Improvised two-piano Chopsticks redux -- Tom Brier and Adam Swanson

Goofing off after the West Coast Ragtime Festival, Tom and Adam began playing "Chopsticks" on two pianos. Last time this happened was two years earlier at Sutter Creek, the first time Adam and Tom had played together. Back then, Adam had begun playing the tune as a joke, unaware of how far Tom would run with it -- and Adam didn't know the tune beyond the first few bars so had to learn it on the fly (this is what my comment at the beginning of this video refers to). See that amazing moment here: • Chopsticks in ragtime ...
This time, Adam was well prepared to run with it. And so they did, for nine minutes! Like the first time, Adam eventually turns it into "Tiger Rag" (though the first time he had gone to "Bill Bailey" first then put "Tiger Rag" on top of it once Tom took "Bill Bailey"!).
Being that this is just goofing around and completely unrehearsed, there are times when they end up switching keys on each other, creating brief periods of dissonance. Remember that this is not a concert -- just a couple of guys having fun at a party. It's nearly a "cutting contest" in true historic ragtime tradition.
Adam is 18 years old, a three-time (and thus "retired") winner of the World Championship of Old-Time Piano Playing (also a three-time Junior champion at the event prior to his first entry as an adult at age 15). He is on KZbin as "adamgswanson". He also has a web site: www.adamgswanso...

[@SgtDrPedro]

i've watched just about every video there is of Tom playing. He is mind boggling to watch, and his sight reading ability in the other videos is just absurd. Glad there are people in the world like him who push the boundaries of what you can do on a piano. He blows my mind with his ability to improvise and to make any song his own. I know his accident was huge, and he may never fully recover, but I really hope this man is able to compose and play again someday. Over the last few years he has become one of the main inspirations for me to keep playing and to keep improving. He's truly incredible

[@muntusmaximus]

those 5 people who disliked it, must of got here expecting to see someone using 2 pianos to eat their meal..

[@givecamichips]

Which, to be fair, is pretty high expectations. I can see why they would be let down.

[@mrmaniac3]

Another one was disappointed

[@pierretousignant9781]

muntusmaximus q

[@mrarab5125]

In 4 years only 8 more people disliked it, just craxy

[@isambo400]

In my 10+ years of watching ragtime videos on youtube, this is the best comment.

[@jhorne18]

If this is improvised, I can't imagined a planned/organized/serious piece. Wow!

[@maggiewelland4154]

theres no way its improvised

[@Fromagefrais15]

maggie welland watch other Tom Brier videos and I think you’ll find yourself reconsidering that statement

[@pinkfloyddwc]

​@@maggiewelland4154 It's improvised! (on a theme)

[@dannywalker6872]

@@maggiewelland4154 I think it's improvised, they just relay ideas to eachother as they play, and they also done chopsticks before

[@Ramlich.]

This sentence doesn't even make any sense. Improvisation is a lot more impressive, than original piece, because it's about your experience and your skill. Playing already a piece is just about practise and brings nothing new so it would sound the same, regardless of the player. Or perhaps you meant something like a pre-written modification of the piece.

[@akatz000]

I just keep coming back to this video. There is something so pure about the improv duet and the tricks being played here. It really makes my heart hurt thinking about what happened to Tom. Such talent!

[@sulemare557]

It's really sad what happened to him, I first discovered his talent from the super mario world ending and than I remained for the rest, which was even better. I hope he's doing ok and that later in his life he'll be able to play the piano like this again. We can at least be sure that he enjoyed every bit of it when he could

[@bencarter8324]

I seriously cannot get over the level of complexity of their improv. Tom's bit at 4:43 is absolutely genius...

[@jollylawyer9999]

4:12 This too!

[@Koolius]

I really love that Adams answer too. it was extremely similarly in structure to toms improv beforehand. It's actually like hearing people "talk" in music.

[@MrCrowebobby]

I love Adam's "What the hell is he doing now?!" look at 7:57.

[@sethbarry8811]

Leading into grandpa spells 😂

[@JulienNeel]

Just fascinating to watch, to listen to, and to watch again, and to listen to again, and again... Hats off to your amazing talents, sense of humor and good taste in music. I really enjoy the content you post, thank you! Cheers from a happy subscriber, Julien

[@mikeyshanghai9801]

A Cappella Trudbol I

[@Wistbacka]

Dafaq? 18 years old and three times winner??? I thought you'd have to have many decades of experience to win such a competition. I'm amazed beyond what I thought was possible... And here people make Bieber a world star.... Sometimes I hate our world. But then again you have sparks like these two guys and you find the will to live again.

[@Keeper1st]

+Wistbacka Check out this one of when Daniel Souvigny was only 12 years old: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6rEdq2DicqGkM0 -- or when Daniel was 11: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GlqZilj9agoKc

[@trantuananhnguyen714]

World ain't fair man, these talented people should be appreciated more, instead of bieber shit and all the kinds of new gen rap

[@jollylawyer9999]

@@trantuananhnguyen714 Ikr

[@Arkelk2010]

Not only was it great fun listening to them play, but it was fun watching them laugh and joke with each other as they went along.

[@btbuster1]

I have been listening to this for 6 years (I checked!) I never get tired of it!! Still love it!!

[@noahmay7708]

There truly is no better genre for piano duets than ragtime. Fast-paced, action-packed improvising.

[@jackkenefick2696]

duets? you mean duels?

[@edwarddoran3478]

THIS IS DYNAMIC RAGTIME . THANK YOU BOTH FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT.

[@btbuster1]

This was awesome! Everytime I listen to it, I can't help but smile! (especially since chopsticks is one of the only things I can play on the piano!) I think I like the goofing off sessions the best!! Those two are amazing together!

[@Ibeatganon4fun]

I could watch these two play for hours.

[@Ben-xc3rw]

i am completely mind blown at how this is an improv

[@torriemadden3773]

7 people must have failed piano class 101. Such jealousy. Adam Swanson and Tom Brier give me hope for the musical future! They re tremendous!!

[@ErikCPianoman]

This looks like a lot of fun. Love me some dominant to tonic motion.

[@georgie984]

Nice to see you here, dood

[@sasshole8121]

Yeah, I like whatever that is too.

[@isambo400]

I was waiting for the Tiger rag the whole time, I knew it was coming!

[@toutix9880]

The BEST piano's video I ever seen !!! Wooow that's crazyyyy !!! I'm terribly sad to learn what happened to Tom Brier about the 2016 car's accident 😢

[@StrangeSounds2009]

My computer chair is smokin' from me dancing in it!

[@syncopeter]

This is such musical genius by both gentlemen. It keeps me absolutely amazed. What a talent and the sheer fun they are having to get the other out of his keys./the nust already have been playing for 10 odd hours or so, but they are trill as fresh as daisies. Great fun.

[@Coco_EC]

This is the kind of music that describes the word "joyful"

[@CandlestickEdward]

Seeing two people wholeheartedly enjoying what they're doing so much only adds to the charm and atmosphere of this video. Wonderful.

[@Grebnedlog55]

Nothing is too simple to be Brierized.

[@ulexite-tv]

Oh, that tango take! WOW! That deserves to be a whole entire song in its own right!

[@christianlaruelle]

Fantastic artists. A great moment of pure pleasure.

[@stephanwinter3097]

Es is einfach der Megahammer, wenn diese beiden Klavierspielen. Denen könnt ich stundenlang zuhören!!!!!!

[@Squarerig]

I find it stimulating that there such gifted pianists still strutting their stuff.What a contrast with the pulp served up for the young under the name of POP.Not music at all,merely noise.Thank you so much for this lively and most entertaining clip.

[@YakYo]

Trying to up the ante, the duo later performed blindfolded. Absolutely nothing changed.

[@MrRagtimefan]

oh my goodness!!!! perfect! 9 minutes of music celebration! could listen to this 1000 times in a row.....

[@tobiasnoskow672]

This is one of the greatest rag improvisation that I have ever heard. 😍😍😍😍😁😁😁😁

[@Squarerig]

Keeper.This certainly "cuts" it with me!A great performance-thank you for the clip.

[@alwaysbearded1]

One of my favorite videos of these two talented men. I'll be able to see Adam tomorrow when I visit my parents.

[@NewZman23]

what a perfect antidote to a cold winters evening - you two were just fantastic- you made me laugh and smile as you ran those keys ragged ! Man, if that was the after-festival entertainment, then the festival must have been amazing ! Wow you have both caught that same wavelength and just cruisin along together in unison- thanks so much for this post- you inspire me :-)

[@doumelepirate6867]

Thank you for the joy !

[@Superminyme]

Wow! Love watching some great musicians having a good time like this. Also like your detailed description, thanks. : )

[@normthehat]

Fabulous stuff for lifting the spirits. The sheer joy of it, wonderful. I envy their skill. If only I had worked at those piano lessons my Dad paid for when I was a kid.

[@StrangeSounds2009]

This just so TOTALLY ROCKS!!!!!

[@Bryan_Kay]

4:30 i absolutely love this man :)

[@Keeper1st]

@souvetlernar That's the famous Tiger Rag. The pounding on the low keys is meant to be the roar of a tiger (usually it's done by rolling the forearm down to the elbow, making a sort of glissando). Another famous ragtime piece that uses pounding on the low notes is "Grandpa's Spells".

[@alaeriia01]

Keeper1st Lesser known is Blood on the Keys, by Perfesser Bill Edwards.

[@lizardltd]

This is incredible I wish I could improvise to this level Looks like they're having so much fun

[@santhemooncrystal796]

This reminds me of my orchestra director, he's also my accompanist. He messes around while I unpack my cello and sometimes I'm just sitting there and he's like JUST WAIT IM NOT DONE YET

[@gustavobraga582]

Hey Ron! Do you see the right hand melody at 6:52 to an answer to what you just said about a chinese restaurant? I always thought so!

[@sammajcher2778]

How the hell can people do this kind of thing. It amazes me. Good job.

[@souvetlernar]

@Keeper1st Thanks a lot for the information! And congratulations for Tom and Adam. Their performances are great.

[@Koolius]

I think this has become my favorite video on the internet

[@WillowEpp]

It takes them a while to get up to speed, but once they do it's right brilliant.

[@TheCactuar124]

Adam is a 22-year-old ragtime prodigy.

[@croco64]

4:29 I love when Tom bursts out laughing when he realizes what adam's playing :P

[@jollylawyer9999]

What was he playing?

[@turpinator]

We need more piano battles like the one at the end here. This was so epic.

[@majordimbulb4742]

What a duo!!!!!!

[@ta455driver]

Well, you just got your 34th like after I watched this.. Lovely to listen to.

[@gustavobraga582]

1.3k today!

[@gilbert01284]

Now that's a dazzling performance...

[@therainforest4314]

If a person's not smiling after listening to these two on their pianos, perhaps they'd better check for a heartbeat. ;-)

[@Keeper1st]

@dele3344 Back in the ragtime era, these sort of piano battles were known as a "cutting contest".

[@75egcg]

tom brier and adam swanson awesomefies everything they play

[@JohnHowieson]

I'm so glad to see these guys going at their duets & it looks as though Tom is back to being himself. WOW!

[@Keeper1st]

This was recorded in 2010, six years before Tom's accident.

[@Degenerate_Gen]

4:12 on-wards, how the hell does Tom do that with his fourth finger??!!

[@isambo400]

Train every day from birth

[@Kitsunika]

Practice 40 hours a day

[@ThisIsKuroCat]

HAHA xD 4:32 TOM MADE ME CRACK up xDD Epic video !!! +9 minutes damnnn

[@sohaeljw]

dude this is so cool

[@jollylawyer9999]

7:19 Love that transition

[@nathang.1744]

I was just about to say something about that D strain that was really melodically interesting

[@dennisnuman9741]

fantastic!!!!

[@mdgraller]

Man, what I wouldn't give to teleport Tom back to a rough-and-tumble frontier saloon. He would tear the place *down*

[@BotondKuti]

blown away :O!!!

[@EU_DHD]

I was on my way to the bathroom when I clocked on this, but I stopped in my steps and just stood hunched over the screen watching the whole vid. By the end I was dancing like a maniac and almost wetting my pants. I could not stop watching until the end and as I type I'm growing more and more worried that I wont make it so I'm going to stop btypimngn noww.-

[@Keeper1st]

@blackhearted4ever Adam plays annual at festivals in Columbia, Mo., Sedalia, Mo., Rockhill Furnace, Pa., Sacramento, Calif., and Kecskemét, Hungary. Tom plays at annual festivals in Columbia, Mo., Oakhurst, Calif., Sutter Creek, Calif., and Sacramento, Calif. I can give you details of any of those if you're interested.

[@RyanZPianoGuy]

Tom Brier is the Marc Hamelin of rag.

[@Codmaster4488]

Exactly how long has tom been playing piano? Because I want to be able to improvise music like this (that part at 8:20 was PERFECT btw)

[@Keeper1st]

Since he was about 5 years old, so... almost 40 years.

[@sjpiran]

Absolutely brilliant!!!!! :)

[@ragtimest]

wow wonderful!

[@nathang.1744]

8:00 that phrase he put to together was very cool

[@GoTFCanada1230]

WOW... I wish I had as much improv power as you guys... I'm starting to get the gist, but I still need to advance more. How do you guys do it? Would love to know!

[@maussie9942]

Their laughter is obviously from musician humour which I must admit is well and truly over my head xx

[@Keeper1st]

It's from the quoting of other pieces.

[@sxnses]

4:44 tom looks so serious lol, 7:52 woahhh

[@MikeBohl]

Tom Brier never fails to make me beam.

[@turpinator]

@Keeper1st And I wholeheartedly agree!

[@rockythewerepuppy2253]

Classic song

[@ThisIsKuroCat]

Hollyyy fuck!! I am still listening to this :D This is epic up the assss !!!!!!!!!!!

[@zoop2174]

Fantastic!

[@Keeper1st]

That part is not in the originally published version, no. I don't think I've ever seen it written down. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out, though, as it's just three chords, then a fourth new chord, then three of that followed by another new chord, and so on, with the "roars" in the middle. Just work out the chords and you're golden. You probably can transcribe the chords from Perfessor Bill's MIDI performance, in fact.

[@jblack6903]

THAT IS FUN !!!

[@classicmwk]

Wow Wow Wow!!!!

[@sleeplessdreamrz]

Stunned.

[@GeneralLeeStudiosBrian]

i wish someone could do a ragtime version of the dukes of hazzard theme, i think it'd be hilarious

[@akg_table]

8:30 just casually improvising a 9.5th

[@jollylawyer9999]

Im speechless......

[@charlotteeden8860]

how are their fingers not cramping up from that

[@coronapapi]

My cat is batting her tail to the beat.

[@kopikostar]

I am the 800th like. Feelsgoodman. 4:31 is my favorite part

[@pinkfloyddwc]

so fun

[@Keeper1st]

@turpinator77 Yeah. Be sure not to miss the "Epic piano duet" video I posted a few months ago. I've got some more similar to this yet to post. Tom has said that one of his favorite videos is "Fun with two pianos" featuring himself and Vincent Johnson trading ideas for seven minutes.

[@isopath1]

I've been playing since I was 5 years old too. Played my first ragtime piece at 9 years of age - before then I was only allowed to play 'exam' music.

[@kurtishall2357]

Wild

[@souvetlernar]

Amazing! Incredible. What's the name of the piece that Tom start at 8:08 and finish at 8:36???Is there any similar piece which hits the piano like that?

[@Keeper1st]

Ted Tjaden's site has a copy you can download. Google search "ted tjaden ragtime" and go to the "Ragtime at the Zoo" section.

[@tdub1941]

Nice Catch Ron! Ya done good. 5***** RJM Tom

[@jackkenefick2696]

2:38 "Hey man, what key you in!!?"

[@maxpower4910]

What's playing at 4:30?

[@joshgirndt4896]

Sounds like Yankee Doddle to me, playing another song in the middle of Chopsticks improv might explain Tom's laughter!

[@jollylawyer9999]

It was adam

[@MrHamthepig]

How would they know which key to play in?

[@Keeper1st]

Agree upon a starting key and go from there. Call out any key changes, as you hear in some of these jam session videos. Or get lost for a moment and listen to hear what key the other person has changed to, which you also hear in some of these jam session videos.

[@MrHamthepig]

Interesting how they can do that. Do you know what keys they went through throughout the improvisation session?

[@Keeper1st]

From what I can tell, C, F, G, D, then Tom tries to go to A but Adam goes to A-flat, to which Tom adjusts, then D again, then B-flat, and finally G again.

[@nancylinda4207]

MrHamthepig i love the way Adam will move his head sort of up and down sometimes with the rhythm - he's amazing. Brier wastes little energy but sort of sways to the rhythm - love this duo.

[@harryandruschak2843]

"like" on 20 April 2016 :)