Yo! Timestamps below: 1. How many hours do you practice a day? 1:04 2. How are you able to read already on day 4? 2:26 3. What's your music background? 3:23 4. How are you playing "so well" on day 1? 4:30 5. How is your posture and technique already good at the start? 5:49 6. Practice Routine 7:06 7. How did you learn to play the piano for the whole year and what are you currently doing to learn? (Including books I used and currently use) 12:17 8. Questions from Instagram 20:00 9. Question from UA-cam community 24:05 10. How did you have so many pianos? 34:10
Hi dear Brandon, after I started learning piano for 2.5 months. I choose to believe you, I think it's possible, important is "Passion + Method + Hardworking". Thank you Brandon, I've motivated by you. Keep going! Best wishes to you!
I have to be honest, when I first discovered your 1 year progress vid a few months back, I was simultaneously inspired but also skeptical. But this QnA gives a great insight to what it takes to progress at the amazing speed you did, and you’ve inspired me more and eliminated my skepticism. Your honesty about your background and the thorough rundown of your practice sessions is really helpful and believable. I really have to thank you for your videos, highly motivating. Take care!
been learning piano for 15 years and i'm a lazy ass person so right now i'm still grd 7. should've took my grade 8 exam 3 years ago but i cancelled it because i suddenly moved. so after that i stopped playing piano for 3 years but after watching your videos again i'm inspired to practice again and actually graduate from grade 8. i started playing the piano again a few days ago and my fingers were crusty af. gotta practice more.thankyou for inspiring me !
Thank you so much you have inspired me to play piano now. I literally clicked on the video of ur 1 year progression and fell in love with piano. I never thought I would play piano. Thanks for inspiring me
Brandon saw your video and I say this aside from the other comment to see your video if I thought it was a deception at first, but then to put more effort to the piano I learned muchisismo and I realize that what you did was real I progressed a lot and I hope at some point to upload a video of my progress in music, thank you for motivating me at first I thought about throwing in the towel, but now I see that everything is possible if you put motivation and effort
May I ask how old you are? :) You're so talented! I just started playing the piano 2 weeks ago and I found your progress video incredibly motivating. It's amazing to see how hard work is paying off, even though a lot of people say it's too late to get started as an adult. You proved these sceptic people wrong and that's awesome. For sure you are in a way gifted with an extraordinary talent, but still you put so much effort into your play and it paid off. You're a great rolemodel for any adult beginner. Keep up the great work.
Siby Lina I agree Siby 'it's never too late to get started' I've just started piano and my teacher has a lady who started at the age of 83! She now has Grade 3! WTG! I really love Brandon's enthusiasm and helpful vids! WTG! 👏👏👏😎😎😎🇬🇧
@@brandonhawksley I thought you might have been in the late teen when I first watch your video, You look so young. You are extremely talented. thank you for telling your age, it is also inspiring, some videos say "adults beginners" but they are like 17. Wish you the best for your new music school journey!
@@thiliniwish19 I'm 63 and I'm just starting to learn piano, so what ever age you are that's not important, the important part is that you want to learn, and have fun doing so, so think your to old or to young, just do it.
This is so helpful. Thank you for answering so many questions. It’s so nice to see what another learner is doing. Take care and good luck with Grade 8 ✨
This is fantastic! I’ve been playing for 6 years and am just getting into grade eight piano, spending roughly an hour+ day with 30 minute piano lessons per week. It’s a side hobby which I adore. Keep it up! Great work!
That's awesome to hear. 6 years doing an hour a day seems like a good pace to.grade 8. I feel alot of people could achieve something similar. It's mainly about consistency over long periods of time :)
You are very inspiring :) I am also learning piano as an adult and decided not to start out with pieces that don't inspire me :D so I went with Chopin. You made me realize it's ok because you also did not hesitate to take a challenge and you did great. Anyways, thanks for sharing your story and I hope to hear more of you! Ps. english my first language so hopefully I didn't make too many mistakes:-D
What did you start learning with? Didn't you start learning with chords and scale? Did You directly jump on playing classical songs?do you play piano by ear? Pls answer these questions
Thank you, Brandon. I'm another one you motivated to start learning the piano as an adult. You are not only a very determined person but very coherent as well. Congrats.
I have been wanting to learn the piano for 17 years...I know, time flies by! Thanks to your videos, I am gonna start this week, and see hopefully see you in 1 year :)
I literally used to play drums as well in my early teens, go to college and move into an apartment complex and piano seems kind of like the better option to pick up music again.
Hey Brandon. Saw your progress video which brought me here. Very impressed with your dedication and hard work. I've played piano since I was 7 and taught it since I was 17, and started playing professionally a year or so later. Not meaning to brag on my past, just saying to give you a small background on my connection with the instrument. So when I say I'm impressed with how far you've come in such a relatively short period of time, you know I know what I'm talking about. Ha! You're doing a great job! Just play into the keys a little more... meaning, use the full weight of the key, not just surface playing. You'll get a fuller tone and feel more of a oneness with the instrument. I know you said you want to have a more relaxed, comfortable feel while playing. And you still will! But, sometimes you need to use the whole weight of your arm to produce a truly warm, expressive tone, especially while playing in the Romantic Era. Subscribed to follow your progress. Good luck to you! And briefly on a completely different subject... At around 23:24, after you say, "the high register or the low register", there looks to be an orb light on the right side of the screen that moves at an angle, down and across the top right corner of the screen. Doesn't look like an insect. To add to the mystery, you glance over to it as it's moving down, and then look back at the camera with a shocked look on your face. Ha! Thought that was pretty cool! Don't get freaked! Probably just one of the masters looking out for you. 😉🎹🎶
Thanks alot for your comment Chuck! Yes playing into the keybed is a cue I'm using more regularly now to avoid ghost notes and such. Definitely something I'm yet to master, but there has definitely been improvement! As for the small orb of light that is quite funny as it looks like I was subconsciously looking at it 😂. Though I feel it may have easily been a bit of dust infront of the lens, I'd like to believe it is the fathers of classical piano watching over me like you say haha!
Brandon thanks for the great video. I’m going to attempt a piano dip some time in the next year or 2.. just trying to make time. I took grade 8 in 2017, took me a year and a bit having had a 10 year break from reading music and playing classical music. I think there is an advantage to having read at a young age and also the percussion awareness helps too. Its disappointing that people doubt it can be done. If you had a flair for anything and spent 3 hours a day practicing in such a dedicated and precise manner you could achieve all sorts. It’s hard work but there you go ... that’s how people achieve great things! Anyway you’ve given me a kick up the bum to do some proper practice again. Can you tell me the exact version of the Bible you have as I need to improve my sight reading and using church music is a great idea 💡 🎶
Yo, the way people were calling this guy out as a fake. Meanwhile he's just a disciplined, well prepared, focused individual. I think what was missing in the 1 year progress video was all the prep Brandon was doing behind the scenes. But after watching this video I can understand his progress.
Brandon Hawksley thanks to you I bought a Yamaha YPD-143 less than a week ago reliving my dream of learning the piano. You have given me so much inspiration, it’s hurts me when people say that you where faking it! I’m wishing you all the best!! P.s is it okay if I steal your idea of the progress video?
Nice to see you back, Brandon! I also watched Andrew Furmanczyk's tutorials before I started playing! I really wonder if there's any beginner who hasn't watched those haha.
Thanks Elena! Yeah anyone with some sort of curiosity would have searched how to play piano and clicked on that video hahaha. Great resources on his site alone!
Was wondering how you were able to get into uni to study music? Did you study music alevel/music technology? Had you already achieved your piano grades when you applied?
I appreciate your videos and your progress is amazing! Thanks for hr Q&A! Have you thought about doing any vlog type vids of your time at uni studying music?
Yes! Finally you are back. You are very talented I can tell you that. You inspire me to push and play piano everyday. I can tell music is a big part of your life and its very very inspiring. I enjoy watching your videos keep working hard and you will become big one day. :)) Much respect ---- JS
Hiiii Brandon, I just see ur youtube channel and I have to say that u have done a pretty good job indeed. I'm Cuban and Im 18 years old. Last year I discoverd that piano was my hidden passion, I started by myself in august and with Zelda musics too XD (My favourite game), I learned them by memory cause i didnt read anything. Then when I decide to take it more seriously I started watching piano lessons from Hoffman Accademy (A youtube channel from the US), I appretiate him a lot cause of the things I learned from him. (And still learning) Sadly I dont have a piano, Im looking for an acoustic one, (all of them so expensives and difficult to find in good conditions in Cuba :'( . All the things i can play now is thanks to an electric 5 octaves piano without weighted keys that my cousin lent me (idk if is octaves the right word XD). In february this year I started my piano lessons with a teacher in my country and Im doing well so far. Thanks for making that video and i support u in everything u do. Thanks!!!!!!!!
Another thing, I remember when I started, i dedicated almost 5 or even more some days playing the piano. It so comforting when u can finally play a song that u like so much :)
Im starting my progression, wanna do similar video afterwards. Wish me luck! You have been a great motivation, so thank you for that. I would like to see your 2 year progress and so on... Wondering when you gonna play some tough Liszt pieces likes La campanella and such
ive had a piano for so long and just a week ago i got motivated to play again, I practiced a lot but im just not motivated to start reading i just do it by memory even tho i know ill eventually will have to start reading if i want to progress but no motivation yet :D
do you memorise most of the pieces you play at the same time as learning them and what's your process for doing so? Do you start at the beginning or the end sections and work backwards? Do you learn one hand at a time? Do you mark the paper with all the chord changes etc..
Brandon is excellent your job so that you cover everyone's mouth because you do not play all the pieces of your video and the samples as it is done and that you finally achieved it. Thanks for being an inspiration to all. You can also make a video in a public place and show that make as well thank you and forward master.
Yay for the hymns! I am a classically-trained pianist, but have played for my church. I used to play in a community jazz band too. Did you major in piano performance, piano pedagogy...? Great video here!
I think it is common for adult beginners to experience loss of motivation every now and then due to other commitments or just feeling lazy. Any advice to keep it going?
Well done Brandon. Question: When you are practising, whether it be reading or whatever, are you just picking a part of the song and going over and over the same part...or are you going the whole way through a piece of music regardless of mistakes and then starting again from the beginning and just rinse and repeat? Thanks
I had to comment because I am also passionate about playing the piano and of course, you don't have to follow my technique. I play through once on any new piece, and then practice at four measures at a time, usually not up to tempo if it is faster than moderate. What's your current technique?
Hey Brandon! Glad to see you are making this Q&A session. As for someone that is willing to learn as you did, which advices can you share that you wish you have known when you have just started that only learned later in your progress? And also, my first great achievement will be playing To Zanarkand, as I love the music and the game as a whole. Other than Jane's tutorial, do you have any additional tip for this music specifically? Thanks man!
Thanks Renan :) I would say maybe to learn theory and learn to read earlier, but fortunately I didn't make too many mistakes for long periods of time so I don't have regrets really or things I'd change. Other than Janes video I would say just keep researching and doing homework on your own. Don't settle for just playing the notes, try to understand the meaning behind it all as it will only help with your playing. Good luck!
Brandon, I'm glad to see this comment about understanding the meaning. In watching the video of your first year of progress, I thought your dexterity at playing notes rapidly improved, but your ability to play music, not just notes, only began to be hinted at in parts of a few pieces toward the end of the video. Don't know if you would agree, but I think if you had started with a better (and admittedly more expensive) piano-Yamaha or Steinway & Sons grand-and a teacher that focused on musicality, and you had worked more on feeling and how you attack the keys, you could have been playing music much sooner. It's very generous of you to share your musical journey, and I hope that creating these videos has been as helpful to you as it has been motivating to many viewers.
dude，you are insane! I don't know how you've managed to learn all these pieces in just few months. I've tried to learn chopin's nocturne, mozart's alla turca, and I could only get one or two sectors in one hours. I'm curious how you've done that, or you are so well talented
Thank you! I think it has to be at a level not too far out of reach. If it is then it will take too long to get good at small sections. It also depends on you Individually how quick you can learn pieces. I'd estimate pieces at the right kind of level take between 1-3 months. But the more advanced you get the wider this range is. Keep practicing !
Do you have videos of you practicing, starting slow, making mistakes, repeating over and over, etc? You have only shown the best parts of your progress, that's why many people could not believe your story.
To start, he is NOT naturally talented on the piano. Hard work can produce results but I definitely doubt that his primary musical base started with the piano. I believe he made it clear that he had dabbled with the flute (melody) and drums (rhythm) as a child. Anyone with such a musical base since childhood (even if crude and unrefined) can pick up the piano at his rate if practice is consistent at several hours a day on average! The piano is not impossible to learn! The piano is actually considered to be one of the easiest musical instruments to learn yet one of the most difficult (in existence) to master!
I agree. IMHO, I think it’s entirely possible to learn that in a year, given that he’s an adult and with a bit of music background as a kid. Have you heard of Jonah Ho? That kid is 5 years old when he learnt Fantaisie Impromptu… And he’s mostly self-taught. Now that’s more impressive. Some people actually have more talent than others so it’s best not to compare yourself with others. Here’s Jonah Ho’s channel: ua-cam.com/video/Q_hEcQ_z43A/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/Q_hEcQ_z43A/v-deo.html
Hi Brandon, interesting to hear how different your practice routine is from mine (more PBE focused). Will definitely look into hymns as a sight-reading exercise. Do you ever sing melodic lines when practising? Keep up the good work! :)
I was actually recommended by my teacher to sing one line like you say, as if you can sing it you've effectively absorbed what's on the page. Problem is I'm too embarrassed to do it lol. I do find myself humming sometimes, and am always 'singing' the line in my mind for sure. Definitely something to work on for me!
Sooo nice and inspiring video! I also play piano but only keep watching youtube tutorials, too lazy to learn how to read :/ (16:49 made me laugh so hard:DD)
@@brandonhawksley wow you've made so much progress in just two years. I've been playing piano for two years as well but I'm no where near you.. you inspire me to work harder thanks for replying btw :-)
How and when do you practice for 3 hrs? eg Do you do the 3 hrs in one hit in the morning or split it up into 3 parts (eg 1 hr in morning , afternoon and evening)?
9/10 times I just do it in one hit because I can currently. When I was working and had clients I would split it up and do some in the morning and then again in the evening. I just try and adapt to the time I have but if I can do it in one go I usually do.
Where did you buy the very first piano you were playing with? I’m thinking about learning and teaching myself but don’t want to break my bank account doing it haha. Also wondering if the that piano had pedals for you to learn with as well?
I have a small question. If you do remember the tricks and tips to learn the polyrhytms for Fantasie Impromptue would you be so kind to share? I still have not completely comprehensed the polyrhytms for that particular piece.
Hi Brandon, I already learned piano for 3 month. Now I can read note and training the song I love. But I always hide practice, I can't sit down and play even quarter hour. Can you give me some advice?
It usually naturally comes from just practicing the piece over a couple of months. If I'm actively trying to memorize it as fast as possible I would do a few bars hands alone and then add them together and repeat it a few times without looking at the sheet music.
Hi Brandon. Could you tell me if you have other areas in life you've excelled? Say excellence in math, science, literature? Are you really good at sports? What are you studying? Would love answers to these
Yes I use to be quite good at football freestyle and won some competitions. The second major thing I was obsessed with was powerlifting which is a strength sport. Both of these things took alot of time and dedication so it wasn't my first time working hard on something in that respect. I'm studying music at uni.
He's gonna hurt himself if he tries this too soon, saying this as a piano teacher... It's probably gonna take him 5 years with this progress to get there.
Literally just use my phone (Samsung galaxy s7 edge). I'm definitely considering investing in a portable microphone to put by the piano in the future for a better sound.
Ooh ! Ok ! I thought that it couldn't be this good with just a phone but ok ! I will try it again... maybe you just play better than me so that's why it sounds so good... ;-) Your story is very inspiring. Thanks for sharing it !
I think you can get pretty damn good on a digital piano if it's a good one. The one I got (p115) is good enough for intermediate level, but I would have to upgrade if I was just using digital pianos still. You can also get really expensive digital pianos with actual physical mechanisms in them to emulate the feel of a grand piano. I think those are able to support advanced repertoire. So definitely possible!
Hello. Just wanted to ask around what time you stopped using Jane's tutorials to just learn songs? When did you switch to only using/getting better at using sheet music? Thank you!
@@lailabell2957 it was around month 7 I decided to stop using online tutorials and fully commit to reading. I only usually had 1 piece or project at a time. Now I usually have 2-3 I'm learning at one time :)
It's okay to do it in the beginning, but in the long run, I highly recommend you to learn how to read music. I've been playing piano for a couple years and I'm in Grade 8 Piano in RCM. I used to learn songs through UA-cam for fun outside of lessons, but I learned that it was really bad because you get way more information out of reading.
NovaStudio i mainly want to learn piano because im trying to become a music producer and am more focused on learning theory or how to improvise, any advice?
@@JGutsh it's probably a good idea to have basic reading and theory skills, but it's not necessary if you just want to improvise and play by ear etc. You can learn online, but it's always easier with some help from a tutor :)
how old are you? im 24 and learning at a similar rate, but I might be a bit late to the studying music at college route. already graduated from economics
Honestly it's mainly church hymns but I've started sight reading small pieces in preparation for my grade 8 exam. They're probably equivalent of grade 4/5 pieces. Yes I've watched his videos. I'd love to be able to sight read like him one day!
I saw that you don't play the pieces completes. only play part o piano pieces or you play the pieces compĺete?, for example Rondo alla turca, Chopin nocturne op2, Sonata 545 first movement or you knowed the complete pieces??
Sometimes I show the clips of pieces I was learning before they were mastered, so I could only play some sections. But yes, all pieces from the video were fully learnt, beginning to end.
I've been playing piano for 2 weeks now learning from synthesia. Currently learning fur elise, what would be one or more good classical pieces to learn before learning river flows in you? You are one of the reasons I started playing, so thank you!
It really depends on the difficulty and how high a standard you want it to be. For the three grade 8 pieces I've been working on at the same time, the chopin nocturne took only about a month to have it, but then another month to really polish it and play it comfortably. The Bach and Beethoven took 2 months to play, and then this January I've polished the Bach, and Beethoven will probably be polished in a couple more weeks. So maybe 1-2 months for grade 8 pieces. Possibly more or less time needed depending on if I enjoy it or I understand the music etc.
Yo! Timestamps below:
1. How many hours do you practice a day? 1:04
2. How are you able to read already on day 4? 2:26
3. What's your music background? 3:23
4. How are you playing "so well" on day 1? 4:30
5. How is your posture and technique already good at the start? 5:49
6. Practice Routine 7:06
7. How did you learn to play the piano for the whole year and what are you currently doing to learn? (Including books I used and currently use) 12:17
8. Questions from Instagram 20:00
9. Question from UA-cam community 24:05
10. How did you have so many pianos? 34:10
What kind of keyboard did you use in the beginning of your journey? And how old were you when you began playing piano?
Thanks!
@@naszeikmetts9753 ... it said in his other video. yamaha p115 i think
How old are you. I cannot find in the comment section.
@@rongtanaka8361 25
Hi dear Brandon, after I started learning piano for 2.5 months. I choose to believe you, I think it's possible, important is "Passion + Method + Hardworking". Thank you Brandon, I've motivated by you. Keep going! Best wishes to you!
Thank you! Yes I think those 3 attributes are crucial to how I got so far already! Good luck with practice :)
I have to be honest, when I first discovered your 1 year progress vid a few months back, I was simultaneously inspired but also skeptical. But this QnA gives a great insight to what it takes to progress at the amazing speed you did, and you’ve inspired me more and eliminated my skepticism.
Your honesty about your background and the thorough rundown of your practice sessions is really helpful and believable. I really have to thank you for your videos, highly motivating.
Take care!
been learning piano for 15 years and i'm a lazy ass person so right now i'm still grd 7. should've took my grade 8 exam 3 years ago but i cancelled it because i suddenly moved. so after that i stopped playing piano for 3 years but after watching your videos again i'm inspired to practice again and actually graduate from grade 8. i started playing the piano again a few days ago and my fingers were crusty af. gotta practice more.thankyou for inspiring me !
Thank you so much you have inspired me to play piano now. I literally clicked on the video of ur 1 year progression and fell in love with piano. I never thought I would play piano. Thanks for inspiring me
Brandon saw your video and I say this aside from the other comment to see your video if I thought it was a deception at first, but then to put more effort to the piano I learned muchisismo and I realize that what you did was real I progressed a lot and I hope at some point to upload a video of my progress in music, thank you for motivating me at first I thought about throwing in the towel, but now I see that everything is possible if you put motivation and effort
May I ask how old you are? :) You're so talented! I just started playing the piano 2 weeks ago and I found your progress video incredibly motivating. It's amazing to see how hard work is paying off, even though a lot of people say it's too late to get started as an adult. You proved these sceptic people wrong and that's awesome. For sure you are in a way gifted with an extraordinary talent, but still you put so much effort into your play and it paid off. You're a great rolemodel for any adult beginner. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for the kind words Siby. I'm 25. Good luck with your piano practice!
Siby Lina I agree Siby 'it's never too late to get started' I've just started piano and my teacher has a lady who started at the age of 83! She now has Grade 3! WTG! I really love Brandon's enthusiasm and helpful vids! WTG! 👏👏👏😎😎😎🇬🇧
Brandon Hawksley 25 as well, I’ll start this month! 😆
@@brandonhawksley I thought you might have been in the late teen when I first watch your video, You look so young. You are extremely talented. thank you for telling your age, it is also inspiring, some videos say "adults beginners" but they are like 17. Wish you the best for your new music school journey!
@@thiliniwish19 I'm 63 and I'm just starting to learn piano, so what ever age you are that's not important, the important part is that you want to learn, and have fun doing so, so think your to old or to young, just do it.
This is so helpful. Thank you for answering so many questions. It’s so nice to see what another learner is doing. Take care and good luck with Grade 8 ✨
Thanks Kathryn I'm glad it was useful for you. Thank you for the good luck and best of luck to you too with practice :)
This is fantastic! I’ve been playing for 6 years and am just getting into grade eight piano, spending roughly an hour+ day with 30 minute piano lessons per week. It’s a side hobby which I adore. Keep it up! Great work!
That's awesome to hear. 6 years doing an hour a day seems like a good pace to.grade 8. I feel alot of people could achieve something similar. It's mainly about consistency over long periods of time :)
I just saw the 1 year progress video and immediately subbed
I’m just starting my piano journey. Your story has inspired me. Thank you. 😊
good luck and have fun!! :)
10.000/3 = 3.333 days that is 10 years to be a true master, congratulation you are on your way 😃 amazing stuff!
I'm working towards those 10000 hours!
@@brandonhawksley me too brother. I'm looking to get between 800-1000 hours in 2020.
10% of the way 🔥
The hymn church song sight reading exercise is a really great idea! Will definitely be using that 😁
Hey man I started playing piano after watching your video it was a very much needed push thanks man, and keep it up
Thanks Lino and good luck!
You are very inspiring :)
I am also learning piano as an adult and decided not to start out with pieces that don't inspire me :D so I went with Chopin. You made me realize it's ok because you also did not hesitate to take a challenge and you did great.
Anyways, thanks for sharing your story and I hope to hear more of you!
Ps. english my first language so hopefully I didn't make too many mistakes:-D
U should do a sight reading video
Good idea!
What did you start learning with? Didn't you start learning with chords and scale? Did You directly jump on playing classical songs?do you play piano by ear?
Pls answer these questions
Thank you, Brandon. I'm another one you motivated to start learning the piano as an adult. You are not only a very determined person but very coherent as well. Congrats.
Thank you so much Telios! Good luck with your piano progress.
I have been wanting to learn the piano for 17 years...I know, time flies by! Thanks to your videos, I am gonna start this week, and see hopefully see you in 1 year :)
I literally used to play drums as well in my early teens, go to college and move into an apartment complex and piano seems kind of like the better option to pick up music again.
Hey Brandon. Saw your progress video which brought me here. Very impressed with your dedication and hard work. I've played piano since I was 7 and taught it since I was 17, and started playing professionally a year or so later. Not meaning to brag on my past, just saying to give you a small background on my connection with the instrument. So when I say I'm impressed with how far you've come in such a relatively short period of time, you know I know what I'm talking about. Ha! You're doing a great job! Just play into the keys a little more... meaning, use the full weight of the key, not just surface playing. You'll get a fuller tone and feel more of a oneness with the instrument. I know you said you want to have a more relaxed, comfortable feel while playing. And you still will! But, sometimes you need to use the whole weight of your arm to produce a truly warm, expressive tone, especially while playing in the Romantic Era. Subscribed to follow your progress. Good luck to you! And briefly on a completely different subject... At around 23:24, after you say, "the high register or the low register", there looks to be an orb light on the right side of the screen that moves at an angle, down and across the top right corner of the screen. Doesn't look like an insect. To add to the mystery, you glance over to it as it's moving down, and then look back at the camera with a shocked look on your face. Ha! Thought that was pretty cool! Don't get freaked! Probably just one of the masters looking out for you. 😉🎹🎶
Thanks alot for your comment Chuck! Yes playing into the keybed is a cue I'm using more regularly now to avoid ghost notes and such. Definitely something I'm yet to master, but there has definitely been improvement! As for the small orb of light that is quite funny as it looks like I was subconsciously looking at it 😂. Though I feel it may have easily been a bit of dust infront of the lens, I'd like to believe it is the fathers of classical piano watching over me like you say haha!
We can just believe it's Chopin. 😉 Or will that make you too nervous? 😬😂
@@ChuckMusicDinoLover Yes let's go with Chopin! Haha
I miss you so this was lovely to watch thanks a bunch love you lots xxxxxx
Thanks bro. I'll see you in April xxx
Brandon thanks for the great video. I’m going to attempt a piano dip some time in the next year or 2.. just trying to make time. I took grade 8 in 2017, took me a year and a bit having had a 10 year break from reading music and playing classical music. I think there is an advantage to having read at a young age and also the percussion awareness helps too. Its disappointing that people doubt it can be done. If you had a flair for anything and spent 3 hours a day practicing in such a dedicated and precise manner you could achieve all sorts. It’s hard work but there you go ... that’s how people achieve great things! Anyway you’ve given me a kick up the bum to do some proper practice again. Can you tell me the exact version of the Bible you have as I need to improve my sight reading and using church music is a great idea 💡 🎶
Insane! That’s an incredible investment of time for just a year. Wishing you all the best in your music future!
do a song of your lie in april !❤️
Same
Yo, the way people were calling this guy out as a fake. Meanwhile he's just a disciplined, well prepared, focused individual. I think what was missing in the 1 year progress video was all the prep Brandon was doing behind the scenes. But after watching this video I can understand his progress.
You can’t let someone’s comportment throw you off. The progress video was dishonest as hell and very clearly faked.
Thanks for the great video. I’m 16 and your videos have inspired me so much! I hope I can get to play at your level in a couple of years 😄
IVE WAITED FOR SO LONG!!!!
I'm sorry for the wait!
Brandon Hawksley thanks to you I bought a Yamaha YPD-143 less than a week ago reliving my dream of learning the piano. You have given me so much inspiration, it’s hurts me when people say that you where faking it! I’m wishing you all the best!!
P.s is it okay if I steal your idea of the progress video?
@@joiemercedes4122 Thanks alot! Yeah of course. You're not copying my idea at all lol. Loads of people do it. Go for it :)
Any tips on hand independence ?? Good work bro 🤙🏼
Amazing!!! You have shown great resilience. All the best!
Nice to see you back, Brandon! I also watched Andrew Furmanczyk's tutorials before I started playing! I really wonder if there's any beginner who hasn't watched those haha.
Thanks Elena! Yeah anyone with some sort of curiosity would have searched how to play piano and clicked on that video hahaha. Great resources on his site alone!
I just came here after watching his lesson no7..xd
Was wondering how you were able to get into uni to study music? Did you study music alevel/music technology? Had you already achieved your piano grades when you applied?
I appreciate your videos and your progress is amazing! Thanks for hr Q&A! Have you thought about doing any vlog type vids of your time at uni studying music?
Thanks! I don't think I'd ever properly vlog but who knows. I do want to share more of my practicing and my journey through uni though.
Yes! Finally you are back. You are very talented I can tell you that. You inspire me to push and play piano everyday. I can tell music is a big part of your life and its very very inspiring. I enjoy watching your videos keep working hard and you will become big one day. :)) Much respect ---- JS
Thanks alot my man!
Really great video, thank you. Started playing a month ago and so much of what you said is new to me so it's very motivational.
Awesome! Thanks for the kind words and good luck with your practice :)
Hiiii Brandon, I just see ur youtube channel and I have to say that u have done a pretty good job indeed. I'm Cuban and Im 18 years old. Last year I discoverd that piano was my hidden passion, I started by myself in august and with Zelda musics too XD (My favourite game), I learned them by memory cause i didnt read anything. Then when I decide to take it more seriously I started watching piano lessons from Hoffman Accademy (A youtube channel from the US), I appretiate him a lot cause of the things I learned from him. (And still learning) Sadly I dont have a piano, Im looking for an acoustic one, (all of them so expensives and difficult to find in good conditions in Cuba :'( . All the things i can play now is thanks to an electric 5 octaves piano without weighted keys that my cousin lent me (idk if is octaves the right word XD). In february this year I started my piano lessons with a teacher in my country and Im doing well so far. Thanks for making that video and i support u in everything u do. Thanks!!!!!!!!
Another thing, I remember when I started, i dedicated almost 5 or even more some days playing the piano. It so comforting when u can finally play a song that u like so much :)
Thx, Brandon. I'm waiting your new video so long..
You’ve inspired me. I’m going to practice to become better!
Im starting my progression, wanna do similar video afterwards. Wish me luck! You have been a great motivation, so thank you for that. I would like to see your 2 year progress and so on... Wondering when you gonna play some tough Liszt pieces likes La campanella and such
Yeah XD the Campanella one is tha hell so difficult
ive had a piano for so long and just a week ago i got motivated to play again, I practiced a lot but im just not motivated to start reading i just do it by memory even tho i know ill eventually will have to start reading if i want to progress but no motivation yet :D
Could you try to play "Unravel" from Tokyo Ghoul ?
(I'm French so my English is not very good, sorry)
Tqt hein ya pas de fautes x)
do you memorise most of the pieces you play at the same time as learning them and what's your process for doing so? Do you start at the beginning or the end sections and work backwards? Do you learn one hand at a time? Do you mark the paper with all the chord changes etc..
you're a bloody inspiration mate!
Brandon is excellent your job so that you cover everyone's mouth because you do not play all the pieces of your video and the samples as it is done and that you finally achieved it. Thanks for being an inspiration to all. You can also make a video in a public place and show that make as well
thank you and forward master.
Can you do a video on your workout routine?
Yay for the hymns! I am a classically-trained pianist, but have played for my church. I used to play in a community jazz band too. Did you major in piano performance, piano pedagogy...? Great video here!
I think it is common for adult beginners to experience loss of motivation every now and then due to other commitments or just feeling lazy. Any advice to keep it going?
Well done Brandon. Question: When you are practising, whether it be reading or whatever, are you just picking a part of the song and going over and over the same part...or are you going the whole way through a piece of music regardless of mistakes and then starting again from the beginning and just rinse and repeat?
Thanks
Mark Tills Good question.
I had to comment because I am also passionate about playing the piano and of course, you don't have to follow my technique. I play through once on any new piece, and then practice at four measures at a time, usually not up to tempo if it is faster than moderate. What's your current technique?
@@christynichole5437I also like to play through it once and then isolate each bar till I can play it without any issues
Hey Brandon! Glad to see you are making this Q&A session.
As for someone that is willing to learn as you did, which advices can you share that you wish you have known when you have just started that only learned later in your progress?
And also, my first great achievement will be playing To Zanarkand, as I love the music and the game as a whole. Other than Jane's tutorial, do you have any additional tip for this music specifically?
Thanks man!
Thanks Renan :)
I would say maybe to learn theory and learn to read earlier, but fortunately I didn't make too many mistakes for long periods of time so I don't have regrets really or things I'd change.
Other than Janes video I would say just keep researching and doing homework on your own. Don't settle for just playing the notes, try to understand the meaning behind it all as it will only help with your playing. Good luck!
@@brandonhawksley Thanks bro! It's been inspiring to see your videos. Gotta keep the hard work!
Brandon, I'm glad to see this comment about understanding the meaning. In watching the video of your first year of progress, I thought your dexterity at playing notes rapidly improved, but your ability to play music, not just notes, only began to be hinted at in parts of a few pieces toward the end of the video. Don't know if you would agree, but I think if you had started with a better (and admittedly more expensive) piano-Yamaha or Steinway & Sons grand-and a teacher that focused on musicality, and you had worked more on feeling and how you attack the keys, you could have been playing music much sooner.
It's very generous of you to share your musical journey, and I hope that creating these videos has been as helpful to you as it has been motivating to many viewers.
dude，you are insane!
I don't know how you've managed to learn all these pieces in just few months.
I've tried to learn chopin's nocturne, mozart's alla turca, and I could only get one or two sectors in one hours.
I'm curious how you've done that, or you are so well talented
Si se puede
Thank you! I think it has to be at a level not too far out of reach. If it is then it will take too long to get good at small sections. It also depends on you Individually how quick you can learn pieces. I'd estimate pieces at the right kind of level take between 1-3 months. But the more advanced you get the wider this range is. Keep practicing !
Do you have videos of you practicing, starting slow, making mistakes, repeating over and over, etc? You have only shown the best parts of your progress, that's why many people could not believe your story.
That's a great idea. I think I will record a day of practice for my next video! Thanks
To start, he is NOT naturally talented on the piano. Hard work can produce results but I definitely doubt that his primary musical base started with the piano. I believe he made it clear that he had dabbled with the flute (melody) and drums (rhythm) as a child. Anyone with such a musical base since childhood (even if crude and unrefined) can pick up the piano at his rate if practice is consistent at several hours a day on average!
The piano is not impossible to learn!
The piano is actually considered to be one of the easiest musical instruments to learn yet one of the most difficult (in existence) to master!
what hard work? 2-3 hour a day is nothing
zhao ruosen 2-3 hours isn’t nothing try being in his shoes. His hands probably hurt for play 2-3 hours straight.
zhao ruosen this is so false lol, the practice isn’t even about the time spent so much as what is crammed into the time spent.
I agree. IMHO, I think it’s entirely possible to learn that in a year, given that he’s an adult and with a bit of music background as a kid.
Have you heard of Jonah Ho? That kid is 5 years old when he learnt Fantaisie Impromptu… And he’s mostly self-taught. Now that’s more impressive. Some people actually have more talent than others so it’s best not to compare yourself with others.
Here’s Jonah Ho’s channel:
ua-cam.com/video/Q_hEcQ_z43A/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/Q_hEcQ_z43A/v-deo.html
So bacially it was him being efficient and hardworking
Piano tutorials have so many videos. they should just make a tutorial #1, 2, 3 and so on.
This is incredibly inspiring to me you honestly have no idea
Thanks
James's piano tutorial? I can't find it
Hi Brandon, interesting to hear how different your practice routine is from mine (more PBE focused). Will definitely look into hymns as a sight-reading exercise. Do you ever sing melodic lines when practising?
Keep up the good work! :)
I was actually recommended by my teacher to sing one line like you say, as if you can sing it you've effectively absorbed what's on the page. Problem is I'm too embarrassed to do it lol. I do find myself humming sometimes, and am always 'singing' the line in my mind for sure. Definitely something to work on for me!
Nice to see talent and with a great stamina in this people who didn't have the opportunity to star when they were young. Like me too! Greetings man.
Sooo nice and inspiring video! I also play piano but only keep watching youtube tutorials, too lazy to learn how to read :/
(16:49 made me laugh so hard:DD)
oooh love you for this
Great work Brandon. I'm looking to learn to play and your progress has definitely inspired me to play. Thank you for the post.
Thanks for commenting Chris :)
How old were you when you started learning piano?
23 when I started in June 2017!
@@brandonhawksley wow you've made so much progress in just two years. I've been playing piano for two years as well but I'm no where near you.. you inspire me to work harder thanks for replying btw :-)
How and when do you practice for 3 hrs? eg Do you do the 3 hrs in one hit in the morning or split it up into 3 parts (eg 1 hr in morning , afternoon and evening)?
9/10 times I just do it in one hit because I can currently. When I was working and had clients I would split it up and do some in the morning and then again in the evening. I just try and adapt to the time I have but if I can do it in one go I usually do.
Just found your channel. I'm starting to learn piano as an adult and wondering what did you look for in a piano teacher?
Where did you buy the very first piano you were playing with? I’m thinking about learning and teaching myself but don’t want to break my bank account doing it haha. Also wondering if the that piano had pedals for you to learn with as well?
I have a small question. If you do remember the tricks and tips to learn the polyrhytms for Fantasie Impromptue would you be so kind to share? I still have not completely comprehensed the polyrhytms for that particular piece.
Which digital piano do you have? The first one that you used to start
Giorgia cammisa on his piano progress vid when he gets the piano he tells you what it is
Yamaha p115
Hi Brandon, I already learned piano for 3 month. Now I can read note and training the song I love. But I always hide practice, I can't sit down and play even quarter hour. Can you give me some advice?
How old were you when you started?
amazing :o imagine what you can do in 10 years :0
Yeah that's what keeps me motivated to keep working hard!
You are awesome!
hi, Brandon! Thank you for video. How do you memorize music? I studied music at music school and It takes me a lot of time to learn music by heart.
It usually naturally comes from just practicing the piece over a couple of months. If I'm actively trying to memorize it as fast as possible I would do a few bars hands alone and then add them together and repeat it a few times without looking at the sheet music.
@@brandonhawksley thanks!
Hi Brandon. Could you tell me if you have other areas in life you've excelled? Say excellence in math, science, literature? Are you really good at sports? What are you studying? Would love answers to these
Yes I use to be quite good at football freestyle and won some competitions. The second major thing I was obsessed with was powerlifting which is a strength sport. Both of these things took alot of time and dedication so it wasn't my first time working hard on something in that respect. I'm studying music at uni.
Please do etude 25 no 11, Chopin
You are a beast man🙏🙏
No way this gonna happen...Winter Wind is extremely hard for a starter
@@ivanchristopher7665 He is not a starter
One day definitely. Anytime soon? Probably not :(
He's gonna hurt himself if he tries this too soon, saying this as a piano teacher... It's probably gonna take him 5 years with this progress to get there.
How did you record your progress ? What microphone(s) do you use ?
Literally just use my phone (Samsung galaxy s7 edge). I'm definitely considering investing in a portable microphone to put by the piano in the future for a better sound.
Ooh ! Ok ! I thought that it couldn't be this good with just a phone but ok ! I will try it again... maybe you just play better than me so that's why it sounds so good... ;-)
Your story is very inspiring. Thanks for sharing it !
Hey Bran, love your work man. Just curious as to whether the same feat can be reached with a keyboard?
I think you can get pretty damn good on a digital piano if it's a good one. The one I got (p115) is good enough for intermediate level, but I would have to upgrade if I was just using digital pianos still. You can also get really expensive digital pianos with actual physical mechanisms in them to emulate the feel of a grand piano. I think those are able to support advanced repertoire. So definitely possible!
Ever plan on learning jazz tunes
Hi Brandon!thank you for your video. Can you please tell what Yamaha piano you bought?i want to buy a piano so I will be grateful for your advice..
Yamaha U2. Yamaha U1/U3 are very popular upright pianos so you can't go far wrong.
Hello. Just wanted to ask around what time you stopped using Jane's tutorials to just learn songs? When did you switch to only using/getting better at using sheet music? Thank you!
And also at the beginning, did you focus on just one piece at a time or have a few going. Thanks
@@lailabell2957 it was around month 7 I decided to stop using online tutorials and fully commit to reading. I only usually had 1 piece or project at a time. Now I usually have 2-3 I'm learning at one time :)
Is it okay to learn songs through youtube rather than reading ?
It's okay to do it in the beginning, but in the long run, I highly recommend you to learn how to read music. I've been playing piano for a couple years and I'm in Grade 8 Piano in RCM. I used to learn songs through UA-cam for fun outside of lessons, but I learned that it was really bad because you get way more information out of reading.
NovaStudio i mainly want to learn piano because im trying to become a music producer and am more focused on learning theory or how to improvise, any advice?
@@JGutsh it's probably a good idea to have basic reading and theory skills, but it's not necessary if you just want to improvise and play by ear etc. You can learn online, but it's always easier with some help from a tutor :)
@@brandonhawksley true indeed, but expensive as hell too, lol...😂😂
Do you recommend starting with a teacher or try learning on my own?
Always with a teacher If possible. You can make amazing progress on your own though if you want it bad enough and do your research.
Hi, what grade would you say you can sight read? So like play a new piece pretty much correct first time?
You're such a motivation! Thank you❤
Did u get the idea to use church hymns for sight reading from Bach Scholar?
Yep
How long did it take for you to get to grade 5?
Hey, just one question, anything that can help to stay motivated for the first few months?
Pick ur most Beautiful Song sheet and Learn it. if u will give up, than piano is not for u m8.
how old are you? im 24 and learning at a similar rate, but I might be a bit late to the studying music at college route. already graduated from economics
I'm 25. Started learning at 23. It's never too late!
Are you Filipino?
What do you sightread other than church hyms? Have you heard of Tom brier?
Honestly it's mainly church hymns but I've started sight reading small pieces in preparation for my grade 8 exam. They're probably equivalent of grade 4/5 pieces. Yes I've watched his videos. I'd love to be able to sight read like him one day!
Do you sit exam for all the grade?
I saw that you don't play the pieces completes. only play part o piano pieces or you play the pieces compĺete?, for example Rondo alla turca, Chopin nocturne op2, Sonata 545 first movement or you knowed the complete pieces??
Sometimes I show the clips of pieces I was learning before they were mastered, so I could only play some sections. But yes, all pieces from the video were fully learnt, beginning to end.
You should try some Hans Zimmer
What kind of piano did u use in the beginning?
Yamaha P-115
29:13 how did he know that there was something on the screen lel!
Bruh how do you lie so well! 5:57 you don't know 'instinct' 😂😂 6:07 natural ability for technique!!!!?? 😂😂🤣🤣🤣 "scratches neck"
I've been playing piano for 2 weeks now learning from synthesia. Currently learning fur elise, what would be one or more good classical pieces to learn before learning river flows in you? You are one of the reasons I started playing, so thank you!
Gymnopedie no.1 by Erik Satie! I mentioned it was one of the pieces in my piano classics book. It's nice and isn't too demanding of technique :)
Why dont u make a content again?
Glad I found this channel! Btw how old were you?
Can someone help me on hand independence bc I’m having trouble ik ppl r gonna say just practice but any tips?
Practice hands alone, then hands together. Slowly!
How long does it usually take you to learn a piece?
It really depends on the difficulty and how high a standard you want it to be. For the three grade 8 pieces I've been working on at the same time, the chopin nocturne took only about a month to have it, but then another month to really polish it and play it comfortably. The Bach and Beethoven took 2 months to play, and then this January I've polished the Bach, and Beethoven will probably be polished in a couple more weeks. So maybe 1-2 months for grade 8 pieces. Possibly more or less time needed depending on if I enjoy it or I understand the music etc.
@@brandonhawksley thank you and keep up the good work
Grade 8 exam? Less than 2 years of piano?
Only if I did it before June. It will most likely be after 2 years.