Adult Beginner Piano Progress - 1 Year of Practice | Pianist Reacts

In this video I react to a video by Brandon Hawksley where he shows his first year of learning the piano. For the first half of the year Brandon is self taught and then he gets some piano lessons. It can be useful for anyone learning the piano to see what other people are doing well and can improve on, so I hope you enjoy this video!
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#pianist #piano #learnpiano

[@jamiebull1685]

Look at how his feet are positioned as a complete starter. Despite having no pedals his feet are positioned as if he were to be using a sustain pedal.

[@TheJanstyler]

I'm sorry, but wtf are you on about? He is sitting and that's it. I don't know how to use the pedal for shit yet, and I've been sitting similarly long before I ever started learning the piano.

[@jamiebull1685]

@@TheJanstyler Left leg out of the way to the side, right leg position centre right where sustain pedal would be.

[@TheJanstyler]

@@jamiebull1685 And? Because his leg is in that position? I sit that way as well. It's just a random sitting position.

[@Ryanisthere]

​@@jamiebull1685maybe he is just comfortable like that

[@link-so9wn]

Yeah I 100% believe he already had lessons

[@guillermocuadra]

I watched this guy's video when I started the piano to motivate myself and he managed to do the opposite since my progress was way far to his...

[@b.n2350]

someone said : " am starting my 7th year of piano, as an adult learner, and I am far behind that level. Should I just quit?. NO, everyone has a different learning path and, I would say, if that 1 year time is legit, most people don't reach that level in that time. So, don't feel bad and ENJOY THE TRIP !!!"

[@redballoonluke]

It smells like he may have had a year or two when he was young but well done to him either way!

[@katttttt]

I think he said in an q & a that he played the drums

[@CT2507]

Naah... you can tell his fingers are quite rigid the first 6 months. Which is normal for a beginner. Had he had 1-2 years earlier, his fingers would have been much more relaxed and his scales flow much easier. What he did is very doable if you are serious about it and you like it.

[@StrongBowGaming]

As someone who is about to start learning its great hearing the advice you give watching the video, great reaction.

[@matticawood]

I’m glad I could help, good luck with getting started! 😊

[@lalalalalalalalalol]

im about to start learning too 😁

[@TheRandomShipEnthusiast]

The scariest thing is that I got a simply piano ad at the start of the video.

[@lyricseverywhere2163]

Same

[@curtispronk6058]

I learn so much from your videos. I took lessons for a couple years with no interest at a young age and am now teaching myself and your videos are super helpful. I’m going to start looking at my pages more than before and practise reading music.

[@JoseVGavila]

I am starting my 7th year of piano, as an adult learner, and I am far behind that level. Should I just quit?. NO, everyone has a different learning path and, I would say, if that 1 year time is legit, most people don't reach that level in that time. So, don't feel bad and ENJOY THE TRIP !!!

[@PA-uj1rd]

This guy is so talented. If he started when he was a kid, he might be a master now.

[@NNNedlog]

I really enjoyed this video, I've learned a lot

[@Mini-so5ol]

Im also an adult beginner and it took me one year to learn für elise 😅 and after 4 years of daily practice and lessons I can say I am an intermediate beginner… so no pressure. Learning piano is slowly progress, patience and a live-time-journey.

[@CT2507]

One year?? Me and my sister we learned it in about 1-2 month at the age of 9 and 11.

[@Dallas867]

@@CT2507 As an adult you have more obligations and responsibilities than you do as a 9 or 11 year old. It's ironic that you try to display your ability to learn while lacking common sense.

[@CT2507]

@@Dallas867 Have you noticed how adults invest more time in making excuses and justifying their shortcomings? Kids dont do that. They either practice or they dont, either like playing or they dont. But they don't make pathetic excuses. Also, dumbass, Für Elise is a relatively simple piece. Also, twat, I was only practicing about an hour per day, sometimes less, because I wasn't that crazy about the piano. If you as an adult dont have an hour to practice, dont take up an instrument. See...? That's common sense. Cheers friendo. :))

[@CT2507]

@@Dallas867 Oohh... Someone got their snowflake in a twist! ;) As an adult it sounds as if you make too many excuses and justifications for your shortcomings. -First of all: if you want to talk common sense, kids dont know how to work and practice. They must be taught propper work ethics. Adults should have it in them by now. Adults can work much more efficiently. Meaning, what a kid spends 3 hours on, an adult should be able to do in just 1hour, IF they take it seriously! -Second: Für Elise is a comparatively easy piece. It only requires a bit of basic scales and basic left/right hand coordination. -And third: I and my sister only practiced about 1 hour per day. Some days I practiced none at all because I wasn't that crazy about the piano. If a grown up does not have 1 hour to practice, then they should not take up learning an instrument. It's not about obligations and responsibilities. It's about priorities.

[@Dallas867]

@@CT2507 While we are on the topic of common sense, it’s common knowledge that as a child we have an easier time learning than we do as an adult because of the way the brain develops. I’m unsurprised you didn’t know that because seeking validity by telling someone you learned a song faster than them speaks volumes about your intelligence.

[@namikpaul7505]

You’re quite exacting in your review, but I can see the passion on your face when you play yourself. I’ve also left reading way behind as I play for ‘just fun’, but I WILL go back and learn theory no matter what.

[@UKnintendan]

Thank you so much for this! Your comment at 6:22 about how he is playing without reading the sheet music is exactly the predicament that i’m in now. You’ve finally made me realise why I’ve not seen much improvement in my playing in the past 2 to 3 years. I’ve been playing for about 10 years and my ability to sight read has plummeted because I was learning pieces by memorising the hand positions or learning pieces exclusively by ear. I’m actually pleased with my ability to play by ear, but letting my sight reading slip meant that I subconsciously avoided any pieces that were above my level. I wasn’t progressing because I was using my ear as a crutch and not struggling with more difficult pieces by sitting down and reading score.

[@matticawood]

It’s a very common problem! I also started by learning by ear and I had to put in a lot of effort to go back and read lots of easy music to build that skill up when I had been playing much more complex pieces (without any real understanding). In the end, understanding music and being able to read music are definitely worth investing time into! 😊

[@matthiasnemetz5417]

I started playing piano without being able to read sheetmusic. Just started recently and it‘s going alright. After this video I‘ll def look at the paper more instead of my hands so i can sightread soon

[@stellicpiano]

Thank you, I love your videos

[@matticawood]

Thank you, I’m glad you like them! 😊

[@Emppi]

You can clearly see the love into music in his trip. It’s definetly possible to learn that much in a year.

[@EvanG44]

Hi Matt! This is a fun video to watch. I am a selftaught pianist (Or keyboardist? not sure) I have been watchin your videos for over a year now and i learned alot from you!! thank you :))

[@mrunfunny]

I enjoyed both your reaction videos. I have just bought a digital keyboard last week, although I regret not buying one with a pedal. I am trying to self teach me as I don't have much time. Would it be possible for you to create a video about roadmap for self taught beginners? Like how should one proceed, should one learn chords first, read sheet music, which pieces should one focus on what time and similar things. It would be incredibly helpful.

[@matticawood]

Thanks! I sure can, I’ve done a few videos in the past around starting the piano… but I can definitely do a better video with how to start as a self taught player 😊

[@letswatchtrash]

oh yes !! id love that too

[@crystalmontalbano9798]

I am a self taught beginner. For me, learning to read music was THE most important thing. I tried the chord method, it was OK if all you want to do is pop songs, but I prefer classical.

[@hippophile]

I played quite a bit at university, self taught. I read the music easily enough as I used to play the cello. Then had to drop piano for a couple of decades or so. Restarted playing a couple of years ago or so, learn everything off by heart, and HAVE made some great strides by going for Chopin, Debussy, Schubert, Clara Schumann, Bach, all of which made me learn how to get past lots of technical issues. Now working into my third Rachmaninoff prelude. On the way I made myself play scales and octave scales, and most of the first 20 Hanon exercises, and some partly made up trill exercises so I could play Bach. But yes, my sight reading is rubbish. And arpeggios non-existent. I have strayed from the straight and narrow. I need to get a teacher. I know. Just as soon as I have finished learning that Rach prelude (Op23#6)... and maybe the Fantaisie Impromptu... LOL.

[@TheInfernoGamer10]

Can you tell me where and how should i start? I want to learn for recreation

[@azdave3332]

you should totally do piano lessons, i would take them for sure. I just started playing a month ago

[@matticawood]

I do! You are welcome to check out my website: www.matthewcawood.com 😊

[@123SLM123]

I am also self taught and the first part of Fur Elise is also the first 2 handed song I ever learned to play. It is the standard tutorial song on every keyboard with a learning tutorial by following the lights I have ever seen, and it is also a surprisingly easy 2 hander. Since you only ever use both hands at the same time to play a single note in each. The second part however is still an enigma to me and I am unsure I will ever learn it.

[@junaidywijaya6413]

Yes you are right, that's also the first piece I played with 2 hands, but the keyboard tutorial version gives an easier version not the official piece

[@123SLM123]

@@junaidywijaya6413 Exactly, you try the simplified version a few times and then you find a youtube tutorial for the actual piece.

[@rex6rocks]

Same! :D It's been a month and Its the first piece ive just finished learning which includes both hands haha. Ill probably follow Matthew's advice and look at the sheets while i keep practicing it. Took a break from my book lessons and played from online videos for like 2+weeks now. Think its time to go back to formal learning lol

[@classicallpvault8251]

You only ever play one note at a time with each hand in the finale of Chopin's op.35 sonata as well - except for the final chord. That thing is excruciatingly difficult.

[@123SLM123]

@@classicallpvault8251 ​You are kind of missing the point there though aren't you? But I perhaps could have done a better job at describing why the first part of Für Elise is not a difficult 2 handed part, so here it goes: You don't actually play both hands together. You play them separately. Your right hand plays a couple of notes, and then your left hand plays a couple of notes. Then your right hand plays a couple of notes again, and so on. The only time you are actually playing the hands together is where the last note and the first note of each hand are played simultaneously. Thus, you're not really playing both hands together, making it surprisingly easy for a beginner to learn. I hope that clears things up!

[@Maywek]

Ok, so I pretty much always give the benefit of the doubt that these videos are real. Only two hours a day for a year? I was an addict when I first started playing piano. I was cranking out a MINIMUM of 5 hours per day, straight for a year. I woke up at 5-6am consistently to crank out a few hours of piano before school started at 8 am. Then I would play the entire day coming home. Within the first three months I started to learn stuff like animenz’s Guren no yumiya, after a few months I played Fantasie impromptu, tried winter wind but was not technically developed enough. Then at 1 year 1 month~ I uploaded a video of me playing Liebestraum. People who haven’t been TRULY addicted to something, like piano or even my recent chess addiction, don’t know how hard you can grind in a short amount of time.

[@katttttt]

Yes!! Not playing as much as you did haha, but you can certainly achive much. I have to say that pieces just slightly above my level are a really good way of not skipping anything and getting gradually better at the current level, but yeah.. good job 🤪

[@jasoncampbell6222]

Regaarding the 700 hours in a year equating to 2 hours per day well when I started playing guitar I'd read and article about a young Steve Vai that did 10 per day, other like John Petrucci that practised 10-12 per day when learning. I personally spent 4 hours a day 6 days per week for a full 18 months (1 hour for chords, scales, finger picking and just general making noise or trying to jam along to favourite bands). So to me 2 hours per day is completely in the realm of moderate practise.

[@privatecollectionyasmall8776]

Working Smarter, Not Harder:

[@katttttt]

Quite interesting!

[@HueyFreeman666]

Bro couldn't let go of the sustain

[@danielkaplan6262]

My piano journey started with canon in d,I came to my teacher and told her I want to play it,thinking back it was worth it a even though I spent a month learning it I then easily learned other peaces

[@YanasChanell]

I started with the same piece but without teacher. It took me about 2 months to learn (I started with some simple version and then compiled it with a bit more advanced version). But now, after a year (let’s say 300 hours) of practicing piano I still can’t say I’ve mastered it.

[@samandmbaby89]

Matt, can you do a video explaining the grades of piano you keep mentioning in your vids? And what are the recommended songs that beginning players should play at each grade?

[@EY_YT_SinEater]

I am amazed, even I dont play that good yet and been training 3 years Or so myself.. But I got dyslexia if even wrote that correctly. Also my medicene for my epilepsy makes it really Hard to focus, so my actual skill for his is like 2 weeks Or 1 month.. Good video ❤❤

[@brianevans4]

man, I've been playing almost 2 years and not playing pieces anywhere near this difficulty. very impressive how much he learnt so quickly! When I first started the piano I expected after a year I would be expert like this guy, but 2 years on and I'm doing well if I learn a grade 4 piece in a month.

[@sw1shh169]

I gotta say that it's some great progress. I myself started 3 years ago where i played for 1 1/2 year and then had a break. I have now played for around 6-7 months but i play pieces like he played 3 months into his journey. I myself lack motivation to play and have a hard time playing 15 minutes every day so 2 hours seem like a lot for a beginner.

[@kingpin4152]

I have been playing piano for about 10y, and played songs like für Elise on my third year and a couple sonatas. I very often played more then 2h a day, turns out that's very annoying for your siblings when you don't use headphones... (I am learning rachmaninoff prelude atm)

[@CodeineBarbarian]

No way I just watched this a few minutes ago, and you upload a reaction to it

[@matticawood]

A very strange coincidence! 👽👀

[@katttttt]

Probably the KZbin algorythem lol

[@Louise-xr5ok]

I struggles with hand independence for a whole year. Then I just relaxed and one day , hey I could do,it.

[@CodeineBarbarian]

@@Louise-xr5ok I've been playing for about four months and I figured iyt hand independance like to weeks in 😭😭

[@Kh2fan7]

Not gonna lie... The reason why he became so good so quick was because his motivation was to play Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts piano arrangements LOL The love for the music in those games is unbelievable.

[@joacoconut]

thats my motivation to start playing the piano aswell lmao

[@zeeschelp]

I love this😂

[@zx7-rr486]

Yeah totally agree. I am a long time rock guitarist and play to a high standard, but always wanted to learn piano. I started 10 months ago, and started with chords, and then started singing too. Lots of Taylor Swift songs LOL! Once you get chords down, you can play pretty much any song. At the same time I use my experience as a guitarist to work out finger exercises, guided by some excellent KZbin videos (keep you hands relaxed - don't play with tension!). I have learnt the Entertainer, and can play the first 16 bars of the Maple Leaf Rag - reckon I'll have the whole thing down in another 3 or 4 months. I totally recommend playing everything to a metronome though, and slooowwwiinng it right down before speeding it up. We do that a lot in guitar world. Cheers ...

[@franciscofredviana743]

Great review video. I’m 45 and trying to learn using Yousician which forces me to learn to read. I’m on my 3rd month and I put about 8 to 10 hours a week but I had no music background. It’s been quite difficult. I have a couple questions: 1. Should I try reading sheet music outside Yousician sheet that moves along with the music beat and informs you the notes or tempo you didn’t make? 2. Should I try to force learn more music without reading for now or should I stick for longer on mainly reading music and not playing without reading?

[@burrow7951]

I would love to see you react to Frank Tedesco, and give an analysis of his techniques to learn and arrange songs on the spot similar to yourself.

[@Mustlehard]

When he said “it’s kinda the same” at the beginning I think that means he’s played some type of instrument before and he knew a c major scale

[@ZSpark62]

I started lessons in September’23 and I am no where near this level. Makes me feel slow and bad haha. I’m working on Beethoven’s Sonatina in G. And my teacher just gave me Chopin’s Prelude in E minor. I’m struggling with dynamics and sight reading. Appreciate the tips in this video they are really helpful!

[@katttttt]

I've learned the first one, they are really not bad! Chopin is a late beginner (up to advanced) type of composer, so this is not too easy!

[@optimisticadventurer5492]

I started playing the scales with correct fingering because of youtube so for me thats believable

[@wardsnertmaster1152]

memorising music had a bad turn for me i tried memorising everything and always played the same sons and after a while i find reading the sheet music hard but i stoped trying memorising and now 8 years later i started memorising cause i know i am good enough and played so much pieces so start with easy sheet music pieces and move on withe the sheet music and you will get better

[@shisakani8396]

I’ve gone 2 years playing the piano, and it’s only 5 months ago I started to get piano lessons to read sheet music (I had been learning everything from midi lmao)

[@tyronepogi3888]

Can u make like a beginner tutorial video? basically like a list of every fundamentals and techniques to learn at every level(beginner,mid,etc.) Pls

[@piano.is.a.language]

Nice review :)

[@ShapBro]

6:47 This. absolutely this is the problem that i have right now. Having to cut your theoretical limit just to do the "right thing" is very difficult because you are so used to hear and see the result of your "training" right as you play, and then BOOM you loose your confidence as a pianist.

[@surrrp0]

I think i am suffering from this. Now....i cannot look at the sheet and play. I have to look at the piano all the time and only once or twice at the sheet. I'll have to start applying this from now on and practice. How are u doing?? Any tips for me?

[@ShapBro]

@@surrrp0 nope. Got no tipps. I'm currently playing easier Pieces and try very hard to play them very slowly. But other than that, no solution

[@surrrp0]

@@ShapBrook. I am doing the same, good luck.

[@kjwong4730]

someone people are just inherently more talented than others…. He’s playing all the pieces I wish I could play and I’m 1.5 yrs in. But I’m also 41 yrs old and only play 30 min a day

[@jhony_tech]

I play only 30min too, I made a lot of improvement, keep doing

[@andybarker8787]

The issue with reading music is the same as reading books. Pretty much everyone knows reading books is better for your brain than watching TV and yet don’t do it because it is a skill you have to develop more slowly. Learning to read music correctly is both the biggest benefit and biggest hindrance to people learning musical instruments.

[@miguelgallegos5879]

How can I start understanding the why of every key I’m pressing on a piano piece? Are there courses for that?

[@YanasChanell]

It’s called music theory :)

[@MattBonk991]

in comparison, i was able to finish the Pathetique Sonata in my first year of piano. BUT, i am taking lessons with a professional which has really helped ALOT

[@sochalant8056]

Wait the whole sonata in one year?????? That's actually insane, good work!

[@katttttt]

​@@sochalant8056 it's on his channel, I saw at least the first movement :)

[@yu-i7476]

Any recommendation for a piano/keyboard to buy.. That incan practice and use it ro perform with a band in the future. Is the yamaha ck61 good?

[@joshbottz]

I've been playing piano for about 14 years, and I only recently committed to practicing 2 hours a day. I miss a lot of days though, it's very hard to keep that super consistent, so I think it's unlikely he kept that up for a whole year.

[@matticawood]

It’s definitely hard to be really consistent when it’s 2 hours like that. I used to practice 6-9am every day which made it a bit easier because it felt like I’d done a days work before everyone had got out of bed, but I also think sometimes it’s best to practice based on what I want to have learnt in a day rather than overly worrying about time. 😊

[@joshbottz]

@@matticawood I completely agree with you, although I tend to focus on more brain-intensive stuff early in the morning from 5-7 (I’m writing a book, also scripting and editing YT videos). I haven’t found a set time to practice piano and keep it consistent every day, which is why my practice wavers a bit. I want to set up that habit so it’s second nature at the same time every single day!

[@CodeineBarbarian]

Ive been doing about 4h a day for 4months now

[@joshbottz]

@@CodeineBarbarian damn that’s huge. Big respect. I tried a 4 hour practice routine but burned out after about 25 days, couldn’t sustain it

[@CodeineBarbarian]

@@joshbottz yeah, my routine definitely doesnt suit many people, but im very passionate about it so I can do that without burning out

[@ReaderofHisStory]

I had an alesis recital digi piano that didn't come with a pedal, just want to add to the piano players defence lol

[@zevelgamer.]

I gotta start practicing my scales honestly man, I'm a beginner and I know only 1 piece (Prelude in C major 846 by Bach) The thing is that I know how to play scales with different hands but when it comes to both hands I just fail. How do I improve that?

[@matticawood]

The Bach C major prelude is a great piece! Coordinating hands in scales is quite difficult to get, but once you can do it…you will have no problem! Try practicing just the first 3 notes of the scale both up and down. Then add the fourth note (with the correct fingers) and keep playing the 4 notes up and down until you don’t have to think about it, then add the 5th and 6th notes and do the same. Building up the scale like that makes it super manageable to really get perfect without having to work too hard and practicing in mistakes 😊

[@zevelgamer.]

@@matticawood thank you so much, I'll try to get each note with correct fingering, I'll also try to use a metronome even though I'm not good with rhythm. Thank you!

[@danielerdos3046]

Not sure if you'll see it Matthew, but what are the beginner pieces you'd recommend instead of Für Elise? I learned it along with Moonlight Sonata 1st mvt, Air on G and some others you'd cry to hear 😂 (simplified Liebestraum, parts of Moldau by Smetana, started Summer Presto 😀) I really like Moldau (and left hand arpeggios), and full, robust pieces (like Waldstein), but usual beginner pieces are super boring and I loose my excitement to learn them. If you could recommend pieces that are suitable for a beginner (like 6 months - 1,5 years of starting to play) and sound nice and has some challanges it could be awesome (and it could be a good video topic too 🤔)

[@Pianobelike]

I find "German Dance in Eb major" really nice and learned it as a beginner (well the last part is kinda tricky lol). Otherwise, (you know that anyway) there are many simplified version e.g. from Interstellar etc etc

[@danielerdos3046]

@@Pianobelike thank you 🙂

[@imprsk6729]

I learned some Bach pieces in my first year - minuet in G... also lots of very short pieces to expose myself to as much music as possible. I used classics to moderns books 1,2 and 3. Then some ABRSM pieces up to grade 3

[@danielerdos3046]

@@imprsk6729 thanks 🙂

[@nhs.14]

Man sonata 1st mvmt definitely isn’t beginner pieces 😂

[@NASTYcraftX]

I work from home and practice 2 to 3 hours a day spreadout through the day.

[@mapleleafdavid]

I just turned 48 and bought a digital piano. I will be learning as a complete newb .I will however take some lessons first and try and learn the basics, proper technique and reading music before I attempt the self teaching phase. I do have about 4 hours every day I can commit to practice. I'm hoping my love of music will keep me engaged and motivated to keep at it aggressively. Interstellar would be a goal piece to play sometime in the future.

[@b3njamMMVII]

Good luck 😎. I loved playing Tarantella which is a grade 2 piece. When you get to that stage I highly recommend😊

[@katttttt]

@@b3njamMMVII lol played it as well, it's fun!

[@robford3211]

I talked to sarod player in India and not only him and he told me when he started he practiced 8 hours a day for first year and then 12 hours a day for next 10 years . And yes he is a great player and yes it’s India and yes entirely possible for beginner to practice 2 hours a day for 2 years

[@Soblue26]

What always surprised me in his learning process is that on his first day he has no pedal, but he puts his right feet naturally at the place where a pedal should be.. on our first day of piano who cared about our right foot placement ? Yeah no one

[@7Wounds]

Great video. What is that at 12:05? lol

[@kpopkimchi9722]

I love when you make these!!! Could you react to the piano progression video by piano&eden??? I feel like its fake but im conflicted.

[@felixseeger9845]

This upgrade 😂😂😂

[@lookupto2921]

I mean that's a great effort but doubt as the same time, how could this be so real because the amount of pianos he has as a beginner.

[@katttttt]

One was in the holidays apartment or something

[@villagerjj]

Over the course of a year, I learned many songs on ocarina, I got familiar with the instrument to the point I could play a song without finding the ocarina tabs for it. I hope to do the same with piano.

[@Acrimonious_Snake]

Is it possible to find somewhere a detailed to-do list, a schedule for self-taught players like: learn A, then B, then play C, then practice D before you play E?.. Without any lessons or instructions, only dry goals. Is there anything like that?

[@matticawood]

I did a video that does this 2 years ago, it’s quite a bad video as it’s too much information and not very well explained…but it’s essentially what you are looking for 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYennp1ojs2ifsksi=XFNJ0S743VwbzieH

[@Acrimonious_Snake]

@@matticawood Wow, thanks!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@pacificbuildingcare]

Would this be 1.9 hours per day every day for one year?

[@LuizHenriqueMiranda]

As an 50yo who is considering buying his first piano/keyboard and start learning to play, I understand when you say how important is to always play while reading sheet music, but then I must ask how easy is to play without it when you don't have one around. I mean, wouldn't you get lost playing without reading when you always do sight reading?

[@katttttt]

You memorize the piece automatically after a while. But some people are better at it, others not.

[@mattsoutham]

Brandon did reach Grade 8 within a few years, he's legit.

[@PMELKUS]

Been at it now about a month and I can play Mary had a little Lamb, I think I need help😢😢

[@LogicalSuppository]

700 hours in one year does not automatically mean 2 hours a day though. It could have started out 1 hour every day, or even 40 minutes everyday except weekends where it could have been 4h +. Just saying that 700h /year doesn't mean the time was equally distributed over that period of time. I imagine he increased practice time the better he got.

[@igo9481]

What’s the name of the piece at the end?

[@nicatquliyev5128]

3:17, I'm a piano beginner, what are those pieces, could you share those names please?

[@katttttt]

The piece you see at the timestep is Für Elise

[@corese75]

*Motivation left the chat* I don't know, to me the guy is playing great and I would be impressed beyond believe when a friend would suddenly play this after one year. I would like to vote for not looking at the flaws. This level will probably not be reached by 99,99% of the players that start as adults or lost focus a couple of years down the line. Even half an hour a day is crazy when you have kids and work.

[@user-pd1vg1qq1x]

Hi Mathew, great vid! what piece was at 15 mins?

[@stellicpiano]

It is chopin's nocturne in e flat major op 9 no 2

[@user-pd1vg1qq1x]

thanks so much! @@stellicpiano

[@user-pd1vg1qq1x]

no sorry after nocturne

[@duartevader2709]

Chopin nocturne in c sharp minor, not the op 9 n 2

[@stellicpiano]

@@duartevader2709 oh yes you are right 😅 I always confuse both

[@johnjohannes5954]

This guy has taken great strides within 1 year! However, there are some striking mistakes : 1. finger positioning is poor -fingers must stay rounded close to the board 2. He has some inconsistencies with the rhythm (especially on the left hand ) , 3. He is not working with the wrist which can cause stiffness and injuries 4. The left hand has to be usually lighter

[@Thelegendofme]

Day 1 learning the C Major scale with proper fingering is actually very likely, I started my own piano journey last year, and the first thing I did was hire a piano teacher, and the first lesson was 30 minutes, in that 30 minutes he taught me how to read sheet music (not fluently, literally just acronyms for each note position), and play the c major scale with proper fingering. After That first lesson I bought a cheap electric piano. And after the third lesson, when he taught me my first simple song, camp-town races, I started putting in 3 hours of practice every day. And jumping ahead in the books by myself. After the second month I was playing everyone's first recital piece: Minuet in G major, I have been improving ever since at a similar rate, hit a bit of a wall when learning fast arpeggios, but I got over it. So tldr, day one proper technique is very very possible. That being said, this guy was obviously faking he started making these videos with at least intermediate skills.

[@adygadgets]

So I’m the only one struggling with hand independence in month 3 😅

[@philipp7686]

try some hanon exercises,you could actually start with the first pages, they are really helpful if you think you struggle if hand independence. Try not to instantly play something together, start by only playing the right hand and then the left hand, if you feel confident enough put them together and keep a slow rhythm. You can gradually try to play it faster if you think you can do it. hope that helps motivates you a little bit :)

[@philipp7686]

to be fair, i don't really think that that is his progress in a year, in the first days I clearly see his fingers are kind of relaxed and curved, that is really unusual for someone that already began and is delf taught, his body also is in a good position, just by these small things I find it a bit suspicious and some sort of a clickbait video. It would be really easy for me to film some clips of me being bad and then 5 months later casually pulling out a chopin etude, but idk xD

[@Pianobelike]

Nope I reaaally found it difficult in the beginning!

[@filoue2583]

remind me of somes ads for a mobile app

[@stellicpiano]

😂

[@kd9419]

If he’s not reading I’m super curious how he’s memorizing these peace’s.

[@great-garden-watch]

At least his third piano!

[@mattoucas869]

Tbf, it seems more possible when you consider the fact that he might have practiced to play a song, not necessarily the piano. What I mean is that he could have just brute force memorized it all without really practicing sheet reading and such.

[@leonw6463]

I think it's fake. I started playing a little over 3 months ago an have been working on fur Elise and I'm just now making thru the second section of the piece an I still can only play it at half speed. I also have an understanding of reading music just due to being in band as a teenager an having to read music all thru highschool.

[@user-vp2uv1xv1e]

Well, actually I have learned all of Fur Elise in five days with pedaling and expression. And i have only been playing piano for two weeks. And i have only spent about an hour a day on it. So I don't believe that it is fake.

[@CreatiVastARTS]

As an autistic person, I just play. No lessons, no Sheet music. Trying to follow along with sheet music, might me insurmountable for me. And takes me away from my music, in what I wish to express and convey. I only play by memory, and by ear. I primarily focus on bettering my fingering, and develop as I play. Sometimes, when I don't play for 2 weeks, I end up leapfrogging progress the next time I play. Often people joke and say, my piano skills age fine wine doing nothing. I guess that's funny.

[@divinedrive5459]

When he started busting out Naruto I got goosebumps

[@zanoryxx4353]

can you do a video on alkan concerto?

[@ciararespect4296]

That's too easy

[@zanoryxx4353]

@@ciararespect4296 i dont see you playing it

[@ciararespect4296]

@@zanoryxx4353 no I haven’t uploaded it

[@bLaCkRoSs3]

Genuine question, how are you supposed to look at the music sheet instead of your hands when you are a beginner and have not memorised yet the keyboard "layout" (which note is where and how it sounds)?.. this is like giving someone a pc keyboard for the first time and expecting them to write down a text without looking at it. It only comes after lots of practice. I am a few hours in and I have NO idea where anything is, it is easier to memorise the notes and then look at the keyboard and quickly glance at the sheet to make sure I stay on track.

[@matticawood]

This is why at the beginning you often start with one hand position (right hand on the notes C D E F G) so your hand isn’t having to move around the piano. This way you can build in the habit of looking at the page without the need for knowing all the notes on the piano. Also practicing scales will train in your ability to move to other parts of the piano by putting your thumb underneath and feeling the keys. Then over time you add more and more notes that require moving hand position and you won’t need to look so often. If you start with pieces that have a lot of hand position changes, you will inevitably be looking at your hands a lot and memorising. Then as time goes on, you will struggle to go back to reading the music.

[@bLaCkRoSs3]

@@matticawood Thanks for the answer! I am very early on, and it's incredibly difficult (I even have the notes written on the keys) (CDEFGAB - I have no clue yet how to read music sheets, yet I'm trying to learn a beginner version of interstellar's cornfield chase .... I guess I should slow down and focus on learning to read music sheets too..)

[@markrenton5791]

So i should not aim for memorize pieces like i hade to do with my guitar?

[@matticawood]

Memorising in itself isn’t a bad thing…it’s a requirement for most conservatoires to play any recitals without music! However, when you are learning, if you want to be a good reader, don’t want the skill of music reading to fall behind and you want to learn the quickest way in the long term…then it’s important to build that skill and make sure you aren’t missing details that you could learn from. Memorising a piece of music will happen automatically after that and only when you know the notes inside out.

[@markrenton5791]

Ok i understand, then i will start learning sheet music now when i am at low level. Thanks.@@matticawood

[@maxx0531]

Mate great video! But your mic has insane levels of sub bass. Maybe throw a low pass filter EQ on the video in post!

[@imprsk6729]

Fine my end😊

[@user-es5jq6yy9l]

The fingering in right hand is incorrect

[@bevtooth]

I don't believe he has only been playing 1 year to get to that standard.

[@junxu4438]

I disagree that you should focus on reading sheet music instead of memorization. Both skills are useful, if I can only pick one of the two, I’d rather be able to sit down at any piano and just play from memory. I am quite good at sight reading, but I don’t remember a lot of pieces I have played because I rely on sheet music too much.

[@pjbpiano]

The truth is, memory will fail you eventually. But reading will not. In the long run, proficient reading is superior to playing from memory.

[@adamlreid]

Once you learn a piece fully by memory it always stays with you, just like riding a bike. You might get rusty after a while but that’s not the same as forgetting. Reading music certainly speeds of the learning process 10x but it is not essential.

[@user-vp2uv1xv1e]

What if you always use sheet music and so you can never play well without it. I'm just saying because I have learned all of Fur Elise with pedaling and expression in five days without knowing how to read any sheet music at all.

[@matticawood]

I would say…as long as you are happy with how you play it, then that is all good…that’s all that matters! However, if your intention is to grasp music more fully then…I would say; you don’t know what you don’t know 😊 Do you know where the cadences are and therefore how to phrase the piece. Do you know where it modulates and what that tells us about the story of the piece etc.? Learning the notes, pedalling and what to physically play is only 20-30% of what music reading is, the rest is communicating ideas 😊

[@user-vp2uv1xv1e]

Yes, but I have only been playing piano for two weeks, so, I don't know what a cadence even is or what it means to modulate. But I do put the emotion into it if that's sort of what those correlate to. I'm not just playing the correct notes at the same volume and speed, I am making it emotional like a love story. But I also do not plan on immensely exceling in piano and becoming amazing. But, there is no judgment here, I think your advice is great for people who want to really pursue piano. You seem like a very knowledgeable man. God Bless.@@matticawood

[@lifeofeddie8185]

Out of curiosity. How could I start to learn piano with left-handed paralysis? And How would I be able to "improvise" to be able to play the same music what others play with both functionally hands? Thanks in advance!

[@Big_Oof]

6:06 subbed just for that

[@katttttt]

😂me too (I get mad when I hear it)

[@arctanx5878]

11:23 totally triggered me haha. it should be a B and not an A#

[@matticawood]

I wondered if someone would notice that 😂

[@arctanx5878]

@@matticawood haha yes, it seemed strange to me that someone musically trained would play it that way. Nice one!

[@hannahben]

I learned moonlight sonata 3rd movement in 1 month self taught

[@stellicpiano]

nice!

[@EjayT06]

😂😂

[@hannahben]

@@EjayT06 why are you laughing?

[@EjayT06]

@@hannahben I’m sorry but that is literally impossible.. self taught, 1 month and you can play a piece on the ABRSM ARSM Diploma list? I doubt it…

[@stellicpiano]

@@EjayT06 wait … you are right, I read 1st movement. I agree with you that it is not possible to play the complete 3rd movement After just one month of piano playing

[@thepianoplayer416]

A fair analysis of a beginner's progress. Reading at a proficient level would take months if not years. Many including myself tend to fall back on familiar pieces. Even a piece that is not familiar we can get the notes memorized or at least get the fingers to play by muscle memory by repeating it many times instead of having to read. Some people including myself are good memorizers while others rely on reading sheet music to some extent even after practicing a piece for many hours. In a performance I've seen pianists read their pieces with someone standing beside to turn the page. And there are those who perform the entire recital from memory. In the learning stage we expect people to be reading off sheet music. When someone like myself repeat the same piece over 50x, at some point I wouldn't need to read. The fact that someone is playing from memory means he/she has been practicing the same pieces for many hours than coming to the conclusion that so and so is not a good reader. To become a good reader, a student needs to play new pieces off sheet music regularly. At some point he/she would be able to play with a high degree of accuracy the first time. Once you repeated a piece many times, it becomes familiar to the point of playing from memory.

[@LiamPearce246]

Does anyone else think that this is completely fake??

[@leonardbackstein9694]

I also agree with that, because he is playing the piano without playing it. He puts no feelings into Chopin's pieces, and doesn't add important things like legato, simile, , pianissimo... He plays like he rushed everything. He never practiced the rhythm and feelings you put in such pieces. I play piano since 5 years, and play the pieces he played, but with the perfect rhythm and feelings. He is rushing, and I'm grinding. Yes I'm not that good, but I at least put time into the quality into the pieces I learn, but he rushes to the next one. Yes he can play his current piece, and he could start a new one, BUT he didn't even grind for the feelings the piece needs. He is good, but I would say he learned without knowing, how to really play those pieces.

[@readingwriter2732]

yea i think the process is very unrealistic, but so do most people under his original video lmao

[@LiamPearce246]

@@leonardbackstein9694 It just looks like he is trying to sound like he is "new" to piano, but he just kind of sounds stereotypical. Not saying that it's intentional---This could be completely real, and I would be happy for him---But like you said, He needs to put feeling into his pieces.

[@LiamPearce246]

Also his incredible accuracy makes me think that this is not legitimate.

[@Mellowyellow8888]

@@leonardbackstein9694 my problem with the "new" is that you watch his hands.. if you had lessons from the start his ring finger and pinky are like way too straight.. when most kids start learning.. we've been told to think of holding a ball.. the technique of the hand seems par for the course for someone with no teaching guidance.. much of the technique is refined by playing scales, chords/triads, and other finger exercises (drills).. like the Hanon books that typically alot of people use..

[@PySnek]

03:20 what pieces?

[@katttttt]

Für Elise lol

[@cavantgarde2430]

6:54 batik

[@janekkebab464]

Hi

[@matticawood]

Hey 👋

[@onemanfran]

He has absolutely no tension in his little finger - his hand position would take a very long time to get to where it is in the video.