Why most piano players fail | Sven Haefliger | TEDxFHKufstein

Many adults would like to play the piano, but whether they started playing in their childhood or later in life, they often ended up frustrated. This was not due to a lack of talent, but their approach to learning was not effective. Sven Haefliger demonstrates his unique, holistic approach which equally combines structure and creativity. Sven Haefliger started playing the guitar at the age of ten. Even at this young age, practicing guitar was something he enjoyed and was very passionate about. A few years later he began sharing this passion by offering guitar lessons to others. Sven started to play the piano in his early 20’s. He was immediately fond of the concept of 88 keys. He was intrigued by the possibility of playing something meaningful after only a couple of hours, even for someone who lacked technical abilities. Very soon he started teaching the piano to adults only. He came to realize that for most of his students, practicing is a struggle. This struggle was fueled by unrealistic goals, false expectations and wrong methods. There was no system made especially for adults to learn the piano. Even though there are thousands of books and apps - nothing seemed to meet all the needs of an adult learner. So, he created a framework to learn playing the piano, that included a balance of creativity and structure. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@alphaleonis986]

A kind woman in my neighborhood heard me sing when I was about 12 and asked my mother if she could teach me piano (we were dirt poor). I did some work for her in 'payment', but really she gave me more than I could have possibly worked for. That Christmas I received a cheap keyboard for Christmas from an unknown person, though I know it was her. I practiced for hours a day. I loved it more than anything I'd ever loved before. It has been 28 years since then and while I had some off and on again times with my learning, I now have students of my own and do independent music composition work. None of this would have been possible if it hadn't been for a kind piano teacher who decided to do a kind deed. 7:10 Also.... actually you can change the operating system on your phone. I have GraphineOS on mine. Had to wipe Android off it first.

[@cdu379]

This was so moving!

[@mailywong9612]

Thanks so much for sharing such a beautiful story

[@barbmoody4892]

I started learning to play at 68 and I am still playing almost 3 years later

[@FS02012]

Yea but its almost impossible to get to level 8 to 10! You will be stuck on basic. At 68, anyone under 45 has time, but it takes 10 years to master this is why.

[@espressonoob]

​@@FS02012 there are definitely older players who start that late and end up being able to play works like mozart sonatas and bach preludes n fugues. of course you won't be playing a liszt concerto, but I don't think they're expecting that either. they're okay with that.

[@michaelskywalker3089]

Good luck with your playing. The great thing about the piano is that after about two years in there are a lot of aspects that come naturally such as finger placement on the keys, finger and wrist position and even sight reading ability at least at the basic level where anything can be figured out. For me, the skills of isolating hands was as important as the later step of bringing both hands together as this reinforced the sense of rhythm which was necessary to eventually bring the possibility of musical expression. Do not be afraid to improvise as that leads to simple melody and harmony creation.

[@blaze8643]

@@espressonoob I started at 15 do you think if I am dedicated I can play Liszt transcendental Etudes when I’m older

[@espressonoob]

@@blaze8643 yeah of course lol you're young. just focus on being the best musician you can be, learning everything about the subject and building up your foundations. you don't start with a liszt etude, you work your way up like everyone else and with proper practice you will make it my dude.

[@brandtl1486]

At 42 bought myself the best gift I have ever purchased. Piano lessons. Having a coach that I had to answer to every week kept me on task. Three years of lessons I can say the piano is now not a large piece of furniture in my house. I can read a sheet of music even if I can’t play it. I learned about music history; I learned about chord structure. really enjoyed it. I still play from time to time. I am by no means a competent player but I am happy for the experience.

[@oldunclemick]

As long as it brings you pleasure, that's all that counts.

[@dianalynn3600]

I started reading music and playing at 3 and at 67 i am still playing. Cannot remember ever not playing.

[@DavesTreeFarm]

If you cannot remember, it could be a sign of dementia. (I'm just kidding you)

[@ciararespect4296]

Must be a longggggg piece

[@thehumanpractice2985]

Nice!!!

[@argemirotorrico4531]

@ciara respect lol

[@kylejones1532]

You must be able to play like a absolute monster these days lol

[@Mariealife]

I believe everybody plays the piano to express their feelings. It’s the main goal.

[@migatocomeoscuridad]

very beautiful

[@Sophie-lf9zn]

Interesting! Personally, I learned to play the piano the 'traditional' way, studying, practicing and playing the pieces by Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and many more musical geniuses. After a while I kind of just taught myself how to improvise and compose and yes, I enjoy these aspects of playing the piano too, but I still prefer playing classical music. It's a lot of work to learn a classical piece by heart but as soon as you know it it's on you to interpret the music your way and you can really put all of your emotions into the piece, plus mastering a difficult piece with really complex techniques is just beyond satisfying to me.

[@georgemichel7354]

Was looking for a comment like that, you juste have to hear different interpretation of a same piece to see how expressing a feeling can be done without improvisation... tempo, key pressure, slight offbeat, pedals, so many way to modify a sonority. That's just the reason why classic concert still exist

[@Jule03747]

I completely agree.

[@mailywong9612]

Agree with you , I like pop music but I love classical music

[@colunizator]

he doesn't teach you playing piano, he teaches you music

[@howardlitson9796]

He teaches music appreciation

[@davidalvarez297]

No. That is not teaching music at all.

[@nixe007]

@@davidalvarez297 tgggg) g) ggggggg) g) lllg) ggggg) ggggggg) gllglggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg) flflflfrr (fid R 0evlc5l

[@tommaxwell429]

Most music teachers do as well. I think he missed the mark to suggest that piano instruction is primarily finger poking without theory and feeling. Nonsense! I have experienced that very little. I am no concert pianist, but I know enough to understand you can't learn piano or any instrument without a healthy dose of theory and instruction in harmony, melody, and rhythm. He left out dynamics which is really the emotional part of music.

[@amorfati4096]

I concluded, He’s Teaching Piano to Non-Musicians.

[@FromG2eminor]

I teach a 75 year old and she loves it. It's her cheap therapy mentally, physically, and emotionally.

[@NikhilKumar-el6vz]

I learned the piano at a younger age, now I'm not great, you could say I'm intermediate. But if there is one thing I've learned, it's to learn the basics, then learn to relatively read sheet music, and then train yourself to translate songs just by listening to them

[@kiseesx9080]

I agree with you

[@rowenveratome]

I mostly taught myself how to play the piano mostly by improvising. If I liked something, I played it again. It is possible to be an experimentalist about playing by trying random things and seeing what emotional effect they have. Some stuff will sound bad and some stuff will be interesting, and that's just fine. My taste in music is a little weird, but it brings me a lot of joy, and there is still a lot to learn.

[@lucboellinger7733]

Exactly the same ! It feels good to read this from another person ! Also I checked your channel, it's gold ! Beautiful sensitivity ! I subbed :)

[@rowenveratome]

@@lucboellinger7733 Aw, thanks. And it's cool to see how many people relate to this idea - I feel a bit less alone in it.

[@lucboellinger7733]

@@rowenveratome Yes indeed !

[@user-dj5ev8ru1f]

Lol those people that started piano to have a relaxing experience.

[@ezaudafi]

RIP

[@lopezweissmann2644]

well I did at 17 (18 now) after playing and the trombone for 9 years and the piano has been quite a relaxing learning experience and i think it can defenetely be for everyone who has the right approach

[@tkenafolabi3483]

🥴🥴

[@thehumanpractice2985]

@@lopezweissmann2644 It depends what you're playing for. But in general, most people will find themselves uncomfortable with the discipline needed to study and play most instruments.

[@thepianopeep2227]

I've been a classical pianist since I was 6 years old, and I can confirm that it's not relaxing at all...or that's just the way I was taught. Lots of discipline is required to play pieces with flawless technique and emotion simultaneously.

[@scottcoletta]

Reading some of the comments, I'm reminded of how baffled I am at how misunderstood music is... even by accomplished musicians. I completely agree with Mr. Haefliger's ideas and his approach. What people don't seem to understand is that if you can't do something, then you don't understand it and don't have any justification for explaining how it works or judging the authority of anyone who can do it. It's as simple as that. I'm 41 and have been playing piano for as long as I can remember, completed a masters in jazz piano and have been teaching and performing for over 20 years. But none of that matters. What matters is what I can do. I can read, play by ear, improvise, compose, and arrange. There are definitely others who can do those things better than I can so they obviously understand things that I don't. But if someone who can't do what I can do believes they understand more about it than I do, they are mistaken. So if you're looking for a piano teacher... it's simple, the more they can do that you can't, the more you can learn from them. Classical teachers usually don't know much about creating and improvising, so you probably can't learn that from them if that's what you want. And of course, just because someone can do something doesn't mean they can teach it. That is where I think the biggest problem lies and Mr. Haefliger is definitely heading in the right direction in that regard. He's doing a really great thing showing people how to break music down and really appreciate it and learn it the right way.

[@zapiano]

Thank you Scott, highly appreciated

[@ilyanemihin6029]

Thanks for comment. Today is my -1 day of playing piano) and this approach is very important to me for starting. Also I've found out there is Jazz (piano) course on MasterClass site. And by this TED talk I realized this is this all about.

[@balladin9200]

That’s exactly why you shouldn’t learn technique from this Twinkle Twinkle star Master Sven. He’s basically dissing everyone who doesn’t have his point of view of composing is real music, although I agree he doesn’t have the requirements in skills to talk or atleast I never saw the skills. A beginner learner shouldn’t talk like he’s been through music war (talking about Sven here).

[@UltraLeetJ]

how different this world would be if music education was done right.. as other fine educators say time and time again, the instrument is merely a tool for expressing yourself. Even classical music has its roots in improvisation. Composers were taught from the very start how to create, improvise and understand music intuitively. Of course there was lots of discipline and complexity and that should also be something people should commit to, true for learning anything in this world.

[@tommaxwell429]

Can't say I agree with this. I understand what you are getting at but to suggest that only the very best musical performers understand music and the rest of us dolts misunderstand it is bit of a snobbish view. One can certainly appreciate and enjoy music a great deal without putting in the hours and discipline it takes to become a concert pianist. Some just are not able to develop the finger dexterity or coordination necessary to do so. That is like saying I can't go to the theater and buy a bucket of $20 popcorn and a $10 coke and enjoy a movie if I haven't become an A list actor or famous director. Nonsense! It is actually people and more importantly teachers with these types of beliefs that turn people off to any subject. Unfortunately, too many people who get into teaching see their expertise or talent as the end all to life and it is they who have not learned to appreciate the varied interests, skills, and talents of others.

[@youssefhajar1522]

Nobody gonna talk about this man's V O I C E ? He is like Bob Ross on piano 0_0

[@ssfjor]

"You cannot be wrong, just play these little notes living there..." I say: Yes!

[@jakefastf]

The greatest music is born Of despair, eccentricity etc. most people don’t suffer these

[@georgemichel7354]

That's about composition, not playing piano tho

[@MsFunambule]

What if I enjoy playing somebody else’s music, practicing it and learning it by heart? I finished a music school and honestly, I haven’t been taught to improvise or compose. But I read notes and if I like a piece of music, say, a theme song from a movie or a classical piece, I can learn it and enjoy the process of recreating whenever I want. When I play a well-known piece myself, it also becomes my own, a part of me. It’s the same with famous books or movies.

[@dallasstiles118]

If you have a formal education you're part of the way there, it's just rearranging scales basically.

[@ruez2kill]

There are three main points he started off with, and one of them was "creativity". People he asked mentioned this, and probably there were quite a few of them so he specifically made it one of the major goals for his students to work towards. Anyway, do whatever makes you happy , it is also one of those major goals (joy). I just want to point out that many classical pieces are quite self-sufficient and there is very little or no place for variations or improvisation...but there is plenty of room for that in some pop melodies, i.e. if you are not singing along, just play the melody once then try adding some variations and then expand further and turn it into a full fledged improvisation (that's one of the methods used by jazz musicians, btw).

[@tommaxwell429]

Exactly, he missed the mark. This is piano snobbery in action.

[@rouxenophobe]

Lesson 25: but I want to learn to play a song!!! No, first you must be one with the C chord...

[@vaxkido2194]

Lmao

[@neromax100]

Best comment 😂

[@jenniferemmons8738]

I have become ONE with the C CHORD...still can't play a song...any suggestions??

[@alek6208]

@@jenniferemmons8738 play a song

[@paneuritmiachile3490]

Thank you for developing the Zapiano Method, Sven, it’s perfect. It helps me to feel and observe step by step through “Learing by creating” in a guided and structured way , how easily someone can progress , after years of frustation because of not having the appropiate method! Margot

[@InsaneKiraYT]

Im glad that I found this teacher some years ago who showed me what music is really about. Keep it going 😁

[@kerstinladewig5314]

Thank you Sven, your presentation shows once again how useful it is to play with the Zapiano method to achieve a quick success. I am glad that I can practice and play with this method for almost 2 years.

[@NikhilKumar-el6vz]

Doing this simplifies piano a lot and then you can play to your hearts content

[@JanKuester]

A very well thought-through approach to start learning the piano, indeed! I have been lucky to find this speaker here (his name is Sven) to be my (online) teacher, when I started learning the piano as a complete newbie almost 2 years ago. If you consequently follow his idea and lectures (also known as ZAPIANO, if you'd like to google and find his course), the progress (this is my opinion, but other students that I know, agree) is quite astonishing :-)

[@zapiano]

Jan Kuester thank you Jan 😌

[@31416]

Highly interested. Yet everything appears to be in German only. Would be sad that no English be offered as he speaks it very well.

[@Raylan-T]

Glad I came across this I’ve played bass in rock bands on and off for 30 years and have always wanted to learn to read music and play piano and decided to learn completely at 60 years young. I plan on taking this approach to heart

[@fabiand.2895]

I have been a member of Zapiano since I have started to play the piano in early 2017. For me, this is really the perfect way to learn the instrument from scratch because the teaching method is unique and you don't need any previous knowlege. Thanks Sven for all the great work you put in this and for teaching me how to play the piano the right way!!

[@zapiano]

thanks Fabian!

[@maywww]

This guy makes me fall in love with piano immediately

[@briantyhy4880]

I received a piano two weeks ago and have been teaching myself. Watching your video I realized that my method of learning the instrument is very similar. I pulled a piece of sheet music out after about 10 days. I am lucky to have a good understanding of harmony and chords because of my guitar playing and guitar knowledge. Today I was playing 1, 6, 2, 5 in c and then d and making up single note harmonies on top of the chords. luck it thanks for sharing

[@stevereich9687]

Once I had failed as a piano player, I decided to become a composer, and dedicated myself to writing music using diatonic chords and really easy rhythms, and also decided to only attend concerts where they only played my music and no one else's. It worked, and I achieved international fame! How lucky for me that most people only like music when it's in the background of something else! Anyhow, back to the loo. - Steve Reich, composer

[@LMKCello]

Whether or not this is the real Steve Reich, thank you, thank you for this comment.

[@scamlikely1442]

Yeah everytime i go thru spotify top 10 im like WTF i must be too complicated. Thanks man.

[@maxmeier532]

@@LMKCello Yeah I am sure an 85 year old internationally famous composer writes comments on TedX videos on youtube...

[@mybrandnewfunk]

@ 17:17 was the "ah-ha" moment. What an amazing elegant framework Sven Haefliger has created. What an amazing and elegant way to distilled such a complex concept into a simplified process of Harmony, Melody and Rhythm. Amazing!!!!

[@zapiano]

Thank you Steven, Sven

[@tryhardplayharder97]

Immense point of view. Very different and one of the most creative ways to learn. Will defiantly be returning to this video regularly whilst at the piano.

[@stefanrose3923]

Amazing, it's nice to see my teacher from Zapiano here on this platform. A great talk about your method!

[@zapiano]

Thanks Stefan!

[@livelearnandteach7402]

Wow thats my first lesson right there and it seems achieveable. Thank you.

[@creativesource3514]

I have played since age 7 and was classically trained. I have decent technical ability and can sight read most things. But in my 40s I started learning jazz and realised I would have learnt it differently. It has a lot of theory but there is a lot of ear. Jazz pianists play a lot by ear, improvise so each time they play differently and there is a lot theory. That's how classical musicians also learnt several centuries ago but something got lost in that world. So now I teach my kids under 10. They do grades but I stress developing their ear and composition. They are learning jazz theory from me. That's the age where creativity can be best exploited. Piano teachers need to take notice!

[@mjdorads]

This sounds like a meditation session, so relaxing.

[@Majestyc1968]

Sven has such a nice way of teaching such a complex thing as playing the piano so easily and understandably. The Zapiano method is perfectly suitable for adults. I am also over 50 years old, I have been there since January and it is a lot of fun. You stay fit in your head, have always new goals and constantly new experiences of success. Many thanks Sven. The course is worth every penny.

[@zapiano]

Joachim Wagner thanks Joachim

[@mahaazeem8229]

​@@zapianoTV E🎉😂g, es so lex pvunl l😂k wine

[@Angelina-pi2cc]

My uncle used to slam down the cover on the piano when I was little when me and my sister tried to play. Feels good to learn and take agency over the adults that never ever encouraged us as kids.

[@aesthetewithoutacause3981]

I'm 16, have been playing since 5 and plan to continue as long as I live. I feel so blessed that the conditions were just right for me to have a good amount of skill and still enjoy playing deeply. That is, I took lessons from 5-10, took a break from playing, then 11-14, and now I'm skilled enough to teach myself pieces. The lessons totally demotivated me and I never enjoyed practicing, but they gave me the skill to do what I do now - wander through the compositions of geniuses long dead, tapping in to their worlds of emotion and linking it to mine. Personally I find playing classical music from sheets (my favorite is Chopin) in an expressive way, viewing a piece as a journey rather than individual notes, deeply gratifying. I managed to get here somehow through traditional teaching methods, but I feel like I just won the circumstantial lottery given how many others have ended up quitting entirely before they had the skill to play on their own or before they discovered what sort of music spoke to them and how to truly connect with it. We need more teachers like you. It saddens me how many people miss out on such a potentially emotionally and spiritually satisfying hobby simply because of an outdated method of teaching.

[@tyleranderson506]

Just started learning piano on my own very excited I already play tin whistle learned entirely on my own from books and a big Key for me was listeng to many versions of the song I was practicing and playing along with some

[@joyfulfishman5445]

Heck yea that's awesome

[@josephstockman9091]

Hey! I am 18 and have been taking lessons for 9 months now. I started playing when I was 15 but it wasn't really serious, all I did was memorize basic modern pop songs. As I began to progress I asked myself what I want to do with piano, so I took piano lessons. They tremendously helped me despite only have been taking them for a short amount of time(I've been currently on hold because of Covid-19 with my piano teacher). I went from playing basic church Hymnal and chording and memorizing melodies from Ed Sheeran to Bach, Tchaikovsky, Chopin...etc. I absolutely love Chopin and I feel such strong emotions like they're kind of talking about their life. One of my favorites is Waltz in C# Minor Op.64 No.2. But anyways I'm really exited to hear about how you've progressed. Wish all the best!

[@aesthetewithoutacause3981]

@@josephstockman9091 ah yes I play Waltz 64-2 often as well! The Nocturnes are my all time favourites though. Thank you for sharing your story and I wish you well on your musical journey :)

[@rdean150]

You can experience the emotion of past composers, but can you communicate your own emotions to others through an original, improvised piece? I'm sure you will find it transcendental.

[@Flowcastfm]

Great Sven! the zapiano method is great. I know the system since the beginning!

[@michaelskywalker3089]

We always had a piano in our home, although my Dad played hymns and light country/poprock tunes I was the only one to play. It was easy to play for me but I got bored with it and never worked as hard at it that I needed to. Today at 55, I find myself enjoying the struggle to learn guitar. It is an odd frustration in not being able to apply my musical/piano skills to my guitar playing. It is ok, because I look forward to getting good enough to play for other people. I find it easier to express emotions on the guitar but find the reliance on arpeggios and limited chord choice difficult after being able to voice 4 note chord progressions like in the beginning of Bridge over Troubled Waters. I do admire those who persevere in learning the piano at an older age or independently without constant guidance, because every achievement is proven to be earned. Nevertheless, I plan to come back to the piano and apply some of the music theory necessary to master the guitar to an intermediate level.

[@jimholmes5971]

Wow, I have never heard about learning to play the piano in this manner. thank you so much for sharing that I look forward to learning to play the piano.

[@mariiaerg5138]

Just have started Zapiano course and already live the approach. Just beautiful. I have played piano for many years as a child. But like He says I just played someone else music without creativity. Now is my turn.

[@zapiano]

thanks Mariia and welcome! Sven

[@tommaxwell429]

If you like the process of doing that, great. Most people are attracted to piano by the beauty of music they hear from others and they dream of one day being able to play that music. Whether classical, jass, pop, theatrical scores, whatever most of us will never develop the skillset and creative ability to write something like Memory from cats or Minuet in G major. Most people who don't know at first might say they are attracted by the creativity, and that may be true from some, but I would wager the vast majority will be thrilled to just be able to play beautiful music created by others. The fact that there is such a huge music dropout rate suggest that most do not have the disicpline and creative drive they may say they want to pursue.

[@CoolGirl007]

Wow... I can learn everything when watching Tedx Talk, thank you 😆🙏

[@fabiocaetanofigueiredo1353]

SPECTACULAR. Congrats to the author and thanks for the video 👏

[@zapiano]

thanks Fabio :)

[@juanpoyola]

Great talk, Sven! Zapiano method is amazing. Congratulations!

[@zapiano]

Juan Pablo Oyola thank you Juan, well appreciated feedback from a respected piano teacher

[@stanislavpeev6826]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing with us :)

[@dagmarf.9525]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Very good. I like the Zapiano method to learn playing the piano.

[@tanenghuey8607]

I am a note reader. Difficulty in memorising and cannot play without mustc sheet. Always trying to learn what you are talking about- improvisation. Thanks for sharing

[@tamdoan4491]

I wish you have a video to show more in detail your technique. And it comes with english subtitle for a video. I really want to learn. In your website is all in german. Thank you from vietnam

[@Limbiclesion]

Sven what an amazing presentation....it’s like the sermon on the mount for pianists...thank you 🙏🎩👍🦄...you get my coveted Blade lunner award

[@zapiano]

Thank you very much, highly appreciated. Sven

[@howardlitson9796]

He teached music appreciation

[@Luis-0101]

Thanks, Sven!

[@ursulaholzwarth5833]

This method is realistic and absolutely feasible. I enjoy the time learning piano in this way. Eyes, ears, hands, mind, harmony and rhythm - everything goes hand in hand, is easy to understand and just brilliant - thanks for learning this way.

[@zapiano]

Thank you Ursula!

[@shammarihook1429]

Magical, unbelievable & unforgettable advice. 💕

[@zapiano]

thank you, Sven

[@paulhusky9236]

You can also include noise and sound and breathing and color and dancing into this framework. We don't know if C major and F major are the most interesting ways to learn about harmony. It's fun to use mittens or to play with your forehead or your favorite doll. Playing with your forehead is a great answer to 'could you play a variation of that?'. You don't need eyes or hands or ears to learn to play the piano.

[@gilbertweber673]

This is a truly inspiring talk; thank you Sven! Although I am still in a beginner's phase of learning I enjoy each minute when sitting at the piano and following your guidance according to the well-structured Zapiano method.

[@zapiano]

Gilbert Weber thanks Gilbert

[@martijnhooijman5681]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@ritaenting1086]

I just turned 13 a few days ago and I started learning the piano when I was 5-6, I was so interested in the mechanics of the piano and how just by some vibrations of strings I can make beautiful music. I became very adequate at the piano around 9-10 and now I think I can call myself a “pro” (not to sound cocky ). The piano is an easy instrument to learn but an extremely difficult instrument to master. The fact of matter is, you can’t ‘fail’ at learning the piano. There really is no established set of things you need to learn to be able to actually know how to play the piano. For instance, I learned the piano through listening and perceiving, I played a key and I recognize it as that sound. I never attached a letter or name to that sound or key I just played it. This is how most develop perfect pitch. Anyways, the piano isn’t math or English and you truly can’t even master it either. It is an outlet and a source where you can make music, therefore in my perspective you can’t ever fail at it 😊😊

[@tommaxwell429]

Exactly! A parallel is that I am a Ham Radio operator and I am proficient at sending and receiving Morse Code. Remember every book that ever talked about Morse Code had those silly pictures of dots and dashes? To learn code you look at the symbol - - - ... - - - and then told to convert it to SOS. Then they start playing the tapes and you are forced to take the sound, convert it to a visual image of dots and dashes and then convert those to letters and write them down. Noooooo! I was taught to listen to the sounds a dash sounds like "DAH" because it is long, a dot sounds like "Dit" because it short. So when you hear DAH DAH DAH you automatically think S , dit dit dit Oh thats and O and so on. That works great for Morse Code because there are a relatively small and finite number of letters, numbers, and codes to learn. I can see how that can be applied to music such as when you see a note here, play this key here, rather than think, this is a middle C and it is right here so press it down with this finger. And that is great for improv or jazz. I would hesitate to say that very many people can listen to a sophisticated classical piece and play it directly. Those who can are in the music history books.

[@manfred3443]

Great! With the ZAPIANO method you achieve very good learning results!

[@zapiano]

Thanks Manfred! (he is one of my students for years) Sven

[@cleonemusician217]

This has been so reassuring to hear. Huge thanks!

[@zapiano]

thanks, Sven

[@echtpraktisch]

Sven's Method is amazing. It's mainly about having fun playing the piano and then the skills develop automatically. Brilliant!

[@AndrewFurmanczyk86]

I've been playing for about 30 years and teaching for about 17 years, and please let me tell you that what he's teaching is nothing new, there are many great teachers out there teaching in a similar way. Sven explains things in a very nice calm way, I like his personality. But I can tell you 100% that what's covered here will not be enough to give you freedom to play anything you want, and you definitely won't develop automatically. The examples he was showing in the beginning are leaning heavily on music theory. The truth is that any skill takes lots of work to develop, there's no magic shortcut.

[@tonywolfemusic5920]

@@AndrewFurmanczyk86 context is everything. If you desire to be a classical pianist for an upper echelon orchestra, then you better understand that it takes grueling work and commitment to get to that sort of level, regardless of one’s natural ability. If you want to play songs you enjoy from the radio, or folk songs, or standards, it is easy to learn how to play those styles in a way that is fun, which then promotes learning more quickly. Context is everything.

[@arikayemusic]

this is the most wholesome comment section i've ever seen on yt

[@stefanmorgenstern7132]

You've got me with all the things you said in the first two minutes. That's exactly my situation.

[@zapiano]

thanks :)

[@noney39]

i played keyboard seriously when i was 60 now i am 66 and playing correctly i guess. I am always inspired playing music. thanks for your video.

[@zapiano]

thanks for the comment

[@guillaumemarcenac3156]

In appearance, it looks a modern view to see how to teach. If I want to look at a great teacher, that's the keys elements I look at : 1) how he plays 2) who are is students.

[@user-et4ms9cv8z]

I, being a music student, started asking question like where is creativity in playing those pieces over and over again. I still cannot find the answer. It is said that I am only taught how to play in right styles close to perfection, but we aren't taught how get pleasure from doing it. It is so frustrating that I only need to work and work to try to achieve that oblivion of touching that so called art.

[@bruceerogan3662]

This hit hard. Try learning pieces outside of the syllabus. You'll really start to enjoy playing

[@luisclaro3386]

Very good! Thank you very much!

[@zapiano]

Luís Claro thanks Luis 😌

[@mandyfuchs4893]

Thank you Sven for your inspiration you give us with your ZAPIANO method. 🤗

[@zapiano]

Mandy Fuchs Thank you Mandy 😌

[@sonbirdmusicspace]

Improvisation can bo so, so relaxing

[@zapiano]

yes :)

[@laurenj432]

Now is a great time to learn because of synthesis tutorials on KZbin. And the fact that you can slow down and speed up the tutorial👌🏽

[@simsonsihombing5476]

Good explanation. It is better, to make an example of accompaning the singer with playing piano

[@zapiano]

Could be maybe a second TedX talk :) - my focus was to demonstrate how to practice right from the beginning with no prior knowledge.

[@TwilightLover1234561]

Will you be offering the English version of Zapiano soon?

[@pimvanharten6935]

he is so right - everybody wants to play the piano, and somehow only a few stay with it. the piano education system needs to take a hard look in the mirror. the culture blocks expression and fun on the piano. those that do it anyway, become much sought after players, as they embody the aspirations of the many..

[@josephbeller1725]

it’s honestly closer to a music education problem vs piano education problem. several professional music teachers forget the REAL goal and create unnecessary stress on students. source: i am a music ed “dropout” because i quickly disagreed with the system of prioritizing creating good musicians instead of building a student’s love for music.

[@scottcoletta]

@@josephbeller1725 Totally agree. No way everyone can be a good musician, but there’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t be able to learn how to enjoy music.

[@Chic4rely]

I played piano when I was 9 to 10. Just one year. And have not played piano for a while until I was 16, now, i can play Chopin Ballade 4, many of Liszt pieces. All is about how I really am interested to study a piece.

[@YuanJane]

I would like to learn piano as well, but we live in very compact buildings and I can hear people talking out there. I learned piano for a short time but have difficulty getting the notes on sheets. I can sing the melody of many classical music though. Is there a way for vision impaired people to learn how to play?

[@jo1261]

I'm 30 years old, a perfectionist who wants to become more creatieve and who's hesitating (for years already) whether or not it's a good idea to start to play the piano. I feel that this video is convincing me... Curious how much longer it's going to take until I finally buy one :).

[@lucasm4056]

Did you buy one ?

[@oldunclemick]

Buy one but let go of perfection. Take your time and only measure yourself by how far you have come, not by how far you have to go.

[@trw4war322]

@@oldunclemick Well Said!

[@mdeblaschem]

I think that conservatoire students are having a stroke right now

[@pabloquesadamartinez5405]

Perhaps, but they achieve a lot of practice in the three dimensions: rithm, melody and harmony.

[@littleripper312]

Sadly that was my background. Play like a robot and get perfect marks.

[@pieterbech9552]

Why? His "method" (I would just argue he teaches improvisation like everyone else does) doesn't teach people to play Liszt, the "wrong" method of learning technique trough hours of scales and learning to read sheet music does. Maybe they can't improvise, but they have vast knowledge of harmony and rythm, and would be able to apply this to improvisation after very little practice time.

[@RiccardoBonci]

There are eseveral ways to teach an instrument, as there are several ways of learning and different ambitions and expectations. Some learners might want to become professional musicians: provided they have the necessary gifts (or talent, or genetic predisposition, if you prefer) the teacher will have to provide them with a specific accademic curriculum while developing their musicality and moulding their minds into a musician's mindset (I won't be too specific on this as it would be too long) within a pretty strict timeframe (which is quite essential, unfortunately). Some other learners might want to play for pleasure, without any professional aspiration: with those students the teacher won't need to be too fussed about technique (while still striving to get them to be the best they can be, in their specific circumstances) and can take all the necessary time to help them absorb the music-making process and internalise it. To play the piano (specifically) means that you have to control a vast amount of data, all flowing at the same time; as he said, notes, rhythm, expression etc. Our brains aren't designed to do that and maintain peak level of concentration for long spans of time, so the process needs to be made 'digestible' in order to help the brain develop accordingly. It's real multitasking of the highest difficulty. It can be done, but the learner will need to abandon impatience and accept that 'baby steps' are needed. Ultimately a teacher must understand HOW a specific student learns: some are more tactile, some are more 'academic', some rely more on their hearing and instinct... all are different and their specific musical proclivities must be used to help the whole learning process. It is difficult, and that's why there are lots of bad to mediocre teachers around, and very few good to excellent ones. Oh, before I forget, many learners will definitely want a friendly ear to listen to them and their problems, to give them the support they aren't getting from family and friends, while making some music together. That's something they don't teach you in music Conservatoire though...

[@zapiano]

Absolutley, I figured out if someone has a specific way of learning (f.e. by sheetmusic), it's their comfort zone. Simultanously I realised with all of them, if they seem to have a strenght on a particular sense, they lack in the other area. (f.e. ear) With my method I try to give the student to full picture to explore new while exploring another sense. First it seems to be awkward for them, but later they realise they have a much deeper connection to music which leads to deeper joy on the piano. :)

[@rs-tarxvfz]

4. I want to learn piano because I want to "express" myself through sound. Not words.

[@BOWENSblog]

Looks like a wonderful hobby for people & happy families

[@April-nh6gb]

L♡VELY! Thank y♡u! 💗 Do you teach privately?

[@hrithik2916]

I want to play the piano, I've started out, but cannot get any assistance. I want to play it this way, but i only get some bollywood style songs here. What do I do? Danke

[@catedoge3206]

Today, after many years of starting and stopping, I will finally take in the time to learn the piano. But now, at least 10 minutes a day. IF I do more, good. Check with a year or so, I shuold upload some music!

[@zapiano]

Great, have fun!

[@peterf90]

Great lesson, he really breaks it down well. A little better than melody right hand and harmony in the left.

[@ColonelFredPuntridge]

Is Sven Haefliger related to the great Ernst Haefliger? One of my favorite tenors.

[@ColonelFredPuntridge]

@Paul Mina Storm I mean the question seriously.

[@zapiano]

no :)

[@annagrochowicka902]

Sven knows how to lern to play the piano:) Sven's Method is great. Just buy a piano and start:)

[@Chichikn]

I do not understand what is special about this technique people are learning like this for years and years . If i understood correctly that you first learn right hand , then left hand , then you combine those two when you practice them enough and that is it ?

[@zapiano]

It goes way beyond that. Focus always on one of the elements, or combine them, then use a sense to practice. Practice it until it gets easy. It would work on songs or improvisations on any skill level ... I only had 18 Minutes to show my method, i wished I had 1 day :)

[@reepicheepsfriend]

He is speaking not just about hands but about musical concepts. He uses the right hand to represent melody and the left to represent harmony, but it is possible for the roles to be reversed or for both hands to participate in both roles. Notice that rhythm is a third concept that applies to both hands. A good music teacher incorporates musical concepts even if they are teaching from a method book (which he complains about here). The problem is not in the use of methods, sight reading, or memory learning, but rather in the overemphasis on these things which some teachers fall back on because it is more difficult to teach actual musical concepts and explain them, especially if the student is not particularly apt.

[@iwthswlosl]

All I want to do is bang out a tune on the piano with a degree of dexterity.

[@Zoco101]

David: You can bang out a tune on a xylophone or a steel drum or a toy saxophone. I know what you mean, but oversimplifications are not helpful when it comes to finding ways to progress on piano. It is the most complex musical instrument. The presenter is right to speak of modular study, but I'm disappointed that there was not more focus on rhythm. This is what most musicians (pianists in particular) find hardest to perfect. In a perfect world all music students would study lots of rhythm before anything else. It's the exact opposite to just banging out a tune. Good luck with your music studies. You will succeed if you stay at it, but finding a sympathetic teacher will speed up the process tremendously.

[@zapiano]

@@Zoco101 Fully agree with you, but the Talk is limited to 18 minutes only, I could spend 1 day to explain the journey on the piano. This was only the FIRST lesson :)

[@petermartinaitis8166]

Best time to learn any instrument is obviously when you are young, loads of free time and no commitments.

[@markhoward2945]

Nice approach. Kodaly based music learning on a person's native folk songs and dances. It must be fun. Not drill and kill.

[@Jaymarquese]

One year later from watching this video I am way better than I was way better!

[@zapiano]

great to hear that!

[@parisakiani2993]

It was really great show.

[@zapiano]

thank you Parisa

[@michaelarnold417]

I started learning the piano just to spite my piano teacher

[@snowflake7266]

I wanted to play the piano since I was 2. I had a small piano and dreamt about playing but my mom didn’t send me to music school

[@incendio00]

I’m fourteen Just started learning

[@franceschen8718]

I have been playing piano for four years at age six.

[@MrFizzminecraft]

only thing i’ll never regret doing

[@krazywabbit]

How on earth are more people not trying this method!?! I am 50 and have been trying to get started. Watching all the other "loud" you tubers with these quick tutorials. I have no interests in playing other songs that have been written. I want to hear the music and create my own. Framework caught me attention then mind blown with a simple holistic approach. Never thought I'd hear holistic and piano together. I then searched on KZbin. Only 401 subscribers? Context and what is your use case. I guess I am in the minority. I will be following his tutorials. Started one and it felt calming. People want a quick fix vs taking time and enjoying the process. Thank you Sven.

[@weihern9741]

Content: Playing by ear and improvise is the way. You need to understand theory and apply to really enjoy & create music. Don't waste 18 mins of your life

[@pabloquesadamartinez5405]

What he said was a different thing! 😁

[@givemeyoureyes7]

Nah, you still need to grasp some of the basics of what he said before learning how to improvise

[@diegovillacrez8349]

Thank you

[@folalibi2743]

And content of Tolstoi's War and Peace: it's about Russians. :) Actually the whole lecture is about **how** you can start "playing by ear" from the very first lesson. If you don't have 18 minutes to spend, I'm sure you can spare 6 minutes, so start at 12:15 and see what he recommends you do the first time you sit at a piano. It's actually very enjoyable and helpful!

[@ashleybirchall3956]

THANK YOU

[@KattenJonsson]

Why are his arm sleeves on his t-shirt two different sizes?

[@anthonyegboh8825]

:)

[@littleripper312]

His shirts pulled to one side but I agree it looks funny now that you pointed it out.

[@Gjermund-Sivertsen]

I found this interesting. You also need to add dynamics to the equation. Melody, harmony, rhythm and dynamics. Without a sense of dynamics, music soon becomes stiff. How loud/soft do you play at all times? 🎹😀

[@mdeblaschem]

next TED talk will be on how to become a heart surgeon using kitchen utensils in 1 day...

[@Gjermund-Sivertsen]

@@mdeblaschem haha. Good point

[@Gjermund-Sivertsen]

@@DouglasJWilkening True. Just as with a solo-instrument that does not play harmony. In the context of speaking about chords/rhythm and melody, when playing/teaching the piano, dynamics is essential. At least I'd say.

[@zapiano]

@@mdeblaschem ha ha ... yes I only had 18 Minutes max :)

[@zapiano]

sure this belongs to "hands", technical expression, but it's not part of Harmony, Melody & Rhythm :)

[@Nick-ui9dr]

Yeah its all just repeat of same octaves but thats your mind knows.. does your finger knows that too? .. its a different story what your mind knows and what your fingers knows cause both of them knows it by different methods. For mind it might be same but for finger of any hand every octave is different even same octave is different between both hands. What one hand feels for one octave other hand certainly don't feel it same way. Same way what one hand feels for one middle octave doesn't feel the same way for octaves at either extremes but quite opposites I guess. U might be feeling it now cause its from mind u feeling it.. and u have already the the basic finger work so u actually trying to describe something from different point of view rather than what is basic or primary. Remember your early days dint u have to practice for every extreme side octaves. Or even different finger combo or ever different finger position within same octave. Or do they develop it same for u. Or just doing a 5 finger on consequitive notes of white scale makes u equally efficient in doing it on mixed notes scales as well. Or u dint have to practice for arpeggios when u have become fluent in scales. Or just being efficient in scales in single octave makes u efficient in that scale over whole keyboard?. Every finger combo or note patterns stress your fingers lil differently I guess and those differences comes to fore in high tempos. So mastering a keyboard is much more then mastering scaling just one octave or just able to play scale runs smoothly I guess. 😀🙏 And lastly its fact if u dont have mastery on your fingers at least on one instrument u cant have mastery on music. Even u can play by ear that much that u can play by fingers. If u cant play chords or some tricky ornamental thing or even notes at certain speed u wont be able to recognize them that easily even if u have so called awesome perfect pitch. Hope u understand what I am saying here. U cant create things without improvisation and u can only improvise that much how much you have mastery or control in your fingers first. Dexterity of your fingers is more prime to it than mind.

[@zapiano]

My Speech was especially for the adults who are sitting for the FIRST time on the piano - at the end of my talk, THIS is the result of the FIRST lesson. Everything else what you mentioned will be practiced later. :)

[@gratefulpianist8640]

I knew that piano would become something that take my time everyday when I was 14 if it was for a hobby, so I decided to become a professional pianist so I could play more for good Lol