Chopin 'Ocean' Tutorial Op 25 No 12 Paul Barton, piano

A viewer's request piano tutorial. "Ocean" is the name we associate today with this piece but the source of Chopin's inspiration appears to have been quite different. As a descriptive title it fits the work well for modern tastes so I've kept this as a theme in the video. Ocean is a very playable study. Opinions differs as to it's relative difficulty compared to his other studies. My own view is the underlying patters in this piece are beautifully simple and hope the video encourages those wishing to play this piece for the first time to do so.
If you don't have the score (free): imslp.org/wiki/...
I prepared my own free PDF of the score with the bass melody notes highlighted. drive.google.c...
If you're interested in a video link, here's an old family video of a trip across a choppy sea on a stormy day in a small boat to Maya Bay in Thailand (setting of The Beach) The colour of the sea on our journey turns from grey, to black then the clearest emerald green in the lagoons.
• Video
Content ID please note: This video is played by Paul Barton, the channel holder, of a musical work in the public domain and NOT owned by Music Publishing Rights Collecting Society as currently claimed and consistently claimed on my videos.

[@KoltSupaTV]

Paul is the ideal musician & teacher: Friendly, informative, patient, and non-selfish. Thank you for taking the time to do what you do, Mr. Barton!

[@harrisonrichter9414]

He's also quite good :3

[@KoltSupaTV]

Harrison Richter THAT he is

[@KoltSupaTV]

***** You and I must think alike...love the Chicago Bulls icon! (Been a BULLS fan since 1989!)

[@VincentSPICER]

I agree with you Caryl.

[@hervegilles7941]

Les mains bien hydratées. Voici une anecdote récente. Mon fils ayant bouché les WC je suis obligé de plonger mon bras droit dans l'eau glacée . C'est OK terminé. Je lave mon bras et l'essuie. Ensuite au piano pour étude 12 op25. Mais si ma main droite est vigoureuse puissante et rapide la gauche n'arrive pas à suivre. Alors je mouille pareil la gauche. Et ensuite l'étude devient une évidence.

[@alexismandelias]

Timestamps: Intro: 0:00 Background: 2:03 step 0: 8:25 piece is chords step 1: 8:42 break up chords step 2: 9:21 just octaves step 3: 9:37 add 3rd between octaves step 4: 10:04 memorise piece as chords step 5: 11:32 stress melody step 6: 13:35 break chord: 1 octave step 7: 14:01 break chord: 2 octaves step 7.5: 14:48 break chord: 3/4 octaves step 8: 15:15 play as chords again step 9: 17:22 2nd finger emphasis step 10: 18:00 slower going down, faster up Tips on expression/dynamics/tempo: 19:18 His performance with score: 20:40

[@CienciaTodoDia]

I've never seen such a tutorial. Congratulations for such a wonderful method, full of precious information and techniques. Greetings from Brazil!

[@adolescenterevoltado9008]

Bruh

[@adolescenterevoltado9008]

What are the chances?

[@adolescenterevoltado9008]

Do you play the piano

[@vitorluigi2911]

pedro loos the one and only

[@SinanAkkoyun]

@@adolescenterevoltado9008 What are you talking about? Paul Bartons tutorials are one of a kind

[@jean-michelthomas4176]

Paul Barton: Question for you! Me: Sure! Paul Barton: Can you play Chopin's prelude 20? Me: Well actually I never lea.. Paul Barton: Off course you can! Me: Okay

[@FLVCTVAT_NEC_MERGITVR]

@@Noah-wv4td correct

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Jean-Michel Thomas lol

[@swooty2805]

@@Noah-wv4td your ability to read quickly doesn't really affect how you play

[@Tomy97xbox]

You should have your own tv series :D Very professional

[@charlottewhyte9804]

+Thomas Jones I love your gorgeous dog

[@natasyagoff24]

i really wish paul was my father.. cant imagine how great it is to practice piano and learn every pieces of chopin etudes everyday during lockdown.. obviously better than simply piano 🤣 *who fed up with simply piano ads in every piano tutorial video on youtube?

[@hiperterrany4428]

I never like or comment on any videos, but I really want to mention this to those who are trying to learn this piece for the first time (those who are obviously not advanced players), that this is one of the best tutorial I have seen on youtube, not just because of the depth of the piece covered but the way he 'broke down' the song to its very elements in an unconventional way. Not to mention the fact that your analogy/reference to other pieces that might have inspired Chopin's Ocean was very well constructed and interesting. Amazing video, and I hope prospective Ocean-players be benefited from this great tutorial. Hope you didn't get overwhelmed by my bad English, I'm just a mere S.Korean :P

[@aff941]

Hiperterran Y I might be late but thanks for this !!

[@MiloMcCarthyMusic]

Why does that mean they are automatically not advanced players lol

[@nezkeys79]

I thought viewing sections of melodies as chords was a common practice The thing that looks hard about this to me is the going outside of one octave because the fingerings look like they include a lot of 4th and 5th fingerings and moving across 3-4 octaves

[@eurisko618]

Oh Paul where were you and your teaching method when I was but a young frustrated lad in the 1950''s? These are so so fine. Every student absolutely should learn the craft in such a brilliant way. I just might have been able to get thru prep school and on to university had I only been less distracted by all the misdirection that pervade my youth. Bravissimo!!!

[@karldavid3127]

Hello Nikola Tesla

[@laoisemeehan]

+Karl Ledesma sup slendyboy

[@sina666able]

oh dear god, today is my birthday mr. barton, pretty sure you gave me the best gift ever by this video .. peace n love from iran

[@pattycake340]

Gee I wished you lived next door to give me classical piano lessons on chopin etudes.

[@atlantargh]

Paul, your performance and tutorial videos are (as far as I'm concerned) one of the 5 top reasons the internet was invented.

[@olegschramm]

True musician from head to toe, and at his heart! Thank you, Maestro!

[@scricco4646]

I'm piano hack. I love the music and I fiddle with trying to play everything and I've never really had an instructor to explain how to break down a piece and really learn it, so this is about the most incredible teaching tool I have ever seen. I will apply these concepts. Bravo Paul, you are a teaching genius...

[@hammydon65]

You are a brilliant human being - I have only just discovered you on YOutube. And you are a painter as well! Your gifts are abundant and you hare them unselfishly!

[@JJJessee]

This has been a great tutorial. I don't know how many times I've watched it. I'm using your method and have just memorized the harmonic rhythm after about 3 weeks work, about 75 beats per minute. A lot of work at my level. I labeled all the chords first. Ready to start moving up the keyboard! I do find this a lot more accessible than Op 10/1.

[@leo17921]

op 10 no 1 is much harder than this one

[@susinisusini]

Paul, this was the most amazing tutorial I could ever expect. Love how you mix theory, with musical knowledge, general arts, other composer works and so on. The video edition is also, as always, in a flawless professional standard.

[@JordanDPiano]

This tutorial is awesome! I'm going to apply these exercises when I practice.

[@Otakutaki]

I Think Mr Paul didn't do that, for celebrity or money, he did that because he loves art and music, and we can see that love in his eyes!!

[@tomy34188]

I just realized that I’ve been memorizing this piece in the incorrect chunks. One chunk in my head always starts with the right thumb, thus breaking the melody in chunks of three, always starting with the 1st finger rising up, or the 5th finger climbing back down, instead of chunks of four, starting with alternating fingers, as the original structure of the piece suggests. Now trying to break the chunks and rememorizing them in the right way, by adding little spaces between the chunks of four, helped me to appreciate the original pattern more and also to break up with my slightly distorted concept of the structure of this piece, which resulted in a plateau, before arriving at a satisfying level of clarity and speed. I thought that this might be helpful to people who unconsciously do the same. Also want to emphasize that this tutorial is amazingly comprehensive and I keep coming back to it to challenge my understanding of the piece with new ideas. This video is invaluable for anybody trying to not just learn but also master the piece. Thank you for sharing your ideas 🙏🏻

[@alexismandelias]

The idea to learn the piece chords-first is so good. I've made considerably more progress this way. Thank you!

[@johndpruitt8097]

18:00 this advice was absolutely crucial for me, just thinking “and-a-one” helps keep you from losing the last few notes and actually playing into the change instead of dropping notes and just jumping to the next chord

[@ImmortalSpecies]

Paul Barton, I deeply respect your work and I think you are truly an inspiring person. I just wish your videos would be given more attention, I'm putting your channel on my page. You are by far the most dedicated teacher and I imagine -- if I had a teacher like you there'd be absolutely no piece I wouldn't be able to handle. Cheers

[@emilius.525]

This style of teaching is very helpful. My teacher told me to play the chords before the arpeggios or any run, he calls this "blocking". It does help to understand the structure of the piece while memorizing it. Thank you.

[@katbullar]

your tutorials are simply fantastic and highly recommendable!!! I enjoyed each single one!!!! Please keep posting them!!!! greatings from Germany.

[@oscarlaredo5035]

Mr. Barton I just want to thank you for your great tutorials videos that are jewels of musical education.

[@michaelsmith697]

A marvellous video. The trick in learning these pieces is to break them down to the patterns, thematic and chordal parts. I love his method of working at the 1 octave then gradually moving up. Also slow careful practice and memory work is essential. My teacher was great at dissecting things and made exercises on just about everything! That’s the key! Mr Barton’s ideas are just fantastic!

[@kyonghan5011]

We live in amazing world to attend this kind of master class as many as we want..thank you, sir, Mr. Barton

[@soden21]

I’ve never seen someone make a piece that, to me, feels like it’s impossible, make it seem so accessible. I only started piano 8 months ago with this piece as my motivation, knowing it would take me years to play. But I can play it as chords as you taught. I can play it in an octave as you taught. And that’s enough to keep me going. The full piece may be still years away, but wow did this give me confidence!

[@juan3268]

Sir, I have suscribed to your channel. I am nowhere near the level to be studying this stuff, but man is it nice to watch these videos. While I may not be able to start learning this piece, I can apply the advice to my current material and continue studying this instrument.

[@Shobute]

I have just started playing, I do not even take lessons. I have played the prelude you have mentioned, Op. 9-1 and 9-2 nocturnes, Satie's Gnossienne No. 1, a few Bach, a Rachmaninoff Prelude and a Rachmaninoff Etude. It has been 5 or 6 months since I have started playing. I play piano 10 hours a day if I am free, but playing at least 5 hours a day has been a must to do for me. Thank you very much!

[@hassansoliman970]

Paul barton, simply you are the BEST teacher ever!!

[@celius6421]

This is such a wonderful performance of this piece. The main melody is clear, yet the arpeggios are also clear; not simply quieter than the melody. I also believe the tempo is just right. Slow enough to embrace each note in the arpeggios, but fast enough so you don't lose track of the melody. Perhaps my favorite performance of it.

[@adamlarusic6272]

What a quirky teacher you are, and I mean that in the best way possible. A marvellous combination of the artistic and technical components of the piece. Your passion really shines through. Thank you1

[@surferriness]

15:29 This is the absolute no.1 tip for beginners imo It leverages your abilities exponentially, when you are already working hard on improving or even trying to find perfection I practiced op 10 no 1, when I needed thi most. Also very helpful with Rachmaninoff stuff (op 3 no 2, Liebesleid (Kreisler), etc)

[@VincentSPICER]

I just discovered you (somewhat by chance), I love your teaching, style, content, wise, sound advice and I'm looking forward to returning to view more of videos. Thank you for all your time, effort and work in preparing and sharing these videos.

[@lyrafiel76]

What a wonderful approach towards understanding the intricacies behind such complex pieces. Thank you, Paul.

[@Hk-uw8my]

Nice video , very informative. I didn't expect the part about the background story of this piece but it was a pleasure to watch.

[@cescuetoZ]

so many thanks Paul, i am lerning more than all the years in the conservatory to aproach this piece

[@VincentSPICER]

I don't play this etude myself (yet), but I would learn it in this similar approach. The way you break it down and piece it together not only facilitates technical mastery of this formidable piece, but also memory and harmonic analysis (although most advanced students at this stage likely don't have challenges with memory).

[@bonjourmelancholy]

This is the most amazing tutorial ever, especially about learning it in chords. After doing so, I literally was able to play it slowly and after a day or so at full speed. This one is probably one of the simplest to learn but it appears very hard when you listen to it (opinion). Thank you!

[@UltraLeetJ]

wow just a day to have this at speed? you are quite amazing. Its been three weeks for me and I am still at it.

[@PC6001mk2]

Indeed, He is great Piano teacher, i got understood what his pointed out C minor has absolute dramatic mood piece piano work, each great composers... Chopin op.25 No.12 "Ocean" its one of my most favorite piano works in my life.

[@alexvallex5487]

Im not even gonna play this song, but i have watched this video multiple times. It is just an amazing tutorial, and the paintings he puts while playing are incredible

[@silviaciobanu5398]

Wow. This tutorial makes it look so simple! Ahaha! Thanks! Can't wait to get a new piano and start working on it

[@edwinbaiza1406]

thank you, your tutorials are the best way to get the music dominion . thanks maestro

[@susanparkins5237]

Brilliant thank you.

[@halomoe]

That was amazing help! I was honestly struggling with this piece. It never occurred to me that I could learn a piece in such a way. Thank god you're here!!!

[@offsetsammy]

Hi Paul, just wanted to say thank you so much for this great tutorial. I discovered the Ocean Prelude a few weeks ago and didn't think it was within my capabilities to play, but after watching your tutorial I was well on my way to playing it that very same day. I'm now able to play the entire piece from memory start to finish, and now I'm just working on getting it up to speed. Keep up the great work!

[@KirilIliev_Utube]

Very original phrasing of the first passages of the Rev etude. Sounds like falling rocks in a landslide. Very good. I watch your viedeos every couple of months and always find something new

[@sumimimi0]

I CAN FINALLU PLAY THIS SONG!!!!!! AFTER 6 MONTHS AND THIS TUTORIAL HELPED ME

[@jazzeffectgroup8372]

wooo! 6 months! I would love, love to do that as well, maybe you can show me your recording so I can get inspired

[@elgabs2172]

Just started with this piece after not taking lessons for more than 5 years. I kept on playing every now and again but my hands and fingers feel like they lost ability. Been taking lessons for the last 3 months and focusing mainly on getting back my fingers and technique in shape. This is a very useful tutorial on how to practise this piece in order to play it like you!. So thank you for your tutorial. Will start practising it this way!.

[@anthonyaustin2166]

Very helpful indeed mr Barton ..I find this piece a lot more difficult to play than the revolutionary but honoured to learn from such a maestro many thanks

[@fionanogawa1730]

Thank you for such an inspiring tutorial! Lockdown seems the ideal time to roll up sleeves and tackle a really challenging piece. The combination of your skill and generosity in sharing is really encouraging! Thank you!

[@olawaridel7210]

when I studied piano in Poland, the only name given to this piece was not "ocean", but "windshield wiper". More casual, always giving us smile on our faces. Without losing love for our national favorite composer :-)

[@Martin-pq8mj]

Paul, I tried your tutorial around 5 years ago and practiced all of your drills, but could never get it solid even though you said it should be comfortable. Even though you said small hands can play this, now that I've finally done this with a teacher, I believe hand size is a big factor. Wrist rotation and flexibility can be used to get around most hand size issues but it is of course easier if you can naturally reach every arpeggio without tension. For my smaller but flexible hands that reach a 9th, all of the white note arpeggios are comfortable and come to me naturally. I can play them up and down at tempo repeatedly without issue. But once the black notes get introduced on thumbs and 5s, many of the hand shapes become awkward due to pushing the hand into the keys, increasing tension and requiring more manoeuvring and agility to play accurately. For example, even the first Eb-G-Eb in the right hand needs extra attention because my hand cannot reach 2-5 G-Eb so has to twist or hop to compensate which then destabilises me for the following one arpeggio. Similarly shaped left hand arpeggios like Bb-G-Bb cause the same issue. Around 20% of the arpeggios are like this spread through the piece and I have to drill them excessively to get them clean. Having a sufficiently large hand doesn't remove all issues of course. There are still many challenges like speed, emotion, and of course the pure black note arpeggios, but I think the piece certainly feels a great deal easier to learn when you don't have to do double the amount of drilling due for 1/5 of the arpeggios.

[@petertarsio7168]

Good ideas on how to proceed at working on this Etude. Harmonic approach and paying attention to voicing slow practice and so much of the way one hears is so important thanks again for all this great advice and information Paul

I'm aproaching this study for the first time, and I loved this tutorial so much! Thank you very much!

[@TheXPV]

Wowww this is one of your best tutorial. I was so afraid to try 25/12 but with your advices it makes it so easier to work. Il n'y a plus qu'à répéter :)) Thanks for all!

[@julianmanjarres1998]

And also at 5:13 on my edition the left hand has the last two notes as D and then a lower G (right before going to the C major chord arpeggio that spans one more octave than usual)

[@michaelsmith697]

I wish Paul was my teacher! I have taught piano all my life and now retired it’s time for ME to play again! He’s the ideal teacher

[@JuyoNi]

oh my god you're a genius. I didnt learn it this way because i learned it when my hands were small when i was only 8 but this genius, absolutely genius i cant wait to find the music again and play it with this practice method.

[@PiscesSenpai]

+Estephen Armenta hand size has nothing to do with it, I can play this piece well and I have small hands

[@Cabinessance]

Many thanks for all your tutorials. The combination of history and practical lesson is very enjoyable and helpful.

[@Raymonddoc1]

What a wonderful musician with talent beyond technique. Thank you for such a beautiful breakdown of practice techniques.

[@ivanaraque]

Paul, I always thought this Etude is more beautiful than the "Revolutionary" or the preceding "Winter Wind"!! Thanks for the Tutorial.

[@hannesfirzlaff1685]

I got from my teacher the task to learn it, but my next piano lesson will be after 2 weeks of holidays. Thanks for the good impulse.

[@niklassilen4313]

This is an absolutely amazing video! Thank you so much for this truly special tutorial for mortals.

[@SinanAkkoyun]

You are truly a genius. I sadly only recognized it after watching 3 of your tutorials. Great work!

[@adambaranowski3607]

The best piano tutorial I've ever seen! Thank you very much. It's really interesting and helpful.

[@GeoramaAdelaideSA]

Hi Paul, just want to thank you so much for this tutorial. I'm a licentiate level pianist but hesitated to try this etude as I can only just span an octave. But I desperately wanted to play it! The way you broke it down into achievable chunks has helped a great deal and I'm now starting to think it isn't that hard and expect to get it up to speed very soon now. Thank you :)

[@McBenni95]

This is so great! Thanks to your great tutorial i am on my way of playing this piece! I would never have gotten so far without your genious tipps! Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!

[@alexinphx1411]

You are an amazing teacher. This video is professional level quality too. Thank you!

[@ALEXANDER6888]

I agree with ya! Paul is one of the most dedicated pianists i've ever seen! I'd like to have some classes with him! I like you Paul! You're very dadicated. I hope you make sucess in youtube. People must recognize your work. Good job!

[@ijustretired]

paul, Thank you so much, I am a lover of piano music but have stopped playing for 12 years because of work and study commitments but its my greatest wish to play again. This is on my bucket list of pieces to play, I love they way you teach- I never ever thought of looking at this in chordic format as a starter. I am now going to look at it and practice it bar by bar in the format you recommend. Once again Thank so much. I wish I was in Thailand, I would come and request being your student.

[@YSFmemories]

wow this is genius. If I had this kind of technique when taking lessons 15 years ago I'd've have been so much better and passed the levels much quicker.

[@NicJSB]

Fantastic tutorial, filled with fantastic information and explanation. I can't believe you only have 23k subscribers

[@francisfrancis3011]

So inspiring video. I am rediscovering all the nuances within this piece. I like the link with Bach and the way you teach as if we were in Chopin's brain. Being completely self taught in piano your video helps a lot to learn and feel the patterns. My daughter who is 4 years old has to see this video to feel how Chopin is amazing.

[@quinton1110]

Thank you so much for this! It makes the piece so much easier and more approachable.

[@artoodetoo6429]

Absolutely wonderful tutorial; not only clear but moreover interesting!

[@Gulfstream005]

Great tutorial. Could hardly wait to hear this raging storm played right through at the end though!

[@smilingbowlingpin]

This was really well done. The video editing was fantastic, and the playing superb.

[@Zephirotus]

Ow. Your tutorials just continue to grow more and more gorgeous.

[@andy1981b]

Fantastic Piano Guide, thank you so much! It gave me more motivation to handle those difficult pieces. Keep going on with your videos!!!

[@mimiwonder5592]

I'm not sure to follow this way to learn this piece but I really love the background history and the tips how to emphasize key press. I enjoy this video a lot ! (And even put a comment...)

[@peterbrenton410]

I like the crab analogy for the hand position (though not sure if Horowitz would adopt it) appropriate for an ocean study!

[@sergiogallardo4759]

Hi, I´m a spanish piano student and I´ve just started this piece. I´d like to thank you for your work making this video, it´s a really helpful point of view to practice this difficult study. I love your videos, I´m waiting for another tutorial abour Chopin´s "Black Keys" study, op. 10 nº 5. Thanks again ;)

[@hsnuchiu]

very profoundly teaching and playing, thanks Paul.

[@raf1552]

You are the best piano teacher!!! Thank you!!!

[@brantnuttall]

I love the way it's called ocean when the tempo indicates that it should be played with fire. that just amuses me............

[@rcradiator]

It should be like a stormy ocean. A more apt name would be "Tempest", but way too many pieces are named Tempest.

[@rajochowdo]

Thank you so much paul! You help out so much with interpretation and history that all the pavestones are just set out before me when i learn this piece. Thank you!:-D

[@alchemistofmusic8265]

You are simply the best Paul

[@MikeSelivanov]

Thank you, Paul! One day I'll play this masterpiece.

[@Catcherinthestars]

This is the best! thank you!! I'm going to attempt this on my own after playing only about a year and a half and i hope i can actually accomplish it *bucket list here i come*

[@MrFartyman44]

I guess since you play the bach prelude so well I shouldn't be surprised

[@chrisvazan]

Oh my god, the sound quality is so amazing!!!!!! Haven't finished watching yet, but this looks really good... And you're an AMAZING pianist; can't believe I've never heard of you before...

[@krystynaolszewska7108]

13:42 reference point for slow octave chords (don't mind me just bookmarking this place for the future :P)

[@markus7894]

Coming back to this from your today's video - also a huge bravo for this great tutorial, brilliantly done, as all what you do. Thank you so much! I would like to ask you one thing that did not show up in this tutorial: The interwoven rhythmicallity between the 3 cords of every hand displacement (potato print) and the 4 semiquavers per crotchet. This leads to the player's confusion in higher speed. Would your advice be to simply playing a sequence of semiquavers 3+3+5+3+2 or would you advice to train to listen to the 4+4+4+4 until it is clear and to play it as such?

[@tonycastro6154]

one of my favorites,,,Chopin music fits my personality so well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@Wraith4Gate]

I have a question, maybe someone can help me: In m.16 (and all the others of that form) Paul plays an additional e and g on the third beat (it should be e-g-d, he plays e-g-e-g-d). See 16:23 for example. It's funny because I used to play it the same way until my piano teacher pointed it out. So is this just a small mistake, or is there an edition which has it that way? Thanks.

[@judyp2585]

Paul, you're an amazing teacher, thanks a lot!

[@MusicalMissCapri]

Now that I've found tutorials on this, I'm learning it! Always wanted to, but haven't got it completely memorized yet. Great, impassioned piece. Suits me just fine. I'm better with the soft, lyrical music, but really want to get a few dramatic ones under my hands too.

[@enochonguru5483]

Thank you so much, you always been one of my teachers, thanks for the selflessness.

[@thomaslefeuvre1]

Thanks! Really enjoy the background of the piece as well as learning how to play it