RETURNING to Piano Study? Follow These 7 Tips for Success!

[@l.w.paradis2108]

I never realized what short-term, medium-term, and long-term meant! This was great! You've just lifted thousands of returning pianists out of a sense of failure. Thank you!!

[@bobbygadourymusic5476]

“I was playing the Rach 3rd piano concerto 20 years ago, let me start with that.” 😂

[@gretareinarsson7461]

Bach inventions, sonatina album, Schumann children pieces, Bertini etudes, Schubert dances. All brilliant stuff to begin with and as daily warmups.

[@carlosazambujayt]

Another amazing video, so helpful for so many people! You look like an angel, Josh. If your paying students don't fill your personal budget, God will do it for you, I pray, because of the many non-paying students you so selflessly help.

[@clivegovier2871]

Thanks for honest sharing of your story, making the advice convincing. Thanks in part to you, I passed the ABRSM Grade 8 at age 81. After a break I am ready to tilt to the next stage, Diploma (Level 4 ABRSM) so your video is an ideal help to motivate me go about it intelligently. I liked your illustration of a silversmith relentlessly refining the metal, as you applied it to performing before friends, etc !!

[@stacerogers4008]

Great advice, not only for returning, but also for the continuation of studies. I’ve just finished my final (8th) grade in the Australian AMEB program and have felt somewhat wayward ever since. I’m planning on continuing piano studies and aiming for the next step being the certificate of performance, but the pieces are all challenging so am mixing things up by learning some simpler pieces. Fortunately I’m on no fixed timeline. I also play in front of people at every opportunity. Always get something useful from your videos. Thanks 🎹👍

[@mikedelferro]

Fantastic channel , really improved my playing.

[@barbarafletcher121]

Thank you for this video. I recently started up music studies again after decades of neglect and was so disappointed in not being able to pick up where I left off that, at times, I wanted to kick the piano to pieces. Your last point on brain studies was particularly helpful. I've read some of those studies (some covered in Robert Jourdain's Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy) but never thought to apply their findings to my own struggle. Thank you for reminding me of them, which reminded me of what a formidable task musicianship is (what goes on in the brain is astonishing). Keeping its monumentality in mind has made me (at least, a bit) more patient with myself.

[@ericanthony8641]

Thank you for your insights, Dr. Wright. After 30+ years of teaching vocal music in schools, I retired and returned to piano, my first love. Getting back in shape has been a humbling adventure. I knew a few of your tips already, but others are worth trying because I deeply love all things piano, and I have been blessed with this gift in order to bless others. Thank you.

[@LiliVG]

Was this video useful? Heck no, it was Super, Super useful! Since Josh is so humble despite his considerable talent i will share one of my horror stories. I started piano as an adult and I dropped it for decades devoting my time to my career and family. When I was taking lessons I had a teacher who felt I could play Night Winds by Griffes. I worked very hard and my teacher at the time felt I could play it for a group of students. What an experience I froze midway through…..it marked me for life! Ok maybe a little exaggeration but I have never forgotten that evening.

[@meganneuhoff1997]

Thank you for this! It sums up exactly what I needed and really gave me guidance. 🎶

[@JawwadHafeez]

Best Advice. I face this challenge of breaks of months before starting to practice again. And Josh is so right ..

[@SwahaChris]

Right on time. Thank you ❤

[@stay42n]

I wish I could have seen this video a few years ago when I started piano again.. Thank you for the high quality contents always! Happy Holidays to you :)

[@gorbeenatter]

I always find Mozart great after a break to get a feel for the keys

[@catherineofsweden905]

Thank you! Incredible advice and I don’t know any one else who addresses these things on KZbin! (Returning to upper intermediate after 30 yrs)

[@renelvital]

Thank you for your advice and support! I’m applying this.

[@Piano-rk8os]

Man, this was excactly what I needed to hear. Was ready to let go the piano... again .Now I am motivated. Every point on this list is important.A huuuuuuuge thanks !!!!!

[@laconismo]

Hello Josh. I am writing you to express my gratitud for your music as a very sensitive pianist, and for all your work as a piano teacher. Your videos have been inspiration to restart my studies at 38 y/o.Thank you very much, hugs from Chile

[@nousernamewhatsoever]

Are you spying on me??😮😂

[@izz0408]

Agreed! Haha.he Seems to be spying on my post 25 year return to bad habits of "I could play this lol😂😅"

[@voskresenie-]

performing for others is something I have shied away from since college when I was placed in the most advanced studio at my (non-music) school, but was at or near the bottom within that studio, and consistently felt inferior in comparison. But your observations are spot on-I find when I practice for too long without taking a step back, I become too concerned with executing the sheet music rather than with conveying the music. Although it's not the same as actually performing, I've found that occasionally sitting down, warming up, then playing a piece while visualizing playing it for a romantic partner (regardless of whether I actually have one at the moment), my playing becomes so much more musical, to the point I finish playing and feel exhausted, like I just bore my heart to someone, even though I'm alone. I got the idea from my high school teacher when working on Brahms' rhapsody in b minor. I started playing 3 times and each time he stopped me after a few measures. 'no, that's not it.' I stopped and thought for a minute, and then understood. I stopped thinking about the notes. I stopped thinking about the tempo. I took time when I thought there should be time. I played louder when I thought it should be louder, softer when I thought it should be softer. In the end, I probably took too many liberties with what Brahms wrote, but I believe I actually conveyed the feeling Brahms must have been trying to invoke. At the very least, I conveyed something that I not only wanted, but needed to express. My teacher told me afterwards it was by far the best he'd ever heard me play in all my years of lessons with him. It's not like my playing was mechanical or completely lacking in nuance or rubato before. I've always been praised for my musicality; that is why I was placed in the studio I was in college in spite of my technical abilities lacking a fair bit. But when I stopped thinking about the sheet music at all, I left my brain entirely free to focus on the music I was creating. Then, I can go back to practicing and incorporate that impassioned expression into my playing while working to stay within the bounds of what the composer wrote. Sorry for the monologue here, but I have come back to piano after a 6 year hiatus and am so happy to be back. The last few months of playing have filled a hole in my heart I've had so long I'd forgotten it was even there. I found your videos a few weeks ago and they have been extremely helpful in correcting longstanding issues I'd never given proper attention. I'm shocked to find such high quality content targeting intermediate and advanced classical piano amidst the deluge of 'impress your friends in 30 days with four chords and arpeggios' content. Thank you for what you do.

[@LuisJimenez-nd2pl]

Your piano has a great sound!

[@ronchiles399]

Always the best advice Dr. Wright. Even though I am not at a master level, these videos keep me aware of my focus.

[@marikhutsishvili2243]

Thank you Josh! Very helpful ❤

[@onlinepianoacademy]

Super video!

[@Ravenelvenlady]

Finding your channel is a godsend. Thank you.💖🎶💖🎶💖🎶

[@lonelycrescendo]

Coming back after a year 😊

[@wonderlasting]

I haven't properly studied the piano in years. As for #1, I would like to have that guidance from a trained and educated pianist again, but long ago, I had a very embarrassing experience when a world renowned concert pianist criticized my technique during a lesson. I felt like I wasted his time being there and never want to not be prepared like that again.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

EVERYONE who ever gave up on piano has a similar story. I had teachers who were contemptuous of me or of my immigrant family. I didn't have the talent to overcome that. But I also love piano too much to forget about playing. I need to play. My advice is to work using the best videos for a set time: say, 7 months. Reevaluate every six weeks. Then, at the end of that time, do a sample lesson. Audition the teacher.

[@jeffocks793]

This is top notch advice, and very pleased it addresses my demographic directly! Clementi here I come...

[@thatmikestout]

Thank you! This is a very timely topic for me.

[@bobbygadourymusic5476]

Great advice. Thanks, Josh!

[@lebscot]

Thank you for this excellent advice!

[@makistudio1592]

Thank you.

[@Rikiko722]

I never tried to memorise pieces whatsoever; I don't know why. Maybe I find it difficult to remember or I just like having the sheet music there to guide me. However, I recently realised just how much it has been holding me back, as I started to memorise a small part of a song and It seemed to help so much. It helps with more fluid playing and also helped playing with sheet music. I have spent so much time trying to play piano but regretfully so much of that time has been inefficient. I don't have many teachers close to where I live and so I am self-taught. It is a spectacularly sad waste of time except for the most talented to learn this way. I also know the importance of slow practice, but I find it hard to discipline myself to do it consistently. So many hours wasted.

[@BobbieJeanM]

I have a philosophy that no experience is a waste of time if you learn something from it. Don’t use energy to beat yourself up, THATS a waste. 😉 I applaud your commitment to improve the best way you can in your circumstances. I took piano for a year or so when I was around 10. It was my mother’s choice, I was only interested in horses. Now I am 71 and want to be able to play hymns and sing along at home. Not a very high goal but at my age it’s what is important to me so finding this channel is a step along the path to that goal. Keep going and you’ll get where you want to be with perseverance and determination. 👍

[@VivianLund]

Thank you for the excellent video, Josh. Do you think recording yourself before you know a piece well enough to play without many errors is beneficial?

[@wiolaa19]

First of all, I would avoid playing the whole piece repeatedly with errors because it will get more difficult to unlearn them. It is more benefitial to learn small chunks correctly and record these. After all I think the recording makes sense after you've learned the notes and you are working on dynamics, pedal etc.

[@J.B.03]

Thanks Josh, perfect timing! But how do I now what I can learn in about 6 months? For example: I now that I can learn the Op 18 nr 6 by Schubert in 1-2 Weeks, I think I can learn one of Chopins easier Mazurkas in 1-2 months, but I have no idea how hard a piece should be to take me a few months but not too long.

[@wjkwjk3484]

Thank you so much. I am an adult student.

[@parksu2836]

Hey Josh. I know you've mentioned getting lessons from your grandmother when your were starting. I plan on playing Liebestraum for my Grandfather in March and i was wondering, did you ever feel nervous playing for her? I am looking forward to playing for my Grandfather since hes such an accomplished pianist and organist so i really want to make sure its as sharp as possible. But even though im used to performing the piece for my teacher i cant help but feel shame and an extra tenseness anytime i play in front of people i idolize. How would you approach building confidence while playing/ performing to someone you really look up to rather than faceless people in a crowd?

[@yahyakhazbak4713]

when i read the piece i play at the same time but i repeat this still dont know how do i practice slowly

[@Practicalmusicministryskil4906]

This is awesome- thanks! I share a free, step-by-step music literacy course on my KZbin channel in the hopes of making the skill of reading music accessible to all.

[@rainermarien5869]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏😊

[@patolorde]

What do you record when practing?