when you practice 27 hours a day

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🌐 Riyoko's channel: www.youtube.com/@riyopiano
🎬 Original video: y2u.be/OpVMsBlTZ7s
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#riyokotakagi #smoothoperator #sade

[@twot2224]

this is incredible but also my wrists hurt watching it.

[@victoriangirl83]

Exactly. I have no idea how she sits so low -- worse than Glenn Gould 😄

[@moncef2733]

Don't misinterprete this message... *don't misinterprete this message*

[@pjbpiano]

It means your wrist is a little tight. Nothing wrong with that. However, such positions with be impossible to play in.

[@gtctv7000]

@@moncef2733 bro

[@crimpers5543]

probably works fine for jazz. do this in classical and rekt by carpal tunnel

[@LEGhellnah]

She looks like she suddenly gained the power to play the piano and is exploring it for the first time.

[@rerose9780]

That's kinda how it feels tbh. Something just clicks and you can start playing pieces that are actually fairly difficult lmao.

[@danielche2349]

@@rerose9780 yep exactly lol

[@soogoonu]

She operates the piano so smooth.

[@snoopyjc]

Yeah you might say she’s a Smooth Operator!! :D

[@hartmannf4169]

I wonder what else she can operate

[@MMABeijing]

that s really sade

[@brainwormyy]

@@hartmannf4169 get out

[@soogoonu]

@@MMABeijing she's not sade, she's just concentrating, she knows exactly what adu with the piano.

[@asdfasdfuhf]

She looks like she has no idea what she is doing, yet she is absolutely killing it. That's so funny.

[@gerixtv6848]

Hahaha 😂 she looks funny and cute haha

[@oledakaajel]

Yeah like how is she playing the piano and being a """woman""" at the same time usually having skills requires being human so this looks weird lol

[@raidone7413]

I was gonna say I like how you have to add "that's so funny" at the end to make sure the musician community remembers to laugh or not take it as disrespect but it looks like it happened anyways

[@amihere383]

We love how you immediately took it as sexism and somehow about her being a woman, when it’s literally just her facial expression, demeanor and the intentional way she masked her virtuosity to appear less skilled, and then come out guns blazing.

[@calebyabut3158]

it sort of reminds me of that scene where garth from wayne's world did a little somethin on the drums at the store

[@SoggySandwich80]

This giving “i took a long break from piano and i should see if i still remember” and suddenly you are 7 times better

[@Coco_EC]

This is very relatable

[@alasdairhicks6731]

Its happened to me. Don't know how

[@noobmalkav9732]

Why did she look like she didn't know what she was doing in the first minute and then just nailed it?

[@Kapoompahpeempahpoompah]

Bc one obtains views by playing on peoples biases. In other words she tricked you.

[@vecernicek2]

Because you don't know anything about music. It was obvious she is advanced about 20 seconds into the video.

[@0yoon0]

The answer is in the title !

[@janfkarel92]

I guess she’s in trance but I’m as confused

[@Gerard_2024]

@@vecernicek2 Noob Malkav wrote "in the first minute". You wrote "about 20 seconds into the video". So, on the basis that you got there 40 seconds faster, this gives you the right to tell him/her that he/she knows nothing about music" ?

[@Moshugaani]

I feel like this type of music can blend into the background too easily and you won't really appreciate it truly, until you see someone doing it. It seems so unnaturally easy for her! Amazing!

[@Xolin11]

maybe that's why people are addicted to short bursts of performance these days

[@LogioTek]

​​@@Xolin11 haha she's amazing and has bursts of fireworks during live shows like intros and outros to her original compositions: kzbin.infoV_8JGEh1ucI I never miss an oportunity to stream her live shows when available (praise the age of Internet), even though there is a DVR function with 2 weeks of archive on the streaming platform, I always wake up early to see it live, there are always surprises at her shows (like amazing 11 year old kid drummer named MoMo you see in the link above who she's promoting - he wasn't listed for this show's promotional material - he was pleasant surprise) and improvisations, ad-lib solos, and licks you never heard before and won't hear from anyone else

[@classicalmusiclover4029]

How can she play sitting so deep? Wow!

[@habbi1974]

my very same first thought. not the optimal position, my wrists would hurt after two minutes of playing like that! but it seems is no big deal for her.

[@careyviton]

My hands would fall asleep and then the arthritis will kick in!

[@botagasss]

If it’s a hard piece I definitely sit upright and my hands are at proper height. However, when I am very tired and just want to improvise something, I do find myself sitting like she does.

[@memehorse3658]

I can play that low too! I mean my computer desk is high so... lol I have no choice

[@matthewclarke5008]

She must really want a light sound, and her sound is nice and light, usually smaller women sit higher to access a louder sound/more weight, big men tend to want to sit lower to access more of a quiet sound. I find there's a sweet spot where you can access both.

[@Fantasticleman]

Her dynamics was such an emotional roller-coaster of sultry and passion. I loved every second of it.

[@kiaruna]

She looks sad and unsatisfied, yet she delivers those amazing keys like a queen

[@rerose9780]

I think that's what makes this so beautiful

[@xaiyeon_xiuzhen]

i luv the lost look in her eyes but still playing amazingly tunes. she definitely radiates the vibe of pure confidence and is making something out of nothing. wow

[@pianobar-bartoszsobczynski1321]

Playing so intensely for 5 minutes straight takes concentration to a whole new level. Sade would love this cover for sure. Your uploads are like stumbling upon a gold mine every time around. 😎

[@Annihilator_5024]

i acutally think it's the opposite! even though she's very focused, its not meant to give off more of a laid back vibe.

[@bboyo8307]

There is no concentration

[@seb3082]

@@bboyo8307 I mean there is, you gotta stay focused or else you get mind blanks. But yeah it’s mostly just muscle memory, especially if you practice 27 hours a day lmao

[@hatsumeyukashi1832]

@@bboyo8307there is definitely concentration. There are always hard parts in pieces and songs and you need to be aware of them or you will be. Making sure you’re able to reach some chords or play dynamics right require concentration. If they didn’t concentrate it wouldve sounded a lot worse.

[@frykenarnemusik6465]

In the olden days, before the advent of online dopamine-o-mats, people are said to have been able to concentrate on the same thing for up to a whopping 15 minutes! Although, it is also said there were dragons back then. I'm not sure whether we should believe all the legends and myths that are passed on...

[@TimothyGondola]

Edit* PDF is now up in the shop, check description box for link~ Riyoko Takagi plays Smooth Operator by Sade! Today's Sheet Music Trivia (first to answer correctly gets PDF): which mode is Riyoko playing in mm.105?

[@stephenweigel]

Dorian (over G) then Phrygian (over A)?

[@user-kw1xj2mi7y]

Gm7→dorian, Am7→phrygian i guess

[@mrcneale]

C Mixolydian

[@c3N3q]

Crazy tooth fairy mode. Don't look into her eyes!

[@elunico13]

C mixolydian. The original key is in C. The scale in measure 105 has a minor 7th (Bb).

[@kanenomoja]

You know someone is good when they play something very challenging extremely well and they make it look easy. She’s taken this to a new level, “I’m just sitting here, while my hands do whatever this is…” Wow!

[@jgwmain]

I love the way this song is written. The Sade interpretation was spot on. She played softly and I think she expressed the piece beautifully. Sade’s voice rarely uses any slightly louder tones than the tones Riyoko eminated.

[@HotRatsAndTheStooges]

OMG I knew I recognized the melody and when it really kicks in it's still a little diffuse but it hits you like SADE, THAT'S SADE! man that was tasty. Will def check out more of her works cuz this was bomb as hell. Wow and also her soloing is impeccable. It's got mixture of her personality but it just fits the song and melody so well. She's not like, showing off or going all out. She's ADDING to the music. This is super impressive

[@robertdouglas8314]

Yes, too much showing off on youtube. This is just smooth. I like it. But she looks very worried.

[@suriachen27]

She had ever played My one and only love so good. Even at the very start she played it effortlessly

[@OUTL4W-69]

What's the name of the song

[@clintwestwood4545]

@@OUTL4W-69 Smooth Operator

[@konapepe]

The keys are practically at eye level! The fact that you play so well in this position…

[@jasonsan9517]

She is ridiculously GOOD!!! I could listen to this for hours!!

[@MuhammadKhan-vm5ow]

this is really weird I don't think i've watched a performance where the pianist is facing directly at the camera staring into it every couple of seconds.

[@solonchristine]

Me, too. Which is why her hands look big.

[@herobrine1847]

Wait there’s a piano

[@jordanjacques8463]

This smooth operator is smooth

[@joshbottz]

The smoothest operator I ever saw

[@micheleh3851]

Timothy, thank you so much for posting this arrangement by Riyoko. I've had my eye on this for a long time and on my list for you to transcribe!!!

[@DavidRodriguez-vo9xu]

And how did the transcription for you?

[@micheleh3851]

@@DavidRodriguez-vo9xu I sometimes commission Timothy to transcribe music. I don't need to ask him to do this one now since he's done it and posted it for everyone!

[@DavidRodriguez-vo9xu]

@@micheleh3851 sorry, I meant, how good is the transcription. If you already play

[@micheleh3851]

@David Rodriguez- Timothy did an amazing job! I think the transcription is spot on.

[@jtg2525]

This is just so insanely good.

[@TommyLikeTom]

the people who are making these kinds of videos with the sheet music are changing the world. Can you imagine what this is doing for music literacy? The next generation of musicians are going to be super-powered

[@artserg965]

я сам в шоке, как можно это подобрать на слух??

[@whatdaro]

Finally people are paying attention to Takagi-san, an absolute talent on a completely different level.

[@therealexpletive]

excellent rendition of sade. riyoko is absolutely a powerhouse on the keys.

[@j-dub5163]

It's the fact that some of those rhythms are so complex and she's just playing like she's in dream land. Amazing.

[@rexy83]

I couldnt play sitting that low but to each their own still a great performance!

[@brandonscott3012]

This sounds so good. And she plays it so casually. I love it. I hope to reach this level of skill someday.

[@UenoBR2007]

Thank you so much for posting this!!. I've been listen to Ryoko for almost 3 years and this is was the first video that I watched and it still give me chills.

[@PINKALIMBA]

Just woke up from a 10 years coma, didn't remember anything but found a digital piano beside the bed.

[@dougie6897]

When a brilliant classical technique meets the neo soul chords of Sadé

[@davidbourke.icu.iseeyou]

I have never seen a performer so connected to the performance. A revelation.

[@bunkydunk7500]

I like that arrangement very much, and the performance. Both the writing and the playing are very strict, totally accurate and heart felt. It would take me so long to analyse that piece through music theory, but it sure would be fun. Great video!

[@mfunekomnyani7288]

She is the real "smooth operator". Sade would be proud of her for the rendition.

[@nicholasclem]

the amount of time it took for me to recognize she was playing smooth operator was astonishing

[@benharmonics]

Amazing! Such great improvisation, and so effortless! 😍😍

[@selohcin]

NONE OF THIS is improvised. All the notes were shown at the bottom of the screen. Also, this was not "effortless". I guarantee you she had to practice this piece hundreds of times before recording this video.

[@LogioTek]

@@selohcin she plays since she was 4 and Jazz since 17, her specialty is improvisation, you are welcome to check her channel (link in this video's description) and watch her play 2+ hour live sessions at Jazz bars without sheet music, only hearing originals through headphones and improvising, EDIT: the notes you see here were transcribed by the person reposting her video, she barely uses any sheets

[@DavidJao]

It's absolutely improvised, but not effortless if you count the 27 hours a day of practice that you need to get this good.

[@qcard76]

What a smooth operator

[@jkleylein]

Once you've played it ten thousand times, you don't even need to be there anymore.

[@LogioTek]

except she just sat down and improvised it after probably dabbling a little, it's one-off

[@DeepCrossing1]

Fantastic voicings, such lush dissonance

[@onlythistube]

Wow... wow... What an amazing version and smoooooooth interpretation.

[@ultimatefab]

Best version ever of Smooth Operator

[@saintpierre5184]

it starts off like "yea, i can probably play this" to "i will never be a true musician" in a matter of seconds

[@LogioTek]

good to see some people here actually understand what's happening here, she's improvising it as she goes... ...and for others that don't get it, I have whole 2 playlists filled with Riyoko's live material to help them understand what's up: kzbin.info/aero/PLFHWS95Y95wuBd7-o1T9IxmZoB1bvTpoF kzbin.info/aero/PLDmmxnLbBETjYYg9ZumV43PmB0yjxcrnf

[@rajivtamang285]

For beginners like me it's just magic.

[@avyeris]

its magic for all of us

[@Milark]

@@avyeris Ive been playing daily for over 5 years and I’m just about good enough to be able to comprehend how skilled she is, which honestly makes it even more impressive. I’m nowhere near her level but it’s inspiring that I can vaguely make out the road to get there.

[@Navonodo]

It's like the music of Sade via the stylings of (a sorta Latin-ish) Bruce Hornsby via the posture of Glenn Gould. Weirdly, she doesn't sit that low in any of her live videos, as far as I've seen. As a pianist who has dealt with carpal tunnel and tendinitis, it makes my wrists ache just watching it...but there's no denying she's very talented. So, hey, whatever works for her, right?

[@curiouslamp2841]

How did you end up with carpal tunnel? I’m becoming increasingly worried about injuring my own wrists as a young pianist.

[@Navonodo]

@@curiouslamp2841 basically it happened over time when at was at college for music but also playing in a band and for theatre rehearsals, and not taking the time to insist on being provided with a proper adjustable seat. I.e. playing in church halls on beat up old uprights banging away over a tap dancing chorus, and the piano was on castors but the bench was not...and you start to accept that as normal, until one day you can't play because of the pain...

[@isaacbowen7623]

Very nice dynamics. Beautiful performance.

[@LilBurdJJ]

Talent devalued.

[@David-R.]

I'm speechless!!! 😍😍😍😍😍 This so hard to play, but she makes it look so easy. That's what professional means!! And she's beautiful too!! That's my dream girl right here.

[@DannyGmusicc]

Superb, she’s a smoother operator wow

[@SegNode]

One of the most beautiful and creative uses of "iv v i" I have ever heard, wow!

[@ayokay123]

She's one smooth operator indeed.

[@オールマイト-y1f]

Best version of smooth operator

[@elzhandeadpool3436]

Так необычно. Ни намека на напряжение. Она играет так легко и непринуждённо.

[@artserg965]

она просто очень талантлива, это одарённость!

[@ThewayofTehuti]

1:58 "Smooth operator" Smoooooooth operator😁

[@1881Gordon]

She looks startled, like she's just been 'hexed' by an Evil Talent which will only last until 12 Midnight after which it'll disappear😂 In all seriousness though, absolutely mesmerising. What a performance!

[@stevewhite5045]

She sure gets a lot out of three chords!

[@HieronymousLex]

It’s a Sade tune. Hope you realize most music is built off of a few chords

[@yubijutsu8821]

The level of smoothness and control is amazing, not to mention the low seat height, Huge respect.👏

[@АнарЖумабекова-ж9з]

Professional musician. 😍 Takes ages to play like that

[@LogioTek]

lol some people here trolling saying 1-2 hours a day is enough to play like her, I made this 60-second short clip about what Riyoko can do on piano for all the troll on her videos: kzbin.infovLu1Hwbv8LY if you watched her live shows - your head would explode, and here's a video where she trolls the audience by having them play rock-paper-scissors and then last person standing went up and gave her a random 3-note input with rhythm, which she used as a theme to improvise for several minutes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5KrqnSOZZarras (playing starts after 4:10), her technique aside, to improvise on that level you need to be born gifted and put in tens of thousands of hours into her craft and she has

[@pianosenzanima1]

@@LogioTek good job my bruddah!

[@LogioTek]

@@pianosenzanima1 lol since I completely unearthed and rebuilt the profile of Riyoko Takagi as an artist, I should probably just leave these channel links here, since they are the only definitive guides to Riyoko as a live artist: youtube.com/@logiotek youtube.com/@Riyo-Live

[@christophcloren4740]

The good old standartfrom SADE in new outfit - fantastic !

[@2GooDProductions]

Thats a really smooth operation

[@DeathlyTired]

Really good. I've often thought a lot of the tunes on that first Sade album were ripe for re-examination.

[@kirbonn]

that sounds really good wow

[@Prawno2]

I can't imagine watching her doing a live concert but lovely to listen to.

[@LogioTek]

Why is it so hard for people to realize that she's sitting so low to fit into camera frame without cutting off most of her head? Keyboard stand is fixed, camera is moved as far back as possible for wider field of view, the only thing variable is the chair height. And here's some of the stuff she does live: kzbin.infovLu1Hwbv8LY I see no issues there, that's a piano virtuoso right here that's been playing piano for 35 years (not a typo), she knows what she is doing, in August I watched her play two back-to-back 2-hour shows (1.5 hours if you remove MCing) with an hour break without a sign of fatigue, improvising half the music in each show, in fact she warmed up and blasted it out of the park in the second show, final 27 seconds of the clip I linked is from the 2nd back-to-back show, she's a heck of a firecracker🧨 I haven't heard anyone improvising with such energy before in recent times

[@ivandj707]

I'm sure Sade would love this rendition. ❤❤❤

[@michaelalejandroalbamartin2895]

BEATIFULL

[@siya.got.simple3037]

She's a smooth operator

[@ericchang1018]

Bro thank you for doing the lords work

[@kirbymia6209]

That is so smooth. Their fingers effortlessly glide over the keyboard 😳 so amazing. Seems so effortless.

[@k3rok939]

One can say she's a smooth operator

[@michaelshapiro1543]

"Their" fingers? How many players, d'you figure?

[@helloworld7818]

She's incredibly good

[@artserg965]

Блин, я раньше так хотел получить эти ноты!!! Наконец-то, спасибо автору канала, ты не менее гениален, чем эта леди!

[@theconjugate5204]

She officially owns this song now. I am just completely captivated.

[@thhkdi]

My sims after being forced to practice piano for several days straight and having their needs met with shift-click cheats:

[@luisabaillod2068]

Joli swing tout en souplesse et dextérité nonchalante

[@lyricsrythm3193]

So smooth 😍

[@Kirrrri02]

just danced with my dog to this banger

[@789armstrong]

On another level!

[@Fav.234]

That was amazing! 🙏🏽

[@koomky]

Loving keyboard is this...this and that...

[@wangledteb5671]

Was this all improvised? I'm so blown away holy cow

[@selohcin]

No, none of it was improvised. You can see the notes she's playing right there at the bottom of the screen!

[@wangledteb5671]

@@selohcin Yeah, i mean i figured it was transcribed after the fact

[@LogioTek]

​@@selohcin why do you keep trolling saying nothing is improvised when she's KNOWN in Japanese Jazz scene for her improvisations

[@_vLinks]

​@@LogioTek Yeah but this is smooth operator lol. Though I don't doubt there's some improv mixed in

[@_vLinks]

@@LogioTek Completely agree, I've seen 2 of those videos but one other I haven't which is always welcome

[@arnoudhoekema]

She operates so smooth!

[@cloudcaf3]

she's a smooth operator

[@maxdoubt5219]

Beautiful. Both.

[@ren-6410]

Hahah true

[@theodorehui]

curious why is it not notated in F key

[@Relativizor]

This is scary good. Love everything about it. One reason you follow Timothy, even if you don't play the piano, is that you get a consistent stream of gems like this one.

[@voyt80]

Riyo doesn't play piano, she IS the piano!

[@timmusician5060]

I practiced 27 hours in one day once. It opened up a new Super Mario level but in real life. Now Mario & I are best buds 😃

[@timmusician5060]

Beautiful playing btw 😄👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@OrbiliusMagister]

At 4:30 she combines two themes ("Smooth operator" and "L.A. to Chicago") like a stretto in a fugue: is it improvised or prepared like in a written score?

[@LogioTek]

improvised, that's her specialty, I pay to stream her live shows, I don't know a single female pianist who can hang with her when it comes to improvisation - if I had to pick one person to listen to for the rest of my life it would be her, Riyoko has everything Hiromi lacks - broad genre and style diversity, the feels, and fireworks: kzbin.infoV_8JGEh1ucI

[@yujiplays2271]

omg.... I NEVER SAW SADE ON PIANO BEFORE.. this is amazing

[@RABrillantes]

Awesome Smooth Operator piano version.

[@cesarcoloma1554]

Smooth operation of the keys 😁

[@MightyManotaur22]

The transcription shows how crazy some of these chords are.

[@bh5606]

She enjoys her work.

[@juan.espinosa]

Nice version of "Cool Operator"!

[@AlexeyTarasov_Victar]

Потрясающе исполнение! Очень необычная манера. Мне все время казалось, что руки совершенно другого человека. С таким лицом не играют так тонко сложнейшие вещи, и так легко! Просто чудо какое-то

[@НичегоСвятого-с9х]

Это была сложнейшая вещь?)

[@AlexeyTarasov_Victar]

@@НичегоСвятого-с9х для меня. Не переживайте так. Для моего уровня сложнейшая.

[@НичегоСвятого-с9х]

@@AlexeyTarasov_Victar совсем не переживаю! Просто, если это Вам кажется сложнейшей вещью, то какой же вещью вам покажется, к примеру, такое: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYSXd2Wvh6-NraM

[@AlexeyTarasov_Victar]

@@НичегоСвятого-с9х намного более сложная вещь. И прекрасное исполнение. Спасибо за ссылку

[@НичегоСвятого-с9х]

@@AlexeyTarasov_Victar Вот вам тогда ссылочка на весь концерт! 12 трансцедентальных этюдов Листа сыгранных к ряду в одном концерте. Уникальный случай! И не просто сыгранных, а сыгранных с непревзойденным мастерством! На пределе человеческих возможностей! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2qrm3qLqcufkMk

[@veilofmayo1538]

She looks like she’s being forced to play at gun point but secretly enjoys it

[@aspi7850]

I JUST NOTICED ITS SMOOTH OPERATOR 🌶️🔥smooooth operatorrrr

[@static-san]

Wonderfully dreamy cover of a very distinctive song!

[@danieldoh2561]

bro, her hands are huge. A gift for pianists to be able to reach those 10th intervals lol

[@edwardk8477]

Just casually slaying

[@ThaMarkOfBuddha]

She's a smooth operator ❤