece I’m memorizing how to play it rather than truly reading the notes. Is this normal? Does it get easier to read the notes as I continue to practice or should I find another way to improve sight-reading? Thank you 🙏
It is different for different people. If you memorize, fine. If you don't memorize, fine. You will read the notes easier as time goes on. It takes time. I think you seem to be doing fine.
I’ll
I took one year of piano when I was 10, and that was 70 years ago but there's one thing that I have never forgotten and that is the order for the sharps and flats in the key signature. I don't know it in English however because I learned it in French. FA DO SOL RE LA MI SI for the sharps and for the flats it's SI MI LA RE SOL DO FA which is the exact reverse. Does it matter that I don't know what key these correspond to? Or should I make an effort to memorize that as well?
I suggest you learn it by learning the scales. Know what sharps or flats are in each scale.
Really good spontaneous teaching lol
I find the jump between the previous pieces and this one kind of extreme so I think I'm going to skip learning this one. But I do appreciate your lesson very much!
Hello, just a basic question on tied notes: I thought the keys are held down for the combined values of both notes (as stated on page 35), but not play twice. Thought I heard you played as separate notes? Can you please explain? Thanks.
I don't know where you are referring to when you say I played the notes again. Where are you seeing me pay the notes again?
@@LetsPlayPianoMethods thanks for replying.
On the 1st line, 2nd measure A-C is tie to 3rd measure A-C. Should I hold both A-C across two measures or should I play A-C again on the 3rd Measure?
@@LetsPlayPianoMethods I re-reviewed your “Play with Me” session several times, and noticed that you were holding the keys at all times with the tied notes. I noticed it incorrectly previously and now got my answer. Thanks again for all your efforts in producing these really helpful videos!
👏👏👏
man pedal is hard
Yes, it is when it is done correctly.
😨😨😨😱😱😱😱