How to Bring A Piece to Performance Level

[@ChrisJohnson-w7p]

Thank you so much for the advice. I had fallen into the trap of just doing play throughs. I will now change and follow your advice. Thanks again 👏👏🎼

[@PianoSpiceRackwithJim]

Why her voice just so amazing!?

[@jpturbo98]

I'm a classical guitarist , but your channel helps me immensely. Thanks for taking your time to share your knowledge with us. Take care and best of luck with your channel.

[@imitatefirst]

Ditto from a blues guitarist!

[@Joseph-xx4bw]

you are one of my favorite youtubers :) go on with this awesome job 😊

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

All of these pointers are excellent and easy to take to heart (if you want to excel). What I've done to bring a piece to performance level is to have a mental picture/story that matches what is being played. It helps me (I think) to play the dynamics accurately. Something else too that I know would help me is to perform in a social setting. It's easy to get good in isolation but when exam times comes the nervousness kicks in (couple days ago had my Prep B exam... trembling hands)

[@PianotvNet]

Good call on the story! I used to do that all the time when I was younger, actually, but have fallen out of the habit. I'll need to reapproach it!

[@mmukulkhedekar4752]

Muzio Clementi 's Sonatina in D major op36 no6 For those who wonder what was played in the background

[@emerveille_]

I played this for abrsm g5

[@jh_sports]

I relate to the muscle memory thing so much. Memorizing pieces comes really easy to me and the movements quickly become muscle memory, but as soon as I split up the hands or try to make a tiny change to my fingering, my brain just explodes. This is why I sometimes get stuck, I discover that a different fingering would be objectively better and easier for a certain section, but the one I got used to is just chiseled into my mind

[@MichaelCarter]

Thanks for the teaching about playing the correct notes 3X if a wrong note is played, during practice. Just a little part, like half a measure.

[@marybethdietrick79]

I started taking the piano seriously 8 years ago, when I was 65. I have a great teacher. Your videos reinforce a lot of what she tells me, and give me a lot more to think about. Thank you!

[@984francis]

Well Done. Ditto, but I was a mere 57 (now 62)! I'm currently working on Grade 8.

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

Both to Mary Beth Dietrick and 984francis - that’s amazing! I’m happy for both of you. Too many folks out there make excuses and use their age as a self-imposed limiting factor.

[@imsomaddie]

So helpful, thank you!!

[@zt4736]

as an adult going back to learn piano - this is pure wisdom. thank you!

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

Something I would consider doing is learn to play from different spots or specific measures within the piece (somewhat related to learning 2 bars at a time). This way if I do start to fumble I can continue playing a measure, or even half a measure, further down and not look too bad.

[@VDHmain]

I started playing a year and a half ago, had my first performance last weekend(played To Zanarkand from Nobuo Uematsu) and this video helped a lot on getting it to performance level. I discovered your channel only a few weeks ago but it's definitely one of my favorites!

[@cynthiagunkle7834]

thank you so much for your cheerful insights! I have been teaching for 17 years and appreciate your great way of helping us.

[@PianotvNet]

Hello to a fellow teacher, and thanks for hanging out! :)

[@LunnarisLP]

5:50 giving relationship advices now too :D Actually all the advices on music are usually nice advices for live lol :D Like making clear practice, focusing on improving rather than doing what you can already and building positive habits :D

[@PianotvNet]

I feel the same way! Musical lessons can also be life lessons.

[@gerardomoran2923]

Thank you!!!!

[@ajayseth2671]

OMG!!!Thank you!!!I really needed this for the Bach Prelude and Fugue in E minor. I'm stuck at the developing phase(especially the fugue).Thank you this really helped😀😁

[@MarsLos10]

Piano exams are approaching in 20 days, and here I am, stressed out by those Bach and Chopin pieces I've spent months on learning but never mastered. Thank you for inspiring me to keep it up

[@sammytomp3984]

Have you done a video on how one should approach a new piece for the first time? not for sight reading but just when you're starting to learn a piece

[@PianotvNet]

I don't know that I have. Thanks for the idea!

[@SlushyCheese]

How can a Piano teacher be this cute????????? am I dreaming ???

[@petersijm8493]

Very very good tips!

[@viivuzpiano639]

this video is awesome😄

[@nicoperezgalli984]

This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! Thank you so much! On a side note I have a question: Is the song `When I was your man´ by Bruno Mars really hard to learn for a beginner? I never studied piano before, but I learned the intro in a few hours. Anyone please reply!!!

[@paulpatron6614]

A super BIG HELP for for piano performance at the Conservatory of Music!! :) More to come!... hehe

[@CadenzaPiano]

I'm not sure exactly how to separate "completion" level from "performance" level. My teacher often come with helpful advice on interpretation, and I feel like it is more a "performance" work than a basic "completion" work, and I don't see how we can make a really clear distinction between both. I like to incorporate those advices as early as I can in my learning so I don't have to take a step back and learn again some passages. But the first "20%" has to be done first; the notes need to be placed so that we can work on interpretation a bit.

[@kvnjng]

Great video as always, thank you!

[@BlueDolphinBlues]

Sometimes I struggle to start new pieces because it's so satisfying to play an old piece really well rather than play a new piece with lots of mistakes

[@palexisdempster73]

I love this video

[@nicolaspolanco76]

found it really helpful, thanks!!!

[@davidbernalpianista]

I appreciate all the tips and tricks, however, since I am involved in computer science too, I must note that "spitting out lines of code" requires thinking too.

[@JakeVeillette]

Hi! I thought I'd let you know that I am taking up the piano because of you and this channel! I found it so incredibly awesome how you play these amazingly beautiful pieces, and I was like, "I want to do that!" Do you have any beginner tips?

[@redboombuzz]

Thank you! Never tried playing backwards yet. :)

[@yaakovhassoun8965]

Hi piano tv lady: Do you think it's important for the piece to be completely memorized to be at performance level, i.e. should the student be playing it without the sheet music, thanks

[@alex-my8hp]

in my opinion one should try and get every piece to performance level because it encourages the habit of only ever playing at a very high level and limits the habit of playing to a mediocre standard

[@ryannguyen8498]

Omg I thought there was a hair on my screen

[@TheSunshinedreamer1]

This is an absolutely fantastic video. You said, ",,,the quest for perfection is a (What) one. I couldn't hear because your voice died down till it was no longer discernible.

[@hanselchua6579]

Karen Loader "the quest for perfection is a doomed one"

[@louispearson8306]

hi, first time watching your videos pianist of 24. really enjoyed your input, i may direct some pupils to this video. This is a good encapsulation of some the most important issues a pupil must understand about his/her practice And frankly i am bored stiff of repeating this stuff - London

[@Piddeaux]

How much time should you spend on pieces you've mastered? How many pieces can you/should you maintain?

[@bokumo7063]

'Staccatoey!!!' 'Mistakophobic!!!'. I like your additions to the English language.

[@keithkunikida1222]

Can you teach me how to practice and play Pathetique Sonata 3rd Movement? Struggling with the first section horribly

[@lhillenburg]

You talk a lot about KEEPING a piece in performance mode, but I'm still having trouble figuring out how to get it there in the first place- especially with speed. I'm not a beginner, (6+ years) but I still have a hard time getting pieces up to tempo too- especially fast pieces like Clementi's Sonatina- which is the main thing keeping me from bringing a piece up to performance level. Any advice?

[@TheSunshinedreamer1]

Which Bach book were you playing from, please?

[@mariecohen3052]

In other words, practice more !!! Practice til ready

[@burpo]

My "Chopsticks" is nearly there.

[@moxigeren50gabe23]

im trying to master moon sonata,thank you for the tip

[@delta6244]

What movement? The third?

[@moxigeren50gabe23]

Rainbow Bunchie movement two

[@delta6244]

Just wait until you get to the third one.

[@moxigeren50gabe23]

I'm scared lol

[@VerdantBBX]

I've been self-taught in piano my whole life (I'm turning 20 tomorrow) and I still feel mediocre. Playing things for people is stressful because I don't feel I'm good enough yet. How do i not allow my anxiety to make my performance worse?

[@PianotvNet]

I don't have a good answer for this (I have similar struggles), but I think it's a mental battle. If you're having a conversation with a friend, there's no stress, but if you're giving a formal presentation to a friend, it can be stressful. Reframing a performance as a simple conversation might be something to think about. We tend to think of playing for people as a way of showing our skills, and we imagine them judging us and our abilities as we play. But it would be silly to think about a friend judging you for the way you speak in conversation (unless they're a bad friend). I know this is a little abstract, but I hope it makes sense!

[@tjatadaus6544]

Go learn some chopin etudes maybe then you feel better (youre gonna need a long time for them)

[@kiaraeijo]

The Bach Prelude in C Major was hard to put together but the Maple Leaf Rag was even harder for me

[@mharbaugh]

Maple Leaf IS hard!!

[@TheOpus480]

I've learnt Bach's Prelude no.1

[@Lvl_5_Magikarps]

I'm still working on Chopin's nocturne op 9 no 2. I can play it the entire piece but I have to make it sound better.

[@mawreena-]

How long have you been playing piano?

[@johnnytable9217]

3:45 I Never got pass that first stage.

[@Mads626]

The piece you played gave me flashbacks to my gr 7 exam lol

[@Art.20Abs.4GG]

How hard do you think is fantaisie impromptu?

[@anonunknown7999]

Relatively hard to play. Very hard to play well. It's easy to miss out notes I find, and I have to focus so hard on actually hitting the notes, my mind can barely think about putting emotion in the music. This is why I stopped playing this piece and decided I will come back to it when I am a better pianist.

[@mmukulkhedekar4752]

Shane Thomas Really terrible piece for beginners

[@anonunknown7999]

Definitely! I was a little beyond grade 8 standard when I learnt it first. Even 4 years later, I am not comfortable enough to play it... It feels like my skill is beginning to plateau, law of diminishing returns? I practise far more than ever these days. Not that it would ever stop me playing, there's always other pieces.

[@mmukulkhedekar4752]

Shane Thomas Yeah you are right I would prefer grande valse brilliante but not fantaisie impromptu

[@anonunknown7999]

The Nocturnes are lovely too, Db and F# especially. Far easier in comparison as well. If you play nice, easier music and you do it well, noone can really complain!

[@jimwalsh2001]

And here I am feeling down because I haven't mastered a piece in a few days...!

[@adamgulley1399]

im learning prelude in C well tempered clavier by bach,i have 4 weeks have do i have time?? ive only learned the first page perfectly and memorized

[@HilbertXVI]

Ajgthecreator It's just 2 pages. I would say 4 weeks is enough time

[@adamgulley1399]

Hilbert Black 3 pages

[@HilbertXVI]

Ajgthecreator We've got different editions then I guess

[@adamgulley1399]

Hilbert Black yeah

[@TheKingofnobody]

Ajgthecreator did you learn your piece?

[@sebby96xoxo]

The mistakes is always what gets me like how can I not when I'm supposed to play on tempo 😩

[@kazhanakram5980]

i love you

[@henrybottomsworth]

Sasha Grey in the thumbnail?

[@GarryBurgess]

At the end of the day, I find bringing a piece up to tempo taking forever and forever. I need some brain cleaner to clean out the accumulated rust in my head. I would kill to be able to play fast...no, scratch that, I can't afford the jail time. :-)

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

Garry, nice to see you back! :-) P.S. Jail time could afford you plenty of time to practice piano.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

Garry Burgess If you are a beginner like me, you need to be patient. speed comes very slowly. be happy with performance that is slower than optimal for a piece.

[@lhillenburg]

I'm not a beginner, (6+ years) but I still have a hard time getting pieces up to tempo too- espcially fast pieces​ like Clementi's Sonatina- which is the main thing keeping me from bringing a peice up to performance level.