What do you find challenging about practicing piano?

Practice caused me some great anger issues XD

Since I downloaded this video, I’ve watched it countless times. Whenever I feel like giving up or feeling frustrated I just come back to watch this video to get activated or should I say motivated. Thanks Jazer Lee, you are my online mentor. I don’t have a tutor. You are amazing 🤗🥰

This guy is awesome and, most importantly, doesn't begin his videos with 'WHAT'S UP, GUYS'

Practice slowly is key even the big names practice slowly. As we were taught in school speed develops on its own. As Howard Roberts would tell students.... When you make mistakes practicing, you are practicing making mistakes.

Beginner (3 months) I started learning piano on my own reading/playing is a big challenge & joy. There’s so much to learn. I’m 70 years old & looking forward on playing classic music. Thank you for your guidance.🎼

Lol I struggle so much with practicing slowly. I remember hearing a Chinese proverb saying “you have to learn to walk before you run” and hearing that reminds me of how I keep trying to “run before I walk”

How to practice is an art in itself and I think you have the right answer--I can't believe that in all my piano practice no one ever told me to practice with each hand separately! What a concept!!! I have been taking all your suggestions to heart and can't believe how well they are paying off and further I am beginning to love and look forward to my practice sessions whereas before I dreaded them. Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and your videos!!!!

You have helped me so much! I never really thought about setting practice goals, and I always tried to learn both hands together. I'm really starting to look forward to my daily practice! Thanks for your great videos!

Thank-you, just about exactly what I've been doing + will keep on doing, step by step. 🔆 Tks again !! 🙂

God bless you Jazer really you have a big heart to give us so many information. You have reached Greece thank you so much

Jazer, you are a great teacher and speak very clear... Than you very much! Regards from Uruguay 😘

I really hope your channel gets recognized and get alot more views on each video. You are awesome, thanks for all the great advice :)

I would even buy an online course by you! I invested in one that is ok but nothing like a “real” teacher like yourself! You are so professional! I am a beginner at age 70. It had been a lifelong dream to play and you inspire me!!

Watching this again, just to pick up your tips which are always helpful. I have been practicing one key each day recently, but learning everything I can about the scale. I'll start on each key of the scale to learn modes. I'm playing it along with it's relative minor for harmonics. And I've started learning the harmonic and melodic minor of each scale.

You re absolutely right. Thank you.👏👏👏👏

Thank you Jazer! Brilliant video and I hope to get my practice of scales and tunes up to speed soon! Loving your videos! Have a great day! 👍🏻

These are great tips for being productive in pretty much any area of life! Phone away, set goals, take your time. Totally agree. I think you need to add on (for piano practice anyway) 'break down problems to the smallest component'. In order to progress beyond slow practice I need to find where the actual issue is - hands coordination, an awkward jump, a mental block etc - and fix that before adding on the notes before or after.

I totally agree and appreciate everything you said EXCEPT that in most situations I think I learn pieces better and sooner the earlier I put my hands together. I learned this at a piano teaching conference and it’s true! Especially the sticky parts of inventions and fugues where, sure, I learned hand separately, but getting those hands together SUPER SLOWLY as soon as possible meant that I was learning it together sooner. Those particular pieces happened to be so easy hand separately I could pretty much sight read them. Getting them together is when the real practice started for me. Just a thought!

You are a good teacher. I love the slow concept to learning, which simply is the natural way to absorb and retain mental records. Thank you.

It was no accident that I ran into this page..your concepts are awesome..your approach is impeccable..every video I've seen is very informative..

Yes, you are right all the way for these tips......we/I need just to remember these advises and refrain to reach the end of the music sheet.......Thank you Jazer....

Thank you for these great tips!

I'M WATCHING YOUR VIDS AND THEYRE ALL REALLY HELPFUL! THANK YOU!

One hand at a time! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for all of the great instructional videos! I just shared this one in several of my group lessons today, and it inspired some excellent conversations with my Teens and Tweens. I think it is awesome that they are hearing the same advice from you that I’ve been telling them for years! :) I’ll be sharing more with them in the coming months.

Tks your recommends, Jazer! ❤🎉👍🌹

You’re the best teacher

Olá, Jazer! Como vai? Não pare de fazer os vídeos, porque eles são muito bom e estão me ajudando. Obrigado e abraços de um jovem brasileiro apaixonado por piano 🇧🇷

These really helped me, now I can hopefully improve more!

Jazer, as a piano (and voice) teacher, I like the advice you give to aspiring pianists. Piano is a second vocation for me, and I am practicing difficult Chopin. It is very important to do small sections, master them, and practice them slowly at first. Thank you. xoxo

Practice with Intention...LoVED it... Thanks Jazer...

I sometimes try to learn a new piece and play it to fast. The part of this video that struck a chord for me was starting a new piece slow and separate the hands before playing together. Such good advice. Thank you.

I am an adult learner recently started. Your tips are motivating. Thanks Jazer.

Thanks for your great videos, being a learn by yourself student, I have been able to correct many errors. Following you has helped me to play more music correctly. May God bless you.

Thank you for your recommendation

Thanks so much Jazer. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Love the way you explain things

Great video! Honestly you give such good advice and I really cant wait to start implementing your advice.

Awesome feedback Jazer. I do exactly what you just said coz i jump from one song to another song and never learnt anything so now I will keep your advice* practice right hand first once got the hang of it then practice the left hand. thank you x

Thank you for your videos, they're short enough to watch anytime but packed full of great information. My biggest struggle is expecting too much too soon, I get disheartened when I can't play something that sounds impressive, straight away. Goal setting and patience should help me out with that, though.

I like the idea of working on at least one song which is a level or two up from your current playing ability. This pushes your brain and your muscle memory to strive beyond the comfortable. I find that my forearms ache when I'm learning a new piece, to me, it indicates I'm pushing myself up to the next level. I think your advice here is rock solid and I will apply it to my learning. Thank You ;)

Jazzer is an absolute pleasure to learn from. I’m sooooo happy I found him on KZfaq.

Definately will recommend your vidoes to my friends! 😃

I think what is important too, is that one focuses on phrasing and control even from the beginning too. Because later one most of the work comes to get the right dynamics and phrasing for a piece. This will need way longer than actually just getting to play the right notes. What you said is mostly true for complete beginners, later the time is mostly used for just dynamics and phrasing.

Hi Im starting to learn after age of 42 by myself using Alfred's piano couse. Hopefully will get a teacher next year when covid gets better... I just love practicing and the feeling I get when I see progress. Hanon is not my favorite practing, but your video helped. For me, I dont like to practice when I dont like the song.

Very helpful thanks!

Very helpful video! Currently learning clair de lune (as a beginner) and completed the 1st page in about 4 hours (separate sessions)

Sounds like excellent advice!

This is great information.

A lot of good information. Will take this on board. Thanks.

Thank you for you very helpful videos Love to make a donatoin to you for these helpful videos

Such great tips! Thanks 😊

Stupendous Jazer. Thanks.

i used to watch your videos and take your tips for at least last 6 months but in the last 2 months or so i stopped watching your videos and started taking tips from another youtube channel and my productivity dropped at least 70% so i have to say you have the best content and are the best online mentor out there. keep going.

Great video!

Thank you! Great information for my brain: practice slowly with intention and without smartphone... ;-)

Thanks. I am starting piano again after I got my mom's after she died. Putting the right and left hands together us the most challenging. I like your tips.

Thank you! I find it quite challenging moving beyond slow practice and playing the pieces up to tempo, but I guess I just have to be patient 😊

Thank you ,Jazer, for your sound advices. I am learning a lot from you. If you would please give some tips on how to practice thrills and ornaments.

Tumbalalaika piece. Ok I will try play it slowly adagio. Thank sir for the info.

Thanks for the wonderful video.

thank you. great

I'm learning the organ now, and I really need to work on that 3rd tip you gave and not go down on all 4s at once. Baby steps!

Finding the time to focus is the hardest one, i started learning piano last year, when i was 38 yrs old, i managed to play a piece Doraemon theme song which is pretty good and taught my little one to play that one too. The key is to find your inner drive and focus. And not practise too long for each session. You are absolutely right, focus, and slow and consistent is the key.

You are my inspiration

Thank you! I always going fast. Will try to slow down and play every hand separately.

You are the best sir

I use my phone to record my playing (sitting on the side facing keyboard) so hard to put it away. I am a adult piano hobbyist who rely on KZfaq lectures such as yours. Thank you Very much.

Your videos are really very helpful. Thanks lot for sharing the knowledge and information 😊 Could you please make a video on understanding developing accompaniment skills in piano Thankyou

MGA I think piano is a great instrument to learn. It produces marvellous music and it does not provide bad moments. Everything in it its just awesome. I am retired and learning piano. I hope I can catch up and improve as much as possible

Great advises! I am piano teacher too and it's the same kind of things I suggest my students to do.

1. get away from internet > you will get distracted 2. set specific goals > short terms goals, or long terms goals 3. practice with intention > understand why you are practicing or what you can practice, that has something to do with your goals 4. practice slowly > little bit by little bit, step by step > practice with your hands separeted first and then try to put it them both together

The hands separate rule works for most pieces. Some people claim that there are some complicated pieces by Rachmaninoff that would be better played with both hands from the beginning because the melody and harmonies crossover between both hands. Normally we assume that the melody is on the R and the accompaniment is on the L. The 1 question that gets debated a lot is whether people should be playing at their level all the time or try to figure out pieces above their level. When it comes to sight-reading, most teacher would agree that you read slightly below your playing level until you're comfortable and work your way up. Not everybody agrees you should struggle learning a difficult piece than playing something at your level. On the other hand, once you mastered a piece slightly above your level, you've pushed yourself higher up. Don't think you need to stay within your comfort zone all the time.

I love this analogy 1+1 = 3 (piano learning logic of a beginner) Mine is 1+1= 5. Loving ur videos . Subscribed 😊

For the gnossienne N°5 of Satie, I started by playing the right hand alone, and the left hand alone, but now I play with both hands, and I even find it still easier, for the two hands match well together.

Thank you

Thanks!

I’ve been playing since I was around the age of four (I’m fourteen now) and unfortunately I’m still at a pretty amateur level compared to what you would expect from someone whose been playing for ten years. Progress was fast at first then slowed down, then I moved and was fast again but it slowed down, once again i moved and it was fast but it slowed down and I’m not sure why. It’s frustrating to see people only playing for a short amount of time yet are already so amazing at it or seeing people my age do waaay better than me. But your videos are really helpful and I’ll be doing all of these tips, thank u so much :)

I've watched many of your videos and you have helped tremendously. But this one made me think. Because of my circumstances, I don't have a piano teacher. I have two beginner's books, Faber and a bilingual French book, "La méthode Rose". I realize that I haven't taken them seriously and I didn't master them before moving on. Time to go back about 30 pages and practice them hands seperately slowly, then together, and realize what each skil I should acquire. By building a solid base, the house is more stable.

Hello thank you for posting these videos and I generally watch these videos without missing them. As you mentioned in your this video what are concerns about your learning experience, I am trying to learn since 2 years and 5 months 1. I started learning at the keyboard and remembering how to play instead of through sight reading may be out of frustration, That is the biggest drawback that I find in self I am trying my best to get out of that but looks like it is tough, I try to play all songs that I have learned through memorizing, I try to play through sight reading and it is working but it is really really painful and slow and not working as expected not sure how that can be improved 2. When I practice a new song it takes about 2-3 weeks and then I forget what I have leaned earlier and it takes time to get those songs back on track Please comment and advice for the same. Thanks

Just started playing the piano And i’m trying to watch all your tutorials/tips 😂

Hi Jazer. Great video as always. Could you maybe make a video of you learning a new piece.

Thanks a bunch! What is challenging to me is to move from one measure to the other. Keeping the flow going is a bit difficult.

Hi, I think my challenge is to look ahead to the next measure so that I can maintain tempo even at a slow speed. Your videos are very helpful. Thank you!

For a 2nd year beginner learning, any books you would recommend? Maybe some that cover technique or even some with music you enjoy but that can be challenging enough to keep engaged but not enough to quit. I know we all have different areas to focus on but am all ears. Thanks for your channel btw! Learning alot from you

Thank You So Much Sir,,

I should spend as much time actually practicing as I do watching your videos! 😂

I'm 32, and I've been playing piano since I was probably 10 or 11, with probably less than two years of lessons from a teacher. I'm doing self-taught lessons on Playground Sessions, and my current struggle is catching up with what I know, so I can see just where my level is at.

These tips are great. I’m going to leave my phone in my room, slow down, and master a few bars at a time.

Thanks

Awesome sir im from India

Hi Jazer, stumbled on your channel and really grasping all your videos on learning to play piano! It has always been my childhood desire to play it. ThenI managed to get some piano lessons later as an adult and what more a busy housewife with kids, that’s where I took lessons from their piano teacher too. Later on my kids gave up their passion for piano music and I stopped too. Time flew, kids grown up and married and now I have the time and gotten myself a grand Kawai piano sitting in the living room with no one to play on. Simply I love piano playing but never good at it. I told myself maybe am just a slow learner but I will persist and it’s getting way harder. Ok, can you please do a video on advice and tips for Adult learning! I have passed grade 3 many years ago but lack and slack piano practices and sight reading is quite a pain. Appreciate it!😢

Good evening. I bumped in2 ur tutorial & I must say, ur advice was very needful & could b very helpful as well. I've watched some of ur stuff, great teaching even with a short video. Thumbs up! Pls, I earnestly need help. Will u? Hw do I fix tension on my arms & fingers? I want 2 have fluidity, independence, coordination & confidence wen I play. Pls, ur reply would b highly appreciated. Thanks!

all your advises are great sir jazer. appreciate all your words. i'm currently learning pirates of the caribbean by jarrod radnich. your advises regarding practices help me a lot. 😊 hope you notice me! im a huge fan. 😊

I find the combination or trade-off between practice slowly and hands separately to be interrelated. My teacher would dissuade me from practicing separately, largely due to the phenomenon you described - you can't perform the piece hands separately and putting them together requires another level of effort. Her advice was to simply slow down as much as necessary so that each measure could be played hands together. It's more efficient because you only have to learn each section once. I find that is true - for the most part. The time when I use hands separately is when I have a section where finger independence poses an issue in one of the hands. I'll work on that separately until I overcome that mental/physical "block".

Hey Jazer! Thank you so much for these great videos. I have a question. I'm in my first year of piano playing, but I've been playing guitar for more than 13 years and I know a lot of theory and have pretty good ears, because I never played guitar with sheet music but did a lot of transcribing and playing by ear. My problem now is that when I learn a new piece on piano I memorize it pretty quickly and from that moment on looking at the score while playing actually slows me down and I make more mistakes. I'm torn between between what to focus on. What do you think is more important for a beginner student? Keeping your eyes on the score and really try to follow it which may be slower or should I ditch the sheet music as soon as I feel I know the song? I actually wanna improve my sight reading and I feel my notion to not look at the score is slowing down my sight reading progress.

Learning a piece in a week? Wish I could do that lol. I did Grade 8 as a teenager but then stopped playing when I went to university. Now I am 25 and starting to play again. But I was always v v slow at learning pieces (took me months for each one, but then I did only practice about twice a week) and bad at sight reading until I committed to practicing it every day for a few months before my Grade 8 exam. Think I got 6/10 which was a really good compared to past exams so guess it paid off! Really enjoying your videos :)

Love your channel Jazz

Thanks for sharing the tips,Jazer, it helps a lot, i watched all of your videos. Would you mind to let me know how to play piano sound smooth? I mean, my son practice piano 90 mins daily, he is in grade 5, he can finish 2 pieces a week, he has private one on one lesson once a week for an hour, i go with him on the class, i take notes from his lessons too. Since i know piano more and more, i noticed that the piece he played is not sound that the master's play at the stage, the piece my son played more like broken sound, not much music, and he practices very fast every time. I would like to have your opinion on this of how to play piano sound smooth, thanks for your time.