KEEP, DROP, or Take a BREAK from a piece? Tips and Strategies - Josh Wright Piano TV

[@joshwrightpiano]

This is a question I get all the time, and something that actually has a strategy behind it. Time management with a piece can make or break the learning/perfecting process, and often, a well-timed break from a piece can actually make it stronger. This concept is not often discussed, but I hope it helps each of you in your quest to master your repertoire pieces :)

[@amirmotahari6186]

I also think one's ears, mind and hands need a break from a piece, sometimes I feel by practicing a piece for too long day after day, I become insensitive to it, as if I draw out the soul out of that piece and make it mechanical. Then I give a break for a weak and come back to it. Boom! Probably thats y we are advised to have a handful of pieces from different composers or different styles, you need variety, your ear and soul needs it.

[@magentuspriest]

Thanks for all of your videos Josh. I am a piano student at my college, so Im familiar with the basics and fundamentals but sometimes I try to learn a piece and just give up, or never finish it because I practice the same thing over and over and get bored. Ive been told to only pick pieces that mean something in the heart, and I'm currently working the G minor and G major Leichte sonatas by Beethoven and some of the Mendelssohn variations. Do you have a good method to balance things out where I learn them efficiently and steadily, but also keep from getting stale with it? (Keep in mind my professor is 60 years old, shes been playing piano since she was 5, and I'm 18 and only have been playing/studying since about 13, so obviously I've got a lot to learn about practicing effectively and with perseverance, given I haven't been studying for such a long time as you and most of your viewers) If anyone reads this, what would be your advice on making practice sessions effective, but also motivating? Sorry for the long question

[@marvinwarkentin5765]

Josh Wright me

[@pleaseexcusemydeeplyawkwar4972]

Omg what is the piece that you mentioned learning that was only with three fingers

[@edwarda.casimiro9808]

I started on the Rondo alla Turca a week ago. The initial read-through amazed me, in the sense that I was actually able to play it, beginning to end. It wasn't at tempo, but all I was going for at first was just the notes. In my book, it's four pages long (Schirmer), and I'm bringing the last page up to speed currently. Don't give up, and don't give in. If you want it, go get it. When you have it, come back to it.

[@hollyavillella554]

Thanks so much! This is valuable coaching! ✨

[@Researcher30473]

There are so many unsaid things Learning music. Videos like this bring them out 🎶👍

[@laviniaburke3160]

This video is totally helpful for someone who plays Irish harp too! Thanks for reminding me: Play fast pieces SLOW, SLOW, SLOW, and only then try fast. I actually knew that, but one can't be reminded too often! That's good advice about going back to slow again, going back and forth. I can see how that can make playing steady and strong. Thank you!

[@isola5738]

Thank you so much Josh! I always find it hard to decide if/when I should drop/take a break from a piece. Like most of people I don't have time to practice all I've learned everyday but I'm afraid what I drop I wouldn't be able to pick up - some indeed took me a while as if to learn it from fresh. Your tips and strategies are so full of wisdom and logic, just what I need! Honestly your videos and lessons helped me so much more than any teachers I have taken lessons from. Truly appreciated!

[@pritchy007]

Very wise and valuable instructions. It is not common to hear these kind kf advices even from piano professors. So, thank you 🙏🏼

[@xeroxertt5016]

Thank you Josh! This it's exactly what i need :) Keep up with your awesome work.

[@arwaabdullah6013]

Great video! Looking forward to the next one (ovtaves) as I’ve been struggling with it for long

[@sipatean]

Tnak you so much Josh.

[@afharvey8789]

Thanks so much for this advice. Been working on a piece for 3 months & thinking I should drop it....but I am stubborn also & I do like the piece. It is challenging to my present level. Gonna take a break & go back to it!

[@r.j4449]

I´ve sometimes got sick of a piece because I did not see any progress and I´ve rested from it some weeks and suddenly when I come back to it, the mistakes are no longer and I play it much better. How´s that?

[@rothschildianum]

I always listen to a piece that I want to play first. Then I will make a determination whether I am technically capable of playing the piece. If I believe I can play the piece, I will keep practicing until I can play well. Sometimes, I pick a piece that several level higher than my current piano skill so that I can use that piece as a way to improve my skill. Eventually, I will able to play that piece well. Be patient and be persistent as well as work hard.

[@darrylbrooks3361]

As a guitarist, a few years ago, I took a vacation and didn't take my guitar. When I came back, my playing had elevated by a fair amount. Since then I never take my instrument on vacation. The last one was almost 4 weeks, and I feel I returned to a whole new plateau. I need to apply this to individual pieces.

[@Photologistic]

What you’re really talking about here is long term and short term memory. Try exercising after practice. The increased blood flow helps reinforce the memory. Nutrition is also very important. Practice transfers the short term memory from the pre-frontal cortex into long term memory. Dropping the piece merely forces you to access the long term memory, after it’s left short term memory, and reinforces, strengthens the long term memory.

[@jewellevy]

Yes, especially big motion exercise like swimming or jumping jacks, but also sleep after practicing accomplishes that.

[@Bubblezz451]

This is awesome! Thank you for reinforcing on what he said!

[@MusicLover-oe3ig]

Thank you for the excellent nuggets of wisdoms to help me in my journey of playing piano!!!

[@PeterHontaru]

This helped me tremendously with planning for my grade 5 exam which will be towards the end of the year. I was thinking of not starting the other two pieces until later on in the year to not get bored of them. Now Im thinking learn them all asap and take 1 month breaks instead. Helpful as always Josh!

[@slwankaedbey775]

that's really a great bunch of ideas from your experience in one video... great one Josh.

[@janehuang9663]

Another great lecture! I always have such question in my mind and you answer it all. Thank you for sharing your insight and experience.

[@maggieprobst1200]

This was very helpful, thank you!

[@metteholm4833]

LOTS of wisdom! Thank you!

[@blackmetallion8297]

great video full of good advice! thank you so much for all your videos!

[@Pakkens_Backyard]

Yeah, I find that letting a piece (or anything that requires muscular coordination really) rest for a little bit helps a lot in removing all those "bubbles" and extra clutter that might have built up, and instead leave behind just the core skeletal structure - just the truly important things.

[@OXENful]

Great video. Your tips are really helpful

[@domodepiano]

the extremes advice is spot on. my teacher to show me how unsolid my learning can be , will have me play a work by keeping the left hand on the piano keys and play normal but instead play the right hand on the top of the piano or music desk or fall board lip, same fingerung but pressing against the hard wood vs actual keys in that hand the reversing it. to date I have yet to not crash and burn badly on first goes as it, takes a bunch of highly concentrated practice but when I put them back together , bam, it's so much better !

[@AgustinRavasi]

thank you so much Josh. From Argentina

[@AnjaliYogaWellnessInc]

This is SO helpful.

[@ulyssevandamme575]

He casually says he learned winterwind at 11 years old and learned all etudes as 16

[@Leon-un5kz]

Very Useful Video! Thanks!

[@biffii5568]

Yeah, 100%. Brute-forcing a piece, only goes so far, but taking a week off, will almost invariably improve my pieces.

[@ivorbernabe493]

i love the winter wind❤️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

great about the extremes, totally my way

[@jeankountz9060]

Thanks for the fresh approach.

[@Sobe2305]

Whew 10:55 worked on Nocturne Op 48 No. 1 for 5 months, it was so hard for some reason after only needing 2 months for Fantasie Impromptu Working on Winter Wind right now. Hope it's not too big of a jump in difficulty, but I will bang my head to pieces on it (with proper planning on practice of course) :)

[@Thiago-px9ev]

Fantaisie impromptu is "easy" and boring. Nocturne no. 13 is very challenging, musically speaking.

[@michaelkklam]

Thanks for good advice. Sometimes I will have a 2-week out-of-town trip and have no access to any pianos. This will be a good opportunity to take a break and mentally solidify my piano practice.

[@betoreyes8167]

I believe that breaks are healthy when one practices any instrument. I mean breaks not only from one or two pieces but also from the instrument itself. I think they work as with personal relationships (at the end of the day one develops a personal relationship with the instrument!) Breaks in a personal relationship help to solidify it and, above all, make it durable. Same thing with music.

[@visionree]

Definitely happens for me 👍

[@onemanhomediy]

Great video, thank you for sharing your advice! Will try to apply this.

[@carmenl9280]

The best piece of advice: don't work on things you hate, work on things you love!

[@NaitsabesWinklersson]

Great video! I will keep that stuff in mind for my future practice.

[@benjamincollins8559]

I did the ISMTA achievement in music exam & completed piano level 2. The final exam score was 86.5 and and got 12 and a half points for sight reading.

[@budiuber2798]

Thanks sir, this is very useful and so true 🙏

[@fmusicede7384]

Great video! Thank you very much! Your suggestions are very helpful 👍🏼

[@rogergustavsson5139]

Thank you Josh!!! /Roger from Sweden

[@2liter8]

for me it's like you get into a rut or solidified in your habits. by taking a break for days when you come back your mind has forgotten those habits and you can now play better because your in a way new to it.

[@rapunzelz5520]

THANKS!

[@raclj9940]

Thank you soo much. I wish i could be like you. Could you do video on polonasie 53? I am suffering so much in the LH octave section and i feel so hopeless... how, or is there a way to ease that method?

[@artirjaj-l3481]

You are genius mate

[@moveuself]

Hi Josh even though the pieces you play are not my kind of music, I find your videos very helpful. I was wondering if you ever play simple non classical music just for fun?

[@jewellevy]

Classical music is BIG FUN !!! I adore practicing a tricky section.

[@domodepiano]

I've also annectdotally observed shelving a piece ive wrestled and worked out with shore themselves up after a while on a break , it's almost magical! :-) +1 on relearning making things pop even more , that works wonders! caveat- this seems to be a bit weak for Bach that falls out of the hands quick , and 20th century and modern works seem to want to wither away so fast !

[@VegaSlayer]

Respect from Russia man

[@ibuprofen303]

When you mention alternating between slow and fast, does this mean you could start slow of a practice session, work up to fast, then start slow in the next practice session, or does it have to return to slow in the same practice session?

[@r.j4449]

I´ve sometimes got sick of a piece because I did not see any progress and I´ve rested from it some weeks, even a couple of months, and suddenly when I come back to it, the mistakes are no longer and I play it much better. How´s that?

[@agamaz5650]

hey Josh this may be a strange request but pls do a video on Alkan Scherzo Diabolico that piece has insane jumps

[@johnlorgeat7119]

i love how my frame rate is crappy so it looks like he’s the flash LOL

[@king_leo3269]

If you take a break from a piece can you still practice other pieces?

[@8beef4u]

absolutely. i've been going though several chopin etudes where I just cycle through them every few months and it totally helps not just with the piece but mentally too. I find it really helps with stagnation of progress for me

[@brendawallgren8354]

I can also say, at least for myself, that if I drop a piece for up to 6 months, but return to it every 2 or 3 weeks throughout that 6 months, things REALLY click after that.

[@VyvienneEaux]

I'm really struggling with Op 28 no 16, which I've been trying to learn between semesters for two years now. It is slowly coming together, as I notice that I 'magically' improve after taking a semester-long break (I have no access to a decent piano at school). I came to this video to see if I should just give up, but now I have some hope.

[@jennalai5246]

I’ve been playing the same 4 pieces for 2 years now for the ALCM exam. And I still can’t master these. I really feel miserable. I start to even doubt that I can master it.

[@juanfedericocriado8229]

which scarlatti sonata is that?

[@flambr]

myelination works when you sleep, so above all get amazing sleep and everything works better

[@adamcolbertmusic]

When you say the piano has been tuned "and voiced", could you explain what that means? Thanks.

[@Thiago-px9ev]

I think its something about temperature and/or adjust of components, such as felt which is the part that actually strikes against the strings and can define a piano tone.

[@ChanningWalton]

By chance I was reading the following article which helps to explain why taking a break can help. pianopracticeassistant.com/interleaved-practice/ TLDR; the more you practice retrieving a memory from long term memory, the stronger the memory becomes. If you practice to often, you aren’t practising long term memory retrieval, it’s all from short term memory.

[@crimsonair8890]

What is the piece at 5:20 ?

[@michieldolfing]

7 months later: Chopin - Etude Op. 25 No. 6

[@isakhungnes4416]

What Scarlatti sonata is that?

[@ThePianoFortePlayer]

K 39

[@Damascusmind1]

No Joke Josh. The great Wim Hoff recommends a 2:30 cold shower every day. Asian communal spas always have a chilled pool next to the piping hot jacuzzi

[@SuperHappyPirate]

Two words: spaced repetition

[@thegreenpianist7683]

8:33 :(

[@marshan1226]

TheGreenPianist long live josh!😂

[@thegreenpianist7683]

Marshan122 I hope so 😀

[@metteholm4833]

I can imagine, that the "dreaded" Chopin study will be nerarly impossible or even harmful for hands with very thin, short pinkies.

[@pierrecohenmusic]

This guy playing the winter wind at 12 years old. I’m screwed

[@skepticmonkey6923]

You start to wonder why you even play piano when Josh learned all of Chopin's etudes before you even started playing piano.

[@Thiago-px9ev]

I dont care, I love playing and I play for myself at first.