The Unexpected Mistakes that Slow Your Piano Progress

[@jazerleepiano]

Which of these mistakes could you relate to the most? 0:00 Intro 0:25 Mistake 1 2:45 Mistake 2 5:15 Mistake 3 7:36 Mistake 4

[@Amankey]

mistake 1

[@teannekuek9643]

Mistake 3

[@Djdjdjdj411]

Hello Sir how are you 😇

[@pradyumnasharma4893]

Mistake 3 & 4 both

[@doublegrace2640]

I really want to play piano as my project work in my finales. I only have two years to learn. Can I really achieve this.

[@BewmieBawks]

Man, I needed to hear that it took 3 months to learn an easy piece when you first started. It always feels like I'm not getting it fast enough.

[@TheMuteSwan]

That's how I feel too! I started learning a year ago and one page of easy music takes ages to learn! I know that with practice and experience I will get better, and more efficient at learning pieces.

[@Keira88]

@@TheMuteSwan it's like that at beginning but if you keep practicing it gets faster and easier 👍🙂

[@frqv]

I would not worrie about learning time after 3 month. I myself are only 8 month in or so and still need alot of time to figure things out. But: It gets better! Slowly, but it do. And if i have the next improvement, when i can do things with more ease than before, it really is motivating. I look forward to the future. :)

[@jazerleepiano]

You're doing good BewmBawks, just be patient and you'll get great results. The kids and ''prodigies'' you see on the internet are generally combinations of mininum 3 hours daily practice + great teachers + extremely supportive parents who manage the practice sessions well. The kids may look innocent and naive, but they have had more time on the instrument than most adults- it just doesn't look like it from the surface level. In the end it all comes down to the hours you log in my opinion. Someone who has done 10,000 hours is going to play and see music in a completely different way to someone else who has logged 400 hours.

[@lastbornrelic3430]

@@frqv I've been playing exactly 8 months too 😂want to share what we have completed so far?just saying I've only played the same 4 pieces for 4 months straight so not much progress more or less 4 months of practice but still what and how any pieces have you learned

[@jewellevy]

Jazer, I've been teaching piano for 30 years. I often send your lessons to my students. Your suggestions are spot on for any level student. Respect and kudos.

[@arthurw8054]

For me, it's both poor practice habits and poor practice methods. Not only am I not consistent, but when I do practice it's too easy to fall into the trap of playing what I'm already comfortable with. I need to develop more discipline and patience to step outside of my narrow little comfort zones. This is an exceptionally helpful and useful channel, thank you.

[@enginerdy]

#3 is called “chunking” and works for all skills and memory tasks. You learn bigger and bigger building blocks, then you can build something bigger and more complex very easily.

[@nahblue]

Not only chunking but also the prerequisite: comprehension. From simpler to more advanced. Let's say you see the chord progression C D G - what you take away depends on music theory knowlege. Maybe you first notice that these are chords that are familiar to me (starting with a very basic, but useful, step!). Then that they are all diatonic to G-major, then maybe functional relationships between them, or maybe you recognize this from a particular song in a different key, any kind of advanced concept like this - this is how more and more comprehension lets you form the chunks of information. :)

[@30ghosts1]

Thank you for this, as a 53 year old who has done exactly as you described, schlepped along with 5-ish pieces I love my entire life, I plan to take your advice of scheduling in new pieces. What has trapped me with these songs personally is that I’ve never truly mastered them. I’ve made mistakes that keep me stuck, feeling I should not move on if I haven’t really “got” them. I hope this may make you laugh, but some mistakes I make are literally from the muscle memory of having begun to learn them in childhood, and not compensating for my hands growing!! Again, I’m 53. Anyway, thanks very much for your fresh thoughts on how to invigorate my practice.

[@hadyanfakhri5967]

0:25 Mistake number 1 : Lack of piece practice 2:48 Mistake number 2 : Lack of technique practice 5:16 Mistake number 3 : Lack of theory practice 7:36 Mistake number 4 : Lack of listening practice The point is, GO PRACTICE! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

[@JWolfe-nq7nq]

The question being: How do I get to Carnegie Hall? 😏

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

@@JWolfe-nq7nq It’s pretty easy: Carnegie Hall on the corner of 57th Street and 7th Avenue in New York City.

[@JWolfe-nq7nq]

@@KeepingOnTheWatch And here I thought it was the intersection of Practice St and Practice Ave. heh

[@iceuul674]

@@JWolfe-nq7nq Add Strymon Big Sky reverb pedal to your piano, it has Carnegie hall preset, then you sound like you play your piano there.

[@JWolfe-nq7nq]

@@iceuul674 LOL. My Casio has that effect. It doesn't make my playing sound any better! :)

[@Robertbrucelockhart]

The speed at which one can learn a piece depends somewhat on what “learning” means. I hesitate to add to my repertoire because I continue to make little mistakes on previously learned pieces. I have this idea (inculcated in me by my first music teacher) that I should not move on to another piece until I have played the current one PERFECTLY. BUT since nothing is ever really “perfect,” that rather subjective standard makes it difficult to move on to another piece. I’m a self-teaching adult beginner on the piano, and there are still troublesome passages in all 8 pieces that I have “learned” in my first year of playing. My fear is always that I’m moving too fast.

[@rebanelson607]

For three months I've been struggling with the beautiful hymn "What Wondrous Love Is This" in A minor. It is not particularly difficult but for some reason I could not get through it without making a plethora of mistakes. I didn't think about going online and listening to a piano version. Thanks for the suggestion. I am self taught and your videos are like a tonic to me! Many thanks!

[@jewellevy]

Don't practice wrong notes. Allow yourself to hold (and hear) one correct chord while you look for the next one and leave out the wrong notes altogether. You must be trying to play too fast.

[@terryrowe8214]

Guilty as charged. Especially prone to playing the pieces I have learned at the expense of learning new ones because it is difficult. But I have forced myself into the remedies you have stated: understanding the composition and how music theory applies or conforms. And trying to understand why I am repeatedly making the same mistake at the same place. Where are my fingers in relation to the next note or notes and how best to get them to the right place. And slowly repeating that pattern and shape of my hands for numerous times. Your training and tip videos are accurate in their diagnosis.

[@jewellevy]

Difficulty learning new pieces is made easier by daily sightreading at a lower level. The better you read the language the easier it is. Stop focusing on one song.

[@jdeeann]

I just found your channel and subscribed today. I am in my 50's so I don't know if it's possible to ever be good at it, but I still enjoy listening to piano music.

[@crystalmontalbano9798]

I have promised my FB friends that I will learn a new piece each month and post a video of it, this keeps me accountable. I enjoy planning what I am going to post.

[@chucky35uk]

Jazer …I have been tinkering with the piano for a number of years but..never see myself anything other that a beginner. In this time I have just about subscribed to every piano teaching/theory channel there is. I have bought about a dozen online progs to help me learn. Although it’s not been money wasted…with your channel, I think I have found my favourite. Love your playing, your ability to describe the pitfalls and peaks of learning the piano. Keep up the good work. 👌🏼🎹

[@Voooo____oo]

Great advice, thank you. I’ve found that I am able to stay motivated and excited most when I don’t box myself into corner - forcing myself, for example, to finish learning a piece before trying anything else. Instead, I just do whatever sounds like the most fun in the moment - sometimes I work on chipping away at a harder piece from the sheet music, sometimes I follow a tutorial on KZbin, sometimes I practice very simple pieces from beginner books (I’ve only been playing a year), sometimes I watch videos on music theory or like this video! But no matter what it is, I try to always pick something that will push my boundaries a little more and a little more. If it becomes a chore, or you don’t give yourself the option of practicing something that is not incredibly difficult for you, you will not want to continue. I think it’s so important to find the way for you to stay joyful - when learning is fun you want to learn!

[@dennisgoingplaces]

Top tier comment here.

[@sindhujaagin2767]

You are a fantabulous teacher, with out a shadow of doubt... People those who don't have even iota interest in learning key board will be glued to the same have gone through your videos... your work is noble worthy...

[@lindaportney4577]

After several times of hitting the wrong note, I write the letter name below the note. And if I still hit the same wrong note, I highlight the letter name that I just wrote.

[@reemachawla6174]

I started playing piano an year ago after learning a few songs on Casio in childhood. Self Learning Music Theory required real determination to not to quit but I am following Benedict Westenra on You tube as well as have purchased his Udemy courses and they have really helped me progress on my goal. Your today’s video is so amazing as I can truly relate to every thing but moving forward, I believe I have understood my errors. Thanks 😊

[@goldenlamb777]

I’m also self learning. Good luck 👍🏻

[@quintonballenden1436]

Guilty but getting better. Can you do a video on tension. I am discovering that I am only able to release some of the tension the more familiar I become with the piece I am learning. Initially it is as if I am clinging on for dear life. I struggle to relax and keep focus.

[@jimh1487]

Mistake 4. Number 1 was a problem for a long time, but now, believe it or not, I now have 40 pieces memorized. I retired 2 1\2 years ago, so that does make a difference. Thank you for the great videos, Jazer.

[@noeprim2184]

I realized has a beginner that learning piano is a lot of dedicated work and a lot to learn to achieve playing correctly. Thank you for your honest tutorial & comments.

[@michaelstanton9697]

Learning new pieces... I don't like moving on to a new piece until I've mastered the one I'm working on. This usually means practising a piece over and over until I can play it mistake free. This is probably the thing that slows me down the most. However, sometimes impatience takes over and I will start learning a new piece before completing the old one, so this has the added effect of slowing me down even further. There are a few pieces I've taught myself that are incomplete because of this. But I've started to see that the practising is having the positive effect of making reading the music easier, and I' not having to stop and think "what is that note again...?"

[@thepianoplayer416]

Over the years I find practice time is relative to how much you enjoy playing piano / the pieces you're working on. In the beginning we'd find a teacher, pick up repertoire books on his/her recommendations because we don't have experience in music. Out of 50 pieces in a book we're not going to like every piece. The teacher would assigned many boring pieces. We do the 1 hour practice and we'd be watching the clock. When the time gets to 57 min. we'd be done for the day. When you get to a certain level and enjoy the pieces you're working on, time flies faster than you can count. During the December break you want to learn "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". It's a fun piece and you'd play for the whole afternoon without checking the time every 5 min. if the hour is up.

[@valerieneedham1301]

No.1 To enable yourself to learn more pieces, you must eventually put aside some of the older pieces, which are by then at the bottom of the pile. This is not always easy when you love them. No.2 I find encouraging a student to actually get to the piano, sit down and start playing is the important part, maybe even agreeing an exact time to do this. Once there, I know they will stay longer than they think, especially when they love what they are doing. No.3 Find a teacher who includesTheory at every lesson, even for a few minutes. There are many Teachers who do not, often just because there is never enough time and never get around to it. It is SO important and a little every lesson goes a long way. No.4 Listening to recordings and following scores is wonderful advice and a valuable and often humbling experience. Really listening to yourself as you play is good too!

[@nelfish1234]

i learned 1 song and basically only played that. got bored and stopped playing. think i might take it up again, thanks for the motivation !

[@ritajohannessen9804]

You can do it 👍

[@yvonnevazsaxena6712]

I did catch the wrong note you played because I have heard this piece so many times. My dad used to play some beautiful classical pieces. You are a very good teacher I must say.

[@olguineb38]

Not learning enough pieces. I didn't realized that I had fixed this problem or that it was even a problem until I watched this video. I wasn't motivated to play because I was only playing/learning one piece and I was bored of it. I do like the 12 pieces in a year challenge. Thanks!

[@johnnewell552]

Before you can be really good at something, you usually have to spend some time being really bad at it. Practice what you’re bad at. That gem was given to me long ago and is priceless.

[@dauntiekay2768]

Yes, I see now that I am going to have to expand my piano world to included more new pieces. You are truly a teacher at heart!!!

[@_RabbitLeader]

I realised as a learner that my finger independence was not as good as I thought it was and went back to basic boot camp to do finger strengthening so that when learning pieces mistakes were more confined with learning the piece and not from an inability to do aroeggios consistently.

[@jazerleepiano]

That's great!

[@kianyap2946]

Relate most to your 3rd mistake. The composers wrote the scores so that people enjoy - not play them (but yes we've to play first). The masters will most enjoy playing their own compositions because they knew exactly why each & every note were placed but learners are score-bound robots. The greatest progress is when we start to play each measure with emotion. Each of us will respond differently but a little understanding of musicality & interpretation of a piece makes us mature players to relate to the pull & push that makes music what it truely is - emotional fulfilling of our own lives experience. That's what makes a concert grand when performers relate. Waiting for your video for more on this.

[@bunnyhollowcrafts]

Pinning down the mistake. I’ve started doing that … awesome advice!

[@jorgerivas1424]

Thanks! Now I don't feel guilty about spending 6 months on a very difficult cello etude. On piano, it's been helpful to do Hanon etudes and also play different pieces during the same practice session. I've recently taken up jazz piano and found that it has improved my overall musical performance in other genres, reinforcing what you are saying about quantity and variety. The flip side is that in playing too many pieces I end up learning morsels and not entire pieces.

[@StartEnjoyingPianoPractice]

Currently I’m learning some jazz piece and it goes slow as hell since most of the chords there are like EbAdd9/Ab. Without the music theory this chord is a bunch of random notes which makes the progress really slow and frustrating. I’ve recently started the channel in which I’m planning to have a lessons about some part of music theory from adult’s perspective, since I’ve also started playing as an adult. Please consider joining if you plan to learn in an easy way something about theory :)

[@goldenlamb777]

I’m joining !

[@perry1309]

Jazer, so pleased you said how long it took you to originally learn those songs. It's such a relief. Great advice too. Thanks!

[@gabbysherrill3154]

I'm going on two years now having learned to play piano. Though I do not play classical, I do apply your lessons to my practicing and to the pop songs I play. Thanks!!

[@jazerleepiano]

That's great!

[@dantevelazquez6670]

I have a problem with not learning more pieces, (and also not finishing them). This video was helpful thank you!

[@lucasmoreno7926]

I know how to play only two pieces, one of them is the 1 mvt. of the Moonlight Sonata. It took me around 1 month and a half to memorize but it means a lot to me being able to play this right now, because it's one of my favorite pieces of all time. And I'm very thankful to you Jazer, for your encouragement and tips for begginers. Thank you so much!

[@deadmanswife3625]

😍😍 I love to see a positive post like that. It's exactly the way I feel

[@genericjoekid1326]

@@deadmanswife3625 Am i witnessing something here

[@deadmanswife3625]

@@genericjoekid1326 no

[@genericjoekid1326]

@@deadmanswife3625 oke

[@genericjoekid1326]

@@deadmanswife3625 sorry hehe

[@p.l.g3190]

How timely!! This past week, I just stumbled onto the idea of listening to the piece you're working on. I'm learning the first movement of Beethoven's 5th, as translated into piano by Liszt, and I was struggling because some of the chords that sound great when played at speed, one flowing into the next, sound awful when played slowly, concentrating on each one. Hearing what it's supposed to be made me more willing to put up with the sounds I was making long enough to learn and for them to start sounding better. Thank you for your videos! Keep them coming, please!

[@johnpawlicki1184]

Keeping me honest I like to record myself then try to listen to the recordings as if they were done by a professional. If the recording is not enjoyable to listen to then I can hear places that need work. This works for learning to send Morse Code as well.

[@ridazahra8582]

The first one is so true for me! For a long time I just stuck to the same old pieces because I was too lazy to learn new ones lol but now and over the past few years Ive been playing whatever songs inspire me (either by ear or youtube) and honestly it keeps me hooked on the piano. Whenever im learning a new piece I cant seem to stop because its so exciting!! And I love the challenge too! And I think it keeps me motivated to continue getting better at the piano so I would 100% recommend this tip!

[@lolawhite3916]

You nailed it! Agree on everything. In the Nocturn a piano player needs to be technically prepared to play 4 keys chords, since the chords are broken in the accompaniment . Just as an example of one out of 1000 other things to know and master.

[@JOHNch4.v.v.7to10]

I'm on my third piano teacher in 4-1/2 years since wanting to learn the piano. Question : So why do I have to come to your youtube channel to learn things like this?? I'm 58 y.o. and feel so 'behind' from where I thought I'd be at this point. I don't blame the teachers 100% because i've slacked over the years, so I'm not in denial. It's just frustrating to see others (especially younger folks) who seem to make quicker, more meaningful progress than what I have. BTW, I thank God (and you) for your channel which brings me much insight and good instructions, and patience!!

[@silverlinings3946]

Your brain isn't as plastic as it was earlier in life, and your progress will come with higher time investment. It can't be helped.

[@jazerleepiano]

So glad I can be of some help to you Tim, never give up, I'm with you the whole way!

[@SSpitz9907]

This is so sweet. At any age slacking w such a self endeavor like piano comes at a cost. You know what you gotta do! Keep on at it and u might surprise yourself!

[@michellebenjamin7091]

Love your channel! By far, the best piano instructor on KZbin. As a beginner, my goal was to learn 10 pieces this year. It is slow going, and I have learned 3 pieces, but still make some mistakes on each. I will use your suggestions to help with learning and perfecting new and existing pieces. Thank you.

[@jazerleepiano]

You can do it Michelle

[@zulfadhly7639]

This is spot on. I am an absolute beginner who just got a keyboard a month ago and I have learnt three pieces now (which I'm still not solidly good at any of em but I did get a grip on how to play em), but i'm at the brink of slowly giving up my piano learning bcoz i found that it takes so long to really master one piece, and i hate the thought that to learn another new piece will take me another long time of struggling.

[@imtherapycat]

I agree that I prefer to practice what I feel most comfortable playing (which I know isn't helpful!) but not knowing what the piece SHOULD sound like is definitely a mistake! Regrettably I don't think I'll live long enough at my age to ever grasp enough music theory to really help my playing at this point.

[@nicklass7075]

I definitely need to work on my weaker areas of a piece and not just gloss over it. Thanks for a helpful video.

[@gregorymarkham3193]

Four fantastic pieces of piano advice. Each one a gem. Thanks fir sharing your wisdom and joy of music

[@hikaryagravity]

It's exactly what was evident to me. It's good that it comfirms what I thought, I feel more in a good way now.

[@goettling]

Yes! New pieces! Waiting for my new sheet music to arrive. I have five pieces that I have struggled through so far. (75 years, restarted and loving it so much) Hanon is coming too. Woot woot! Thank you for your instructional and inspiring videos!

[@liyanpei9732]

I had been learning piano for almost 2 years and I am working on a piece could Bourree by Georg Philip Telemann

[@saleteboni4691]

Jazer, I'm from Brazil. You've been helping me a lot and now I consider you my Piano Teacher. Thank you

[@MissNerdface616]

Good timing for this video. I've been trying to learn a song for 3 weeks and still don't have it. I was getting very frustrated with myself, so it's comforting to hear that it's normal for beginners to take a couple months to learn a new piece.

[@bumblebee58134]

I finished musical school, but I still feel sad sometimes, because we all learned theory and practiced playing the piano, but back then I’ve never thought of connecting both parts together😞 and now I often think of how much in might have sped up my learning process.

[@southpark5555]

That's no problem at all - because in life, there are various paths that can be taken. So - for example, you have learned theory and practised playing the piano. That is good. Excellent actually. And now - just develop other areas that you want to further develop. Your existing skills are guaranteed to help a lot. Also - don't feel sad at minor things. There are lots of people out there in truly sad (dire) situations - eg. major health issue, or living in third-world or war-stricken regions.

[@tintchetia5415]

Thank you so much Jazer! You really help reassure me that I am not alone in my endeavor to play piano. It's so comforting to find out that many of my queries and stumbling blocks are common. I deeply appreciate you sharing your knowledge!!!

[@jazerleepiano]

Rock on Tintchetia!

[@abrogard142]

He forgot the main mistake: having fun. I've seen a hell of a lot of these 'learn music' things and that'd be the main thing they all omit. Having fun. Getting pleasure. Being pleased. Loving it. Enjoying it. Being thrilled or entranced or excited or awed by a sound, by a movement between chords, by a harmony, a melodic twist. Or being bored, disappointed, disturbed, annoyed, irritated by it or any part of it. i.e. the human. Your human soul, emotions, being. It's supposed to be music and the music should be interacting with that part of you. That's what it is all about, in essence, I maintain. Not what it's all about altogether because the world is full of all kinds of people and they come with their own ideas and motivations. You can find people with burning iron hard determination who'll learn a piece on an instrument solely for the 'benefit' of being able to play it in public - to join a band perhaps or whatever. Even though they get nothing out of it as a piece at all. But they get heaps out of 'being a performer'. So, yes, I can't claim that's 'all of it' because it obviously isn't. But I think it is the main bit. And it gets precious little mention. Precious little. Miniscule. Less than 1% I'd say, across all the range of books, article, youtube vids. Play. It is supposed to be about 'play'. Do your scales they may say. Do your exercises. Do your practice. But they never say 'play' as in playing like a child. But that's what 'play' is. You have to open you to the music, surely to god? The biggest mistake beginners make is to listen to their 'teachers' too much and forget to 'play'. There should be a different word for 'play' when it means playing with happiness and soul and love and 'play' when it simply means 'using' an instrument. There's not enough play in this world and one of the main reasons for that is our mass entertainment which effectively means a handful of 'players' teach by example what 'playing' is. And they're such a miserable lot. From the classicist who plays like some kind of machine the most abstruse and technically challenging thing that everyone gives lip service to as 'beautiful', 'wonderful', etc,, etc, to the rock 'artists' who bash out for the thousandth time their number one hit with a total lack of freshness, nuance, delicacy, novel interpretation, presentation of the qualities of music when 'played with'. It is about making pleasing sounds. And listen: the secret is: that's really pretty easy to do. And doing it will lure you on to learn more and more so that you can make even more pleasing sounds. There's only one thing missing: pleasure. Play.

[@MrRestorem]

Very good. I have a friend whose daughter practice’s on schedule, with more focus before playing for an audience. That’s why people always compliment her with “I’d give any thing to play like you do” Are you will to do the practice? Keep ‘‘em coming”. Many thanks

[@irwanibra5904]

WHAT A GREAT PIANO TEACHER....

[@mgbchoralmusic6443]

Been doing an hour or more per day since January 1st. to try and improve my playing and especially reading skills. I could not agree more about knowing music theory. When I took lessons as a child/teen, I just read each note separately. Now I notice chords/patterns/keys in a completely different way. It has greatly helped my reading as I'm not stuck on every individual note once I've analysed the chord.

[@e.j.grandmaison8563]

Thank you for posting these videos. I've been teaching piano for about ten years. My students do fairly well overall but lately, some bad habits have popped up with some of them. I use these as a sort of "professional development" session. As for myself, I wasn't a piano major in college but was a voice major and of course, we had to play a certain proficiency level to graduate. Unfortunately, my family was poor and I did not have piano lessons before college, as so many do. I was in Band and choir and could definitely read music but beyond that didn't have much music theory knowledge. It's true, the more pieces you learn, everything becomes easier. I was asked to play "mood music " at an upcoming Christmas party for a friend. I froze. I've never been asked to something like that before. So, I went and bought 6-7 Christmas piano books at our local music store and just started playing through them (made sure they were all grade 3+ and above because the easier stuff was garbage). What was fairly difficult a few weeks ago is now relatively easy so I'm working on finess and presentation for an expert performance.

[@derinderruheliegt]

I would say another major hinderance is taking tempos too fast before you’re ready. If you haven’t worked out the technical solutions slowly, and just try to “force through” at a fast tempo, you’ll end up 1) practicing mistakes and 2) practicing being tense because you’re not comfortable with the tempo yet. Over the years I’ve learned the hard way that slow practice means learning a piece in MUCH less time ... and that practice makes _permanent_ .

[@zakkcharette1911]

Dude, I’m coming back to Piano after about a year break. I didn’t play a ton to start with but I had a good couple songs I’d play for people etc. I learned wrong the first time (KZbin Synthesia or whatever). Coming back I said I would learn proper and learn how to read. Your tips and constant uploads are so helpful! Been back at it for about 2 months now and its going amazing. I love your channel!

[@davinawilks9060]

Thank you also for your great advice! You're an excellent teacher and you certainly keep me motivated.

[@margaretdines1044]

A very helpful video (as always). All very good tips. To prevent myself from overestimating my practice time, I bought a kitchen timer. I set the timer & I practice until the timer goes off.

[@marciahorton2203]

I especially connected with learning the piano language. I have been playing on a digital piano for about 8 months. I am a member of Pianote but I also subscribe to your channel as well. I have been following Pianote lesson plans so I am a ways from "reading" music yet. But I have been concentrating mainly on practicing the piano techniques, scales C, G, Am, Em, diatonic chords, chord inversions, intervals, arpeggios. I want to be able to play these smoothly and accurately because I figured then I would be able to pick up playing pieces easier.

[@gedelasasibhushanarao3863]

You are a very good teacher So much clarity and confidence is exhibited.

[@tamararoland4987]

You are gifted teacher! Thank you for sharing so clearly. I also have shared your videos with some of my students. Keep the videos coming! Blessings to you

[@limei4884]

You are totally right. Thanks.

[@ВладиславНоздрин-ю6ц]

Спасибо. From Russia with love

[@Gretchaninov]

I've become much more disciplined over time. I think you have to be patient. I like jumping into challenging pieces perhaps once a month, putting everything into them, and then moving on. I've tried several piano concerti now. During the month, I also watch masterclasses or follow the sheet music while listening. There are many different skills which have to come together - memory, understanding the music, coordination, expression, speed, etc. And of course, I try to practise a lot. As long as I do a bit better each time, I think I'm progressing a lot!

[@bluesinamajor]

You played that Nocturne very sweetly.

[@IloveSPIDERZ]

I can totally relate to the playing the same thing over and over again for many years, and I even started getting bored with the piano because of that. But to keep the things interesting, I switched over to the pipe organ, and I'm taking lessons on that! It is a whole new animal, but super fun! That added dimension of the feet keeps a very interesting and challenging! And the legato... I love every bit of it!

[@nallifederico]

What you said is only right. Actually I think I want proceed as you recommanded but I tend to give up on first mistake and time passes. I hope that I can get along with. Wish me good luck. Thank you

[@kvancsahici4161]

Can you recommend a good book to learn music theory? Your efforts on KZbin are much appreciated, great job!

[@ispasskov]

Jezza, the more i watch your videos, the more i can relate to a lot of mistakes and tips that you give. I am lucky enough to avoid most, but not all. Your content is golden, keep up the amazing work.

[@SSpitz9907]

It's like your vids are speaking directly to me! I am a guilty glosser at the moment. I was bordering advanced at a young age. Stepped away for 15 years. Def was not at the same level coming back to it during lockdown. This is a sport where you CAN lose your swing, folks! I made a drastic error of taking on pieces I'm not ready for. Not just with comprehension. Literally, the muscle in my wrist/arm isn't built up enough YET to take on the speed of some of them. I wasted months focusing on where I wanted to be barely making progress in 1 piece. Staying in my lane to build on the foundation for exponential growth would've served a whole lot better. Recognizing your level (weaker areas) and pacing yourself are so important for avoiding the trap of becoming discouraged or worse... starting to worry if neurological issues are at work. My hands were separate beings I could not control! But then you get it, keep getting it, and eventually play right through almost forgetting it was a problem. You are a phenomenal teacher.

[@jazerleepiano]

Keep it up Sharyn, I'm with you all the way!

[@TeachtheLoveofMusic]

Thanks for your thoughts on this Jazer! Cheers

[@pwells2389]

Ah ha! A good reason for all my scales practice popped up in your vid. The incorrect note stood out very clearly to me. Maybe if it was even more subtle I wouldn't have but it shows me at least some of the reason for the incessant focus on scales...

[@judyqiu2108]

You know me so well, you listed all the mistakes that I made. I will start over again, thank you.

[@cipher2508]

Seriously, the points you make in your videos are so practical and good Love the content

[@JD-jv5pp]

I start listen the piece I'm learning. Thank you for the tips. You're great!

[@davinawilks9060]

Very informative! I particularly like the last two! They're so important! 👍

[@pique-nique]

When I was in art school, my teacher told me when I came back to a painting to work on it some more, take a few minutes and ask myself, “What is the next best thing I should do to move this painting along?” Because I did this every time, my work progressed faster and better and I became experienced at recognizing areas that needed fixing or improvements. I find that the same thing applies to my piano playing. When practicing, I look at the music and ask that question. The answer might be to work on the last 4 measures of the piece or a particularly difficult passage in the middle.

[@ThePianoPath]

YES! These are all spot on!

[@joeatelly2912]

I have completely skipped the music theory part. I barely have time to practice even but I agree this is a major weak spot. Thx for your videos..

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

I don’t cut corners when recording my practice time. I do, however, skimp on learning theory.

[@seijiamasawa8190]

im so relatable at the part where it takes me months to learn a piece but now after watching your videos i realize a lot of things and i'm always happy watching tutorials from yoy because the advices you give really helps. I've made a little progress i can learn a piece now in just 3 days thank u very much

[@alejandroastorgareyes7987]

For me I can memorize a pretty difficult song that’s around like 3 to 4 minutes long in about 2 days of solid 2 to 3 hour sessions but to actually play at speed takes me 3 weeks to a month to get down but concerning the biggest mistake I fall into is the one about playing songs your comfortable with and not actually spending your time where to need it

[@dr.archanamuralidharan8891]

I remember learning half of the piece at 1:31 but then I stopped practicing piano and now I have forgotten how to play it, a good tip is to revisit old songs once in a while

[@Mucologist]

Solid advice. As a student, I identified with each suggestion. Will go on to music theory for sure now.

[@markbryancastillo9233]

Hi Jazer. Can you recommend some books for music/piano theory? Edit: if ever you can share some of piano theory books or pdf would be much appreciated. I can relate on Mistake 3.

[@meiyara.manawari]

sameee. tho I am self-studying (Alfred) Complete Book of Scales, Arpeggios & Cadences.

[@kosar7k]

I don't know any books in English....But there is a good and famous one in Persain maybe It's translated into English....the name : Music theory by Mostafa kamal poortorab

[@kosar7k]

Some of the bibliogrophies of the book I mentioned in another comment : Theory of musoc by Ernest Haywood.....The elements of Music by Ralph Turek....Theorie de la musique par A.Danhauser

[@rebanelson607]

I highly recommend JAZZ PIANO TEHCNIQUES by John Valerio. It has everything from Hanon exercises to scales to theory and study etudes, that have been incredibly helpful to me.

[@johnfox8912]

abrsm discovering music theory or how to blitz abrsm theory. professional books!

[@felicidadcorcino8245]

You're very inspiring. Thank you!

[@prabakaranperumal5432]

Splendid explanation Mr.J lee, with the help of hearing knowledge, I started piano learning for just three months and as per my teacher’s advice I just started playing grade 2 pieces . No difficulties in reading notes but problem in identifying the notes without seeing the keys. Please advise me how to train my fingers so that I can play without seeing the respective keys most of the time . I am just 62years . Regards 🌹

[@Gamernova_007]

Can you make a tutorial on how to read and understand sheet music ?

[@salghilani]

Valuable points. One of the best channel on learning piano.

[@pianoman6639]

I adore this piece and still struggle with it

[@man0sticks]

I never play old pieces that I know well because there are no old pieces that I know well. The day I don’t play a piece is the day I begin to unlearn it. The longer I go without playing a piece, the closer I get to square one. So my repertoire consists entirely of the one or two pieces that I’m currently working on. And I learn at a snail’s pace, so that If I want to play a piece at Christmas, I start to learn it in the summer. I should mention that I’m quite old. My unsolicited advice-if you are young, learn as much music as you possibly can while your memory is still good. You won’t regret it. Don’t let youth be wasted on the young.

[@WolfmanWoody]

You're right, not enough practice and too much on the same pieces and even then. . . I feel like Eric Morecambe playing Grieg's Piano Concerto and not even as good, i.e. all the wrong notes in all the wrong places. It's only been 8 months, but thanks and I must try harder.

[@gerrygarcia6247]

Jazer, I really appreciated your tips!! My new challenge is Pachelbel canon in D. My challenge is that I tend to go very fast but thanks to your advice, I'm going slow putting more attention in my fingering. Thanks!! Love your videos!

[@MinMin-dl1ve]

OMG! Sent this to my piano students! They loved it and have improved greatly. Thank you! ( now I know that they have practiced😅)

[@amoghagarwal23]

Hi Jazer. Please make a video on 'Sequence in which music theory should be learned, like the order of learning scales, chords, arpeggios, and other stuff.'