The ACCENT EXERCISE - Improve Evenness and Control

[@argem6770]

I love when Josh goes off on his stories about Daniil and Sergei.

[@sergeisavitski7339]

I was in Sergei’s studio at CIM overlapping two years with Daniil, so there is a good probability we dined together, but no distinct memories spring up. I agree-two of my favorite pianists.

[@argem6770]

@@sergeisavitski7339 So cool!

[@joshwrightpiano]

I hope this exercise helps any of you struggling with evenness or control in your playing. I've seen great results in my own practicing, as well as in my students' playing when they apply this exercise. I hope you're all staying healthy and safe during this COVID-19 pandemic!

[@brianbuch1]

Social isolation means more time to practice!!

[@language.fit.aleman]

What is the KZbin award you have there? :-)

[@Laurapicomusic]

Josh. THANK YOU so much. Just discovered your channel and inmediatly recovered hope. I almost didnt learn anything during my piano degree. My teacher just asked me to study more, and repeat and “sing properly” without any details on how to do it. I was supposed to discover everything by myself and, being that inmature, and with a very low self-estime in my late adolescence I didnt do it properly. I’ve been lost for years since then, thinking it was too late for me. I’ve Been reading lots of technique books but nothing arrived me as much as your videos. Seeing you play, extremely well, and explaining this good is very generous of you. The world needs teachers like this. Thank you very much again. Already subscribed!

[@RXNNER]

Yeah that exact same thing happened to me, bad teachers are the worst kind of people

[@jimjenkins8442]

Mr. Wright, I truly appreciate you sharing technique tips/exercises. Several great pianists have done that and it has helped in every case. thank you!

[@pattitus1398]

The Nocturnes meet the Accent Exercise---what a perfect experience for so many, (especially me). I'd certainly look forward to that, and I just happen to have been considering the last one. It's such a jewel, just longing to be played as you just did a few moments ago, without my too long reaches and hard landings!

[@yorgosalonikios1122]

you daniil and sergei impressions where SOOOO good 🤣🤣🤣

[@fernandorangelpinheiro2544]

Excellent ideas that really work

[@brianbuch1]

Hi, Josh. Thanks for all you contribute. Sometimes I think I'm "cheating" on my in-person piano teacher, but when I ran some of your practice methods by her she was thrilled that I was taking such an interest as to pick up suggestions from wherever I can. Her only condition is that before I commit to anything I learn elsewhere, I run them by her. So far she's endorsed just about everything of yours that I've shared with her. Unfortunately she's so old-school that she doesn't own an internet device, so I can't point her at your videos.

[@Duskofoolacile7]

Thank you so much Josh, I really appreciate you showing us this kind of exercises. Keep it up teach!

[@lakmalnishanta637]

Thank you. I find this really helpful

[@ziraiah]

I was searching for tips for accidental accents. I'm so happy I found this video! Thank you so much.

[@ziraiah]

Oh my what a difference after one practise! :O I'm definitely using this as a warmup every day with another your exercise. I mean that one with only first and second finger, and then only 3,4 and 5. I feel like your tips have helped me a lot, and I just found your channel. Thank you! ❤

[@tolueasalako]

Thanks so much for this exercise! Please do you have a video for evenness while playing chords.

[@biancastephany_]

Really great tips, tks!! From Brazil!

[@josephschepis7258]

Hi Josh: Another great video. All my practice sessions begin with scale work, arpeggios, chromatic scales, and thanks to this video I will add accents. Great teaching on not only rhythmic timing and accenting. Thank you. Joe.

[@MsTwiggy28]

"sorry to keep you"? I mean, I came here for all the tips you give you should NEVER apologize. Get as nerdy as possible, I'm sure we all love this 😍

[@metteholm4833]

Thank you very much! Hanon is, in fact, great - as long as we keep wrists loose.

[@miwir1248]

Great video as usual, very useful advice. Thank you. You’re a born teacher!

[@robertacamilleri2031]

You are a Godsend!! I started focusing more on technique with my teacher and I found it difficult to get the exercises and scales even. This is great thank you!

[@borisjevtic9110]

I belive I heard this exercise from Mr. Fitch for the first time. Its a really useful exercise! No wonder even maestro Babayan use same exercise. :)

[@anar3915]

Really helpful! I can't wait to try it on my next practice session. Thank you!

[@QualityPianoEducation]

Amazing tip! Thank you very much. Will apply it myself and share with my students, too!

[@SwahaChris]

Thank you, Josh, for generously sharing such valuable tips with us.

[@nathanfischer8066]

Thank you for your informational videos, they really helped me with the Chopin etude op. 10 no. 4

[@ChochePianoTutorials]

Great lesson Josh! Thanks!

[@marthaaston]

Well done! Love this tip! Thank you!

[@jamesowen8623]

thank you for this.

[@alexeonbel4304]

Thanks for this, I’ve been looking to improve scale speed and I notice my biggest issue is my eveness and my touch when I go thru my 4 octave 16th note runs. I’ll definitely try that exercise.

[@k_ttmusic]

Thank you!

[@thesiliconvalleypianoteach9468]

Thanks for posting such quality information. Could you please make a video about how do you choose repertoire for yourself? How do you decide what to learn and what is your process? Thank you! :)

[@bdhjzbcdhz971]

Wow, what a coincidence, I was just looking for these types of exercises because my teacher said I need to learn evenness in notes before I can add my own interpretation of the piece

[@JamesZhan]

Do you recommend going through all the Hanon exercises for a RCM Level 8 pianist who has some weakness in evenness and control?

[@ohsoleohmio]

piano is wlaking running from one note to the other the more you can practice this the better you get , hanon gives you the ability to focus on this practice it many ways and increase the number of notes you practice a day by a long way. I dont have any rcm or other exams and level one sight reader at best but i can play etude 10 1 and 10 2 after three years evenly musically unfortunately rythmically is alot harder and so i am practicing hanon with metronome now as well. id say an in built rythm that works across rubato an overall view of this a human pulse that changes music from bars phrases motifs to a whole piece of music is a balance that needs more than practice but a healthy human spiritually no looking back or forward living in the moment awake and aware to open the subconscious naturally to natures rythm , i believe you already know hanon can help for everyone if they use it correctly to fix the millions of things you can find need improvements if you listen well enough

[@jamestang96]

Hi Josh, hope you're doing well! Appreciate your hard work and humble knowledge sharing! I have a little question on practicing on upright pianos, slightly relating to the topic of evenness. Does playing with the 'soft upright pedal' (hammers closer to the strings) engaged sabotage my true control of dynamics? I believe it is easier to play softly per se on grands but how does control truly compare? Comparing to the touch on grands without una corda suppressed (Probably not clearly written or too generalized but I hope you get the idea) Any suggestions encompassing would be much appreciated. JAMES (Self-taught pianist)

[@jamestang96]

@Landon Gerstman Appreciate you response Landon. Yes I do mean the "una corda" on the upright. Thanks for stating it feels weird (comparing to a grand piano i assume) using it. I guess i'll have to spend some time practicing and adjusting to playing very softly as is. For what it's worth, I am playing on a 'lower end' upright piano Yamaha LU90PE, Indonesian manufactured. JAMES (Self-taught pianist)

[@jamestang96]

Anyway I would like to reframe my question, if anyone else would like to contribute their opinion please do. Question: What is the best way to play/practice on a standard upright piano when the objective is to achieve both musicality (contrasting dynamics) and technical touch (transferrable skills especially to a grand piano)? Some points to consider: Usage of upright soft pedal - easier to play "softly" - but compensates on and messes up touch?

[@jamestang96]

@Landon Gerstman Hi Landon, thought to give you a little update. I've went playing on the upright without using the left pedal and it felts so even. It takes some effort to adjust playing soft but that's nothing compared to how EVEN the touch felt. In retrospect, playing with the left pedal did make the keys feel weird. In my own words, it felt like the keys were flooded/floating in/on mud, if it makes sense. And i believe on a grand piano, there is minimal variation on touch (with una corda pedal) since it only shifts the action horizontally. Thanks for the advice once again. JAMES

[@bjornviir3333]

Josh great video as always, any chance you can do one for tips on chopin polonaise f# min. just the tough synchronized hands 16th notes part, its just a killer

[@kelvinhua202]

What's the name of the piece at 9:00 ?

[@BeknurAlievvv]

Chopin nocturne op 72 no1

[@pleaseexcusemydeeplyawkwar4972]

I hypothesize that the momentum from the accented note is transferred over so that there's less effort when playing the following notes, because of the law of conservation of momentum.

[@jonathannewbylrsm2544]

Hi Josh, excellent video as always, when I record myself and hear it in slow motion (50% of the original speed) I can hear lots of rhythmic and hands are not exactly together too which makes me feel depressed. Which one of your videos will help me best to improve rhythmic evenness and playing completely hands together?

[@Luca-yg5qx]

As always very helpful exercises Josh! I think if I didn't discovered your channel I wouldn't play half as good as I do know. Just wanted to say thank you❤

[@Cardstacker]

Something that helps me also is fake playing. I play the piece just barley touching the keys and not pressing them down at all. Gives a much lighter touch.

[@amosasante4962]

Hey Josh thanks for your lessons. I have been into jazz and gospel for sometime and I want to know something about classical how and where will u recommend I start from.

[@crehenge2386]

Check out his propractice videos

[@ChadChaddington3316]

Hello Josh you have helped me go through so many problems while playing and I wanted to ask you whether I can have a successful music career because I started learning piano when I was 8 and now I am 14. I didn't take music seriously then but now I am serious and want to improve my playing as much as possible. I just finished Chopin nocturne opus 9 no 2. And now I am starting to learn lacrimosa. Please tell me whether I still have time or not because I feel that I wasted a lot of time and wanted to know whether I would be able to play at a professional level...Thank you..

[@alicialou5823]

Sushma Pradhan ofcuz u still had time. I started 13 and i stopped at 17 and now im 24. Now i have the exact same thoughts as u. Go for it!:)

[@danielcardoso7026]

Your piano tips are great, thank you! And I also learn english with you hahahhaa. Best regards. From BRAZIL! 😉

[@urmomatm]

Your Lie In April is an anime that intruduced classical music to a lot of people. It got me interested. Plz make videos about the songs in the anime. I would like to learn Wrong Note but dont know how to tackle it since im a self tought late beginner new intermediate

[@Ariana-dn4mm]

hm wrong note etude just play with a metronome¯\_(ツ)_/¯ you may want to at least find a teacher just for a few lessons to check your technique and if it may be way too hard tho

[@mebanntalang9870]

Im.the one having this kind of problem,,thanks josh for this lesson

[@markbra]

Hugh Grant plays great !

[@seanbollin714]

Funny, I came here to figure out how to play more evenly on the 3rd Chopin Prelude - and you just happen to have it as an example.

[@bernhardm.3118]

I was looking for this. I had problems with my scales specifically whenever my thumb goes under, I always play it a bit louder. Thank You! By the way a very beginner question for anyone whos reading this but do you guys practice all 36 scales everyday or do you spread them out throughout the week?

[@Luca-yg5qx]

I spread them out throughout the week, you can't practise 36 scales a day (well you can but you won't make progres at any of them). And because you are saying 36 scales: Don't forget practising the chromatic scale !

[@sophias8382]

I do scales for 3 different tonal centers a day so it takes me 4 days to go through everything, and I take the other 3 days of the week to do other stuff. Could also do 2 tonal centers a day for 6 days a week.

[@bernhardm.3118]

Awe Thank you guys! Really helpful❤❤

[@bernhardm.3118]

Wont forget the Chromatic scales Luca 😄

[@bernhardm.3118]

@@sophias8382 Got it, now I just have to search up the meaning for tonal centers. Need to catch up with my theory lessons :)

[@ChanningWalton]

I’d really like a neurologist’s thoughts on why these techniques work for us, and why.

[@elizabethvhwong]

Josh, could you make some "all playing, no talking" videos for us to enjoy? ^^

[@nihilumaeternum6555]

Elizabeth V. H. Wong If this is what you're talking about, he has recordings of pieces on KZbin.

[@ST52655]

This is excellent! Thank you