worth noting: i have friends who say they do everything by ear but refuse to understand the actual theory behind it, and they end up playing the same cliches without understanding how to tweak and reverse engineer what their ears have been accustomed to. i listened to them and found myself writing the same boring cowboy chord crap i never had formal training, learned music by ear and theory from the Internet. being more familiar with the syntax of the musical language helps me fast forward through the “beginner” phase of learning instruments, and i can comfortably write complex harmonies even while I’m still learning the instrument. basically all this theory paid off when it was time to actually practice like, at 10:49, even just listening as you walk voices down from CMaj7 to a Cdim, instinctively, almost reflexively, my ears were itching to hear a resolution to G. i also recognize it functions similarly to Cm6. i’m making a whole other bunch of connections all because i analyzed my exposure to music. this is all from just hearing music, but also taking the time to learn and understand the theory behind it. once you start learning, you want to keep learning. people should understand learning theory is an important part of music - all it does it puts names to things we already feel as listeners, intervals, chord quality, functional harmony, etc it’s not some weird gatekeeping thing companies like unison try to keep people away from, it’s like they’re telling you learning the alphabet is a waste of time, just buy their vowel and pro level word pack and you’ll be writing Shakespearean classics in no time! if you avoid theory, you’ll just be a guitar center musician til the end of time. the Beatles may not have preached conventional music theory, but they did understand the musical tools they worked with and knew how to manipulate it. music theory is like a map that helps us navigate the world of music. sure we all can see the mountains and lakes just fine, but theory can guide us towards hidden caves and coves, undiscovered forests and exotic places if we’re going to communicate effectively with music, we should try to understand the language of it. develop a vocabulary that we can more fluently use when playing/composing side note: i think it’s ridiculous DJs use the Camelot system, and completely write off having to learn actual keys lol we all notice patterns and the conventions in music automatically, the “good musicians” will try to understand and identify what it is theory won’t hurt your creativity like my bar musician friends once said, it will superboost and enhance your creativity. excellent content as always, *not* Charles love your videos
Such great points, here! I love the idea of getting people interested in learning the piano by not scaring them away with this "theory" thing that sounds super complex. I don't see a problem with learning at the very beginning in a way that doesn't use it. But I also believe that it should be integrated in the education process as early as possible, because exactly like you're saying here, it's not actually as difficult as everyone thinks it is! And the opportunities it unlocks are truly endless.
Hearing and identifying the things that make up your favorite music is EASY! It just requires understanding WHAT we're listening for. But luckily, that's easy too!
8:21 it's supposed to be "when I find myself in times of trouble.." hahaha, my brain did a vinyl scratch on that one. Good stuff, I'm considering subscribing.
We truly do live in a golden age of information; one of the best jazz musicians I ever met was just some guy who decided to get into it one day without any formal training and honestly with music these days that’s entirely possible: I mean a degree will help you stay focused and dynamic in your goals but we truly don’t have an excuse for not learning if we’re not studying music in college because all that Information is just readily available to us even without a formal education through videos such as these (thank you Charles you’re fantastic)… like honestly this generation may be screwed in many ways but there’s advantages to it as well like the fact that anyone with access to internet could theoretically become a fantastic musician who surpasses those who take the traditional route
Great video! Really like your channel so far, It is going to be very good and informative. Can you tell us next videos how to use certain chords? like Diminished, Augmented, Minor Major 7th?, 7th chords #11?, Altered chords? Thanks Charles.
@@Better-Piano Voice them, Harmonize with them. Uses for them. I'd like to compose some piece using those chords :) I'm not really a good player so I can't improvise with them and I'm a classical pianist but yea I'd like to compose with them :) Thanks Charles!
worth noting:
i have friends who say they do everything by ear but refuse to understand the actual theory behind it, and they end up playing the same cliches without understanding how to tweak and reverse engineer what their ears have been accustomed to. i listened to them and found myself writing the same boring cowboy chord crap
i never had formal training, learned music by ear and theory from the Internet. being more familiar with the syntax of the musical language helps me fast forward through the “beginner” phase of learning instruments, and i can comfortably write complex harmonies even while I’m still learning the instrument. basically all this theory paid off when it was time to actually practice
like, at 10:49, even just listening as you walk voices down from CMaj7 to a Cdim, instinctively, almost reflexively, my ears were itching to hear a resolution to G. i also recognize it functions similarly to Cm6. i’m making a whole other bunch of connections all because i analyzed my exposure to music. this is all from just hearing music, but also taking the time to learn and understand the theory behind it. once you start learning, you want to keep learning.
people should understand learning theory is an important part of music - all it does it puts names to things we already feel as listeners, intervals, chord quality, functional harmony, etc
it’s not some weird gatekeeping thing companies like unison try to keep people away from, it’s like they’re telling you learning the alphabet is a waste of time, just buy their vowel and pro level word pack and you’ll be writing Shakespearean classics in no time! if you avoid theory, you’ll just be a guitar center musician til the end of time. the Beatles may not have preached conventional music theory, but they did understand the musical tools they worked with and knew how to manipulate it.
music theory is like a map that helps us navigate the world of music. sure we all can see the mountains and lakes just fine, but theory can guide us towards hidden caves and coves, undiscovered forests and exotic places
if we’re going to communicate effectively with music, we should try to understand the language of it. develop a vocabulary that we can more fluently use when playing/composing
side note: i think it’s ridiculous DJs use the Camelot system, and completely write off having to learn actual keys lol
we all notice patterns and the conventions in music automatically, the “good musicians” will try to understand and identify what it is
theory won’t hurt your creativity like my bar musician friends once said, it will superboost and enhance your creativity.
excellent content as always, *not* Charles
love your videos
Such great points, here! I love the idea of getting people interested in learning the piano by not scaring them away with this "theory" thing that sounds super complex. I don't see a problem with learning at the very beginning in a way that doesn't use it. But I also believe that it should be integrated in the education process as early as possible, because exactly like you're saying here, it's not actually as difficult as everyone thinks it is! And the opportunities it unlocks are truly endless.
Hearing and identifying the things that make up your favorite music is EASY! It just requires understanding WHAT we're listening for. But luckily, that's easy too!
No it is not you can't just say that it is NOT easy if it's so easy why can't I hear you playing?
@@CharlesCornellStudios Because that's literally you.
@@Better-Piano No, you
@@CharlesCornellStudios 🤦♂🤦♂🤦♂🤦♂🤦♂
BACK IT OFF CHARLES!
8:21 it's supposed to be "when I find myself in times of trouble.." hahaha, my brain did a vinyl scratch on that one.
Good stuff, I'm considering subscribing.
That song helped me learn what a five chord sounds like
We truly do live in a golden age of information; one of the best jazz musicians I ever met was just some guy who decided to get into it one day without any formal training and honestly with music these days that’s entirely possible: I mean a degree will help you stay focused and dynamic in your goals but we truly don’t have an excuse for not learning if we’re not studying music in college because all that Information is just readily available to us even without a formal education through videos such as these (thank you Charles you’re fantastic)… like honestly this generation may be screwed in many ways but there’s advantages to it as well like the fact that anyone with access to internet could theoretically become a fantastic musician who surpasses those who take the traditional route
Loving this new channel! As a teacher I am inspired by your presentation of the topics
Thanks so much!
Transcription helps a ton when it comes to developing your ear using these skills. Great video Charles!
Yessss this is what I'm talking about! Thank you for this channel and this video :)
Great video! Really like your channel so far, It is going to be very good and informative. Can you tell us next videos how to use certain chords? like Diminished, Augmented, Minor Major 7th?, 7th chords #11?, Altered chords? Thanks Charles.
Love that idea! What specifically are you looking to better understand when it comes to those chords? How to improvise over them? How to voice them?
@@Better-Piano Voice them, Harmonize with them. Uses for them. I'd like to compose some piece using those chords :) I'm not really a good player so I can't improvise with them and I'm a classical pianist but yea I'd like to compose with them :) Thanks Charles!
@@zevelgamer. Awesome. I'm on it.
:OoOoOo
thanks charles. interesting.
16:27 putting this so i can try deciphering the chord 16:39
18:05
i love better piano whos is charles corneslll 😎😎