As a jazz pianist, I definitely agree with this chord progressions - patterns practice method. I use this all the time when practicing my classical pieces
So smart. None of my *many* piano teachers ever suggested I analyze the harmonic progression of any piece we worked on. It took me forever to learn pieces and memorizing them was a nightmare until the lightbulb went on in my head, I quit lessons, and from that moment on started analyzing every piece I was learning by myself. I can’t begin to describe how much less time it takes to learn a piece of music this way. So many benefits - learning, memorizing, and interpretation. The other thing I should have been taught was to compose. That’s next on my to-do list.
That's crazy, they don't teach that? I just started and was learning the 1st Gymnopedie. The first thing I did was go through and mark the chord progression because I just can't read that many damn notes. Breaking everything into triads and inversions makes it so much easier.
I completely agree, word by word. It once took me months to learn a simple piece of 3 pages, now I can learn 40 pages of stuff (at my level) in 3 weeks. It's another world.
I guess I am lucky that my teacher quite fast introduced me to chords and playing pieces „by chords” firstly. Though it sounds like so obvious thing to teach :)
Your technique rebuilding course is exactly what I need. I have been learning piano for several years and was hit by injury again and again. My teachers (I had three through the years) just told me to stop playing for as long as it takes. That did not solve the problem, only concealed it. So my hopes are high for the technique course. I have already bought several of your other courses and each of them provided exceptional advice, way beyond what any of my teachers could provide. Thank you so much, Denis!
Thanks for your feedback! This course will offer the most comprehensive advice on technique efficiency, we will move from the most fundamental to more sophisticated types of technique
fabulous man, thanks for all the content. i know harmony and progressions is not what this channel is about, but i would greatly appreciate if you dedicated a video to what you look for in a score to determine what's going on harmonically, maybe spotting some cues or hints as to what's happening. i'm learning it but when you see all the notes in the score it gets quite tricky at times. congrats on your amazing channel!
Not diminishing Denis' incredible lessons, there are other great teachers - like Josh Write to name one, or just anyone from tonebase are very profound. But Denis certainly has some special vibe. And I'm also Ukrainian so already half biased about him) one of the best definitely 🔥
@@AndrewKabaliuk I'm sorry sir, I disagree - this it not the place to have this discussion but I just want to say that I know about others and I stand by what I said.
@@cadriver2570 you're probably right :( As a terribly bad musician I'm not sure I'll create a piano channel but if I do we'll continue this discussion there :)
Superb knowledge. Thank u for sharing. I’ve played piano for 50+ years. Started studying again with excellent instructor in Norman, Oklahoma USA. Learning from your videos!
Great video! I am always amazed by the quality of your content. The course sounds like a great tool in my piano journey so I couldn’t help myself but to immediately buy it! I am very excited!!
A grad in vocal perf at conservatory type Uni, long time ago. Great academics in theory and harmony. Vocal recital artist for many decades w/piano as distant 2nd. Took up piano as focus 7 years ago; inefficient technique. Improved that as I found a basic technique course teacher that was very helpful, added a few more mentors over last 3-4 years. As a 10-15 year student I recognize several holes in my game. Piano is as complex an activity as I have ever come across in a full life. There are areas that need improvement; I can't always know how to master those effectively. Reading good hands separately, not robust together. Memorization non-existent. Ear training needs work. With a pretty strong harmony background, I can dig out and make my understanding more than academic; didn't need it a lot as a solo singer. I make out Denis' course to be pretty much what anyone wants to make it for themselves. If I have to slow down where I think I am for rapid progress just a few weeks or months ahead for this meager price, I'm taking it. No one ever got anywhere unless they were mentored by people who were more advanced than themselves, in anything. Denis is a master teacher and player. Fun and approachable guy. I love his schtick, even though I don't play his repertoire. All his stuff is transferrable to what I do play-jazz, blues, pop, show tunes. We all have holes in our piano game; saw a clip of Martha Argerich at Nelson Freire's studio in Brazil, very close SA neighbors. Nelson suggested they read some stuff, you know with those scores scattered all over the room. Martha says, "Yeah, but you can read and I can't." MA, what a real person! I"m sure her admission was not absolute, but something relative to a sight reading champ, and being compared on the spot. She listened while he rattled off every conceivable masterpiece from sight, many playing for the first time. And, my friends, that is the great Martha Argerich, one of, if not my fave technical player. To have such an opportunity to be mentored as close or as distant as I want with a teacher/player the calibre of a Denis Zhanov is a no brainer, because I really want to improve and improved with just 30 minutes yesterday of analyzing the chords on about first 10 bars of an intermediate Christmas piece. I could see it in 30 minutes; it was fun because I had a robust harmony system that was still workable after all these years. Thank you Dr. Kim, very polite taskmaster. We want to progress fast and because we are invested in that we think of ourselves as more advanced than we really are. This in spite of Itzahk Perelman's autograph signature, "Practice slowly, " and the Rach himself, "Practice like a snail, play like a cheetah." This promises to be more specifically active for the piano idiom, as well as interactive with other Piano Pilgrims Progressing. Looking forward to it. Sharing with others what you are a learning in a not threatening space. What a rush!
Cool cool! Oh, my NEC years during the first Master’s: lots of late night practicing till 2am and gallons of coffeee….. (sometimes with a shot of Jack though) 🙈 I did it all ‘wrong’ I guess, but got the Kreisleriana and Scriabin 4 (my first ever Scriabin Sonata) out of those years 😁 BTW for those seriously into theory: invest into the book by Aldwell/Schachter. It is used by the Mannes curriculum and this school is one of the conservatories with the strongest and strictest theory requirements/levels across the United States.
Can second, Harmony and Voice Leading by Aldwell and Schachter is GOATed. Worth every penny. For composing classical music, Analysing Classical Form by Caplin is also an absolute must.
Approx. 270 pages of chord progressions, very much the Soviet way. I have not read Russian for a long time, so a bit of work on two fronts. I so much agree on your last suggestion, keep bringing in a little of some new challenge each day - it also makes life feel worth living.
I love your work, you have helped me for improve my technique and get a better practise. Just a suggestion, could you put captions on your courses? No matter even they are in english. People who speak other languages (like me) really apreciate it very much
The announced course will have embed Eng subtitles for all videos, and an automatic captions translation to multiple languages. The latest courses also include english subtitles.
'I'd play twice as well today, if I had known these tips earlier'. When you speak, your English is practically perfect. I don't know who wrote the title.😀 Great video any way, very informative. Thanks.
I can proudly say that, even as a 20yo, that started at 17yo, my tracher has insisted on gradually doing all these mechanics to play and understand better the music, i dont have formal formation, so I've to study theory myself too, and currently im learning som of the medium advanced chopin preludes, in just 3 years, and I've flaws obviusly, but very proud of my tracher, my next goal it's to sught reading perfectly, and here summer is coming so... lot of time to practice :)
Damn, you really got me with this price, I think you also learned a few things about marketing 😂 I recently was convinced to start buying your tutorials - starting from hanon, probably I’ll buy also czerny and last (but not least for sure!) brahms. Now this course just comes in, I’ll go buncrupt 😂 of course joking, I am very happy you are still active teacher and prepared some new tutorials! If you have any tips how to arrange the ones I mentioned - that would be awesome! But anyway, thank you a lot for your hard work ❤
That's a good order indeed! However just buying a new course instead of Czerny and Brahms may be more productive, since it's more comprehensive and versatile.
"bankrupt," as far as I've seen for 50 years, a major considerations for musicians on any levels. Question: Would I rather keep the 500 bucks or trade for what's behind door number 3 which may well be incalculable treasure? I'm a serendipity seeker.
Thank you! I cannot just pass by this deal, I either way feel lucky to be able to access all this metrials just with few clicks on internet, and in the long run, really not that expensive price :) Will go with the new course now, and later in time, I will also buy czerny and brahms since I believe it will also be very informative. Hopefully you will never delete them from your store :)
Hi Denis! I really like and appreciate your teaching style! Do you have any lessons on passages with fast arpeggios in combination passages with octaves/ big chords? My hands get tense every time, a good example would be the op 15 no 2 Chopin nocturne “doppio movimento” section. Thank you !
Thanks again for all your content, Denis. I appreciate the way you do business as well, you make a fine product. Besides all of that, I like how interested you are in self-improvement and analysis. Do you happen to have a list of resources for all things piano related, or perhaps anything in the meta-learning category of analysis and personal development? You seem like a very thoughtful person and I'd love to become more like you. I spend a lot of time writing to understand things.
Thanks for your kind feedback! I have never organized a list of piano sources, because I have been too deeply immersed into day-to-day impressions when studying in multiple music universities with different teachers, but I probably should consider doing such a list for my students. Regarding analysis, I think my most valuable sources at the moment are related not to music actually, but to psychology, strategies of conscious life changes and developing an ability to work with the reality as it is, courses on self-presentation, entrepreneurship, blogging, and of course therapy.
When practicing serious repertoire, it takes only a few days for at least one unison to go out of tune, even with a tuner skilled in ensuring stability. For recordings, which I do frequently, even a slightly out-of-tune string can be bothersome to those with a sharp ear. If I’m in a rush, I might forgive myself for a single unison being slightly off in a casual blog video. However, when recording a performance, I make sure to tune everything meticulously. I know most people don't even notice such things, but each time I have even one string that is slightly out of tune, there always will be someone skilled commenting "aha! your C4 needs some tuning!"
@@DenZhdanovPianist I was told the norm was twice a year.. But now I think of it, I do notice when my teachers piano is freshly tuned, and it defenitely goes out of tune way faster than half a year. Maybe two or three weeks later, I already notice some changes that are enough to mess with my brain sometimes. I am used to a digital that never gets out of tune, which is about the only plus side.. Sometimes I wish I fell in love with a more convenient instrument, like the guitar or something, lol. Good on you for teaching yourself how to tune!
You’re right. Sometimes we don’t want move on from a price. And when we do and get back again we notice that we improved without practicing cause our brain just had a break. By the way, I got really overwhelmed by the way art where you simply the pieces I don’t understand how to or why’s a seventh or dominant x or y etc etc 😂
25 днів тому
Will there be the possibility of including Italian subtitles in the video lessons during the course?
I am working on it, and hopefully we will have subtitles on other languages. However they might be added later, since it needs more manual work, and not automatically translated as I hoped
Great work. I will definitely consider subscribing to your paid technique lessons after this video! Would be interested in your opinion about the "Chang method", it helped me a lot.
Thank you Denis, great tips ,but my problem is that I make more mistakes when I play fast,and don’t make those mistakes when I play slower. I am so impatient to achieve the most in the least time, but I am taking your advice on board ,thanks again.
Sometimes when I watch like those videos i feel that this guy is just yapping and go back to piano like i know everything but believe me i still got problem that why i try to focus because there's no choice i have to understand the video and review myself thank you for all advice you gave me
Do you have any tips for memorizing Bach specifically? Im not too bad at piano I have been playing for two years and some change but for some reason Bach is specifically hard for me to memorize/sight read. Maybe its because i’m dyslexic but I have been working on his minuet in D minor for 2 days straight ant only just finished it…
Hello Denis, my teacher assigned my Chopin's 2nd Etude in A-flat major from Trois nouvelles études. Could you tell me how hard it is in comparison to etudes like op 25 no 1 or op 10 no 3?
Hey Denis, in terms of technique, I think I have reached a plateau. I‘m able to play the Pathetique, Rachmaninoffs c-sharp minor prelude, Moszkowski op72 g minor etude, and "easier“ Chopin etudes like op25 no1 or op.10no9 …more or less ;) Do you think the course is useful for overcoming this plateau and I‘m definitely interested in the tutorials on the Chopin etudes Best regards
Often, a "plateau" indicates an inefficiency in your playing habits, likely formed early on. Common issues include poor hand positioning, compensatory tension in the wrist, or a lack of exposure to effective practice strategies-topics this course addresses in detail. However, such difficulties may sometimes stem from age-related or physical limitations, or simply from an inability to practice sufficiently to achieve a near-professional level of playing. In these cases, even the most rigorous training and efficiency programs might only yield a 10-20% improvement. I cannot determine your specific situation without observing you play. But I didn't yet have a student who would practice at least one hour a day, and would not noticeably improve from this approach.
Hi Dennis, How long would it take to get through the re-building technique course ideally? Is it something you can do in a year (like one lesson a week?). I am an early intermediate player (practicing about 2hr.day) and am seriously thinking of enrolling for this course,
Yes, a year might be a feasible goal. Since I provide instructions and tutorials for both intermediate and advanced players, you’ll have an opportunity to first develop the necessary skills on intermediate level pieces, and later on when reaching a higher level, you may go through the course again focusing on advanced pieces.
So with your Tip of sightreading something new and memorizing everyday, f.e. if im playing the 3rd mov. of Prok 2, then I should just read everyday a few minutes in a different movement? Or something completely different and easier that I havent played f.e. Schumanns Kinderszenen?
It's up to you! There is no right or wrong, the point is just to keep your brain learning something new everyday, instead of polishing pieces you already know for weeks.
Hi Denis. I’m a total beginner but because of my engineering training I know how important fundamentals are. With that said I have a few questions on the course. Is it advised to do this course before doing the Faber book 1 (yes I’m that new) ? My plan for 2025 was to use 6 months for book 1 and 6 months for book 2 with doing daily consistent sight reading throughout and I was planning on doing both books fooling a course from another piano teacher. Would love your thoughts and appreciate any input you have. I just discovered your channel and this was the first video I’m watching
Hi Richard, This course is best suitable for those who can read notes already, and play some easy pieces - late beginners and intermediate players. On the other hand, you can apply all the tips from the course to other pieces from the books you plan to use. Also, by purchasing this course you get a lifelong access to learning materials, and if purchased before Christmas you get it at the lowest possible price… so it’s up to you☺️
It was a delightful video I loved especialy the Chopin şart wheere you olay other happy veron of Chopin balade😊😊😊❤❤❤I also Wonder to whiclh level is your step by step teachin sysgem equivalent? Ingeemediate or beginner or advanced?
@DenZhdanovPianist Wow superr thank you!!!😍😍👍🏻👍🏻❤️🌺❤️🌺❤️❤️Although I began playing at 5 years old I gave a 23 years of break at my age of 36. It is so great for me to take this course thank you very much!!!🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰💖🌺😍🌺😍🌺🌷💐💐💐💐❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I can’t download pdf file. It redirects me to enter email for a code and then says “something went wrong”. What can I do to fix the issue and have the chord progressions 🙏
What’s the difference between you or us who had to or will be rebuilding our technique vs someone who’s a beginner?? I know it sounds obvious but I ask cause sometimes even though you weren’t or we aren’t beginners, our no efficiency make us practice some stuff at a beginner level. You know what I mean
Actually, I’m not entirely sure what you mean. However, trying to answer your question-there are plenty of factors that can differ between learners: the age at which a person starts playing the piano, access to practice facilities, quality of education, natural predisposition, ability to concentrate, and the personal impression left by the first music teacher, which inevitably has a significant impact… the list goes on. I’ve simply tried to create a course that provides the kind of information I lacked when I faced issues with overuse, presenting it in the most comprehensive and structured way I possibly can. For a beginner who gains access to it, this clearly provides an advantage compared to someone who has already developed deeply ingrained bad habits, as they can avoid much of that struggle entirely. Unfortunately, inefficiency in the fundamental aspects can indeed hold even advanced learners back, sometimes making them feel like beginners. For example, I frequently work with conservatory-level students who struggle with basic skills, such as transitioning smoothly between positions in scales or utilizing arm weight and achieving relaxation after striking a key. These are foundational techniques that ideally should be taught during the first year of piano study. In my opinion, the only solution that truly works in such cases is to review and strengthen the foundations, even if it means temporarily stepping back to an easier repertoire.
So what you mean is that someone beginner with this information potentially, it’s not the ultimate truth, but potentially would be better than you who had to stop and rebuild from scratch??
Denis, the promotion in the video mentions $99 but the website shows $118. Was there a change in the initial promotion? Or is it a typo in the website?
Thank you for the progressions download. I kind of want to learn Russian now lol. I got so bored with rotating through the same pieces that I stopped playing. I now sightread new material all the time it keeps things fresh. Did not try to memorize straight away though will start doing that. Thanks for the jazz progressions book shout out.
@ he did already, let’s see what I will learn from your course, I’m very excited, I study in music college, 2 year, but I play piano like 3,5 years and I understand that I need to relearn my technique to from faster in the future)
Good video, Mr Shdanov! But let us be honest: 4 weeks are nothing. After 4 month I began to think about if the peace is propably to hard. It's not easy to jump 1,80 m when you can just 1,60 m. So there must be a lot of work - over months.
It would be optimal to raise difficulty of pieces gradually and with a proper guidance, so it would be possible to master them within a month(at least to a some acceptable quality level). Of course, when preparing to important events such as major competitions, longer polishing times are necessary, but it’s about reaching a perfection in pieces you are already playing well, rather then struggling through smth for months.
Is the $500 radio button just designed to show what the course will eventually cost and give one the opportunity to accidentally overpay, or does that price point give lifetime access to all your courses?
If one accidentally overpays, there is 2 week window to require a refund. This will be a standard price for this learning program in 2025, after all the discounts will expire.
😅 the parallel Chopin universe.. 🙉🙈😭😅 well, this sounds really good! about time i support all the work you put into these great teaching videos.. i'm sure i'll enjoy this.. although i guess i'm a special case of inefficient practice, but i can't help it.. 😅 i really enjoy playing.. guess it's my substitute for meditation practice :)) but it mustn't feel like a chore or like work.. so i can only play when i feel like it, and only play what i'm in the mood for (i'm somewhat realistic, but i don't really care about difficulty level 😅).. so it's completely disorganized and it's likely to stay that way.. 🙈
@DenZhdanovPianist 😅✌ can't have everything.. 🤷♂️ guess i'd know by now if i was going to be the next Rubinstein, so there's no rush.. 😅 being at war with our own quirks becomes too exhausting after a while..
Throw in some jazz, blues, pop examples, including you demo-ing the passages for us cretins in the cheap bleacher seats? This could be really fun; has to be made so by the prophet and disciples.
Considering the percentage of expenses, taxes, and compulsory insurances I must pay, which amounts to at least half of that, it’s a very modest price. Especially considering that my expertise lies in undoing the damage caused by less experienced, albeit often cheaper, music teachers. Many local teachers would offer lower rates, working for untraceable cash, but it’s not my case.
As a jazz pianist, I definitely agree with this chord progressions - patterns practice method. I use this all the time when practicing my classical pieces
So smart. None of my *many* piano teachers ever suggested I analyze the harmonic progression of any piece we worked on. It took me forever to learn pieces and memorizing them was a nightmare until the lightbulb went on in my head, I quit lessons, and from that moment on started analyzing every piece I was learning by myself. I can’t begin to describe how much less time it takes to learn a piece of music this way. So many benefits - learning, memorizing, and interpretation. The other thing I should have been taught was to compose. That’s next on my to-do list.
That's crazy, they don't teach that? I just started and was learning the 1st Gymnopedie. The first thing I did was go through and mark the chord progression because I just can't read that many damn notes. Breaking everything into triads and inversions makes it so much easier.
I completely agree, word by word. It once took me months to learn a simple piece of 3 pages, now I can learn 40 pages of stuff (at my level) in 3 weeks. It's another world.
Hopefully our progress is unlimited; if it is no, we need to find what we're missing. Quite a few directional options await.
I guess I am lucky that my teacher quite fast introduced me to chords and playing pieces „by chords” firstly. Though it sounds like so obvious thing to teach :)
@@noredbun Yes. Very few teachers are that good.
Your technique rebuilding course is exactly what I need. I have been learning piano for several years and was hit by injury again and again. My teachers (I had three through the years) just told me to stop playing for as long as it takes. That did not solve the problem, only concealed it. So my hopes are high for the technique course. I have already bought several of your other courses and each of them provided exceptional advice, way beyond what any of my teachers could provide. Thank you so much, Denis!
Thanks for your feedback! This course will offer the most comprehensive advice on technique efficiency, we will move from the most fundamental to more sophisticated types of technique
Dennyboy is a real G I will buy the course as well.
fabulous man, thanks for all the content. i know harmony and progressions is not what this channel is about, but i would greatly appreciate if you dedicated a video to what you look for in a score to determine what's going on harmonically, maybe spotting some cues or hints as to what's happening. i'm learning it but when you see all the notes in the score it gets quite tricky at times. congrats on your amazing channel!
You are an absolute treasure.
Thank you, you're very kind!)))
I know it doesn't mean much coming from me, but... you are the only piano teacher on YT worth listening! I actually like your ideas :)
Thank you for a great feedback!🤗
Not diminishing Denis' incredible lessons, there are other great teachers - like Josh Write to name one, or just anyone from tonebase are very profound.
But Denis certainly has some special vibe. And I'm also Ukrainian so already half biased about him) one of the best definitely 🔥
@@AndrewKabaliuk I'm sorry sir, I disagree - this it not the place to have this discussion but
I just want to say that I know about others and I stand by what I said.
@@antoniomonteiro3698 closed minded and unnecessarily insulting.
@@cadriver2570 you're probably right :( As a terribly bad musician I'm not sure I'll create a piano channel but if I do we'll continue this discussion there :)
Superb knowledge. Thank u for sharing. I’ve played piano for 50+ years. Started studying again with excellent instructor in Norman, Oklahoma USA. Learning from your videos!
Thank you!
Rock on!
Always wise advice ! Thanks, Denis. You are very generous sharing all this knowledge with the community! Looking forward to the “rebuilding” course !!
Great video! I am always amazed by the quality of your content. The course sounds like a great tool in my piano journey so I couldn’t help myself but to immediately buy it! I am very excited!!
Welcome aboard!
Absolutely brilliant advice, thank you, Denis!
Looking forward to the course! Sounds wonderful!!! 🎉🎉
The course sounds very promising. I'm looking forward to it :)!
A grad in vocal perf at conservatory type Uni, long time ago. Great academics in theory and harmony. Vocal recital artist for many decades w/piano as distant 2nd. Took up piano as focus 7 years ago; inefficient technique. Improved that as I found a basic technique course teacher that was very helpful, added a few more mentors over last 3-4 years. As a 10-15 year student I recognize several holes in my game. Piano is as complex an activity as I have ever come across in a full life. There are areas that need improvement; I can't always know how to master those effectively. Reading good hands separately, not robust together. Memorization non-existent. Ear training needs work. With a pretty strong harmony background, I can dig out and make my understanding more than academic; didn't need it a lot as a solo singer.
I make out Denis' course to be pretty much what anyone wants to make it for themselves. If I have to slow down where I think I am for rapid progress just a few weeks or months ahead for this meager price, I'm taking it. No one ever got anywhere unless they were mentored by people who were more advanced than themselves, in anything. Denis is a master teacher and player. Fun and approachable guy. I love his schtick, even though I don't play his repertoire. All his stuff is transferrable to what I do play-jazz, blues, pop, show tunes.
We all have holes in our piano game; saw a clip of Martha Argerich at Nelson Freire's studio in Brazil, very close SA neighbors. Nelson suggested they read some stuff, you know with those scores scattered all over the room. Martha says, "Yeah, but you can read and I can't." MA, what a real person! I"m sure her admission was not absolute, but something relative to a sight reading champ, and being compared on the spot. She listened while he rattled off every conceivable masterpiece from sight, many playing for the first time. And, my friends, that is the great Martha Argerich, one of, if not my fave technical player.
To have such an opportunity to be mentored as close or as distant as I want with a teacher/player the calibre of a Denis Zhanov is a no brainer, because I really want to improve and improved with just 30 minutes yesterday of analyzing the chords on about first 10 bars of an intermediate Christmas piece. I could see it in 30 minutes; it was fun because I had a robust harmony system that was still workable after all these years. Thank you Dr. Kim, very polite taskmaster. We want to progress fast and because we are invested in that we think of ourselves as more advanced than we really are. This in spite of Itzahk Perelman's autograph signature, "Practice slowly, " and the Rach himself, "Practice like a snail, play like a cheetah."
This promises to be more specifically active for the piano idiom, as well as interactive with other Piano Pilgrims Progressing. Looking forward to it. Sharing with others what you are a learning in a not threatening space. What a rush!
Great advice. Fantastic that you recovered from injury.
Cool cool! Oh, my NEC years during the first Master’s: lots of late night practicing till 2am and gallons of coffeee….. (sometimes with a shot of Jack though) 🙈 I did it all ‘wrong’ I guess, but got the Kreisleriana and Scriabin 4 (my first ever Scriabin Sonata) out of those years 😁
BTW for those seriously into theory: invest into the book by Aldwell/Schachter. It is used by the Mannes curriculum and this school is one of the conservatories with the strongest and strictest theory requirements/levels across the United States.
Can second, Harmony and Voice Leading by Aldwell and Schachter is GOATed. Worth every penny.
For composing classical music, Analysing Classical Form by Caplin is also an absolute must.
@@ElinaAkselrud Great tip thanks 🙏🏻
You have helped me tremendously and left a far greater impact in the world of music than you may ever know.
Thank you, you’re very kind! Happy to help!🤗
Approx. 270 pages of chord progressions, very much the Soviet way. I have not read Russian for a long time, so a bit of work on two fronts. I so much agree on your last suggestion, keep bringing in a little of some new challenge each day - it also makes life feel worth living.
Big time, in general, makes life more worth living.
What's the title of the book? The download doesn't work for me.
@@quadricode Chord Progression Exercises - Soviet Times Book compressed.pdf
I love your work, you have helped me for improve my technique and get a better practise. Just a suggestion, could you put captions on your courses? No matter even they are in english. People who speak other languages (like me) really apreciate it very much
The announced course will have embed Eng subtitles for all videos, and an automatic captions translation to multiple languages. The latest courses also include english subtitles.
'I'd play twice as well today, if I had known these tips earlier'.
When you speak, your English is practically perfect. I don't know who wrote the title.😀
Great video any way, very informative. Thanks.
Thanks so much! I am happy to hear it, I am working on my accent with a coach actually☺️
We would have profited ftom keyboard harmony class at university. Studying baroque keyboard , figured bass really helped me.
I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks this. I learned these tips only a year ago. Thanks for the video!
I will be purchasing this
Very insightful tips, thanks
I can proudly say that, even as a 20yo, that started at 17yo, my tracher has insisted on gradually doing all these mechanics to play and understand better the music, i dont have formal formation, so I've to study theory myself too, and currently im learning som of the medium advanced chopin preludes, in just 3 years, and I've flaws obviusly, but very proud of my tracher, my next goal it's to sught reading perfectly, and here summer is coming so... lot of time to practice :)
I've to admit that I practice a lot, so much, so it's also fruits of hustle
Keep it up! Great job!
My grade school choir teacher started throwing new pieces at me to sightread. Im grateful to him
Damn, you really got me with this price, I think you also learned a few things about marketing 😂 I recently was convinced to start buying your tutorials - starting from hanon, probably I’ll buy also czerny and last (but not least for sure!) brahms. Now this course just comes in, I’ll go buncrupt 😂 of course joking, I am very happy you are still active teacher and prepared some new tutorials! If you have any tips how to arrange the ones I mentioned - that would be awesome! But anyway, thank you a lot for your hard work ❤
That's a good order indeed! However just buying a new course instead of Czerny and Brahms may be more productive, since it's more comprehensive and versatile.
"bankrupt," as far as I've seen for 50 years, a major considerations for musicians on any levels. Question: Would I rather keep the 500 bucks or trade for what's behind door number 3 which may well be incalculable treasure? I'm a serendipity seeker.
Thank you! I cannot just pass by this deal, I either way feel lucky to be able to access all this metrials just with few clicks on internet, and in the long run, really not that expensive price :) Will go with the new course now, and later in time, I will also buy czerny and brahms since I believe it will also be very informative. Hopefully you will never delete them from your store :)
$100, no question; gets the kids off the streets.
Another bullseye response from Denis; "New course is more comprehensive and versatile." Makes so much sense.
I’m signing up assp ! Just discovered you bro 🙌
absolute agree with the advice here. I tend to practice late at night and my brain can't just keep up.
This time is however great for creative work, when polishing pieces and doing creative work on interpretation.
I've had 2 10-day Vipassana retreats.They may be for you. They may not be. But if they are for you, it will change your life.
Where?
Hi Denis! I really like and appreciate your teaching style! Do you have any lessons on passages with fast arpeggios in combination passages with octaves/ big chords? My hands get tense every time, a good example would be the op 15 no 2 Chopin nocturne “doppio movimento” section.
Thank you !
We will have a designated sections for octaves, chords, and arpeggios, which should equip you sufficiently for this particular spot.
Thanks again for all your content, Denis. I appreciate the way you do business as well, you make a fine product. Besides all of that, I like how interested you are in self-improvement and analysis. Do you happen to have a list of resources for all things piano related, or perhaps anything in the meta-learning category of analysis and personal development? You seem like a very thoughtful person and I'd love to become more like you. I spend a lot of time writing to understand things.
Thanks for your kind feedback! I have never organized a list of piano sources, because I have been too deeply immersed into day-to-day impressions when studying in multiple music universities with different teachers, but I probably should consider doing such a list for my students.
Regarding analysis, I think my most valuable sources at the moment are related not to music actually, but to psychology, strategies of conscious life changes and developing an ability to work with the reality as it is, courses on self-presentation, entrepreneurship, blogging, and of course therapy.
@@DenZhdanovPianist Thank you for your response!
Amazing channel! keep working sir
Thanks, will do!
Great tips 👏👏👏
Your piano is very well tuned, great!
Thank you! Inviting a tuner every week is too cumbersome and expensive, so I learned some tuning skills myself.
@@DenZhdanovPianist You´ve nailed it! Congrats!
@@DenZhdanovPianist You tune every WEEK? May I ask why you tune so often?
When practicing serious repertoire, it takes only a few days for at least one unison to go out of tune, even with a tuner skilled in ensuring stability. For recordings, which I do frequently, even a slightly out-of-tune string can be bothersome to those with a sharp ear. If I’m in a rush, I might forgive myself for a single unison being slightly off in a casual blog video. However, when recording a performance, I make sure to tune everything meticulously. I know most people don't even notice such things, but each time I have even one string that is slightly out of tune, there always will be someone skilled commenting "aha! your C4 needs some tuning!"
@@DenZhdanovPianist I was told the norm was twice a year.. But now I think of it, I do notice when my teachers piano is freshly tuned, and it defenitely goes out of tune way faster than half a year. Maybe two or three weeks later, I already notice some changes that are enough to mess with my brain sometimes. I am used to a digital that never gets out of tune, which is about the only plus side..
Sometimes I wish I fell in love with a more convenient instrument, like the guitar or something, lol. Good on you for teaching yourself how to tune!
Check out 11:11 - great stuff. Love the Bach piece, but even more love the way you are practicing it!
You’re right. Sometimes we don’t want move on from a price. And when we do and get back again we notice that we improved without practicing cause our brain just had a break.
By the way, I got really overwhelmed by the way art where you simply the pieces I don’t understand how to or why’s a seventh or dominant x or y etc etc 😂
Will there be the possibility of including Italian subtitles in the video lessons during the course?
I am working on it, and hopefully we will have subtitles on other languages. However they might be added later, since it needs more manual work, and not automatically translated as I hoped
Superb 👌🏻 thanks Mr Denis 👍🏻😁
Great work. I will definitely consider subscribing to your paid technique lessons after this video! Would be interested in your opinion about the "Chang method", it helped me a lot.
Great book actually
I'm in. Unexpected serendipity.
Thank you Denis, great tips ,but my problem is that I make more mistakes when I play fast,and don’t make those mistakes when I play slower. I am so impatient to achieve the most in the least time, but I am taking your advice on board ,thanks again.
10:15 -- LOL about Chopin in a parallel universe 🙂
Sometimes when I watch like those videos i feel that this guy is just yapping and go back to piano like i know everything but believe me i still got problem that why i try to focus because there's no choice i have to understand the video and review myself thank you for all advice you gave me
Do you have any tips for memorizing Bach specifically? Im not too bad at piano I have been playing for two years and some change but for some reason Bach is specifically hard for me to memorize/sight read. Maybe its because i’m dyslexic but I have been working on his minuet in D minor for 2 days straight ant only just finished it…
ua-cam.com/video/QW5vVFBMCuU/v-deo.htmlsi=myv8vGWjr_ktpUq-
@@DenZhdanovPianist Thank you🙏🙏🙏
What is the name of the Russian composer for the chord progressions, and what does it translate to in English?
Speed of the brain function! Yes, this is it!
Hello Denis, my teacher assigned my Chopin's 2nd Etude in A-flat major from Trois nouvelles études. Could you tell me how hard it is in comparison to etudes like op 25 no 1 or op 10 no 3?
Comparable, in my opinion. But each piece has a unique set of challenges. Everyone struggles with different pieces.
Its practicing in different keys , chord progressions ugh, but it does help ear training.
Hey Denis,
in terms of technique, I think I have reached a plateau. I‘m able to play the Pathetique, Rachmaninoffs c-sharp minor prelude, Moszkowski op72 g minor etude, and "easier“ Chopin etudes like op25 no1 or op.10no9 …more or less ;)
Do you think the course is useful for overcoming this plateau and I‘m definitely interested in the tutorials on the Chopin etudes
Best regards
Often, a "plateau" indicates an inefficiency in your playing habits, likely formed early on. Common issues include poor hand positioning, compensatory tension in the wrist, or a lack of exposure to effective practice strategies-topics this course addresses in detail.
However, such difficulties may sometimes stem from age-related or physical limitations, or simply from an inability to practice sufficiently to achieve a near-professional level of playing. In these cases, even the most rigorous training and efficiency programs might only yield a 10-20% improvement.
I cannot determine your specific situation without observing you play. But I didn't yet have a student who would practice at least one hour a day, and would not noticeably improve from this approach.
Hi Dennis, How long would it take to get through the re-building technique course ideally? Is it something you can do in a year (like one lesson a week?). I am an early intermediate player (practicing about 2hr.day) and am seriously thinking of enrolling for this course,
Yes, a year might be a feasible goal. Since I provide instructions and tutorials for both intermediate and advanced players, you’ll have an opportunity to first develop the necessary skills on intermediate level pieces, and later on when reaching a higher level, you may go through the course again focusing on advanced pieces.
So with your Tip of sightreading something new and memorizing everyday, f.e. if im playing the 3rd mov. of Prok 2, then I should just read everyday a few minutes in a different movement?
Or something completely different and easier that I havent played f.e. Schumanns Kinderszenen?
It's up to you! There is no right or wrong, the point is just to keep your brain learning something new everyday, instead of polishing pieces you already know for weeks.
Hi Denis. I’m a total beginner but because of my engineering training I know how important fundamentals are. With that said I have a few questions on the course. Is it advised to do this course before doing the Faber book 1 (yes I’m that new) ? My plan for 2025 was to use 6 months for book 1 and 6 months for book 2 with doing daily consistent sight reading throughout and I was planning on doing both books fooling a course from another piano teacher. Would love your thoughts and appreciate any input you have. I just discovered your channel and this was the first video I’m watching
Hi Richard,
This course is best suitable for those who can read notes already, and play some easy pieces - late beginners and intermediate players.
On the other hand, you can apply all the tips from the course to other pieces from the books you plan to use. Also, by purchasing this course you get a lifelong access to learning materials, and if purchased before Christmas you get it at the lowest possible price… so it’s up to you☺️
@ Thanks much for your input. The access for life makes it really appealing
It was a delightful video I loved especialy the Chopin şart wheere you olay other happy veron of Chopin balade😊😊😊❤❤❤I also Wonder to whiclh level is your step by step teachin sysgem equivalent? Ingeemediate or beginner or advanced?
Late beginner to advanced☺️
@DenZhdanovPianist Wow superr thank you!!!😍😍👍🏻👍🏻❤️🌺❤️🌺❤️❤️Although I began playing at 5 years old I gave a 23 years of break at my age of 36. It is so great for me to take this course thank you very much!!!🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰💖🌺😍🌺😍🌺🌷💐💐💐💐❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I can’t download pdf file. It redirects me to enter email for a code and then says “something went wrong”. What can I do to fix the issue and have the chord progressions 🙏
That’s strange! Try another browser maybe… You may need to make a free account on Teachable to get the download.
What’s the difference between you or us who had to or will be rebuilding our technique vs someone who’s a beginner??
I know it sounds obvious but I ask cause sometimes even though you weren’t or we aren’t beginners, our no efficiency make us practice some stuff at a beginner level. You know what I mean
Actually, I’m not entirely sure what you mean.
However, trying to answer your question-there are plenty of factors that can differ between learners: the age at which a person starts playing the piano, access to practice facilities, quality of education, natural predisposition, ability to concentrate, and the personal impression left by the first music teacher, which inevitably has a significant impact… the list goes on.
I’ve simply tried to create a course that provides the kind of information I lacked when I faced issues with overuse, presenting it in the most comprehensive and structured way I possibly can. For a beginner who gains access to it, this clearly provides an advantage compared to someone who has already developed deeply ingrained bad habits, as they can avoid much of that struggle entirely.
Unfortunately, inefficiency in the fundamental aspects can indeed hold even advanced learners back, sometimes making them feel like beginners. For example, I frequently work with conservatory-level students who struggle with basic skills, such as transitioning smoothly between positions in scales or utilizing arm weight and achieving relaxation after striking a key. These are foundational techniques that ideally should be taught during the first year of piano study.
In my opinion, the only solution that truly works in such cases is to review and strengthen the foundations, even if it means temporarily stepping back to an easier repertoire.
So what you mean is that someone beginner with this information potentially, it’s not the ultimate truth, but potentially would be better than you who had to stop and rebuild from scratch??
Denis, the promotion in the video mentions $99 but the website shows $118. Was there a change in the initial promotion? Or is it a typo in the website?
Never mind I just saw your reply regarding the VAT. All good :)
Good afternoon! Is it possible to pay for your courses from Russia? Thank you in advance!
I don’t know how to do that!
Nooooo I missed the before xmas deal :(
There is so much stuff, that even the current price is a damn good deal😉
Thank you for the progressions download. I kind of want to learn Russian now lol.
I got so bored with rotating through the same pieces that I stopped playing. I now sightread new material all the time it keeps things fresh. Did not try to memorize straight away though will start doing that. Thanks for the jazz progressions book shout out.
Jazz progressions book? No somebody's talkin'.
Hey Denis in the video you mention it is 99 dollars but the website is showing my 118 dollars. Would you please mind checking? Thank you very much
Hi! Thanks for the question - unfortunately, there is Tax added over the price automatically, depending on your country... or VPN ;)
Hello, I would like to buy your course but I’m from Russia so I don’t know how to pay for that)
I also have no idea honestly. I am sure people have found some ways - did you research on that?
@ No, I didnt, I think I can try ask my uncle to buy it for me and send him money, he has Russian bank account, but he is abroad
Then you may ask him to buy the course for you. If he is abroad he probably has some foreign account.
@ he did already, let’s see what I will learn from your course, I’m very excited, I study in music college, 2 year, but I play piano like 3,5 years and I understand that I need to relearn my technique to from faster in the future)
Good video, Mr Shdanov!
But let us be honest:
4 weeks are nothing.
After 4 month I began to think about if the peace is propably to hard. It's not easy to jump 1,80 m when you can just 1,60 m. So there must be a lot of work - over months.
It would be optimal to raise difficulty of pieces gradually and with a proper guidance, so it would be possible to master them within a month(at least to a some acceptable quality level).
Of course, when preparing to important events such as major competitions, longer polishing times are necessary, but it’s about reaching a perfection in pieces you are already playing well, rather then struggling through smth for months.
Is the $500 radio button just designed to show what the course will eventually cost and give one the opportunity to accidentally overpay, or does that price point give lifetime access to all your courses?
If one accidentally overpays, there is 2 week window to require a refund.
This will be a standard price for this learning program in 2025, after all the discounts will expire.
@@DenZhdanovPianistThanks for the quick clarification!
You may have just scored a goal from the opposing side of the field.
😅 the parallel Chopin universe.. 🙉🙈😭😅
well, this sounds really good! about time i support all the work you put into these great teaching videos.. i'm sure i'll enjoy this..
although i guess i'm a special case of inefficient practice, but i can't help it.. 😅 i really enjoy playing.. guess it's my substitute for meditation practice :)) but it mustn't feel like a chore or like work.. so i can only play when i feel like it, and only play what i'm in the mood for (i'm somewhat realistic, but i don't really care about difficulty level 😅).. so it's completely disorganized and it's likely to stay that way.. 🙈
If you’re happy with that, there is nothing bad then!😊
@DenZhdanovPianist
😅✌ can't have everything.. 🤷♂️
guess i'd know by now if i was going to be the next Rubinstein, so there's no rush.. 😅
being at war with our own quirks becomes too exhausting after a while..
❤
Are you living in Germany?
Austria!
@@DenZhdanovPianist You should make videos in German!
Throw in some jazz, blues, pop examples, including you demo-ing the passages for us cretins in the cheap bleacher seats? This could be really fun; has to be made so by the prophet and disciples.
99 USD for 1 lesson? What a profiteer haha 😂
Considering the percentage of expenses, taxes, and compulsory insurances I must pay, which amounts to at least half of that, it’s a very modest price.
Especially considering that my expertise lies in undoing the damage caused by less experienced, albeit often cheaper, music teachers.
Many local teachers would offer lower rates, working for untraceable cash, but it’s not my case.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do not play the G minor Ballade in the major for ANY REASON !!! This is like projectile vomiting on the Mona Lisa.
Love your associative thinking and colorful fantasy
Ovvio
I'm ahead of the competition, I drink energy drinks before my morning practice sesions 🫨🫨🫨🫨
😅