The Russian Method, Part Two

This is an unedited video of a seminar session on technique taken in April 2017. Shortly after, I suffered a stroke. I am slowly recovering and will continue teaching. The book "Fundamentals of Piano Technique: The Russian Method" is available from Hal Leonard on Amazon. If you would like me to evaluate your technique and make recommendations via video or arrange for lessons over Skype contact me at [e-mail]. Thank you for the many kind comments to my first video. The first video is at • The Russian Method, As... or search on "McKeever Russian." James McKeever, Emeritus Professor of Music, University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

[@melenatorr]

This is so helpful to me, as an older beginner, teaching myself from scratch. These are very helpful and clearly demonstrated techniques. Thank you!

[@PianoExplorerHungDo]

This video opens my eyes! 😊 I just realized I‘m teaching a lot after the Russian Method without knowing that it‘s specific the Russian Method. Thank you so much for your clear and precise explanations. It helps me a lot to organize my thoughts on Piano Technique. 😊😊

[@gobi3222]

Thanks for posting this. Its really helpful and informative.

[@metteholm4833]

I am baffled! After a few months of work with chapter 1 + some later stuff - and concentration on wrists and independant fingers - I have a fast-running machine to learn to control. Madame Conus was right - flexible wrists cannot be overestimated! I am happy!

[@dinocardamone9586]

Excellent introduction. Very informative.

[@user-jk6ku4ug2c]

5 years after) by the way, good explanation.

Thanks for the explanation the proper way to sit on a piano bench. This is also the proper way to sit in a chair, or on a stool, and a couch. The hand and wrist positions are also the same that can be used on a computer keyboard, thus avoiding the dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome. These techniques take the stress off your lower back and spine. I learned this over 40 years ago from my doctor when I had muscle spasms in my lower back as age 24. These techniques will save you from a lot pain, and allow you to practice longer before tiring. Please get up to stretch about every 30 minutes.

[@_lifeofian]

This video seems to combine techniques I have seen elsewhere into a nearly cohesive package that is expertly explained. I will be using this video as reference for my own playing!

[@Elenoro]

Dear James, thank you for your video and work very much. I think these are the most important principles, without it education is absolutely useless! I am studying at Moscow conservatory now with a great teacher, but I had to change a lot of places and teachers before to find out all these basicall things, waste a lot of time and had to change all habits completely. The irony is that this Russian method is not so common for russian teachers. Cause a lot of them doesn't take care about your movements, considering you too 'adult' to talk about basicall things in conservatory. Or just doesn't want to start such a huge process...

[@jacquelinebaxter4750]

Thank you. This is the way I want to learn.

[@metteholm4833]

It is the BEST way!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci for this.

[@johnnynoirman]

Get better my friend!

[@pianoone9004]

To be able to achieve great technique in playing piano is to be able to do any way, many ways with your fingers, hands, arms when a piece requires, only doing one way but not the others as suggested posts limitation to the development of good technique for players

[@joeyblogsy]

Well there are also many incorrect ways that goes unnoticed which involves the usage of unnecessary tension.

[@Thomas11611]

I really want to adapt this technique into my playing.. I feel like I got it, but I would have so many questions to ask while playing.. maybe even ask to speak in metaphors to describe it. Maybe like finger painting or something idk. Like how it feels.

[@DJFusia]

Really Great video but terribly out of focus which is a shame... would enjoy seeing this redone if possible at some point in the future... Thankyou !

[@wielandhartwich3184]

Watch the great pianists playing. How do you explain that there is hardly anyone who does not lift his or her fingers?

[@AndreasvanHaren]

Hi! Will there still be new videos describing the 8 sections of the book?

[@SusanMcKeever]

Right now he is physically very ill. Hopefully. He gets some strength back to continue with this project.

[@AndreasvanHaren]

@@SusanMcKeever Sorry to hear that. I hope he will get better soon. My playing has been improved a lot with the book and the video and I’m very thankful for that. All my best wishes to you both.

[@diegolavia2521]

08:05

[@diegolavia2521]

04:22

[@apug296]

18:29

[@kasimirdenhertog3516]

Makes sense that hand movements should be ‘economical’, but this doesn’t necessarily mean your hands shouldn’t be close to the keyboard, like is said in this video. Watch Paul Barton here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIS5cn9rf8uMiMk - this is about as economical as it gets and yet he frequently moves his left hand close to the keyboard so he can place it in such a position where he can hit the keys without moving it.

[@mythaimusic39]

When watching at this video, I can understand why everyone's here wear glasses ...

[@vaxx2007]

so weird, 20 minutes about nothing. stopped to listen after that

[@miguelaguirre2873]

this shouldn't be the russian method it should just be playing correctly lol

[@Ellatigojusticiero]

To much talk and not demonstration, boring.

[@ictusemidinaz]

The real Russian method is play till your arms fall off or else you’re getting beat with a stick till you get it right... can this guy even play piano ? He seems very nervous and full of it 🤣 Asian method seems to make virtuoso pianist now more then ever anyways

[@linuseike6041]

Asian artists Dont get beaten. No artist gets forced to play. There are more asian pianists because the parents and the enviroment is Much more open to invest heavily in Music education.

[@joeyblogsy]

Asian method is actually the Russian method. Many asians moved to Russia during the Soviet era to receive correct tuition and it had a direct affect on how they teach there today.