100k Q&A - Questions you asked a YouTube Pianist

Learn how to play piano with flowkey ▶ bit.ly/3OffO1A
Answering some of the questions people asked me. Thank you to flowkey for sponsoring this video!
Timestamps below:
0:00 Unboxing and thank you!
1:17 Patreon
1:25 At what age did you start learning to play?
1:36 How did you get into the world of piano?
3:44 How do you choose which song to do next?
4:32 Do you have perfect pitch?
4:57 How long does it take to arrange a cover? What is your process?
6:44 How do you find the inspiration to rearrange music?
11:00 Do you remember all the songs you've played by memory still?
11:25 Learn piano with flowkey
12:07 Do you play other instruments? & why I'm wearing gloves while handling the Silver Play Button...
13:26 Where is your gold watch from?
13:57 Do you do practice exercises?
14:35 Do you like the neoclassical style of piano music?
15:04 Any tips for aspiring pianists?
15:42 What was the most important piece of advice you've received as a musician?
Music: currently untitled chill track - Katherine Cordova
SUBSCRIBE ▶ bit.ly/2Xl3Ual
Hit the notification bell 🛎 to be notified for my next video!
🎹 MY SHEET MUSIC ▶ goo.gl/wu2VSD
🎵 SPOTIFY ▶ spoti.fi/3hWVgKk
🎵 APPLE MUSIC ▶apple.co/2XMQDeQ
📷 INSTAGRAM ▶ / katherinecordovapiano
PATREON ▶ / katherinecordova
📱 TIKTOK ▶ bit.ly/3FTsC9c
🐤TWITTER ▶ / kgcordova
My piano ▶ Yamaha Clavinova CLP-430 used as midi controller with piano VSTs

[@KatherineCordova]

*Learn how to play piano with flowkey:* bit.ly/3OffO1A *Support me on Patreon and see exclusives:* patreon.com/katherinecordova Hope you guys enjoyed this in depth look into my background and overall process. Let me know if you'd like to see more videos like this, or have other ideas for videos you'd be interested in! And last but not least, thank you for helping me reach this milestone. Onwards to the next ^-^

[@ropro9817]

Wow, congrats, Katherine! 👏👏👏🤠 Loved this video. Now I'm gonna stick around til you hit 1M subs. 🏆

[@Mike-og1zm]

i am a "sheet reader" and i think i am quite good in it but i cant't imagine to have the talent to play by ear. This is true talent.

[@Kayj1093]

No wonder why I get the feeling behind your arrangements, it’s unlike anyone else in KZbin. You’re truly talented and a huge inspiration to me ❤

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you Kawther :)

[@notvesta6883]

"i like playing them because they remind me of what I'm capable of doing", the most relatable thing I've heard in a long time

[@troll707]

You're a natural when it comes to music. Obviously you worked hard to get where you are but just listening to your methods tells me you're very talented

[@KatherineCordova]

Thanks Angelo!

[@dereklindsay1296]

Not sure if you read these but I just discovered you and I feel compelled to tell you thank you for all your hard work!

[@KatherineCordova]

I do read them! Thank you Derek 😊

[@TG-Maverick22]

Your epic interstellar theme is what brought me to your channel. I am glad its among the list you can play from memory.

[@nanaobx]

Yes!! Have you listened to her 12 minute version?

[@marbri9020]

You are just amazing! Pretty much all your piano covers feel like the 'definite' version of that song on the piano. You say you want to capture the feeling of a song and that's exactly what you are doing every time. I admire your talent and one day I hope to possess only 10% of your abilities. Keep on going, every new upload instantly makes my day! 🤗

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you for helping me keep going :)

[@SuperWils2010]

Loved this Q&A. Thank you for sharing. It was very interesting to learn your piano journey. No doubt, your dad must be incredibly proud of you.

[@hindflight]

Somehow I missed this Q&A, great to hear you talk about your creative process. Your instincts are outstanding!

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you!

[@emski7317]

A talented, well spoken and intelligent individual you are. Very impressive.

[@GuanacoSIVAR]

For me, you are still the best piano player on KZbin keep it up! Congrats for the 100k 👏🏻

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you!!

[@GuanacoSIVAR]

@@KatherineCordova 🫶🏻

[@sammfowler6258]

Annnddd now I am crying again. Thank you for everything beautiful you have brought me and the world, and congratulations on your first of many milestones ❤

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you Samm ❤️

[@AlexPianoByEar]

Agree 100% with what you said about arranging songs. You have a super likeable attitude towards music! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this and please keep running up YOUR hill!!! ❤️

[@KatherineCordova]

Always running ❤️

[@TheFluffyKeys]

Congrats on all the well deserved success..👏👏

[@jasontieu3737]

Congrats! I Absolutely love your work. BTW: what makes your videos stand out to others is the cinematography and video editing. As a photographer, i just notice those little details of transitions and decor props added to set the mood.

[@KatherineCordova]

Damn, thank you Jason. I’m no expert, (only got into videography and editing for my KZbin channel) but I really enjoy this part of making videos and learning about it. Still working on my colour grading…

[@tomb5372]

Thank you for your awesome arrangements. Absolutely love your style!

[@JustJedi19]

I’m very glad you did this video! Congratulations Katherine!

[@adlisset350]

I can't believe I've just recently found your channel. You're so talented and it's so comforting for me to hear you play❤ I learned piano when I was about 12 years old. And back in 2011 I posted some videos of me playing piano, couldn't understand copyright though so when I got strikes I got discouraged and deleted everything. 5-ish years later I tried again, thought I had learned what I needed to learn about copyright on youtube, posted like 3 videos, one of them did decently well on views until it got copyright claimed again even though I was sure I followed all guidelines🥲 now I just stick to discovering and listening to people play, get inspired and learn their beautiful arrangements. I play for my parents but sometimes I wish I could play for more people. I don't usually comment on videos but I really wanted to say that you've touched a lot of peoples hearts, made them emotional (me everytime) thank you for sharing your talent with us. Best wishes and for your dad as well! ❤

[@Raii_Chu]

Inspiring! Congratulations, and I am glad that I found your channel.

[@Imrano_Rex]

You are amazing and your husband is a wonderful person. I scrolled through all of your videos and I’m grateful for your musical taste. There were lots of songs (like Shine by Years and Years) which I have been wishing someone on KZbin would cover but never found to the level you play at. Can’t wait for what you come up with next. Sorry to hear about your father, I will pray for you all.

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you! I’ll make sure to tell him he’s wonderful.

[@jamz2102]

Love listening and watching you playing, thank you inspiring others.

[@ShadyHarbinger666]

Soooo honest and humble. Love it!

[@jameswattles7341]

That was great and insightful Thank you. Keep your pieces coming.

[@barrynicholls1433]

So good for you!! You are so much more than a professional pianist. You are incredible and an inspiration to so many!!

[@blueberrypannacotta1271]

I hope you keep playing and sharing your music with all of us. It literally perks me up and makes my day when you upload a new video! Keep going! ❤

[@coveyshooter3922]

Outstanding achievement. Prayers for you and your family.

[@KatherineCordova]

Thanks Covey!

[@GustiIndraMuliawan]

congratulations on your silver play button!! well deserved!!

[@dik2bik]

"I made some kids cry... yeah that was cool" i also love making kids cry 🥲

[@malt3aserz]

you are fantastic. thank you. i scrolled down your video list and see you have been so dedicated and stuck through your craft for so many years.

[@freddyrosenberg9288]

Watching you play, somehow I knew this would be your personality. Congratulations and looking forward to more awesome arrangements.

[@Angel-nv4ej]

🎉 congratulations Katherine, you are an inspiration and I love all your arrangements 😍💕 keep it up and rest assured I will be following all your videos for a long long time...

[@Bluem00n7]

Amazing thank you for all the joy you have bought over the many years of watching you. And congrats 🎉❤

[@x0000x100]

You are truly gifted. It's amazing how casual you seem to approach the depth that lays within your play. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us!

[@juanka182]

Mereces mucho más ❤

[@bobedwards8896]

very cool to hear from u and see u as a person rather than just a piano player on u tube

[@Sharctic.]

congratz on passing 100k subs! very soon we'll see you hitting 200k :D Keep it up!

[@johnwoodrow8769]

Very inspiration video. Thank you for making the effort to put it together.

[@pianovetra]

A huge fan of your work Katherine! Truly impressed how far you've come, speaking as a selftaught pianist myself. Best of luck on your road to 200k Subs!

[@KatherineCordova]

Self taught pianists unite! Thank you :)

[@robertomurillo7923]

Muchas felicidades, hace poco te sigo y me encanta escucharte. Gracias.

[@snah99]

Thank you Kat for sharing with us !❤️❤️❤️👍👍✨✨

[@LMHSim]

I’m actually trying to learn piano just through your videos (don’t know how to read music). And you’re right it is like a puzzle, but your compositions are infectious so makes me want to learn more

[@jeremyjeisc]

Congratulations, you're an amazing pianist. What a pleasure for me to listen to you playing. As a beginner and amateur pianist, it's very inspiring to see you play the piano, and it helps me unwind. So, congratulations and keep up the good work

[@KatherineCordova]

Thanks Jeremy!

[@taliagreen8020]

You are such an inspiration to me. You are the reason I started playing the piano again after years and your arrangements are so challenging and fun to play. You are my favourite pianist on youtube!! Congrats on 100k well deserved!!💕💕

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you Talia! Hope you enjoying playing them.

[@natachafrigg3174]

Wonderful video Katherine! Nice to get to know you. You and Simon make a great team. Love your musical journey. I have bought a lot of your arrangements because they have so much depth and feeling. Keep up the good work that you do. Always looking forward to your next arrangements! Congratulations on making 100k ❤

[@KatherineCordova]

Glad you liked it :) Thank you for supporting ❤️

[@friendlybane]

Congratulations Katherine! I love accoustic song versions because it really brings out their beauty. I found you while looking up Coldplay songs and I haven't stopped listening since. It's been a pleasure watching you improve every aspect of your videos over the years. Onwards and upwards!

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you Friendly Bane for being so friendly.

[@davidross9195]

Congratulations on reaching 100k! You are amazing and I was so surprised to learn you don't read sheet music. Clocks is one of my favorite songs and I just love your version. Chris Martin would be proud!

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you David :)

[@okanaltunbascom]

Congrats! You deserved it :)

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you :)

[@flyduster80]

This video has made me a big fan of you - Absolutely appreciate the time you've spent to create the video, and to really get to know you behind the song. Very impressive that you are self-taught - I hope one day our paths cross

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@ProjectIvory]

Awesome to see your process and journey. As someone who started playing very late in life (25) and only having a couple years of formal lessons now it’s inspiring to see you reached your level in your own unique way and time. Keep up the great work 🎶

[@KatherineCordova]

Keep working at it and eventually you find your own way to progress. Good luck with your KZbin channel!

[@whu58]

Firstly Katherine, many congratulations on getting to 100k, and thank you for sharing this Q&A, - Im not going repeat what you have already touched on in your playing, but to my ears your interpretation & song choices etc are excellent.

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you :)

[@stacysaur1190]

Happy 100k!! :D

[@KatherineCordova]

🥳

[@vizheadrms]

So nice to hear you talk and congratulations on the 100K subscribers. I must have listened to your Interstellar cover 100 times. Its probably the best cover I have ever heard. So epic. I just noticed I had not subscribed, so you now have 1 more subscriber :) Please keep up the awesome work.

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you🙏A lot of new viewers finding me with Interstellar.

[@heyhey3185]

Been following you since your earliest days, with a smaller keyboard, lots of Coldplay covers. You’ve grown into a great pianist and composer. So happy for you!

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you for helping me get here :)

[@jeremyreed4934]

Love your work. Your playing style is fantastic and I’ve really enjoyed learning your pieces from sheet music and watching your videos. Like a lot of people have said you have a very different style to most other KZbin pianists who post covers which maybe comes from not being classically trained and not feeling the need to impress with your technical abilities. Your focus on recreating the feel of the song rather than over playing is what makes your sound so special. Please don’t stop posting, your work inspires me to play every spare minute and keeps me sane

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you Jeremy. I will never stop playing piano because I get to read comments like this ❤️

[@konradkyt]

Congratulations on 100k subscriptions, very interesting interview, for me especially the part dedicated to creating your own covers, there is something unique, original and individual in your arrangements, they give me a lot of good emotions, I wish you another 100k and more 🙂

[@KatherineCordova]

Thanks Konrad 🙏🏼

[@terrellclark]

Your cover of running up that hill is what got me. I listened to it over and over and attempted to play along. Your dynamics and how you arranged it, the emotion put in to it. I’d dare to call it perfection in my eyes.

[@omarguzman1632]

Congratulations 🎊🍾🎉🎈

[@RenzEstor]

Glad that you achieved this milestone. This is my first time to comment here but I've been watching your videos even before the you released the HQ recordings. I'm surprised that you don't know how to read/write music sheet too and studied it eventually. Practicing to read/write sheet music is something that I've been putting off for a long time. This video made me consider to give it a try and also to start covering songs again. Thank you for inspiring me and also keep doing what you do!

[@KatherineCordova]

That’s amazing. Thanks for watching my videos for so long ❤️ I need to practice reading sheets myself…

[@grooviedude9]

Congrats🎉

[@muchin1977]

Thank you for inspiration 🙂

[@Jim71A]

Very awesome!!! You're one of the very few I listen to on KZbin. Please keep it up, I find your music relaxing while I am haulin over the long highways of the United States. Thank you for sharing your great talent.

[@KatherineCordova]

Always more music to come. Thanks again Jim 😊

[@benlowe2032]

Congratulations so happy for you 😁

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you!

[@jgpix1]

Great Q&A. I’m so glad you made it. Staying tuned in, for sure

[@KatherineCordova]

🙏🏼 Thank you John.

[@jgpix1]

@@KatherineCordova might I add- the “neoclassical “ term most likely refers to the genre and style popularized by artists such as Ludovico Einaudi. That’s my perspective on it.

[@davidkyle2073]

What a talent. You do wonderful, highly professional work. Congratulations, I’ve been following your progress for quite awhile now. You are very inspiring. ❤

[@bunnyhollowcrafts]

Congratulations Katherine! Best to your Dad; I know that struggle. Loved your story! Long time subscriber. Recent student at Berklee Online School of Music at 63 years old. Was not trained to play, but have played all my life. At 60, I finally got some KZbin theory. Changed my world!!! A recent assignment was to play a melody with voice leading chords. Working it out was easy and I thought what would be hard and more college like, would be to give us the sound and make us figure it out. That’s exactly what you’ve done!!! Many congratulations for all your success!!! There is always more to learn!! 🎉🎉My husband is my biggest supporter too. Pretty sweet!!🎶🎶🎶

[@KatherineCordova]

That's amazing! Proof that it's never too late to keep learning. Thanks for sharing your inspiring story :)

[@TheIowastater]

Love your content and you inspire me to keep practicing! Thank you for all the wonderful music

[@KatherineCordova]

Happy to hear that Ben. Thank you very much!

[@popetyrone]

I started around six years old as well, but I was trained. I stopped when I was 12 and I didn't progress for 10 years, but I still retained muscle memory. I'm now getting back into it learning the Succession theme song and it's a great feeling progressing each day. Hearing your covers from Succession sounded so lovely and amazing! You're definitely an inspiration! Shoutout us Pinoys! Keep on inspiring and striving for greatness!

[@gilbertofloresmejia2084]

You have a so marvelous brain/memory to play and arrange by "ear" congratulations ❤ pure talent

[@wvangalen]

Katherine, you amaze me! You obviously have a huge natural talent and an innate feeling for music, but I'm so impressed by how you've improved over the years, with dogged determination and choosing to challenge yourself. Deep bow of respect!

[@macotrejos]

A huge fan from Brazil that just ran into one of your videos - and was hooked. Congratulations on your talent - really impressive arrangements and having you explain your rational was very interesting. Wish you continued success !

[@KatherineCordova]

Obrigado ❤️

[@SyncopaticSimon]

Thanks for sharing all that ! It makes me feel vindicated with my learning path as I basically invest all my time at the piano learning songs. If I'm practicing a technique, that's because it is in the context of the song I'm currently learning. In my mind, learning an instrument should always be fun and nothing beats learning new songs 😁

[@KatherineCordova]

You’re welcome :) I’m no expert but if it helps you keep playing, then keep doing it 😬

[@zerosum1290]

thank you mate, i really love your work.

[@sparklepax6845]

Congratulations!

[@robbydooo]

Congratulations Katherine! I play your version of Running up that hill every day. Still not nailed it but I love it so much thank you for all your work!

[@KatherineCordova]

Thank you Rob!

[@taylorbowden1390]

What an amazing video! You inspire me so much as I start my own piano piano KZbin journey!

[@KatherineCordova]

Thanks Taylor! Good luck.

[@taylorbowden1390]

Thanks Katherine!

[@visiion1998]

your interstellar cover ..i use to listen everyday on repeat.... you deserve this ❣❣

[@dumpsterDeity]

Congrats on 100K! I found you through your covers of Sufjan Stevens' songs. I bought the sheet music for those on Musicnotes! Your covers are truly the best out there, keep up the good work! P.S also you sound kinda like Flame Princess from Adventure Time :D

[@datore_katsuragi]

Felicidades, usted fue una inspiración para que decidiera aprender a piano y mi meta sigue siendo llegar a tocar como usted, me da gusto que reciba lo que merece!

[@KatherineCordova]

Muchas gracias 🙏🏼

[@danflaherty5759]

I’ve been obsessed with your playing and your music since I discovered you about 5 months ago. I listen to you everyday! I would love to ask you one question about your playing if I could. Do you have anything in specific that has helped you get to the level you are with your left hand? I’ve been playing about a year and I’m progressing nicely but I would love to get to your level someday! I feel so connected to you as I am learning piano the same way it seems you have learned. Congratulations on your success!

[@luca12m]

You are a big inspiration for me! I'm starting to arrange my covers in a more elaborate way and learning this advanced techinques because of your videos. Congratulations for your excellent work, looking foward to keep listening! Ps: also Coldplay fan 😂

[@KatherineCordova]

That’s awesome. Thank you Luca :)

[@mohitbhalla5864]

please do more succession scores, im in love with'em

[@user-bz2qc3jq7f]

Katherine, thanks so much for letting us get to know you a little better!! I’m a big fan of your music, and I’ve purchased and played some of your arrangements. You are such an amazing self-taught talent. I don’t want what I sound next to come across as negative in any way, because I truly don’t mean it that way. I know you are busy and already very accomplished, but I think that working with a good piano teacher would skyrocket you to another realm of ability, very very quickly. I think spending a little time with a teacher would help you relax your shoulders, elbows, wrists, etc., guide you on rotation, shaping, voicing etc.-something that even us classically-trained musicians struggle with-but once mastered would allow you to fully express yourself the way you want to. I’m just here to encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing, because we love you, and also to encourage you to add some music lessons even though it might be a little outside your comfort zone. (I’m not a music teacher, just a pianist with life experience of being self-taught, having a terrible teacher at one point who didn’t help my technique much and was a waste of money, and then studying with a classically-trained concert pianist-best thing to happen to me.)

[@LingLiu2014]

Congratulations Katherine!! Well deserved and I hope you continue playing and maybe see you live one day ❤ Your KZbin friend Ling

[@nick_striker2121]

I live for the coldplay covers 😩🙂 my absolute favorite, awesome work!

[@KatherineCordova]

More coming!

[@jcsgrl69]

I’m so glad I found your channel! You are simply amazing! I also play by ear but am no where near the level you play at. I really want to improve my playing. What do you think had the biggest impact on your development as a pianist?

[@LetsLiveThriving]

This video is a breath of fresh air. You sure fooled me with not being a “professional” pianist. You certainly play like one 😅 I liked the level to which you opened up about your background and your progress and where you have sought support. It’s very inspirational not just in music but any worthwhile endeavor one is pursuing. I’ve been playing piano since I was 10 (now in mid-30s). I had stopped playing for the last year or so. Your videos inspired me to start making time to play again (I own a full weighted digital piano that I needed to dust off 😅). Congratulations on your achievement and thanks for sharing and also shouting out your supportive hubby. 🙏

[@KatherineCordova]

Thanks Jules, happy to inspire :) We all start somewhere, but with enough time can end up pretty far from where we started.

[@ideaexplora18]

Congratulations, we happy for you...

[@nanaobx]

I loved your husband's face when you said piano was the best part of your life.😅 Enjoyed this question and answer. You are such a gifted musician who brings joy to the world. I share my love of music, which includes your music, with my 14 year old grandson. He is in his 5th year of piano lessons and is quite gifted. He has done Interstellar as a recital piece as well as Beethovan's Moonlight Sonata and other classical pieces. He just recently asked me to help find him another recital piece to work on. We settled on Braveheart "For the Love of A Princess". It's so beautiful and moving. I'm going to go through all your videos to see if you have done this piece. If not, the world needs your version!!!

[@lunchtimejams4083]

Love your songs and techniques, such a rich sound. Curious what VST you use for that amazing sound?

[@huntoriginalmusic-wy2rc]

Incredible

[@javiergarijo9943]

Such an interesting interview!

[@KatherineCordova]

😊

[@lawdineyduarte6679]

Incredible performance pianist

[@zk7317]

Congrats on 100k, what piano do you use by any chance? Congrats😊😊😊

[@talyboy127]

Very inspirational. I also play by ear but rely too much on learning by how others arrange their songs. Still finding my way. Thanks for sharing!

[@KatherineCordova]

🙏🏼

[@yinglunliu9283]

All these amazing youtube pianists never do this and somehow make me feel they're gods in another galaxy that I will never reach. I started learning to play the piano last year at the ripe old age of 26 (well, not that old but old enough if I wanna be a musician one day :). Just like you, my goal was never to be a pro one day but just to able to play the songs that I really liked over the years. Just like you, I never bothered to go deep into theory or to master all the basic finger tecniques first. Just like you, I don't have a teacher and I don't plan to get one either. The way you describe your story here gives me immense confidence in the sense that, as long as I keep up the work, I will always be able to improve. Thank you Katherine, for arranging such a Q&A session. I hope one day I'll be able to cover Hans Zimmer's songs the way you did!

[@ctam79]

Hey there fellow Filipino! I have recently started taking up piano too and using Coldplay (Clocks) to learn the basics. As an adult it takes me probably a bit longer to learn songs than your average piano student. I also have trouble reading music. (No formal lessons) And it doesn't help that I started just a few years ago as an adult. Once I learn one song, I pretty much just rely on procedural memory to remember where to place my fingers. Congratulations on your milestone on youtube. It's also kinda weird we have same make of piano, but my Yamaha is a much older acoustic.

[@cloudriz]

Omg you have an aphex twin song in your comfort list!! I’m gonna be on this channel all day!!!!!

[@VyapPatel-zp8yy]

I love you sooo much and Your cover of running up that hill is the best piano piece i have veer heard. I agree that feeling a song is different from just knowing how to play that song. WOW!!!

[@oztish]

My middle child can also play very well by ear and writes beautiful music. He is very shy though and I’m the only person he’s allowed to hear him play which amazes me. Your hubby is a lucky man to have you playing near him. My question for any future Q&A’s is: are you ever going to tour and play live? Can you put Coldplay’s ATLAS on your next album and do you ever get far into a recording and make a mistake? You truly are a genius to be able to play this well and figure out arrangements so quickly. I recall how quickly you came out with Coloratura and that’s an epic arrangement and a long one too. I think the album had only been out a day or so if memory serves. Incredible! Would love to hear some Taylor Swift arrangements too one day.