So happy you enjoyed this video, Richard! 😊

Glad it was helpful! 😊

You are very welcome! 🥰

Gracias! 😊

Thank you! ;)

Gracias por sus palabras inspiradoras! 😉

Thank you so much! I'm really happy this video was useful! 🥰

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

Hi! I'm happy you enjoyed this video! 🥰 I will try to quickly answer your questions: 1. Music is a flexible art, not a rigid science. Editors and composers often suggest a fingering that works for THEM - but this doesn't mean we need to follow it to the letter. The 'perfect congruence' you are looking for is not possible in our art - seeing that no two people can play a piece EXACTLY the same. I have a very detailed article on this topic in the Members Area of PCA, where I explain what music is all about, what things are 'set in stone' in classical performance, and what can be changed by the performer. The article is entitled "Why I Sometimes 'Stray' from the Musical Text in My Tutorials: a Holistic Investigation". Fingering is just about physical comfort, having very little to do with the music itself - so it makes no sense to 'torture' ourselves with an uncomfortable fingering (which makes our playing sound worse and causes tension) simply because some editor with big hands suggested it 100 years ago. Sure, if I (as a teacher) created my own method book, then the fingering from the score would match the fingering I use in my demos. Even so, as a student you would still have to ADAPT this fingering to your unique hand shape, size and physiology - making changes when required. This is a wonderful exercise that helps us to be creative, insightful, and find unique solutions in the present moment (instead of learning fixed formulas by rote). I explain this concept in most videos - often sharing several fingering versions to choose from. 2. Our Beginner Course comprises 100 lessons, and it took me more than 10 years to complete. The first 40 lessons were recorded with one camera. Recording/editing/publishing all those lessons again would take me several years of work - forcing me to stop all my current projects (including our new Intermediate Course, which most of our members are following at the moment). This is not physically possible. Plus - even more importantly - it is not necessary. The 'overhead' camera only shows the notes and fingers (which is the LEAST important aspect of our art, and can be easily read from the score). What really matters is to see the movements of the ARMS and WRISTS - which is why the 'side' camera will always remain the primary angle 😎. Yes, I included the 'overhead' angle after a few years of running PCA to 'please' our members - but I still don't think it has any real value 😊. Learning the notes/fingers is very, very easy. Playing expressively and with technical freedom - this is where 99% of our focus should be 😎.

@@pianocareer Dear Ilinca, thank you very much for your detailed answer. It makes everything completely clear. I will join PCA again after my holiday travels and will read the aforementioned article first. For the time being, your answer will allow me to continue practicing with book 1 by Nikolaev and focus more on playing expressively while using my own fingering.

You are very welcome! I'm so happy this video was useful! 🥰

Wow, this is the best tip I received in a very long time! 😃 Thank you so so much! 🥰 I always include timestamps in the Description of my videos, but didn't know the 00:00 trick (I usually start with 00:02, as this is when the actual talking begins). Awesome, now you can see all the timestamps in the video! 🥳

Thank you so much! 😃

Hi I’d like to ask you a suggest on which upright piano to buy that has a warm and non-metallic sound. Grateful for your help Andrea

@@andreabalsimelli7446 Hi Andrea! There is no 'one answer' to this questions, because of several factors: 1. Brand and model availability (certain brands and models are not available in every country or city). 2. No two acoustic instruments are the same (there can be differences of sound and feel even between two models of the same type and brand). 3. Our skills are often more important than the mechanics of the piano. For example, a good pianist can create a noble, deep, warm and non-metallic sound even on a bad instrument; while a beginner who uses a 'percussive' finger technique can produce an ugly and harsh sound even on the best concert grand piano. This being said, I really like Yamahas because of their responsive mechanism. However, some people say that their sound is too 'bright' (which is not my experience, because I know how to 'soften' the sound of any instrument). Others prefer Kawai's or Bluthners (while for me, their mechanics can be a bit heavier and harder to control - but not always). Steinways are great, but I don't know if they have upright models (I only played on Steinway grands). And, of course, there are many brands out there I have never personally tried 😅. The way I choose a piano is simple: I go to all the music shops in my area, and play all the available upright instruments on display. I film my playing, so that I can compare all the pianos at home, and listen to their sound as many times as I wish. Then I simply choose the instrument that A) fits my budget, and B) feels and sounds the best. I also take into consideration its construction and durability (and other 'tech' factors) - but ultimately, the sound and feel are my two main criteria 😉. And, as I mentioned above, I've never encountered two instruments that sounded exactly the same.

Energy flow, gel, dough etc. - all of these are just metaphors that help us to understand the needed sensations 😊. You only need one of them to 'click' for you - so it's ok if 'energy flow' doesn't work. You could also imagine that a powerful stream of water flows from your back through your arms and into the keys - while the keyboard itself is a soft pillow into which you can 'sink' your entire weight 😉. Whole-arm action is also taught from scratch, in a step-by-step manner, in our Courses at PianoCareerAcademy.com.

@@pianocareer thank you! At the moment I'm going through the 7 video series sent by email, and all beginning videos in the playlist you've created. I hope to go through all videos then check out the website. Thank you for your work!

Thank you for sharing! 🥰 Now that you have identified these mistakes, you can implement positive changes and make great progress!

Dog-Rex! 😂 I laughed so hard reading your comment, you're awesome! 😄 Thank you so much for your appreciation, it means a lot! 🥰

Hi Andrea! I recommend to start with the standard posture (not the elevated one). Simply make sure your elbows are in LINE with the keys (and adjust the bench accordingly) - as I demonstrate in the main frame of the video (not in the B-roll with the books). Yes, the slightly elevated angle can be great for small people who need more leverage (like me) - but it's important to NOT exaggerate 😅. A straight line is usually enough for men. You also don't need to lower your elbows below the keys - this would be the other extreme. Just keep them level and make sure you're not sitting too close. However, the MOST important thing in this case is your technique - as 99% of pain and injuries are caused by an incorrect tensed technique. You can watch my free video "How to Avoid Piano Injuries | Get Rid of Tension and Pain" to learn more: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qsxipcV0z7XUlnU.html

@@pianocareerI tried several heights and I found that yes, with elbows a bit higher there is more control of the dinamic of sound and the key attack. Thank you very much Llinca.

Are you talking about Mistake No. 5 (only focusing on the notes) - or just making a general observation? Indeed, singing or playing a wind instrument can be incredibly useful for our phrasing. However, not everyone can 'take up' a wind instrument. Singing is more accessible, and equally beneficial. Still, none of these additional activities can replace the actual art of piano phrasing, which anyone can learn 😉. I have an ebook on this topic [ www.pianocareer.com/piano-expression/piano-phrasing/ ] - and countless tutorials on PianoCareerAcademy.com. Phrasing is also taught in a step-by-step manner in our Beginner Course - along with all the other elements of our art 😎.

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