I just started piano this month...at the age of 62! I started singing 2 years ago and felt like this would help my musicality but it's sooooo much harder than I thought it would be! I walked away from my keyboard in tears this afternoon after struggling with Jingle Bells all day. But I'll be back at it tomorrow for sure.
And a quick update: I still haven't mastered Jingle Bells, but I've been getting in about an hour most days and there's definitely been improvement. It's still hard and I use a ton if CBD cream on sore hands but I'm not giving up.
Bless your heart! I had piano lessons from a neighbor lady when I was in elementary school. After 30 years without a piano, I purchased a digital piano this past weekend. It’s been about 50 years since my last lesson, but at the age of 63, I’m embarking on this journey once again. (Disclaimer: I studied classical guitar in my late 20s/early 30s, but I haven’t played in a decade or two.)
I am 79 years old, and have always wanted to learn to play the piano, however, this, that and the other thing, got in the way. So now, I bought an 88 keyboard, and the time to learn is now! I have never forgotten, learning music notes in primary school music class, and apart from that, have had no other music lessons. I find Lisa’s style of teaching very encouraging and easy to follow along. This is my new senior’s maintenance program.
I'm right behind you ! A young 71, who's wanted to play from the age of about 11. I've had a piano for 40 years but rarely took the time to learn because learning around None Music people isn't easy. The answer is, I've just spent some of the kids inheritance and bought Kawai ES110 one of the best things I've ever bought. Now I can practice at all hours of the day with my headphones on. Result 👍
Learning as an adult my great teacher said 2 things: play only 5 or 10 minutes at a time instead of getting frustrated with struggling through 30 min. You can do that short time several times a day, The second thing was to always finish your practice with something you know well. After the hard work, reward yourself and recognize the progress.
I started last week... I'm having a hard time playing for less than an hour at a time... it's just so fun! My fingers really hurt, though. I've read that calluses will for, after a couple weeks, though, so maybe not for much longer.
This is what I do! And I always thought I was being lazy for not being able to play guitar or piano (I play both) for 2 hours a day like some people do! I feel a lot better now, thanks!
I just bought a piano. Dont know anything. I just started watching you. I'm so impressed and excited. I like yr style of teaching. Thank you so much. Gary G. NC
I started learning piano at age 6. John Thompson, John Schuam, etc. Scales, Hanon, simplified classical. After about 7 years, I still was not playing stuff I wanted to play, at least not in front of my friends. It made playing trumpet easy to learn in school, I could read music, count. There was a piano in our band hall and we used to make lots of noise before class, and one day a drummer played, I think it was Hey Jude, maybe Let it Be, on the piano, and I knew this guy couldn't really read music, but he sounded good, so I watched what he was doing. Chords, I can do that!. When I was taking piano, there were big note easy play versions of popular music, not very satisfying. Then off to college, no piano in the dorm, not studying music. Still occasionally played, accompanied people at church sometimes. Then I bought a piano. An early 1900's used to be player piano freshly redone by a piano tech. Tall upright, long strings. That was a fun piano to play! Later, I moved, went to a bar that had a piano. I asked if it was in tune, the lady said she didn't know, go check it out. They put a tip jar on it and gave me free drinks. Piano was fun again !Later, I got a Radio Shack 61 key keyboard. Still later, some friends and I formed a band. Band broke up after a couple of years, I moved, went back to college. A guy said he played guitar, I said I played keys. He brought his keyboard to school, flipped down his tailgate, I played Desperado. He said join the band at his church. I did. I've been playing at both traditional and contemporary services for 8 years now. Weddings, funerals, fund raisers. I never lost my love for music, piano, but not learning something I actually wanted to play, in front of my friends, stopped me for way too long. So I think learning chords and how they fit together, and learning to listen are critical. But I also believe reading music is very important. There are chords I cannot figure out just by listening. Interesting harmonies that are more complex than the basics. If you can read the notes on a sheet, you don't have to name the chord or figure it out, just play those notes. So, on your list, I got by #1 and #2 before I realized those were things to know. I was a kid, lucky me. #3 was the one that hurt for a long time. #4, Well, I guess I learned that as a kid too. Lucky me. #5 I think would be hard for a beginner. Every keyboard and every piano have differences, some very subtle, more subtle than I can figure out quickly. Advanced piano players listen for very specific things and feel the actions and notice how certain passages flow better when they play one piano as compared to another. As a beginner, I wouldn't worry about that too much. Get something you can afford, play that. You'll develop your preferences as you grow as a pianist and musician. Wow, this post is very long. Sorry for putting way more than my two cents in. Although not a beginner, but one who has lots to learn, I really appreciate your videos.For all of you learning, struggling to learn, and frustrated, be patient, work a lot, learn something you want to play! Practice, play, and practice playing...
@@PianoteOfficial Thank you! After posting that long winded thing, I had second thoughts. Maybe I should have broken it down into 5 comments, maybe I should just delete it. Maybe you would just delete then I wouldn't have to think about it. Then you pinned it, loved it! An additional thing I thought about was how to practice, I didn't really address that. I guess I did that as a kid, but I only really learned that recently. I know several pianists lots better than I am. But I have found that repeating difficult passages over and over, hands separate, hands together, slowly, figuring out fingering, putting it all together works. I practice something until I don't think about it, then I can actually listen. Then I put it in the whole piece and paractice that until I can really listen as I play. Yes, Play. That's what we practice for, so we can play. That's when the practice is worth it, when we get to go out and play. Play is fun, ask any kid. Music is most fun for me when I can share it. Playing is FUN!!! But I'm not really that good. Not in a technical sense. But music doesn't have to be complex to sound good, reach people. But to me, it needs to flow, have feeling. That's when playing is fun!!! Your videos are fun!!! Thanks again...
@Rock Star in my Car And best wishes on your quest! I had some wishes to play guitar. Summer camp, at the beach, going Christmas caroling, well the piano is a bit hard to pack. But I never pursued guitar. I have thought about it off and on, learned a couple of chords, but never got serious. Well, no time like the present. You just inspired me. Thanks, and lucky me. Let's enjoy our journeys.
Yes, this is exactly what I just wanted to say about her. A few years ago I visited a cousin of mine in Vancouver, Canada, and I found several Canadians with that friendly personality of hers.
I was quite surprised when she started talking about the cost of various keyboards in Canadian dollars. I actually felt very proud to be a fellow Canadian. She is an excellent teacher and person!
Being someone who is 25 and has always wanted to play, this video is really comforting to watch and makes me feel like I can start even before I get a piano! thanks so much! looking forward to my piano journey!
This is great. Thank you. It makes logical sense. I took lessons as a child and my teacher was very stern and she poked my fingers with a pencil. I never played again. Now, I'm a senior citizen and I'm trying to prove to myself that I CAN do it. Your videos are helping me.
I am 64, I have loved the piano since I was born! Didn't have the opportunity to take lessons as a kid, but we had a piano so I taught myself to read music. I was so depressingly note-bound. When I was in my 40s I had the opportunity to take lessons from a wonderful teacher for about a year. He pushed me to classical pieces that I love, but since I had already learned everything the wrong way (I had no idea what the fingering numbers were!) I only learned pieces and not how to sight read, or play anything beautifully or accurately. I haven't found a good teacher since then. I have always wanted to be good at piano, but I never had a teacher like you! You are wonderful, brilliant, and so talented. Thank you for opening up a new point of view with your online lessons.
I absolutely love the way you communicate. Your passion towards music shows every sentences you utter out loud. I am so happy that you are Canadian.. you are a wonderful asset to this world! Thank you for encouraging me not to be afraid of 'Piano lessons' anymore! I am picking it up once again after a few decades thanks to you..
Started practicing saying piano alphabet backwards then picked a different note to start from. It is taking some practice. Thanks for singing. That is always refreshing to hear.
To all beginners out there(including myself) the only thing u should not miss while starting ur journey as a pianist is to be a member of the Pianote community n learn all sorts of things from Miss Lisa.
I've done a bit of both. But there's so much YT unless you're struggling, IMO , you can get a long way just on Here. And if this young lady doesn't inspire you, you're in trouble 🤣
Will be starting to learn the piano this week! Just had my piano delivered this morning! I'm 65, with a little 2 finger organ playing in my background, and I've been play the guitar for many years (low intermediate level). But have wanted to learn the piano for decades! I going to start here with Flowkey to supplement, might as well use my 3 month free membership that came with my Yamaha purchase!
I am so grateful for these videos. I am a single parent and my situation sort of forced me out of work to stay home. Without any formal training, I used to walk up to the piano (the only instrument in our home) as a child and play "Stand By Me" & a few others by ear without knowing a thing about what notes I was playing, much less reading music. I've always loved the piano. Your lessons have made piano fun for me, again. Though my mind has an embarrassing inability to read music, seeing and hearing what you're doing is what I needed. You're awesome!
the importance of a good use of the metronome while practicing is something i wish i'd known at the very beginning, it gave a big boost to my skills! thanks for your advices and greetings from Italy!
hi and thank you for your videos... i am from UK and 62yrs old. i made the decision last week to learn piano.. came across your stuff and just love the style....you make learning fun.. making good progress....well i think i am .!😎
I learned at 16 yrs old, I was playing drums in my dad‘s band and when I was in the pubs I hear the guy playing the piano and just loved it, I studied for three years in Dublin Ireland and now I play piano at peoples weddings.. greetings from freezing cold Ireland!! -6 tonight here!!!! Awh
This video is so empowering!! Learning is empowering! when I think back to how I was made to learn the piano, it was scales, appegios, theory and examination pieces, and the BIG composers! I was then made to take my exams in a huge cold church, play a grand piano that I had never sat at before and play to a stranger all by the age of 12 ! TRAUMATIC! Needless to say that after 5 years of playing I never played anything that I could play to my friends and I could never sit down at a piano unless I had sheet music - If I walked passed a piano, my friends would ask me to play - but I felt naked without my sheet music! So I gave up. 15 years later I back with a whole new approach - chords, inversion and a brand new attitude thanks to videos like these!! much love!! teachers like this are relatable and they connect people with music that resonates with the student!
I am a doc from India.Lisa ur way of explaining tough things simple trying put me regularly on keyboard interestingly...I WOULD APPRECIATE THE WORK OF WHOLE PIANOTE TEAM keep energizing and spreading all level info's and learning about music...Feels gr8 to be ur subscriber..
I bought a Casio CTK 6300 IN in 2014. Never got a proper chance to learn. But I carried it along all across India, like a dead dream, as I kept moving on the purpose of job. 6 years of confusion and vexation. Then on a blessed day, I met Elisa.
This way she talks makes me feel like I’m ready to start waking up early, working out, and follow my dreams. ....until the video ends and i come back to my lame life 👍
I find myself going to this channel because there are always new little subtle things to learn, however I took a more unorthodox approach to learning and overcoming obstacles. Playing simple songs and jingles never appealed to me as a child which is why i quit piano lessons after a month. I wanted to play songs that turned heads and show dexterity. I wanted to play like Elton John and Bruce Hornsby. As a kid, i always enjoyed the way my church music director played so I sat and watched him play so quickly an in awe that I recorded him playing and studied those videos. Huge learning curve. Advice #1 - find a mentor that has the ability to play your style of music. Though will be a challenge, everything played below that would be cake work since you tackled something so hard and complex. The idea here is if you learn simple - you play basic, you play difficult- you play to impress. As an Adult and years taken off from playing I decided to put it to the test again and learn a new style that triggered my urge to play. The style is Blues/Boogie Woogie. Perhaps the hardest I’ve ever had to learn. This falls into step 3 on this video on coordination of the brain separating the left and right hand. Let me tell you it was the hardest 4 weeks I’ve ever had to endure teaching myself just to play this style. Advice 2: Commit. Find something that inspires you, not motivate because motivation doesn’t last, but what are you hungry for? That’s what helps you commit and overcome blocks. Before I knew it I was gathering an audience and having everyone dancing. Hope there was some value in this post for those that don’t want to waste or is limited on time because, yes, it is possible to run before crawling.
I just turned 50 and got over severe illness although still not 100% and so needed to do something with my life after a few hard years! I found a piano tutor near to me and decided to go for it. Partner surprised me after only my first lesson this morning. He bought me a Roland digital piano. It’s full size keys and he also bought me a few books. I have always wanted to play piano since I learnt recorder, flute and clarinet in school and my best friend could play piano and I was sooooo jealous. Now is my turn! I can’t wait to be able to play properly! XxX love your channel!
I'm a piano teacher, and that's something I learned quickly - it's so important for students to play songs they enjoy! I was mentored by someone much older than me, and some of what they taught me was priceless, but also music changes and we have to meet people where they're at!
im 17 years old and this channel has helped me tremendously in my 54 years of living and i feel alive! i couldn’t even figure out how to drive stick before but now im benching 405 after only 2 days!
Hello , I have been a pensioner for a month and have decided to take up the piano. So, I bought myself a piano and searched the internet for videos and found you !!!! for (1 month) I play, Bohemian rhapsody and Ed sherran, thank you however, I am French-speaking and I speak very little English !!!!!
I'm a 36 year old beginner and I'm working my way through Alfred's Premier Piano Express: 1 & 2. My goal is to first complete those two books, taking it one lesson at a time. If I struggle with a lesson, I repeat it the next day. I'm hoping that by the time I finish, I will have the foundation to keep going. Thank you for such a great piano channel.
As a muso' since the age of 15 I learnt to play the guitar and within 3 months I began to start playing all the songs I wanted with the help of my teacher. I've joined a band 3 year later and some of my band members were self taught and it shown. They had really bad timing and bad habits anyway it ended up ok. Now days, I began to learn to play the piano and have been playing it in church for the last 10 years. I only had the chance to pick up chord charts and playing by ear and one of the songs I learnt to play was the instrumental riff of Elton Johns' Blue Eyes. I was so determined I practised and practised till finally one night I got it. If you ever played it you'd know is not easy at first. Today, If I look at the keys while playing I find I make mistakes but when I don't look it comes out perfect. They are quater note chords and must fit in with the timing of the song. Even though I play most songs with my left hand playing mostly octives, I'd like to do something more than octives on the left hand. I write songs and try to use the chordal notes on the left hand but I know there's so much more. When I do a simple blues run with the left hand and pound the chords on the right hand that's fine but to play a melody on the right hand and something different on the left hand I still find it hard.
Keep at it. I experienced a breakthrough a few years ago where suddenly I could play most bass lines rhythmically independent while maintaining a harmonic link to the melody or chord sequence done by the right hand. I suggest running a simple bass line in the left hand and then doing simple improvisations and chord inversions with the right hand. After that is done in the first week or so, try varying the bass line a small amount.
I'm 69 and just starting to learn to play, using my new Roland FP 10. The hand-brain disconnect is right where I'm at! So this was very helpful. hank you!
Chord charts are actually the first thing I learned how to play because I was just playing by ear and then my Dad taught me how to build chords (4-3 for Major and 3-4 for minor) and then gave me a broadway fakebook (which has the chord charts in it) and the first song I really properly learned how to play was Part of Your World. :)
I’m a beginner for piano. I have been playing for 1 year, but I have learned by watching others. I learned chords and watch yt vids but I can’t read sheet music well.
I love that you explained how the brain learns new things by building new pathways. So we need to be patient with ourselves, and not criticize ourselves for how clunky we played today. We need to sleep on it while the brain builds it’s pathway. There is no shortcut, and there is no incompetence. Music requires regular practice, combined with patience! Zen/yoga by the way is helpful for these mindsets.
Proving a point was one of the reasons I started learning to play the piano a couple of months ago :-). As a teacher of English, I've noticed that speaking a foreign language has a lot in common with playing a musical instrument: both largely rely on automatic skills, i.e. doing things without thinking much about how you're doing them. While speaking, you don't think "Okay, the next word in this sentence has to be a noun preceded by an article..." Likewise, while playing music, you don't tell yourself "Well, hold that G with your ring finger, then play F and D for half a second each". Both speech and music should be produced naturally, which is achieved through a lot of practice, doing the same things over and over again until you can do them without your conscious mind really getting involved. Some adult students become discouraged too soon because they believe that automatic skills can only be acquired in childhood, "while the brain is still fresh and trainable". I decided to test that theory on myself. If I, aged 41, can learn to produce something that resembles music, then learning English in adulthood can't be impossible. As long as you get regular practice.
I love your observation. I always remind my piano students that music IS a language and needs to be studied as such. We can't learn a language if we only review it once or twice a week! Notes are like letters or symbols that help us know what the sound will be, the phrase markings are punctuation, etc! I think it's important to see that language connection. 😊
I speak US English as a native. If you held a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you WHY we do English this way or that. But I'm usually right, so same with music. Lol
This lady is the best 'teacher' I've ever come across - by far. I wish I'd known this fundamental stuff a LONG time ago - I would have been soooo much further forward by now. Thank goodness for this lady and UA-cam!
This made me smile. My son has learned to play "fast car" perfectly on the guitar. He can sing it too. But not both at the same time. I taught him to play it and I had the same problem. It took me months of practice to be able to do both at the same time. I have a friend who can juggle and she suggested that musicians learn to juggle. It apparently trains your limbs to work Independantly and that is what physically connects the brain synapses.
You, my dear, are a phenomenal teacher. Your passion, talent and empathy are magnetic. I’m so glad I went down this UA-cam rabbit hole and found you. Just started playing piano TODAY. Looking forward to more of your content!
50 year old guitar player and songwriter trying to ex[and into keyboard/piano, and I really love the simplicity mixed with enthusiasm that you have in your videos. Thanks!
I'm a beginner who has always wanted to learn how to play the piano, I watched a few of your videos so far and they've been super helpful!! thank you! i'll be continuing learning from your videos!
I feel like I hit the jackpot by finding this channel!! THANK YOU!! I used to play about 10 years ago and then life did its thing and now here I am learning to play again! Your videos are THE BEST !!! Can’t thank you enough!!!
I’ve been playing off and on for over fifty years, and what you said about trying to chord songs you know was something I’ve never tried. I really have the confidence to play now. I can do more than Hanon and scales ( those are also important), but loving what you’re doing is so important too.
I'm now 38 and always w anted to play music but was never supported as a child but our 8yr old really wants to do keyboard lessons at his school so Santa got him a keyboard and I've been having a go when no one's around. I love Pianote and Lisa's enthusiasm for teaching in a fun way! This is a great channel and it's made learning so much more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. Thanks! :)
Thanks for all your tips Lisa...I took my grade 5 last month and passed...now cracking on with grade 6...I'm in my 50s and hoping to achieve grade 8 before I snuff it :-)
I think you are amazing as a teacher. I’m learning so much. I had wanted to give up but your personality breathed new life. Wow. I’m 65 and it’s finally exciting to play.
Ive got about 80hours under my belt. Ive played guitar for about 10years so musically i know what i need to hear but my fingers dont catch up. Its a trip but its constant walking away and returning. This video was very encouraging on every point
Lisa - you are KILLING IT! Loved this lesson. And your comments on neural pathways are spot on. Neural plasticity is one of the reasons kids pick things up generally more quickly than adults, particularly those tasks that require eye-hand-brain coordination. Keep these coming. You have a new fan in the US.
An enthusiastic lesson as always, thank you Lisa - you guys are helping me with my journey back to my keyboard after a 30 year break. I’m determined to learn to play over the winter in this terrible period in all our lives - once again thank you.
I just started learning the piano on my own, and this was definitely a helpful video. Thank you! I did want to share an expansion on your description of learning: The most important factors for being efficient in creating those new pathways are Attention and Joy. If your mind wanders, you will repeatedly create useless, junk pathways that have to be re-made, and joy synergistically keeps you wanting to attempt the skill as well as making it easier to pay attention. Through willpower you can pay attention to something you dislike, but that will be more difficult.
I love you personality...you make piano lesson fun and up lifting..Make me feel that my best friend is taking her time to teaching me piano..Love you..
Thanks so much Lisa❗️I’m using so many of your techniques for my students but your EXPLANATIONS really help me explain things in a new light to them....and me too ❗️😊🎵🎶🎼
You may be the most energetic teacher ever. Man with teachers like you, anyone can learn anything, I'm not even talking about your skills which are perfect too.. Definitely following you from now on. Thanks !
Friends have a keyboard stashed at their house taking up space and unused. They asked if I can keep it for them until they find use for it. I have agreed and made space in my office. So hey my learning to play journey starts tomorrow. Wish me luck. No clue what to expect. 🌴
Think golf: lol. A lot of annoyance and a "learning curve." Haha. See Don Music on Sesame Street..that's pretty much music school in a nutshell. Lol. Community or city colleges have very VERY cheap lessons. I'd look into it. Best thing I ever did. Great teachers.
One thing thats held me up for years was perfectionism as well as not leanring as fast as others as well, so I seldom stick to anything long, but I saw a video the other day that said to focus on the goal, not the midstakes, and I think Lisa said that as well about the trail up the mountian, everytime you do it, it will get easier.
I just bought a keyboard 2 days ago and loving it ever since. This video gives me lots of motivation and courage to practice and master the piano. And yeah it is soooooo hard to synchronise our both hands in the beginning!! 😭😭😭😭 hopefully in the next 2 weeks or so i could use them bothhhhhh freelyyy
Lisa, thank you for your love and enthusiasm. It is great time to learn with teachers like you who are passionate. It is much easier to learn, understand, and what is most important, stay persistant. We live in wonderful time. In the past I has a bit boring way of learning with a teacher playing sad songs. Now it is different. I am 42 and want to learn properly to enjoy life and feed my artistic heart. Today I am buying a 88 keyboar/piano and can’t wait to learn the song you played - Over the rainbow. You are a STAR🌟
Thank you for this.. I'm in my 30s and learning to play the piano now, and yes the 1st point of your hand & brain not coordinating seems so real 🥵.. But thank you for keeping this so real. Your videos really help out a lot to learn better.. A BIG THANK YOU!! 🙏🏽💕
Wow, I'm a person who is typically very stern and serious when learning and (thought!) I responded best with like-minded coaches, teachers, etc. When I first came across your videos, while I really liked the content, I thought there's no way I'll be able to stay focused and learn from such an energetic and effervescent person BUT ... I was so wrong! You're awesome! It's such a treat - and just as effective (for me) - to be learning from you: no stress, no pressure, no critical voices inside my head, etc. Your content and delivery is fantastic - I love it! - your approach to teaching opens up and inspires the creativity in me. Thanks for being out here ... I'm actually learning how to practice and play the piano!!! - Shar 🤗
The absolute main thing I wished I'd learned when I was a kid taking piano lessons was how to play chords in all the keys. While there was nothing wrong with playing the classical music I was assigned, I wanted to play the pop songs I heard on the radio. I'm in my 60s now and I feel like a major door has opened up to me by learning them. Thank you, Pianonote!
Thank you sooooo much for this video (and many others)! You really know how to motivate! I've wanted to play the piano ever since I was a kid but my dad wouldn't have it. Had to learn the recorder instead! After nine years playing classical music I didn't really like, I was so fed up with it that I dropped out. Within 3 months I had forgotten even how to read notes!!! Now I'm (nearly) 60 and thought: that's it! Nobody tells you what to do anymore so get up, get yourself a keyboard and start!!! It's a tough journey but so far I'm really liking it. Watching this video I recognize a lot of things but with your videos I'm getting there!!! Thank you so much for all your work and above all the positive energy you know how to transmit even through a video!!
Okay, I just gotta say, thank you! I am loving the video so far and when you showed chords for, "I'm Yours", I just felt like I am right where I need to be in this moment. I've subscribed and am looking forward to learning much more from you.💛
Good advice! Older beginner here. A few thoughts: 1) Like sports, this is an issue of practice. It's hard at first, but it gets easier as you progress. I would know: I took up inline skating as a noob at age 37. I had issues and fell frequently when I was new. I sometimes still fall when I am practicing a new skill. My advice: take it slow and focus more on precision. The speed comes naturally over time. 2) Fwiw, I'm learning on a synth action keyboard, probably 61 keys. Wish it had one more octave's worth of keys, but its features make it worthwhile. I understand that I might have a harder time playing a legit piano. That's okay. I figure it's sort-of the difference between playing electric vs. acoustic guitar. (Electric is easier, and you can get a clean tone that resembles an acoustic on an electric.) 3) Proper posture and stretches probably reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel. 4) Feel free to take practice breaks to play. We need both to keep up motivation. Good luck! = )
Your videos have me sooooooo excited to get my first keyboard, which I just ordered. I really want to learn Run for the Roses and maybe some John Denver. Thanks for the inspiration and I’ll be following all your lessons
One observation after 30 days into it. I think mastering dexterity exercises, chord fingerings, and basic progressions are key. Use a metronome. Practice Rythm and Beats. Study Notes on grandstaff. See how the EGBDF and FACE patterns alternate from line to space over and over. Learn to recognize common chords on the staff. Set goals: Develop practice routine aligned to goals. I do 1 hour daily so I can make progress quickly. Study theory while not playing. There are no free lunches it takes work.
I just started my journey with my $15 keyboard. It has helped me understand my guitar better. I am familiar with frustration and am ready for new hard won neural pathways.
Some of my most imporant lessons: - Focus on what you're struggling with instead of focusing on what you already can do. - Analyze a piece before playing. Look for patterns and break it up in sections. - AVOID always playing from the beginning. This goes back to my first point. - Mix it up! Technique, pieces, theory, rhythm, listening, improvising. - Set clear (attainable) goals for short term.
I started out on guitar and now wish I had started on piano (or keyboards). With today's technology, keyboard workstations can create the sound of any instrument on the planet, from drums to woodwinds to brass, to strings...you name it. Kids today should start out on piano, and from there they can explore the sound of a myriad of instruments. Plus, way back when, you couldn't exactly lug a piano around with you to jam at a friends house, but now all you need is a lightweight midi keyboard and a laptop with something like Garage Band.
Obrigado pelo vídeo. Já tem um tempo que comecei a treinar, mas desmotivei pela dificuldade que é aprender esse belíssimo instrumento. Mas seu vídeo me motivou.
The content was so enjoyable and full of learnings thank you for give me a glimer of hope because I almost stop playing and practicing piano because I said that I think that its hard for me to learn but I get some new ideas here that I can apply for me while playing a piano so from now on I have more confident for playing
I'm simply loving your videos here... not only for the content.. but basically for *you* 🙂 Not being funny (peculiar) 😁 .. but you're so much fun in how you explain topics and I enjoy your enthusiasm.. and how you express your confidence in how your viewers WILL succeed in their efforts. I've seen and dealt with so many on-line/real world teachers/instructors who are so... 'rigid'?... 'traditional'?... I dunno the word... but teaching THAT way is so often such a disincentive... even for someone like me, who is very logical/step-by-step/'by the book' in the way I learn things. incorporating something new into what I already know... but your 'presence' and approaches are much more motivating... The practicing bit here was really good... but I'd also add a couple of extra steps... One would be to get the 'notes under your fingers' as a 'goal' in the session, so you don't go 'um.. errr..' on a bar, say (don't try and do too much too quickly)... AND once the notes are known (for each hand in turn.. and THEN combined) that's when the metronome comes out. Like we (you) do in a performance, where you play through a mistake, you just 'keep going' with the pulse of the metronome... but the timing element comes after the note knowledge... o'course, that might just be MY way of learning... but I guess it IS decades now since I took official organ lessons, where I also had to deal with foot pedals as well as the individual manuals (keyboards)...(!) Again, Fanx! a heap for posting these very helpful videos. 😊
You'll get there. You have to bear in mind, that 99.9% of everything we do involves moving one hand at a time. Moving both hands at the same time to perform a task isn't something we're used to.
I started with music at the age of 5. I studied the flute and solfège for many years. I wanted to go to the music conservatory and had to learn how to play the piano. So I started at the age of 16 with the piano. I didn't go to the conservatory because I had a very good flute teacher, but a bad piano teacher. And the stress was taking his toll. I had performance anxiety. And everything went good as long as I didn't have to play in public. I stopped with music for years and picked it up at the age of 30. I have a soft spot for renaisance and baroque music and went back to the roots by learning to play recorder. Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann wrote beautiful music for recorder and I found a very good teacher. For the first time I found someone that really understood what music meant to me. The only thing I had to endure was, that my mentor wasn't always around. I live in Belgium and often he was on tour in America, Japan or somewhere else in the world. Then fate struck. I got a tumor in my hand and during the operation they had to take away my main nerve of my right hand pinky. The surgeon said I would lose feeling in my pinky and ringfinger and the dammage would be permanent. But miracles do happen. I have regained feeling again in my fingers and now I'm turning 50 and my husband bought me a digital Kawai piano for my birthday. Cannot wait to see all your video's and learn to play this instrument. It's been a rollercoaster, but I'm excited.
This is so true! I've had my piano 6 days now and spent a good few hours learning the first half of moonlight sonata and can play it with relative confidence (once learnt I play it over and over again). Now I'm learning the second half and it's hard work but it will fall into place eventually and I'm looking forward to playing it as one whole piece. Having fun while I'm learning and allow myself to explore and play around with chords and making little melodies. Next I want to learn 'lick my love pump' from spinal tap 😂 as it's such a beautiful arrangement of chords. Love your channel and learning from you all the time, thankyou.
I just started to learn. I’m 64, recently retired and wanted something new to do. This video is quite helpful. Only been at it for a couple of months now. Many times I feel like my brain has fossilized and no messages are getting down to my fingers. Thank you for this advice.
Here's a little more info about learning new skills and the brain, after 25 you stop creating synapses on its own. It can still be done, but you almost have to force it. Kids can get the hang of alot because they're constantly creating new synapses (brain pathways) but us older people, have to make our own because our brains are telling us we're fully developed so it used the energy for something else in your body and mind.
I have ever since I was very young, wanted to play different instruments. At one point, I was even signed up for keyboard practice. It was fun the first few times I went, but the practice at home was horrible. All I had was a small keyboard, not weighted keys and not a very good sound to it either. Now, my girlfriend had her over 100 year old piano moved into the apartment, to which my interest in instruments got fired up once again. Went online to find some instructions and found my way to you. Best instructor I've ever heard, you are so great at explaining things, taking your time and not rushing the viewers, and a plus that you sound very adorable. Now it's just a question for me to hang in there and get the practice done while having fun. Thank you!
Thanks for a very wonderful lesson. Everything that you mentioned is absolutely correct. Those were the problem areas that I had difficulty with when I started piano. The really wonderful thing however is this... " you never really stop learning new things. " As we learn we grow and as we grow we learn !!! It's an endless cycle that never stops. Again, Thank YOU !!! 😁😁😁
Thank you for being so honest about the realities of the learning process and showing compassion towards new learners. This truly is of great comfort and encouragement to me and i can imagine to many others also. Some people master certain talents and boast about their greatness, not sharing any of the difficulties or realities of learning they went through. It can make others feel incompetent and useless, especially if they’ve been bullied in the past about failures or set backs. Thanks again for sharing. God bless you
Good luck Jessica, you'll love it! As hard as it seems, it does get easier....promise! One thing I found is not to expect progress too quickly. Give it 3 months before you look at your progress :)
Good luck, stay with it and don’t get discouraged...that’s what happened to me because I thought I should be improving faster than I was. Go at your own pace.
Wow Lisa, what great info, especially on how to practice. I’ve had that question since I started a year ago, but thought I might sound ridiculous asking that. Thank you so much.
So pleased I came across this video. It's made me feel that I'm definitely not on my own & it's given me the confidence to keep on going because I would be so proud to be able to play to my children & grandchildren too👍 Thanks
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I just started piano this month...at the age of 62! I started singing 2 years ago and felt like this would help my musicality but it's sooooo much harder than I thought it would be! I walked away from my keyboard in tears this afternoon after struggling with Jingle Bells all day. But I'll be back at it tomorrow for sure.
And a quick update: I still haven't mastered Jingle Bells, but I've been getting in about an hour most days and there's definitely been improvement. It's still hard and I use a ton if CBD cream on sore hands but I'm not giving up.
Bless your heart! I had piano lessons from a neighbor lady when I was in elementary school. After 30 years without a piano, I purchased a digital piano this past weekend. It’s been about 50 years since my last lesson, but at the age of 63, I’m embarking on this journey once again. (Disclaimer: I studied classical guitar in my late 20s/early 30s, but I haven’t played in a decade or two.)
Keep it up!
@@Moogiereads please don't give up, let that fire burn through!
@@nhl4264 I'm still hanging in there and it's getting a lot better. Thanks for the encouragement!
I am 79 years old, and have always wanted to learn to play the piano, however, this, that and the other thing, got in the way. So now, I bought an 88 keyboard, and the time to learn is now! I have never forgotten, learning music notes in primary school music class, and apart from that, have had no other music lessons. I find Lisa’s style of teaching very encouraging and easy to follow along. This is my new senior’s maintenance program.
I'm right behind you ! A young 71, who's wanted to play from the age of about 11. I've had a piano for 40 years but rarely took the time to learn because learning around None Music people isn't easy. The answer is, I've just spent some of the kids inheritance and bought Kawai ES110 one of the best things I've ever bought. Now I can practice at all hours of the day with my headphones on. Result 👍
Me too! I’m 65 and am off to buy a keyboard, and learn to play as good as I can. I just wanna have fun, I love music!
68 here. New keyboard. No experience.
I'm a youngster-- only 63!
I'm 71 and started lessons many years ago, but didn't get far. Now I'm retired, and have nothing but time to finally devote to my passion.
Learning as an adult my great teacher said 2 things: play only 5 or 10 minutes at a time instead of getting frustrated with struggling through 30 min. You can do that short time several times a day, The second thing was to always finish your practice with something you know well. After the hard work, reward yourself and recognize the progress.
I always try to finish, with the first part of Tetris song. 👍
I started last week... I'm having a hard time playing for less than an hour at a time... it's just so fun! My fingers really hurt, though. I've read that calluses will for, after a couple weeks, though, so maybe not for much longer.
Absolutely!!!
This is what I do! And I always thought I was being lazy for not being able to play guitar or piano (I play both) for 2 hours a day like some people do! I feel a lot better now, thanks!
@@LoneTiger NES or GameBoy?
I so wish I would have had someone like you 50 years ago. But, here you are now and I'm enjoying myself and my piano is happy to have me back!
I just bought a piano. Dont know anything. I just started watching you. I'm so impressed and excited. I like yr style of teaching. Thank you so much.
Gary G. NC
Her enthusiasm is so contagious. Feels like you love teaching as much as you like playing.
I started learning piano at age 6. John Thompson, John Schuam, etc. Scales, Hanon, simplified classical. After about 7 years, I still was not playing stuff I wanted to play, at least not in front of my friends. It made playing trumpet easy to learn in school, I could read music, count. There was a piano in our band hall and we used to make lots of noise before class, and one day a drummer played, I think it was Hey Jude, maybe Let it Be, on the piano, and I knew this guy couldn't really read music, but he sounded good, so I watched what he was doing. Chords, I can do that!. When I was taking piano, there were big note easy play versions of popular music, not very satisfying. Then off to college, no piano in the dorm, not studying music. Still occasionally played, accompanied people at church sometimes. Then I bought a piano. An early 1900's used to be player piano freshly redone by a piano tech. Tall upright, long strings. That was a fun piano to play! Later, I moved, went to a bar that had a piano. I asked if it was in tune, the lady said she didn't know, go check it out. They put a tip jar on it and gave me free drinks. Piano was fun again
!Later, I got a Radio Shack 61 key keyboard. Still later, some friends and I formed a band. Band broke up after a couple of years, I moved, went back to college. A guy said he played guitar, I said I played keys. He brought his keyboard to school, flipped down his tailgate, I played Desperado. He said join the band at his church. I did. I've been playing at both traditional and contemporary services for 8 years now. Weddings, funerals, fund raisers. I never lost my love for music, piano, but not learning something I actually wanted to play, in front of my friends, stopped me for way too long. So I think learning chords and how they fit together, and learning to listen are critical. But I also believe reading music is very important. There are chords I cannot figure out just by listening. Interesting harmonies that are more complex than the basics. If you can read the notes on a sheet, you don't have to name the chord or figure it out, just play those notes.
So, on your list, I got by #1 and #2 before I realized those were things to know. I was a kid, lucky me. #3 was the one that hurt for a long time. #4, Well, I guess I learned that as a kid too. Lucky me. #5 I think would be hard for a beginner. Every keyboard and every piano have differences, some very subtle, more subtle than I can figure out quickly. Advanced piano players listen for very specific things and feel the actions and notice how certain passages flow better when they play one piano as compared to another. As a beginner, I wouldn't worry about that too much. Get something you can afford, play that. You'll develop your preferences as you grow as a pianist and musician.
Wow, this post is very long. Sorry for putting way more than my two cents in. Although not a beginner, but one who has lots to learn, I really appreciate your videos.For all of you learning, struggling to learn, and frustrated, be patient, work a lot, learn something you want to play! Practice, play, and practice playing...
loved reading this story!
@@PianoteOfficial Thank you! After posting that long winded thing, I had second thoughts. Maybe I should have broken it down into 5 comments, maybe I should just delete it. Maybe you would just delete then I wouldn't have to think about it. Then you pinned it, loved it! An additional thing I thought about was how to practice, I didn't really address that. I guess I did that as a kid, but I only really learned that recently. I know several pianists lots better than I am. But I have found that repeating difficult passages over and over, hands separate, hands together, slowly, figuring out fingering, putting it all together works. I practice something until I don't think about it, then I can actually listen. Then I put it in the whole piece and paractice that until I can really listen as I play. Yes, Play. That's what we practice for, so we can play. That's when the practice is worth it, when we get to go out and play. Play is fun, ask any kid. Music is most fun for me when I can share it. Playing is FUN!!! But I'm not really that good. Not in a technical sense. But music doesn't have to be complex to sound good, reach people. But to me, it needs to flow, have feeling. That's when playing is fun!!! Your videos are fun!!! Thanks again...
Thank you for your comment! I saw myself in several parts :)
This is very well written, i love it
@Rock Star in my Car And best wishes on your quest! I had some wishes to play guitar. Summer camp, at the beach, going Christmas caroling, well the piano is a bit hard to pack. But I never pursued guitar. I have thought about it off and on, learned a couple of chords, but never got serious. Well, no time like the present. You just inspired me. Thanks, and lucky me. Let's enjoy our journeys.
I was just thinking about how come someone be that friendly and sweet and humble and .. then I saw, oh she's Canadian.
hahaha its a part of the national identity!
Yes, this is exactly what I just wanted to say about her. A few years ago I visited a cousin of mine in Vancouver, Canada, and I found several Canadians with that friendly personality of hers.
I was quite surprised when she started talking about the cost of various keyboards in Canadian dollars. I actually felt very proud to be a fellow Canadian. She is an excellent teacher and person!
being friendly and sweet isn't hard but being humble, makes a huge difference... and humble doesn't mean a lack of confidence...
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Being someone who is 25 and has always wanted to play, this video is really comforting to watch and makes me feel like I can start even before I get a piano! thanks so much! looking forward to my piano journey!
Lots of good piano related channels on UA-cam but Pianote is my fave for having such a lovely person in front of the camera
This is great. Thank you. It makes logical sense. I took lessons as a child and my teacher was very stern and she poked my fingers with a pencil. I never played again. Now, I'm a senior citizen and I'm trying to prove to myself that I CAN do it. Your videos are helping me.
I am 64, I have loved the piano since I was born! Didn't have the opportunity to take lessons as a kid, but we had a piano so I taught myself to read music. I was so depressingly note-bound. When I was in my 40s I had the opportunity to take lessons from a wonderful teacher for about a year. He pushed me to classical pieces that I love, but since I had already learned everything the wrong way (I had no idea what the fingering numbers were!) I only learned pieces and not how to sight read, or play anything beautifully or accurately. I haven't found a good teacher since then. I have always wanted to be good at piano, but I never had a teacher like you! You are wonderful, brilliant, and so talented. Thank you for opening up a new point of view with your online lessons.
I absolutely love the way you communicate. Your passion towards music shows every sentences you utter out loud. I am so happy that you are Canadian.. you are a wonderful asset to this world! Thank you for encouraging me not to be afraid of 'Piano lessons' anymore! I am picking it up once again after a few decades thanks to you..
Started practicing saying piano alphabet backwards then picked a different note to start from. It is taking some practice. Thanks for singing. That is always refreshing to hear.
To all beginners out there(including myself) the only thing u should not miss while starting ur journey as a pianist is to be a member of the Pianote community n learn all sorts of things from Miss Lisa.
Did you just watch the videos or pay for lessons? I’m about to begin. Thanks
I've done a bit of both. But there's so much YT unless you're struggling, IMO , you can get a long way just on Here.
And if this young lady doesn't inspire you, you're in trouble 🤣
@@RiojaRoj absolutely, I really enjoy her teaching style. Thanks for the reply.
Will be starting to learn the piano this week! Just had my piano delivered this morning! I'm 65, with a little 2 finger organ playing in my background, and I've been play the guitar for many years (low intermediate level). But have wanted to learn the piano for decades! I going to start here with Flowkey to supplement, might as well use my 3 month free membership that came with my Yamaha purchase!
You are the coolest piano teacher in the world!! You get me motivated again when I get frustrated! Thank you!!!
I am so grateful for these videos. I am a single parent and my situation sort of forced me out of work to stay home. Without any formal training, I used to walk up to the piano (the only instrument in our home) as a child and play "Stand By Me" & a few others by ear without knowing a thing about what notes I was playing, much less reading music. I've always loved the piano. Your lessons have made piano fun for me, again. Though my mind has an embarrassing inability to read music, seeing and hearing what you're doing is what I needed. You're awesome!
the importance of a good use of the metronome while practicing is something i wish i'd known at the very beginning, it gave a big boost to my skills! thanks for your advices and greetings from Italy!
hi and thank you for your videos...
i am from UK and 62yrs old.
i made the decision last week to learn piano..
came across your stuff and just love the style....you make learning fun..
making good progress....well i think i am .!😎
I learned at 16 yrs old, I was playing drums in my dad‘s band and when I was in the pubs I hear the guy playing the piano and just loved it, I studied for three years in Dublin Ireland and now I play piano at peoples weddings.. greetings from freezing cold Ireland!!
-6 tonight here!!!! Awh
Did you study at a university?
@@thesolitarianphilosopher6868 yes 3 years.. age 17-20
@@ericwhel That's awesome. I'm in the same train as you. I started to play at 16 as well
I started when I was 12. Now at 56 I am learning to play guitar, it is hard to think in guitar terms when I can easily visualize the keyboard.
This video is so empowering!! Learning is empowering! when I think back to how I was made to learn the piano, it was scales, appegios, theory and examination pieces, and the BIG composers! I was then made to take my exams in a huge cold church, play a grand piano that I had never sat at before and play to a stranger all by the age of 12 ! TRAUMATIC! Needless to say that after 5 years of playing I never played anything that I could play to my friends and I could never sit down at a piano unless I had sheet music - If I walked passed a piano, my friends would ask me to play - but I felt naked without my sheet music! So I gave up. 15 years later I back with a whole new approach - chords, inversion and a brand new attitude thanks to videos like these!! much love!! teachers like this are relatable and they connect people with music that resonates with the student!
I am a doc from India.Lisa ur way of explaining tough things simple trying put me regularly on keyboard interestingly...I WOULD APPRECIATE THE WORK OF WHOLE PIANOTE TEAM keep energizing and spreading all level info's and learning about music...Feels gr8 to be ur subscriber..
I bought a Casio CTK 6300 IN in 2014. Never got a proper chance to learn. But I carried it along all across India, like a dead dream, as I kept moving on the purpose of job. 6 years of confusion and vexation.
Then on a blessed day, I met Elisa.
This way she talks makes me feel like I’m ready to start waking up early, working out, and follow my dreams.
....until the video ends and i come back to my lame life 👍
I find myself going to this channel because there are always new little subtle things to learn, however I took a more unorthodox approach to learning and overcoming obstacles. Playing simple songs and jingles never appealed to me as a child which is why i quit piano lessons after a month. I wanted to play songs that turned heads and show dexterity. I wanted to play like Elton John and Bruce Hornsby. As a kid, i always enjoyed the way my church music director played so I sat and watched him play so quickly an in awe that I recorded him playing and studied those videos. Huge learning curve. Advice #1 - find a mentor that has the ability to play your style of music. Though will be a challenge, everything played below that would be cake work since you tackled something so hard and complex. The idea here is if you learn simple - you play basic, you play difficult- you play to impress. As an Adult and years taken off from playing I decided to put it to the test again and learn a new style that triggered my urge to play. The style is Blues/Boogie Woogie. Perhaps the hardest I’ve ever had to learn. This falls into step 3 on this video on coordination of the brain separating the left and right hand. Let me tell you it was the hardest 4 weeks I’ve ever had to endure teaching myself just to play this style.
Advice 2: Commit. Find something that inspires you, not motivate because motivation doesn’t last, but what are you hungry for? That’s what helps you commit and overcome blocks. Before I knew it I was gathering an audience and having everyone dancing.
Hope there was some value in this post for those that don’t want to waste or is limited on time because, yes, it is possible to run before crawling.
I relate so much when Kristie does the C scale with both hands 😂 hahaha, familiar territory 😂
Thank you so much, Pianote 🎉😘
Right?! haha we were beginners once!
I just turned 50 and got over severe illness although still not 100% and so needed to do something with my life after a few hard years! I found a piano tutor near to me and decided to go for it. Partner surprised me after only my first lesson this morning. He bought me a Roland digital piano. It’s full size keys and he also bought me a few books. I have always wanted to play piano since I learnt recorder, flute and clarinet in school and my best friend could play piano and I was sooooo jealous. Now is my turn! I can’t wait to be able to play properly! XxX love your channel!
I'm a piano teacher, and that's something I learned quickly - it's so important for students to play songs they enjoy! I was mentored by someone much older than me, and some of what they taught me was priceless, but also music changes and we have to meet people where they're at!
im 17 years old and this channel has helped me tremendously in my 54 years of living and i feel alive! i couldn’t even figure out how to drive stick before but now im benching 405 after only 2 days!
Hello ,
I have been a pensioner for a month and have decided to take up the piano.
So, I bought myself a piano and searched the internet for videos and found you !!!! for (1 month) I play, Bohemian rhapsody and Ed sherran, thank you however, I am French-speaking and I speak very little English !!!!!
I'm a native English speaker and I couldn't even tell.
I love that you can clearly tell that she is having a good time also. That's awesome, very efficient and inspiring.
Joy, humility, skill, determination- thank you for modelling these x
I want a piano teacher like her. 💕 So sweet, friendly and makes things look soo easy!
I could just sit here and listen to you play and sing… Beautiful voice. Thank you for this tip sheet.
Thanks for listening!
I'm a 36 year old beginner and I'm working my way through Alfred's Premier Piano Express: 1 & 2. My goal is to first complete those two books, taking it one lesson at a time. If I struggle with a lesson, I repeat it the next day. I'm hoping that by the time I finish, I will have the foundation to keep going. Thank you for such a great piano channel.
Thank you for explaining it so clearly! Cheers for all of the beginners who are struggling to learn piano! We can do it! Keep practicing!
As a muso' since the age of 15 I learnt to play the guitar and within 3 months I began to start playing all the songs I wanted with the help of my teacher. I've joined a band 3 year later and some of my band members were self taught and it shown. They had really bad timing and bad habits anyway it ended up ok.
Now days, I began to learn to play the piano and have been playing it in church for the last 10 years. I only had the chance to pick up chord charts and playing by ear and one of the songs I learnt to play was the instrumental riff of Elton Johns' Blue Eyes. I was so determined I practised and practised till finally one night I got it. If you ever played it you'd know is not easy at first. Today, If I look at the keys while playing I find I make mistakes but when I don't look it comes out perfect. They are quater note chords and must fit in with the timing of the song. Even though I play most songs with my left hand playing mostly octives, I'd like to do something more than octives on the left hand. I write songs and try to use the chordal notes on the left hand but I know there's so much more. When I do a simple blues run with the left hand and pound the chords on the right hand that's fine but to play a melody on the right hand and something different on the left hand I still find it hard.
Keep at it. I experienced a breakthrough a few years ago where suddenly I could play most bass lines rhythmically independent while maintaining a harmonic link to the melody or chord sequence done by the right hand. I suggest running a simple bass line in the left hand and then doing simple improvisations and chord inversions with the right hand. After that is done in the first week or so, try varying the bass line a small amount.
I'm 69 and just starting to learn to play, using my new Roland FP 10. The hand-brain disconnect is right where I'm at! So this was very helpful. hank you!
FP10 is a great keyboard! one of our most recommended!
Good luck John! Keep going, it does get easier gradually...thankfully! :D
John, I’m 63 and started a year ago. I’m having a great time now that I’ve learned not to over-estimate my ability.
Keep at it John I'm doing my grade 6 abrsm exam this year and I'm 50s...hoping to get to grade 8 in another 4 years
@@coloaten6682 Thanks!
I was gifted a piano, today!!! I've started by watching your videos, at age 49 !!! Thank you.
Chord charts are actually the first thing I learned how to play because I was just playing by ear and then my Dad taught me how to build chords (4-3 for Major and 3-4 for minor) and then gave me a broadway fakebook (which has the chord charts in it) and the first song I really properly learned how to play was Part of Your World. :)
I’m a beginner for piano. I have been playing for 1 year, but I have learned by watching others. I learned chords and watch yt vids but I can’t read sheet music well.
@@Isai314 Look into Playground Sessions.
I love that you explained how the brain learns new things by building new pathways. So we need to be patient with ourselves, and not criticize ourselves for how clunky we played today. We need to sleep on it while the brain builds it’s pathway. There is no shortcut, and there is no incompetence. Music requires regular practice, combined with patience! Zen/yoga by the way is helpful for these mindsets.
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Proving a point was one of the reasons I started learning to play the piano a couple of months ago :-). As a teacher of English, I've noticed that speaking a foreign language has a lot in common with playing a musical instrument: both largely rely on automatic skills, i.e. doing things without thinking much about how you're doing them. While speaking, you don't think "Okay, the next word in this sentence has to be a noun preceded by an article..." Likewise, while playing music, you don't tell yourself "Well, hold that G with your ring finger, then play F and D for half a second each". Both speech and music should be produced naturally, which is achieved through a lot of practice, doing the same things over and over again until you can do them without your conscious mind really getting involved. Some adult students become discouraged too soon because they believe that automatic skills can only be acquired in childhood, "while the brain is still fresh and trainable". I decided to test that theory on myself. If I, aged 41, can learn to produce something that resembles music, then learning English in adulthood can't be impossible. As long as you get regular practice.
"something that resembles music" you just gotta love that humbleness.
- although music engages the brain and parts of the brain in unique ways that are not used for other functions such as language --
Anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it and invest tons of time :)
I love your observation. I always remind my piano students that music IS a language and needs to be studied as such. We can't learn a language if we only review it once or twice a week! Notes are like letters or symbols that help us know what the sound will be, the phrase markings are punctuation, etc! I think it's important to see that language connection. 😊
I speak US English as a native. If you held a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you WHY we do English this way or that.
But I'm usually right, so same with music. Lol
This lady is the best 'teacher' I've ever come across - by far. I wish I'd known this fundamental stuff a LONG time ago - I would have been soooo much further forward by now. Thank goodness for this lady and UA-cam!
This made me smile. My son has learned to play "fast car" perfectly on the guitar. He can sing it too. But not both at the same time. I taught him to play it and I had the same problem. It took me months of practice to be able to do both at the same time. I have a friend who can juggle and she suggested that musicians learn to juggle. It apparently trains your limbs to work Independantly and that is what physically connects the brain synapses.
You, my dear, are a phenomenal teacher. Your passion, talent and empathy are magnetic. I’m so glad I went down this UA-cam rabbit hole and found you. Just started playing piano TODAY. Looking forward to more of your content!
To me, the most important takeaway from this video is the difference between practicing and playing. Thanks very much for the lesson!
50 year old guitar player and songwriter trying to ex[and into keyboard/piano, and I really love the simplicity mixed with enthusiasm that you have in your videos. Thanks!
I'm a beginner who has always wanted to learn how to play the piano, I watched a few of your videos so far and they've been super helpful!! thank you! i'll be continuing learning from your videos!
I feel like I hit the jackpot by finding this channel!! THANK YOU!! I used to play about 10 years ago and then life did its thing and now here I am learning to play again! Your videos are THE BEST !!! Can’t thank you enough!!!
I can't believe you're providing this information for free.
If I had had a teacher like you decades ago I would have never stopped playing. I’m not stopping this time! Really enjoy your videos so much!
I’ve been playing off and on for over fifty years, and what you said about trying to chord songs you know was something I’ve never tried. I really have the confidence to play now. I can do more than Hanon and scales ( those are also important), but loving what you’re doing is so important too.
I'm now 38 and always w anted to play music but was never supported as a child but our 8yr old really wants to do keyboard lessons at his school so Santa got him a keyboard and I've been having a go when no one's around. I love Pianote and Lisa's enthusiasm for teaching in a fun way! This is a great channel and it's made learning so much more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. Thanks! :)
Thanks for all your tips Lisa...I took my grade 5 last month and passed...now cracking on with grade 6...I'm in my 50s and hoping to achieve grade 8 before I snuff it :-)
I'm 85 and have been a member of Pianote for a few months. Great way for me to learn. I'm also a commercial brewer, so have a busy week.
I think you are amazing as a teacher. I’m learning so much. I had wanted to give up but your personality breathed new life. Wow. I’m 65 and it’s finally exciting to play.
I really like your videos and your enthusiasm while teaching music. Thank you for the channel, I love it.
You have a great teaching personality. The importance of practice is huge. Deliberate and methodical. You (and your listeners) will thank you.
Ive got about 80hours under my belt. Ive played guitar for about 10years so musically i know what i need to hear but my fingers dont catch up. Its a trip but its constant walking away and returning. This video was very encouraging on every point
I have taken MANY trips by walking away and returning to the piano!! haha
Lisa - you are KILLING IT! Loved this lesson.
And your comments on neural pathways are spot on. Neural plasticity is one of the reasons kids pick things up generally more quickly than adults, particularly those tasks that require eye-hand-brain coordination.
Keep these coming. You have a new fan in the US.
An enthusiastic lesson as always, thank you Lisa - you guys are helping me with my journey back to my keyboard after a 30 year break. I’m determined to learn to play over the winter in this terrible period in all our lives - once again thank you.
GO FOR IT! And have fun !
I just started learning the piano on my own, and this was definitely a helpful video. Thank you! I did want to share an expansion on your description of learning:
The most important factors for being efficient in creating those new pathways are Attention and Joy. If your mind wanders, you will repeatedly create useless, junk pathways that have to be re-made, and joy synergistically keeps you wanting to attempt the skill as well as making it easier to pay attention. Through willpower you can pay attention to something you dislike, but that will be more difficult.
I just started learning Piano. I found the learning of Piano much easier as Tar that I am learning since Years. Thanks for Tips!
I love you personality...you make piano lesson fun and up lifting..Make me feel that my best friend is taking her time to teaching me piano..Love you..
Thanks so much Lisa❗️I’m using so many of your techniques for my students but your EXPLANATIONS really help me explain things in a new light to them....and me too ❗️😊🎵🎶🎼
You may be the most energetic teacher ever. Man with teachers like you, anyone can learn anything, I'm not even talking about your skills which are perfect too.. Definitely following you from now on. Thanks !
Friends have a keyboard stashed at their house taking up space and unused. They asked if I can keep it for them until they
find use for it. I have agreed and made space in my office. So hey my learning to play journey starts tomorrow. Wish me luck. No clue what to expect. 🌴
Think golf: lol. A lot of annoyance and a "learning curve." Haha.
See Don Music on Sesame Street..that's pretty much music school in a nutshell. Lol.
Community or city colleges have very VERY cheap lessons. I'd look into it. Best thing I ever did. Great teachers.
One thing thats held me up for years was perfectionism as well as not leanring as fast as others as well, so I seldom stick to anything long, but I saw a video the other day that said to focus on the goal, not the midstakes, and I think Lisa said that as well about the trail up the mountian, everytime you do it, it will get easier.
I just bought a keyboard 2 days ago and loving it ever since. This video gives me lots of motivation and courage to practice and master the piano. And yeah it is soooooo hard to synchronise our both hands in the beginning!! 😭😭😭😭 hopefully in the next 2 weeks or so i could use them bothhhhhh freelyyy
Same here 😘😂
Hah, same. I have to keep glancing down at my fingers.
Lisa, thank you for your love and enthusiasm. It is great time to learn with teachers like you who are passionate. It is much easier to learn, understand, and what is most important, stay persistant. We live in wonderful time. In the past I has a bit boring way of learning with a teacher playing sad songs. Now it is different. I am 42 and want to learn properly to enjoy life and feed my artistic heart. Today I am buying a 88 keyboar/piano and can’t wait to learn the song you played - Over the rainbow. You are a STAR🌟
Thank you for this.. I'm in my 30s and learning to play the piano now, and yes the 1st point of your hand & brain not coordinating seems so real 🥵.. But thank you for keeping this so real. Your videos really help out a lot to learn better.. A BIG THANK YOU!! 🙏🏽💕
Wow, I'm a person who is typically very stern and serious when learning and (thought!) I responded best with like-minded coaches, teachers, etc. When I first came across your videos, while I really liked the content, I thought there's no way I'll be able to stay focused and learn from such an energetic and effervescent person BUT ... I was so wrong! You're awesome! It's such a treat - and just as effective (for me) - to be learning from you: no stress, no pressure, no critical voices inside my head, etc. Your content and delivery is fantastic - I love it! - your approach to teaching opens up and inspires the creativity in me. Thanks for being out here ... I'm actually learning how to practice and play the piano!!! - Shar 🤗
The absolute main thing I wished I'd learned when I was a kid taking piano lessons was how to play chords in all the keys. While there was nothing wrong with playing the classical music I was assigned, I wanted to play the pop songs I heard on the radio. I'm in my 60s now and I feel like a major door has opened up to me by learning them. Thank you, Pianonote!
This is why we're here!! :)
@@PianoteOfficial Thank you so much!
Thank you sooooo much for this video (and many others)! You really know how to motivate! I've wanted to play the piano ever since I was a kid but my dad wouldn't have it. Had to learn the recorder instead! After nine years playing classical music I didn't really like, I was so fed up with it that I dropped out. Within 3 months I had forgotten even how to read notes!!! Now I'm (nearly) 60 and thought: that's it! Nobody tells you what to do anymore so get up, get yourself a keyboard and start!!! It's a tough journey but so far I'm really liking it. Watching this video I recognize a lot of things but with your videos I'm getting there!!! Thank you so much for all your work and above all the positive energy you know how to transmit even through a video!!
Okay, I just gotta say, thank you! I am loving the video so far and when you showed chords for, "I'm Yours", I just felt like I am right where I need to be in this moment. I've subscribed and am looking forward to learning much more from you.💛
Good advice! Older beginner here. A few thoughts:
1) Like sports, this is an issue of practice. It's hard at first, but it gets easier as you progress. I would know: I took up inline skating as a noob at age 37. I had issues and fell frequently when I was new. I sometimes still fall when I am practicing a new skill. My advice: take it slow and focus more on precision. The speed comes naturally over time.
2) Fwiw, I'm learning on a synth action keyboard, probably 61 keys. Wish it had one more octave's worth of keys, but its features make it worthwhile. I understand that I might have a harder time playing a legit piano. That's okay. I figure it's sort-of the difference between playing electric vs. acoustic guitar. (Electric is easier, and you can get a clean tone that resembles an acoustic on an electric.)
3) Proper posture and stretches probably reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
4) Feel free to take practice breaks to play. We need both to keep up motivation.
Good luck! = )
Your videos have me sooooooo excited to get my first keyboard, which I just ordered. I really want to learn Run for the Roses and maybe some John Denver. Thanks for the inspiration and I’ll be following all your lessons
One observation after 30 days into it. I think mastering dexterity exercises, chord fingerings, and basic progressions are key. Use a metronome. Practice Rythm and Beats.
Study Notes on grandstaff. See how the EGBDF and FACE patterns alternate from line to space over and over. Learn to recognize common chords on the staff.
Set goals: Develop practice routine aligned to goals. I do 1 hour daily so I can make progress quickly. Study theory while not playing. There are no free lunches it takes work.
As someone who just spent 2 months learning the solo from "everglow" by Coldplay, I can confirm step 4
I just started my journey with my $15 keyboard. It has helped me understand my guitar better. I am familiar with frustration and am ready for new hard won neural pathways.
Some of my most imporant lessons:
- Focus on what you're struggling with instead of focusing on what you already can do.
- Analyze a piece before playing. Look for patterns and break it up in sections.
- AVOID always playing from the beginning. This goes back to my first point.
- Mix it up! Technique, pieces, theory, rhythm, listening, improvising.
- Set clear (attainable) goals for short term.
I started out on guitar and now wish I had started on piano (or keyboards). With today's technology, keyboard workstations can create the sound of any instrument on the planet, from drums to woodwinds to brass, to strings...you name it. Kids today should start out on piano, and from there they can explore the sound of a myriad of instruments. Plus, way back when, you couldn't exactly lug a piano around with you to jam at a friends house, but now all you need is a lightweight midi keyboard and a laptop with something like Garage Band.
Obrigado pelo vídeo. Já tem um tempo que comecei a treinar, mas desmotivei pela dificuldade que é aprender esse belíssimo instrumento. Mas seu vídeo me motivou.
Started learning the piano a few weeks ago. It’s a lifelong dream to learn! Thank you Lisa for this opportunity!
The content was so enjoyable and full of learnings thank you for give me a glimer of hope because I almost stop playing and practicing piano because I said that I think that its hard for me to learn but I get some new ideas here that I can apply for me while playing a piano so from now on I have more confident for playing
Very glad this was helpful for you!
I'm simply loving your videos here... not only for the content.. but basically for *you* 🙂 Not being funny (peculiar) 😁 .. but you're so much fun in how you explain topics and I enjoy your enthusiasm.. and how you express your confidence in how your viewers WILL succeed in their efforts. I've seen and dealt with so many on-line/real world teachers/instructors who are so... 'rigid'?... 'traditional'?... I dunno the word... but teaching THAT way is so often such a disincentive... even for someone like me, who is very logical/step-by-step/'by the book' in the way I learn things. incorporating something new into what I already know... but your 'presence' and approaches are much more motivating...
The practicing bit here was really good... but I'd also add a couple of extra steps... One would be to get the 'notes under your fingers' as a 'goal' in the session, so you don't go 'um.. errr..' on a bar, say (don't try and do too much too quickly)... AND once the notes are known (for each hand in turn.. and THEN combined) that's when the metronome comes out. Like we (you) do in a performance, where you play through a mistake, you just 'keep going' with the pulse of the metronome... but the timing element comes after the note knowledge... o'course, that might just be MY way of learning... but I guess it IS decades now since I took official organ lessons, where I also had to deal with foot pedals as well as the individual manuals (keyboards)...(!)
Again, Fanx! a heap for posting these very helpful videos. 😊
I just started learning to play the keyboard and my hands aren't listening to my brain.
Greetings from Wrocław (Poland)
Yeah, it's very frustrating! Good luck......learning the piano is a marathon, not a sprint! :)
Good luck! It is a great journey :D
@@PJ-nh2dc THX
@@coloaten6682 and I'm already out of breath :) THX
You'll get there. You have to bear in mind, that 99.9% of everything we do involves moving one hand at a time. Moving both hands at the same time to perform a task isn't something we're used to.
I started with music at the age of 5. I studied the flute and solfège for many years. I wanted to go to the music conservatory and had to learn how to play the piano. So I started at the age of 16 with the piano. I didn't go to the conservatory because I had a very good flute teacher, but a bad piano teacher. And the stress was taking his toll. I had performance anxiety. And everything went good as long as I didn't have to play in public. I stopped with music for years and picked it up at the age of 30. I have a soft spot for renaisance and baroque music and went back to the roots by learning to play recorder. Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann wrote beautiful music for recorder and I found a very good teacher. For the first time I found someone that really understood what music meant to me. The only thing I had to endure was, that my mentor wasn't always around. I live in Belgium and often he was on tour in America, Japan or somewhere else in the world. Then fate struck. I got a tumor in my hand and during the operation they had to take away my main nerve of my right hand pinky. The surgeon said I would lose feeling in my pinky and ringfinger and the dammage would be permanent. But miracles do happen. I have regained feeling again in my fingers and now I'm turning 50 and my husband bought me a digital Kawai piano for my birthday. Cannot wait to see all your video's and learn to play this instrument. It's been a rollercoaster, but I'm excited.
This is so true!
I've had my piano 6 days now and spent a good few hours learning the first half of moonlight sonata and can play it with relative confidence (once learnt I play it over and over again).
Now I'm learning the second half and it's hard work but it will fall into place eventually and I'm looking forward to playing it as one whole piece.
Having fun while I'm learning and allow myself to explore and play around with chords and making little melodies.
Next I want to learn 'lick my love pump' from spinal tap 😂 as it's such a beautiful arrangement of chords. Love your channel and learning from you all the time, thankyou.
I just started to learn. I’m 64, recently retired and wanted something new to do. This video is quite helpful. Only been at it for a couple of months now. Many times I feel like my brain has fossilized and no messages are getting down to my fingers. Thank you for this advice.
Here's a little more info about learning new skills and the brain, after 25 you stop creating synapses on its own. It can still be done, but you almost have to force it. Kids can get the hang of alot because they're constantly creating new synapses (brain pathways) but us older people, have to make our own because our brains are telling us we're fully developed so it used the energy for something else in your body and mind.
I have ever since I was very young, wanted to play different instruments. At one point, I was even signed up for keyboard practice. It was fun the first few times I went, but the practice at home was horrible. All I had was a small keyboard, not weighted keys and not a very good sound to it either.
Now, my girlfriend had her over 100 year old piano moved into the apartment, to which my interest in instruments got fired up once again.
Went online to find some instructions and found my way to you. Best instructor I've ever heard, you are so great at explaining things, taking your time and not rushing the viewers, and a plus that you sound very adorable. Now it's just a question for me to hang in there and get the practice done while having fun.
Thank you!
I also want to add a big thank you for your videos and how you explain the process. Especially how you explain what fingers play what keys.
Thanks for a very wonderful lesson.
Everything that you mentioned is absolutely correct.
Those were the problem areas that I had difficulty with when I started piano. The really wonderful thing however is this... " you never really stop learning new things. "
As we learn we grow and as we grow we learn !!!
It's an endless cycle that never stops.
Again, Thank YOU !!! 😁😁😁
Thank you for being so honest about the realities of the learning process and showing compassion towards new learners. This truly is of great comfort and encouragement to me and i can imagine to many others also. Some people master certain talents and boast about their greatness, not sharing any of the difficulties or realities of learning they went through. It can make others feel incompetent and useless, especially if they’ve been bullied in the past about failures or set backs. Thanks again for sharing. God bless you
I have my first lesson on Sunday morning, perfect timing! :)
I started at the start of November, I've signed up to Pianote and really enjoying their new Method classes.
Good luck you'll love it.
friday evening
Good luck Jessica, you'll love it! As hard as it seems, it does get easier....promise! One thing I found is not to expect progress too quickly. Give it 3 months before you look at your progress :)
Good luck, stay with it and don’t get discouraged...that’s what happened to me because I thought I should be improving faster than I was. Go at your own pace.
Can we just appreciate how beautiful your singing is
Wow Lisa, what great info, especially on how to practice. I’ve had that question since I started a year ago, but thought I might sound ridiculous asking that. Thank you so much.
So pleased I came across this video. It's made me feel that I'm definitely not on my own & it's given me the confidence to keep on going because I would be so proud to be able to play to my children & grandchildren too👍 Thanks