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I've been a guitar player since I was 9 years old, (I'm now 72.) I also studied theory in college for two years starting in 1971. I also taught guitar over 20 years. That said, I'm just now starting piano. The approach I'm using is repetition. I play each exercise 5-6 times each day. I'm using "Alfred's All-In-One Course" book 1. I also just play around with simple chord patterns. The operative word is, "play." Nothing serious, just try to have fun. Thoughts?
@@tiffcat1100 That's great. Where are you at and how long did it take to get where you are? I started Oct. 3rd and I'm just on page 30, "Jingle Bells." I'm also playing with simple chord progressions.
I'm a beginner, started learning 3 months ago. Was a childhood dream that didn't work and got stuffed in a drawer in the back of my mind. Now I can live it. I play at least every other day for at least an hour. Technique first then repertoire. The theory I am missing, at least beyond what I notice and can understand. Thank you for the great advice! 🤗🤗
16 yrs and i’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano, sadly couldn’t get a teacher so i started teaching myself by also watching your practise videos and others. i’ve been practicing almost every day as much as i can for about a month now, and i’ve improved so much. hand coordination is still challenging, yet i can play fur elise (the original speed as well! both hands), and other songs that i don’t remember the names of. i feel like i’ve improved more than what’s expected for a month, and i honestly don’t think i would’ve come this far in this little amount of time if it wasn’t for your videos. 🙏🏼⭐️
As a begginer my practice usually is like this: 5 minutes of warm-up and Hannon-like exercises 15 minutes of scales, chords and arpeggios (I usually pick up a single key for the day, since I'm still learning the notes and fingerings) 15 minutes of piece A (something new I'm learning) 15 minutes of piece B (something I learned but I'm refining) 10 minutes of theory (usually interval and rhythm recognition drills on dedicated apps and sites) 5 minutes of improv/play (just playing random things and see what sounds good). If I'm in a good mood I might add a piece C to the day (usually like B, one I'm refining) and add extra technique exercises.
I had zero musical training until my 65th year. I was watching Jazer on a You Tube video, I paused the video and went and bought a Digital piano, and have been having a blast for the last 2 and a half years. I do a warm-up routine I learned from Jazer every session, and I "breezed" through John Thompson Volume 1, and was working on Volume 2. I was also doing the first 10 Burgmueller études, which I had transposed into other keys. But I wasn't musical. So I went back to Volume 1, and worked at singing them also. My teachers are impressed with the progress, but I am happy to stay with the level one books until I can play them with ease. Actually, I've gone back to Level 1 several times. One mistake I had done was to try jazz exercises without having a basic baggage. Jason wants to start playing jazz? That will be great, I'm sure he'll be progressing fine. They say that you shouldn't play jazz until you're at a Grade 8, and I agree. I don't like listening to mediocre jazz players. Every musician friend of mine has said to learn from Bach. I'm playing Bach chorales in two voices, and I've transposed Prélude in C Major into all other keys. I've learned the chords, but it isn't ingrained. Merci beaucoup, Jason. You have improved my life. I'm walking in town now and singing! Quietly, but I'm trying.
I started my self tought piano journey this week, I'm on 4th day today. I come across a random piano video about how to read piano notes. I have never gotten an interest in playing or learning any musical instruments before. On that very simple video about the white keys and black keys blew my mind and I binge watch the tutorials. I then bought my very first ever 61 key keyboard the next day. I got so excited that I can now be able to start this journey. But I always have worries on how would I be able to sustain self discipline with this new hobby. And I come across your videos on how to train yourself properly. And on what to focus on my first year in learning piano. Thank you very much for including timelines and what are the expected learnings and lessons for a beginner like me. Today I just learned how to play twinkle twinkle little star 😂 It was so much fun! now I can now flex this to my 6 year old niece😅. I have applied the AAR and will continue to do so as I progress in learning. My goal for my first year is to be able to play River flows in you I love that piece❤. Part on my daily lesson is to watch your videos for reminders and also guide on what to learn. I just learned today about the C Major and of course the twinkle star. I'm excited to learn more about music theory and finger coordination(tho it's very challenging). Thank you very much Jazer for your good high quality content, keep up the good work!!! 😊😊😊
Just got the roadmap. Thank you! I'm learning independently now as an adult after casually taking lessons from my piano teacher relative from age 5 to 10. Really helpful to have a resource to see where I'm at with my varied experience
I started learning piano at age 13 (am now 26) at school and I still remember the very first time I managed to play a “hard” piece (D. Grayman - The Musician) hands together after learning the LH & RH separately off by heart 😂 I’ve just started playing consistently again for the first time in 5 years, and I’m watching your videos to take on the best advice to get back into practicing the most effective way! Thank you!
Oh my god, burn out is so real! It started happening to me once I became intermediate. I had to completely change my learning approach and on top of that the music became much longer than those quick 1-2 minute beginner pieces.
Bertini Etudes ... changing my world!! Also practicing scales, arpeggios, etc. Chords ... still a work in progress. Dipping my toes into Chopin and finding he truly was the original jazz player. Beautiful music, odd and whacky chords. Another great video!!
I’m in my 60’s. I played through HS and college. I lost my purpose and played sporadically for the next 40 years. I’m playing some pieces to engage my aging brain cells. Good advice to integrate variety into our playing. I just wanted to get good at one piece at a time; in my case, Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement. Great channel.
I like to sing while I play and when I’m not singing along, the piano alone can sound pretty bad. So, if I really like the song, I have to learn the vocal melody and incorporate it into the chords. Sometimes that can be difficult. I know I’ve over relied on using my ear and chord sheets instead of learning to sight read sheet music. I’m going to look into etudes. A while ago I learned hand together scales because of this channel and it has made playing so much more enjoyable. I have seven mastered, two in-progress. I can play songs like Lady Madonna now because of the left/right coordination from practicing scales.
I started learning piano after I retired and used my excitement to push me through practice everyday until the excitement wasn't enough. I tried and tried to practice everyday but just wasn't motivated enough because of my slow progress and not feeling like I'm getting anywhere with it. Then one early morning I couldn't sleep so I got up and practiced piano (with headphones). It felt so good that day because the dreaded practice was already done! If I practiced again then that was a bonus! Now I practice every morning from 5 am to around 6 to 6;30. I still feel like I am moving very slowly with my progress so I have lowered the bar to just insuring that I practice for an hour everyday and have been doing that for about two years now. I still don't feel like I can play but at least I'm practicing everyday and hopefully it will click someday and I'll be able to start playing enough to feel good about it. Jazers videos have helped a lot and I have even purchased his hand coordination course which has helped me immensely. I look forward to the piano roadmap PFD. Thank you Jazer.
You are not alone on feeling that you are not getting anywhere with your progress I too feel that way. I am a beginner and there is so much to learn and since we all learn slightly differently it is hard to pin point what and how to practice. It is hard to know when to just move on a bit and when to go back. So you are not alone in this endeavor.
Thank you for another great, inspiring video, Jazer. I'm a 70-year-old, intermediate player (4-1/2 years). I just started with a new teacher, and her teaching style is very similar to yours. I'm excited to keep learning!
Thank you Jazer! I’m really enjoying your channel. Being self taught, or I should say UA-cam taught, I’m finding your videos very useful in helping me focus on ways to improve my playing and advancing my technique and skill in ways that I would not know on my own. I always get something valuable out of your teaching. Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge with us!
I usually practise an fairly easy song each week. Not long, just a minute or two reprise of a song I like made mostly by ear. It keeps me going both with my piano hobby and my life :D One week at a time. Best. Hobby. Ever.
I started music school 4 years ago at age 47, 8 hours per week. Piano lessons and learning all music notes/cords. Finished it last June and got a degree in this. Very proud of it I must say 😁. We learned playing the piano just as you are saying.. Warm up, exercises (mostly études) and a random piano sheet piece of choice. I am so addicted to my piano, I play it every day, whenever I can. Mostly for 1 hour or even a lot more 😊 I have learned to play a New song first hands separately, veeeery slow. Then hands together veeeery slow, with metronome of course. I like to play film music (4 weeks ago I started with Goldfinger) finished it last week. New goal is Musette from J.S. Bach just for technique.... Hope to begin with a new movie song soon, preferable from Interstellar 😁. But I rotate music genres and also love the classical songs like in the Hall of the Mountain King from Edvard Grieg for instance, Bach, Debussy etc.... So much to learn, so many many beautiful songs😁 Your piano tips and tricks help a lot with home studying. Thanks!
I have been learning Piano for 5 years now. I am learning Jazz Improvisation and Composition besides learning Classical music. I practice a few hours a day. I am definitely feeling that time goes by so quickly because there are so many different things to practice! I practice technique, modes, improvisation of pop song chords, repertoire. I am currently working on a Jazz standard Stella By Starlight! And also Le Sapin by Jean Sibelius. So cool you are exploring Jazz too! I want to learn bosa nova as well!!!
Congratulations! You just took your first step on your journey. Something to think about, when you first start the stuff you do isn't very interesting. In fact, at first, you won't think you're going anywhere. Give yourself time to get going. After 6 months go back to page one and remember how hard it was and how easy it is now. That's called progress. Something I always told my guitar students, music is a toy. That's why we say we "play" music, not "work" music. Have fun with it.
Hey Jazer. You make very nice videos. I have been practising piano recently and trying to incorporate the tips you share. Just a request, could you please make a video of counting the notes and easy way to memorise or identify them specially the quavers and semiquavers?
Appreciate this video and I signed up for your guide! I started playing this week so I’ve been quite overwhelmed. I got a question: With the purchase of digital piano I got 3 months of Skoove for free and I think it has helped me a fair amount already. Do you reckon I should keep using the Skoove or do you feel I’m taking the wrong approach as a brand new musician? My intention is to use your guide and do about 30-60 minutes of learning through Skoove daily. Cheers!
I restarted to play about 3 years ago after a long break… try to play daily (in the late evening). Since I am too lazy to focus on exercises and theory I just start with some scales to warm up, then study one or two pieces and at the end play one of my favorite ones. My repertoire includes only pieces that I love but has different genres and levels (currently 11 pieces, the easiest being “The Great Gig in the Sky”, the hardest “Liebeatraum” which is actually way too hard for me but the challenge keeps me motivated 💪)
This is the video I need right now. I've been feeling like I'm getting lost in my practice routine. After watching this video, I am doing a lot of things right, especially within my skill level which is encouraging. I do have a habit though of trying repertoire that is too advanced (for me) and maybe waste too much of time working those out, There are so many pieces I really want to learn to play well, like Schuman's "Tremerei". and can't help myself. It looks easy to play. The melody and chord progressions are easy to figure out but there are some difficult fingering challenges that confound me. I believe there is a benefit from exploring difficult terrain. But I get too obsessed and get bogged down when I should move on to something else. Like parallel scales. Overall, this video tells me that I am doing better than I think but I just need to get more disciplined and consistent. I would probably feel better if I stayed more within my skill level and less on the repertoire that motivates me to grind it out.
Beginner (1-2 years of playing) Focus areas: Reading sheet music, playing short pieces (1-2 pages), learning major and minor chords, and simple scales (C Major, G Major) Daily routine (25 minutes): 5 minutes: Basic scales (C Major, G Major) and finger warm-ups 15 minutes: Practicing pieces and chord practice 5 minutes: Sight reading or music theory analysis Intermediate (3-5 years of playing) Focus areas: More technical work, arpeggios, études, and tackling harder pieces Daily routine (45 minutes): 10 minutes: Scales and arpeggios (working towards mastering 12 major and minor scales) 10 minutes: Exercises (Hanon, Czerny, or études) 25 minutes: Repertoire practice (specific pieces) Advanced (5+ years of playing) Focus areas: Refining repertoire, expanding knowledge, learning new scales and pieces with different techniques Daily routine (1 hour): 15 minutes: Exercises 30 minutes: Repertoire practice 15 minutes: Sight reading or analyzing new pieces
The way I practice is by playing the piano at least 2 to 3 times a week between 30 minutes to 1 hour. And during that time play some basic warmups with both hands, and from there play pieces that I am interested. I am a realist and if it's a piece I have been struggling with for a while, it may be a sign I am not ready for it which pushes me to practice pieces that are a little less difficult but doable. If I am able to play the piece at least 50 percent of it even if it's still somewhat off, I would rotate to other pieces to make my lessons more interesting. That way there's always a new piece I do look forward to in playing and not getting burned out playing the same piece over and over. I would describe myself more of in between beginner to intermediate. Where I am interested learning more is more chord progression, arpeggios, and simple scales. I am able to read music sheet which helps out but of course, with more advance pieces I would write notes on it and study the flow of it.
I really liked being told to rotate around pieces. I have a musical background in violin and voice, so I sight read very well. It’s piano geography and hands and foot coordination at tempo that is really difficult. It can be discouraging work with the metronome to realize how much faster a piece should be and then a total slog to try to get there. It’s also difficult to know how to practice on days when my job as a biochemist has worn me out mentally, but I want to be consistent.
My teacher teaches me on Pomodoro technique. She asked me to rest 5-10mins before going back to every practice. To rest our mind, and hand too. It's very difficult and stressful, especially being a working adult and doing very high grades. Example like me, I can't really play on a daily basis as I have a day job as well. But when I do my practices, sometimes repeating 10-20mins on 1-2 bars to focus on the details, then I take some break and return. But 1 hour is never enough for high grades.
Are you able to explain how to read the chords with both hands in the theory part that you mention in the Bach prelude? I don't know how to begin learning that.
I have a question about reading finger numbers of sheet music. I have a note that indicates 2 finger numbers like this: 2-1. Does that mean use either finger or does it mean switch from 2 to 1 while playing the note? Thanks for your videos, they are useful.
Hi! I just started learning piano. Your advices and videos are very helpful, thank you! Yet one question- when I should start using sustain pedal? Right away or wait with this a bit?
Can you or will you please recommend piano etude books? Perhaps, I should purchase beginner level, as well as intermediate. I'm not a "true" beginner, but perhaps beginning intermediate. ha Thanks! I enjoy your presentations!
I started with a teacher at age 7, and studied formally for the next 10 years. I'm now 66. I had a wonderful but old school teacher (he went to Eastman in the 1920s), who thought theory (beyond the most basic) should wait until college. It is very apparent to me that this is a huge gap in my knowledge, and has held me back. It's as if every piece I approach is an entirely new phenomenon, as I believe I'm missing some vital common threads that could support my learning and memorizing a piece. Can you recommend a good text or web site to help fill in this gap? Thank you for your wonderful tutorials!
Ive been 2 months into piano and uhmm ive been using those synthsia tutorials, but i want to have some tips about how to read notes? And also how to just sight read in general
I've had piano teachers in the past but can't really afford one these days. I would say I am at the intermediate level. My practice is frustrating. Since I'm teaching myself now, I find myself skipping around to too many different pieces whichwinds up with me "kind of" knowing some pieces but not really mastering them. I wind up not spending much if any time on chords and scales and technique. I feel like I need a guide to keep me on track so I can progress as I would like when I had a great teacher.
I really appreciate and believe in your recommendation to play correct notes as I'm learning new pieces. And that's not too problematic when the notes are relatively close to each other so I can feel the relationship between them in my fingers. However, leaps are a different matter - especially if they occur in both hands at the same time. It's not too bad if they're a 5th or less. Beyond that, the movement feels like a "guess", which you've said we should avoid. As a result I routinely make mistakes on such leaps - particularly if they're an octave or more. If it's an isolated leap, I'll look at the keyboard as long as the context allows me to quickly find my place back on the score. Otherwise, I focus on trying to play the leap sections over and over until I get more comfortable with how the leaps feel and reduce the frequency of the mistakes. Any suggestion on how to be more efficient on developing such special awareness regarding leaps? Thank you!
At least for me, it helps on leaps to keep my hands as low to the keys as possible. Which is harder the faster you play. But the lower you are, the less movement and the more consistency
@howno7551 thanks for your response. I agree. When I started taking lessons, my teacher noticed I have this instinctive response to lift my hands during periods of rest and to pull them away from the keyboard altogether if those periods last for a couple of measures or more. I think lifting them higher than necessary for leaps is an extension of this. She routinely emphasized that this is not only unnecessary, it can contribute to errors and fatigue. Just let your fingers/hands rest lightly on the keyboard until you need to move them to play something. I try to focus on this during practice. But there are so many other things to focus on as well, I haven't yet been able to make it "automatic" or "natural".
You can isolate the leap and practice it on repeat slowly and relaxed without having to guess. You may do this daily for not more than 10min and notice the difference after a month.
Hi I'm practicing Beethoven opus 27 I already archive 1st and 2nd mov. I'm now working on the 3rd movement, how many hours can I stay to achieve this before April 2025?
Hello there I have been playing for some 20 years on and off as a hobby, have had lessons for maybe half of that time. I decided to try Beethoven's Pathetique again (used to play it a few years back) but ive realised that my wrist movement/speed limits my playing when it comes to those fast octaves. I have no injuries or anything of the sort, its just that my dominant hand is the right hand, and though i do warm ups, i dont have good exercises for wrist movement. Do you have any tips?
I never do more than 30 mins. Beyond that my concentration would just drop and when I stop at a time I really enjoy it I always have motivation later to practice. If you practice to exhaustion then that feeling will stick and will be difficult to go back to it. I'd definitely advise against long practice sessions. You can easily do 1.5hrs a day by three times 30 mins. Yasha Heifez said he never practiced on Sundays which I'd also recommend but I personally find it difficult to not play one day a week. I would add that you'd need some kind of ear training exercise. You need to be able to hear the changes in music and not just recognise them from the sheet music. Question to Jazer: Practice exercises are phenomenally boring and lots of the etudes are no better. Are the Mozart sonatas a good alternative? I read that Mozart wrote them for his students to practice and only the concertos were written for performance.
Hi Jaser, I'm 43 and I started learning piano two years ago, but after less than one year I had to stop to take lessons for a while. I thought it would have been only for a short period, but the time passed and I wasn't able to restart. I feel stuck and I've lost motivation, but I really want to learn to play, I don't know how to do to begin again. I think it could be because I'm not able to play the pieces that I'd like to play, and I find the practice for my level too much boring. How can I do?
The issue with hanon and other similar characters dc exercises is that they don’t give you better technique but reenforce it; meaning if you play it with ya bad technique that’s going be even worse that not dining it. Many tienes with don’t know the technique for that exercises
I'm feeling a bit burned out right now. It's a combination of not being able to go further because I only have a 61 key keyboard that's in rough shape. I wore it down. I also can't finish my composition. Inflation is pretty bad where I live (Canada) so advancement has been halted because I haven't been able to replace my keyboard yet. I was told what I would need for my level. (Digital piano) I do the best that I can on my current keyboard, though. I don't want to lose the muscle memory, etc. Another frustration is not having a special needs music teacher. There isn't one near me.
Get my FREE “Essential Piano Roadmap” guide to help you find the perfect piece to play next by signing up on the link below. 😊
courses.jazerleepiano.com/ep-roadmap/
Thank you, Jazer. 🙂
I did as soon as this video ended and got your e-mail.
@@jazerleepiano I did! 🤗
I've been a guitar player since I was 9 years old, (I'm now 72.) I also studied theory in college for two years starting in 1971. I also taught guitar over 20 years. That said, I'm just now starting piano. The approach I'm using is repetition. I play each exercise 5-6 times each day. I'm using "Alfred's All-In-One Course" book 1. I also just play around with simple chord patterns. The operative word is, "play." Nothing serious, just try to have fun. Thoughts?
I’m working with this book too since it was mentioned on here, find it v good & book 2 is on my Amazon wait list ❤
@@tiffcat1100 That's great. Where are you at and how long did it take to get where you are? I started Oct. 3rd and I'm just on page 30, "Jingle Bells." I'm also playing with simple chord progressions.
I found it refreshing to see a person of your skill level spending 20 minutes on 2 bars. This video reminds me to get some more structure. Good stuff!
Thanks!😉
I'm a beginner, started learning 3 months ago. Was a childhood dream that didn't work and got stuffed in a drawer in the back of my mind. Now I can live it. I play at least every other day for at least an hour. Technique first then repertoire. The theory I am missing, at least beyond what I notice and can understand. Thank you for the great advice! 🤗🤗
16 yrs and i’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano, sadly couldn’t get a teacher so i started teaching myself by also watching your practise videos and others. i’ve been practicing almost every day as much as i can for about a month now, and i’ve improved so much. hand coordination is still challenging, yet i can play fur elise (the original speed as well! both hands), and other songs that i don’t remember the names of. i feel like i’ve improved more than what’s expected for a month, and i honestly don’t think i would’ve come this far in this little amount of time if it wasn’t for your videos. 🙏🏼⭐️
That's great to hear! I am glad my videos helped you. Keep going. 😊
As a begginer my practice usually is like this:
5 minutes of warm-up and Hannon-like exercises
15 minutes of scales, chords and arpeggios (I usually pick up a single key for the day, since I'm still learning the notes and fingerings)
15 minutes of piece A (something new I'm learning)
15 minutes of piece B (something I learned but I'm refining)
10 minutes of theory (usually interval and rhythm recognition drills on dedicated apps and sites)
5 minutes of improv/play (just playing random things and see what sounds good).
If I'm in a good mood I might add a piece C to the day (usually like B, one I'm refining) and add extra technique exercises.
Thanks for this list. I will look into it after dinner. Please keep me updated with changes and so on.
I had zero musical training until my 65th year. I was watching Jazer on a You Tube video, I paused the video and went and bought a Digital piano, and have been having a blast for the last 2 and a half years. I do a warm-up routine I learned from Jazer every session, and I "breezed" through John Thompson Volume 1, and was working on Volume 2. I was also doing the first 10 Burgmueller études, which I had transposed into other keys.
But I wasn't musical. So I went back to Volume 1, and worked at singing them also. My teachers are impressed with the progress, but I am happy to stay with the level one books until I can play them with ease. Actually, I've gone back to Level 1 several times.
One mistake I had done was to try jazz exercises without having a basic baggage. Jason wants to start playing jazz? That will be great, I'm sure he'll be progressing fine. They say that you shouldn't play jazz until you're at a Grade 8, and I agree. I don't like listening to mediocre jazz players. Every musician friend of mine has said to learn from Bach. I'm playing Bach chorales in two voices, and I've transposed Prélude in C Major into all other keys. I've learned the chords, but it isn't ingrained.
Merci beaucoup, Jason. You have improved my life. I'm walking in town now and singing! Quietly, but I'm trying.
I started my self tought piano journey this week, I'm on 4th day today. I come across a random piano video about how to read piano notes. I have never gotten an interest in playing or learning any musical instruments before. On that very simple video about the white keys and black keys blew my mind and I binge watch the tutorials. I then bought my very first ever 61 key keyboard the next day. I got so excited that I can now be able to start this journey. But I always have worries on how would I be able to sustain self discipline with this new hobby. And I come across your videos on how to train yourself properly. And on what to focus on my first year in learning piano. Thank you very much for including timelines and what are the expected learnings and lessons for a beginner like me. Today I just learned how to play twinkle twinkle little star 😂 It was so much fun! now I can now flex this to my 6 year old niece😅. I have applied the AAR and will continue to do so as I progress in learning. My goal for my first year is to be able to play River flows in you I love that piece❤. Part on my daily lesson is to watch your videos for reminders and also guide on what to learn. I just learned today about the C Major and of course the twinkle star. I'm excited to learn more about music theory and finger coordination(tho it's very challenging). Thank you very much Jazer for your good high quality content, keep up the good work!!! 😊😊😊
Just got the roadmap. Thank you! I'm learning independently now as an adult after casually taking lessons from my piano teacher relative from age 5 to 10. Really helpful to have a resource to see where I'm at with my varied experience
I started learning piano at age 13 (am now 26) at school and I still remember the very first time I managed to play a “hard” piece (D. Grayman - The Musician) hands together after learning the LH & RH separately off by heart 😂 I’ve just started playing consistently again for the first time in 5 years, and I’m watching your videos to take on the best advice to get back into practicing the most effective way! Thank you!
Oh my god, burn out is so real! It started happening to me once I became intermediate. I had to completely change my learning approach and on top of that the music became much longer than those quick 1-2 minute beginner pieces.
Bertini Etudes ... changing my world!! Also practicing scales, arpeggios, etc. Chords ... still a work in progress. Dipping my toes into Chopin and finding he truly was the original jazz player. Beautiful music, odd and whacky chords. Another great video!!
I’m in my 60’s. I played through HS and college. I lost my purpose and played sporadically for the next 40 years. I’m playing some pieces to engage my aging brain cells. Good advice to integrate variety into our playing. I just wanted to get good at one piece at a time; in my case, Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement. Great channel.
Thanks! This lesson is priceless !!!
Pls continue to do what you are doing 🙏🏼❤
Thank you! 😊
I like to sing while I play and when I’m not singing along, the piano alone can sound pretty bad. So, if I really like the song, I have to learn the vocal melody and incorporate it into the chords. Sometimes that can be difficult. I know I’ve over relied on using my ear and chord sheets instead of learning to sight read sheet music. I’m going to look into etudes. A while ago I learned hand together scales because of this channel and it has made playing so much more enjoyable. I have seven mastered, two in-progress. I can play songs like Lady Madonna now because of the left/right coordination from practicing scales.
I love the Pomodoro technique, - I find it really helps me focus and achieve on small parts of my pieces that I struggle with.
Hey Jazer, love this video! Thank you! Please could you do a video on how to relax tense hands and arms?
I started learning piano after I retired and used my excitement to push me through practice everyday until the excitement wasn't enough. I tried and tried to practice everyday but just wasn't motivated enough because of my slow progress and not feeling like I'm getting anywhere with it. Then one early morning I couldn't sleep so I got up and practiced piano (with headphones). It felt so good that day because the dreaded practice was already done! If I practiced again then that was a bonus! Now I practice every morning from 5 am to around 6 to 6;30. I still feel like I am moving very slowly with my progress so I have lowered the bar to just insuring that I practice for an hour everyday and have been doing that for about two years now. I still don't feel like I can play but at least I'm practicing everyday and hopefully it will click someday and I'll be able to start playing enough to feel good about it. Jazers videos have helped a lot and I have even purchased his hand coordination course which has helped me immensely. I look forward to the piano roadmap PFD. Thank you Jazer.
You are not alone on feeling that you are not getting anywhere with your progress I too feel that way. I am a beginner and there is so much to learn and since we all learn slightly differently it is hard to pin point what and how to practice. It is hard to know when to just move on a bit and when to go back. So you are not alone in this endeavor.
@@marciahorton2203 Thank you for your support it means a lot. Gives me some hope to know that I'm not the only one.
@@rogerparker8380 your welcome, we can do this, little by little
This video is absolutely brillant and so useful. Thank you so much for all your help and advices❤
Thank you, so enjoy your wisdom !!!!
Thank you for another great, inspiring video, Jazer. I'm a 70-year-old, intermediate player (4-1/2 years). I just started with a new teacher, and her teaching style is very similar to yours. I'm excited to keep learning!
Thank you Jazer! I’m really enjoying your channel. Being self taught, or I should say UA-cam taught, I’m finding your videos very useful in helping me focus on ways to improve my playing and advancing my technique and skill in ways that I would not know on my own. I always get something valuable out of your teaching. Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge with us!
Thank you for your support! 😊
I usually practise an fairly easy song each week. Not long, just a minute or two reprise of a song I like made mostly by ear. It keeps me going both with my piano hobby and my life :D One week at a time. Best. Hobby. Ever.
I started music school 4 years ago at age 47, 8 hours per week. Piano lessons and learning all music notes/cords. Finished it last June and got a degree in this. Very proud of it I must say 😁. We learned playing the piano just as you are saying.. Warm up, exercises (mostly études) and a random piano sheet piece of choice. I am so addicted to my piano, I play it every day, whenever I can. Mostly for 1 hour or even a lot more 😊 I have learned to play a New song first hands separately, veeeery slow. Then hands together veeeery slow, with metronome of course. I like to play film music (4 weeks ago I started with Goldfinger) finished it last week. New goal is Musette from J.S. Bach just for technique.... Hope to begin with a new movie song soon, preferable from Interstellar 😁. But I rotate music genres and also love the classical songs like in the Hall of the Mountain King from Edvard Grieg for instance, Bach, Debussy etc.... So much to learn, so many many beautiful songs😁
Your piano tips and tricks help a lot with home studying. Thanks!
I've been getting my students to play Sonatinas. But after watching this, I reckon Etudes is a good way to go too. Thanks Jazer.
I have been learning Piano for 5 years now. I am learning Jazz Improvisation and Composition besides learning Classical music. I practice a few hours a day. I am definitely feeling that time goes by so quickly because there are so many different things to practice! I practice technique, modes, improvisation of pop song chords, repertoire. I am currently working on a Jazz standard Stella By Starlight! And also Le Sapin by Jean Sibelius. So cool you are exploring Jazz too! I want to learn bosa nova as well!!!
Great information Jazer! Effort + Consistency + Time = SUCCESS! Your presentation is excellent. Many thanks for posting.
You're welcome! :)
I started playing Keyboard yesterday. Im glad i found this Video
Congratulations! You just took your first step on your journey. Something to think about, when you first start the stuff you do isn't very interesting. In fact, at first, you won't think you're going anywhere. Give yourself time to get going. After 6 months go back to page one and remember how hard it was and how easy it is now. That's called progress. Something I always told my guitar students, music is a toy. That's why we say we "play" music, not "work" music. Have fun with it.
@jimvandemoter6961 Ty ty Mr
I will keep that in mind
Spot-on recommendations. I do practically everything that you recommended. It does make a huge difference on progress!
Hey Jazer. You make very nice videos. I have been practising piano recently and trying to incorporate the tips you share. Just a request, could you please make a video of counting the notes and easy way to memorise or identify them specially the quavers and semiquavers?
Also can learn theory and analyze musics outside practice. Recommend when learn scale practice 2+ octaves for help 'feel' each scale.
Maestro Jazer: as an eternal beginner I thank you for your very useful advices. Un abrazo desde La Palma.
Appreciate this video and I signed up for your guide! I started playing this week so I’ve been quite overwhelmed.
I got a question: With the purchase of digital piano I got 3 months of Skoove for free and I think it has helped me a fair amount already. Do you reckon I should keep using the Skoove or do you feel I’m taking the wrong approach as a brand new musician? My intention is to use your guide and do about 30-60 minutes of learning through Skoove daily.
Cheers!
I restarted to play about 3 years ago after a long break… try to play daily (in the late evening). Since I am too lazy to focus on exercises and theory I just start with some scales to warm up, then study one or two pieces and at the end play one of my favorite ones. My repertoire includes only pieces that I love but has different genres and levels (currently 11 pieces, the easiest being “The Great Gig in the Sky”, the hardest “Liebeatraum” which is actually way too hard for me but the challenge keeps me motivated 💪)
Great approach, I'm going to implement these concepts. Thanks for posting!
Thank you
Bossa nova from Brazil ❤
This is the video I need right now. I've been feeling like I'm getting lost in my practice routine. After watching this video, I am doing a lot of things right, especially within my skill level which is encouraging. I do have a habit though of trying repertoire that is too advanced (for me) and maybe waste too much of time working those out, There are so many pieces I really want to learn to play well, like Schuman's "Tremerei". and can't help myself. It looks easy to play. The melody and chord progressions are easy to figure out but there are some difficult fingering challenges that confound me. I believe there is a benefit from exploring difficult terrain. But I get too obsessed and get bogged down when I should move on to something else. Like parallel scales. Overall, this video tells me that I am doing better than I think but I just need to get more disciplined and consistent. I would probably feel better if I stayed more within my skill level and less on the repertoire that motivates me to grind it out.
Beginner (1-2 years of playing)
Focus areas: Reading sheet music, playing short pieces (1-2 pages), learning major and minor chords, and simple scales (C Major, G Major)
Daily routine (25 minutes):
5 minutes: Basic scales (C Major, G Major) and finger warm-ups
15 minutes: Practicing pieces and chord practice
5 minutes: Sight reading or music theory analysis
Intermediate (3-5 years of playing)
Focus areas: More technical work, arpeggios, études, and tackling harder pieces
Daily routine (45 minutes):
10 minutes: Scales and arpeggios (working towards mastering 12 major and minor scales)
10 minutes: Exercises (Hanon, Czerny, or études)
25 minutes: Repertoire practice (specific pieces)
Advanced (5+ years of playing)
Focus areas: Refining repertoire, expanding knowledge, learning new scales and pieces with different techniques
Daily routine (1 hour):
15 minutes: Exercises
30 minutes: Repertoire practice
15 minutes: Sight reading or analyzing new pieces
please can you upload on how I can play a song without looking at chords?? How can I improve my dynamics with that?
Amazing advice & a great video! Looking forward to the piano roadmap book!
Good stuff as always, thanks.
The way I practice is by playing the piano at least 2 to 3 times a week between 30 minutes to 1 hour. And during that time play some basic warmups with both hands, and from there play pieces that I am interested. I am a realist and if it's a piece I have been struggling with for a while, it may be a sign I am not ready for it which pushes me to practice pieces that are a little less difficult but doable.
If I am able to play the piece at least 50 percent of it even if it's still somewhat off, I would rotate to other pieces to make my lessons more interesting. That way there's always a new piece I do look forward to in playing and not getting burned out playing the same piece over and over. I would describe myself more of in between beginner to intermediate. Where I am interested learning more is more chord progression, arpeggios, and simple scales. I am able to read music sheet which helps out but of course, with more advance pieces I would write notes on it and study the flow of it.
I love your videos! Content and and your enthusiasm, Jazer❤
I really liked being told to rotate around pieces. I have a musical background in violin and voice, so I sight read very well. It’s piano geography and hands and foot coordination at tempo that is really difficult. It can be discouraging work with the metronome to realize how much faster a piece should be and then a total slog to try to get there. It’s also difficult to know how to practice on days when my job as a biochemist has worn me out mentally, but I want to be consistent.
My teacher teaches me on Pomodoro technique. She asked me to rest 5-10mins before going back to every practice. To rest our mind, and hand too. It's very difficult and stressful, especially being a working adult and doing very high grades. Example like me, I can't really play on a daily basis as I have a day job as well. But when I do my practices, sometimes repeating 10-20mins on 1-2 bars to focus on the details, then I take some break and return. But 1 hour is never enough for high grades.
Thank you so much
Brilliant
Very inspiring Jezer.
Are you able to explain how to read the chords with both hands in the theory part that you mention in the Bach prelude? I don't know how to begin learning that.
Thanks man ❤
I have a question about reading finger numbers of sheet music. I have a note that indicates 2 finger numbers like this: 2-1. Does that mean use either finger or does it mean switch from 2 to 1 while playing the note? Thanks for your videos, they are useful.
Hi! I just started learning piano. Your advices and videos are very helpful, thank you! Yet one question- when I should start using sustain pedal? Right away or wait with this a bit?
Can you or will you please recommend piano etude books? Perhaps, I should purchase beginner level, as well as intermediate. I'm not a "true" beginner, but perhaps beginning intermediate. ha Thanks! I enjoy your presentations!
I started with a teacher at age 7, and studied formally for the next 10 years. I'm now 66. I had a wonderful but old school teacher (he went to Eastman in the 1920s), who thought theory (beyond the most basic) should wait until college. It is very apparent to me that this is a huge gap in my knowledge, and has held me back. It's as if every piece I approach is an entirely new phenomenon, as I believe I'm missing some vital common threads that could support my learning and memorizing a piece. Can you recommend a good text or web site to help fill in this gap? Thank you for your wonderful tutorials!
Ive been 2 months into piano and uhmm ive been using those synthsia tutorials, but i want to have some tips about how to read notes? And also how to just sight read in general
Love from Israel ❤
I've had piano teachers in the past but can't really afford one these days. I would say I am at the intermediate level. My practice is frustrating. Since I'm teaching myself now, I find myself skipping around to too many different pieces whichwinds up with me "kind of" knowing some pieces but not really mastering them. I wind up not spending much if any time on chords and scales and technique. I feel like I need a guide to keep me on track so I can progress as I would like when I had a great teacher.
As a beginner working my way through a method book, how would that fit into this routine?
I really appreciate and believe in your recommendation to play correct notes as I'm learning new pieces. And that's not too problematic when the notes are relatively close to each other so I can feel the relationship between them in my fingers. However, leaps are a different matter - especially if they occur in both hands at the same time. It's not too bad if they're a 5th or less. Beyond that, the movement feels like a "guess", which you've said we should avoid. As a result I routinely make mistakes on such leaps - particularly if they're an octave or more. If it's an isolated leap, I'll look at the keyboard as long as the context allows me to quickly find my place back on the score. Otherwise, I focus on trying to play the leap sections over and over until I get more comfortable with how the leaps feel and reduce the frequency of the mistakes. Any suggestion on how to be more efficient on developing such special awareness regarding leaps? Thank you!
At least for me, it helps on leaps to keep my hands as low to the keys as possible. Which is harder the faster you play. But the lower you are, the less movement and the more consistency
@howno7551 thanks for your response. I agree. When I started taking lessons, my teacher noticed I have this instinctive response to lift my hands during periods of rest and to pull them away from the keyboard altogether if those periods last for a couple of measures or more. I think lifting them higher than necessary for leaps is an extension of this. She routinely emphasized that this is not only unnecessary, it can contribute to errors and fatigue. Just let your fingers/hands rest lightly on the keyboard until you need to move them to play something. I try to focus on this during practice. But there are so many other things to focus on as well, I haven't yet been able to make it "automatic" or "natural".
You can isolate the leap and practice it on repeat slowly and relaxed without having to guess. You may do this daily for not more than 10min and notice the difference after a month.
@@cesardiezv thank you for that recommendation. I'll give it a try.
Could you make a video on the piano vision app for meta quest? Idk if I use this for practice will be beneficial long term or not
Hi I'm practicing Beethoven opus 27 I already archive 1st and 2nd mov. I'm now working on the 3rd movement, how many hours can I stay to achieve this before April 2025?
thank you so much i’m learning piano and i’m self taught but tutorials always help me, and of course piano lesson books 🫶
Hello there
I have been playing for some 20 years on and off as a hobby, have had lessons for maybe half of that time. I decided to try Beethoven's Pathetique again (used to play it a few years back) but ive realised that my wrist movement/speed limits my playing when it comes to those fast octaves. I have no injuries or anything of the sort, its just that my dominant hand is the right hand, and though i do warm ups, i dont have good exercises for wrist movement. Do you have any tips?
I never do more than 30 mins. Beyond that my concentration would just drop and when I stop at a time I really enjoy it I always have motivation later to practice. If you practice to exhaustion then that feeling will stick and will be difficult to go back to it. I'd definitely advise against long practice sessions. You can easily do 1.5hrs a day by three times 30 mins. Yasha Heifez said he never practiced on Sundays which I'd also recommend but I personally find it difficult to not play one day a week. I would add that you'd need some kind of ear training exercise. You need to be able to hear the changes in music and not just recognise them from the sheet music.
Question to Jazer: Practice exercises are phenomenally boring and lots of the etudes are no better. Are the Mozart sonatas a good alternative? I read that Mozart wrote them for his students to practice and only the concertos were written for performance.
Hi Jaser, I'm 43 and I started learning piano two years ago, but after less than one year I had to stop to take lessons for a while. I thought it would have been only for a short period, but the time passed and I wasn't able to restart. I feel stuck and I've lost motivation, but I really want to learn to play, I don't know how to do to begin again. I think it could be because I'm not able to play the pieces that I'd like to play, and I find the practice for my level too much boring. How can I do?
Also what is the bossa nova piece? 2:21
I hope this works. Been trying to learn for six years now, and there's at least one mistake in everything I play no matter how easy it is
Thank you
Still beginning 2 weeks right here 😅
Brother what was the name of the Bossa song.. :(
Does anyone know the name of the bossa song
why when i watch jazer lee i watch a little and ignore the video then back to piano
The issue with hanon and other similar characters dc exercises is that they don’t give you better technique but reenforce it; meaning if you play it with ya bad technique that’s going be even worse that not dining it. Many tienes with don’t know the technique for that exercises
yaas qweeeen slayyy
I'm feeling a bit burned out right now. It's a combination of not being able to go further because I only have a 61 key keyboard that's in rough shape. I wore it down. I also can't finish my composition.
Inflation is pretty bad where I live (Canada) so advancement has been halted because I haven't been able to replace my keyboard yet. I was told what I would need for my level. (Digital piano)
I do the best that I can on my current keyboard, though. I don't want to lose the muscle memory, etc.
Another frustration is not having a special needs music teacher. There isn't one near me.
Please play , you talk too much 😢
It is a teaching video. Many out there. If you don't like his style, find another tutorial you like..
Thanks bro. You just won a subscriber. I am a Piano Teacher too. I'll private chat for more resources. Thanks again