That's basically in all Chopin's pieces, Rubato and another things not present in music sheet. It takes deep understand in every "sentences". Ofcourse, for the non-pianists regular people, they might not notice the difference or that much. Sooo, if your purpose just to show off a bit, it is not too hard haha
Some people acquire skills, only to have their heart and soul torn out of them, to have their bodies broken... leaving only the inertia of what was and a Monster to stand in their stead.
I'm 27 and always wanted to learn how to play the piano. big fan of classical music and jazz. love all the great Classical composers, however, I'm always drawn to Chopin, there is just something about his music that reaches down into the soul.
hell no, I can play both and I assure you 6 is not as easy as it looks. Sotto voce (under voice) played by the left hand must be much stronger and it is easy to mess up the melody with the harmony
Thank you so much for the name of the piece! I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I often fantasise about myself playing things like the third movement of moonlight sonata, Fantasie Impromptu, or La Campanella from Listz... And I forget that simpler pieces are just as beautiful and can be just as powerful.
I live by those words. I think people live so vicariously through tv or sports when they could spend their energies on creativity learning something which brings true fulfillment and so much joy.
Wonderful commentary. You're reasoning pretty much is what got me to return to the piano after over 20 year hiatus. Began with digital then smaller grand now moving on to larger grand practicing 10 hours per week.
James Rhodes is such a talented, humble and charismatic pianist! He has this rare ability to touch your soul through his delicate and emotional playing! Thank you so much for sharing your gift and for being so accessible! Best regards. xxxx
I saw James Rhodes in concert recently and since then I became I big fan of him. I learnt to play in my piano this piece of Chopin and also the Adagio of Bach - Marcello that James also discovered to me. Thank you James Rhodes!
Anyone can learn to play the piano as long as a person has the desire and willingness to do so. I only took may between 6 - 12 months of piano lessons as a child. For many years, I didn't play. One day, I decided to play the piano again. I managed to teach myself Chopin's Waltz In C# Minor in 2 weeks. My mother, who has been playing the piano since she was 6 years old, is very impressed that I taught myself the piece without a teacher. So, yes, it is never too late to learn how to play the piano if there is the desire and willingness to do so.
Very inspiring. I've been learning the piano on and off for the last 25 years and can attest to the joy it brings, even though my playing sounds nothing like James Rhodes. But I would add that if anybody is truly serious about learning classical piano, above all get a good teacher. It's amazingly easy to learn bad habits and improper technique if you try and teach yourself - and then it will take a very, very long time to unlearn them - as I know firsthand. For example, in the Chopin prelude played above, one important technique to make it sound smooth (said legato) is good pedaling. Without a good teacher I don't know if I could have learned that on my own, but some people can. But if you have the right teacher they can also inspire and motivate you.
I have been taking my 5-year-old daughter to piano lessons and learning piano with her from ground zero (I couldn't read music at all before those lessons). One day, I "felt" that I may be able to play this piece and I was right. I spent 15-30 minutes a day (me, piano, and the sheet, no instructions) and after a few weeks, I can now play most of it (I am working on bar 16-19). I am a living testimony of what you say in the video. Most importantly, I feel great about wanting to go home and finishing all my house keeping jobs with my wife asap, just to play this piece.
Most of Chopin's music is very difficult to play but this beautiful piece by Chopin Is easy to play a very good piece to learn for beginners a very good video for aspiring pianists !!
Playing this piece is not particular a hard thing. The hard side of this piece is how to express it right! If you dont play this piece with lot and lots of expression it does not sound enjoyable.
Be that as it may, that is not the point he is trying to make. Sadly these comments are what keep some from returning or wanting to learn the piano. What count's is that you enjoy it. Besides most people will not know the difference from your performance or Richters...
Well, I might have played the piece for about 45 years, and I am still working on how to interpret it ... Anyhow, just heard Cortot playing Chopin. Oh dear, always thought Rubinstein was the best ... oh dear ... Cortot is ... well, go listen to him yourself ...
Yes yes, totally agree. I too am a great admirer of Rubinstein, heard him in concert many times and he was always wonderful, absolutely, much better than Horowitz. But Cortot! He is in a class all by himself, like Chopin come back to life! Nobody, absolutely nobody like him, ever.
Yes ... Lucky you, you have heard Rubinstein, but probably not the Etydes ... They were a bit to difficult ... However some of Cortots slow pieces, walzes etc. might be, well, a little slower sometimes ... But maybe it is just me ... I am playing them much slower ...
I often think of how many moments of creative beauty, how many instances of life affirming creativity and mystical oneness with the divine have been lost because the human that has the potential to channel them chose to watch a tv soap or play a computer game instead.
James, I'm Polish and 9 out of 10 of the old Polish movies features this piece of music. Chopin is big in Poland and listening to his music reminds me of Poland. I don't play the piano but I do play the guitar and your video challenged me to learn this wonderful piece of music. Let's face it, in this multimedia charged world one needs to stop and consider the well being of their soul. TV will not quench it, music is something that we all share, something that resonates when we think of our Creator. My good man you rock... Perhaps not a thing to say to a classical musician... Respect
Learning this piece at the moment for my Level 5 grading exams. I only started taking lessons this year and I learn the notes first before I adjust the tempo and ultimately feeling of the piece. Seems to be working for me so far.
Never had anyone in 20 years of full time professional teaching have I seen anyone be able to play this piece after a couple of quick lessons "to show where the fingers go" and a few weeks. But maybe I am a bad teacher lol. Never say never I guess. And musicality is whole another bag.... But have at it!! Just don't be discouraged if it takes longer (quite a bit longer). By the way I do love love this guys playing.
Does anyone remember that this was one of the easy piano numbers in the movie, "Five Easy Pieces"? I started playing Chopin after seeing that movie... late sixties or 70s. ^..^~~
No but you don't have to take him literally. I think the point he is making is that it's a great thing to try and it's a whole lot better than not trying at all. Of course he has deliberately selected Chopin (or Bach). It's pretty difficult trying to encourage people with twinkle twinkle.
Actually, this piece is so simple to play that one can learn it even without a teacher. The fingering is simple and the tempo is very slow so there will be no technical problems. The main issue will have to be the expression and/or delivery, which can be polished once you memorize the piece and have time to ponder while playing, then the emotions will spew.
Flowey When you’re trying to entertain an audience, you ain’t gonna just go upto them while they are almost asleep listening to this and tell them this isn’t the music for them while you’re literally playing it for them.
I was talking about the user who commented its boring. If your audience falls asleep then nothing can be done. It was the wrong audience to play in front of.
Flowey I know how you feel, it also enrages me, generally people love flashy and fast pieces. Fantasie Impromptu, the third movement from moonlight sonata, alla turca etc. I hate that, I hate how they aren't able to feel, they are just looking for a dexterity show and praise, not the music itself
One of my all time favorite piano pieces. Took me about 5 weeks to get it down. Tooooo many people playing bars 17-20 really fast. This version was perfect IMO.
Great vidéo I'm guitarist 50 years and beginner on piano and your vidéo give a lot of encouragement to practice and play fabulous piece of music. Have a good week. J-pascal
I started playing piano at age 28, (my 1st instrument). I taught myself Chopin's Raindrop Prelude, (appx 5 mins long and grade 6 of 8) and went to a Piano Teacher having memorized it and asked her to take me as a pupil. This and some other short, easy Chopin Preludes were the first pieces she taught me. I had listened to all of the Chopin preludes at least 100 times, so had a good idea for the dynamics and moods. Teaching the feeling and subtle dynamics to a child would not be so easy, but I will try teaching a Chopin piece to my young daughter to see if it is worthwhile.
well you still need common sense. There are things you can and cannot play. It is different for every person. There are things that are easy for one, but hard for another, but there are things that are universally hard for everyone, such as the ballade in g minor. i think there are about at best 15 easy Chopin pieces, and the ballades are extremely difficult. I may say I do something a little, but it doesn't mean that even with Mr. Rhodes' advice i will do it with 40 minutes a day. its just not enough. If talented people work 2-6 hours a day from a young age to play something difficult at their 15's or 20's, i just have no business thinking i will get that result in a short time with as little time as i put into it.
Powerful video. I used to attend a classical painting workshop when i was like 10 but i gave up on it to focus on the piano. I picked it up again two years ago when i was 16 and it was a bit hard focusing on those two plus schoolwork but it's a lot of fun and definitely worth it!
Yet - I've heard classically trained musicians with the technical chops massacre Chopin. Takes alot of artistic talent and intuition to get Chopin right.
This is typical of any art form, not just playing Chopin. For instance, if you took up pottery, your attempts at making pots will be awful for the first few months, probably years. But it wouldn't be wrong to say that the first functional pot you made is still a pot. So with Chopin it's the same. You obviously have to play any piece (not just Chopin) badly before you can play it well. So really you're not saying anything meaningful lol.
That's so true! You can just start playing most pieces! I'm halfway in Bach's C maj fugue without ever having touched a piano before, it's all about practice.
1.don't own a bad piano,even if it is free.It will depress and defeat your progress. all keys pedals and mechanisms should work . 2. get a good electronic piano with full range of weighted keys.(korg etc)0 3. many music/adult ed depts have practice pianos for you to use, just ask.(I had a choice of a Bosendorfer or Steinway ) 4.If you can remember the plot of a soap opera or follow Lord of the Rings or similar,the memory trick is the same as with music. 5.play for fun,practice with focus. 6.Hanon 7.Watch and listen to great pianists 8.dont play simple versions of classics 9. no good music is easy [there is a world of nuance in simple music by great composers). 10. ignore nay sayers. Learning is fun and easy. I started teaching myself piano at age 30 and can now play some of the great Beethoven sonatas and most repertoir in higher\medium range. thanks
Actually a full weighted keyboard is loads heavier than my Bechstein grand. Actually a half weighted keyboard i have is even heavier than the Bechstein which has a downweight of about 50 grams per key.
Hey James! I read your books and I loved them :) I'm 18 and I started playing the piano when I was 5. I just wanted to tell you I love the way you play and you explain music. Congratulations!! I hope you have a couple of minutes to listen to the covers I uploaded on my YT channel. Thank you so much for everything! I hope you play here in Spain to see you : D
He's a world-renowned, professional classical pianist. :) I think it's safe to say that he's aware of the distinction. His point is one of encouragement. That one should just start.
I love James Rhodes . I've attempted to learn to read music and it's just never happened . I envy people who can . Despite this I do write and play my own classical music in my very own unorthodox way . I now feel strangely attached to this approach and have lost all interest in learning how to read notation . I admire James and have read his book ' Instrumental ' . Wish I could read music but it doesn't stop me from composing , which is the positive side of things .
So what's stopping you from learning to read music? There isn't a lot to it: Staff or stave: that's the bar lines - 5 upper lines for treble (high notes) and 5 lower lines for bass (low notes) - middle C sits in between these two pairs of 5 lines Notes: You only really use 4 different note lengths when you're starting out, and gradually add the compound ones (dotted notes, triplets) Rests: Same principle as the notes Bar lines: divides the music into regular 'phrases' That's about it. You read it from left to right, much like Western writing. The 'grammar' of music notation is extremely rigid and predictable (unlike real language). A good teacher could probably teach you to read music in a few hours.
Yes,you are right. However,to be able to develop proper technique real piano or at least weighted keyboard with hammer action is needed. Unless the goal is to play some synth chords for modern music(no dynamic) Another thing to be able to practice this 40-60 min a day with full concentration and be physically not tired after all day at work. I do manual work and my hands and muscles are simply stiff and sore after 9 hours of labour. Just to mention,not everyone has 9-5 office job and pushing pencils and papers.
That little prelude is easy to bang out, but incredibly hard to play well. The A major prelude (#7) is even shorter, and apart from having to stretch a 10th at one point, is pretty easy. Another good one for beginners, and only 13 bars, is the one in C minor (#20), which lets you pound away at ff, then crescendo, making it relatively easy to come down to p and then pp, whereas in the e minor, you have to go from p, then dim., then play three big chords pp. ANd that isn't even the hard part.
Lmao when he said 40 hours a day is all you need I’m like .... I have six pieces to learn in three months sir for my exams -.- I need AT LEAST 4 hours a day
you are so nice trying to make it look very easy for everybody...it is naive...then frustration comes...the truth is that it takes work, long work, hard work, galley slave work, but is worth it, the more you put the more you get. "Chopin´s playing evoked all the sweet and sorrowful voices of the past. Chopin sang the tears of music...in a whole gamut of different forms and voices, from that of the warrior to those of children and angels..." Bohdan Zaleski, polish poet, personal diary 2 feb 1844. "Under the fingers of Chopins´s hand the piano became the voice of an archangel, an orchestra, an army, a raging ocean, a creation of the universe, the end of the world." Solange Clesinger " SIMPLICITY IS EVERYTHING, IT IS ART¨S FINAL OBJECT. ONE HAS TO HAVE STUDIED A LOT, TREMENDOUSLY, TO LET SIMPLICITY EMERGE WITH ALL ITS CHARM, GRACE AND MAGIC. PLACE THE HAND AT EASE, WITH A MAXIMUM OF SUPPLENESS AND FLEXIBILITY, -- ( FACILEMENT, FACILEMENT ) -- EASILY, EASILY. TO ATTAIN GOOD TASTE, NATURALNESS AND PERFECTION IN PIANO PLAYING, LEARN FROM THE BEST OPERA SINGERS, LISTENING CAREFULLY HOW THEY BREATH. " - CHOPIN -
i change my mind...it is not naive...it is wonderful to start people to music...playing very difficult works really well it takes a lot of sweat, thats all, i like the sweat, but if you don´t you can have a muse too...on the contrary many after the sweat lose the muse....so watch where to stop a bit
Anyone can be a nuclear scientist / opera singer / surgeon...uh, sorry, they can't. More than the capacity to understand is the art of appreciation and the intelligence but a willingness to devote hours each day to mastering a subject instead of checking FB every 3 seconds. This is probably one of the easiest pieces Chopin wrote and even it is tricky if one highlights the melody and keeps the support in the background.
I can’t believe how pessimistic you are. Almost anyone can play these pieces and enjoy them if they want to. Not everyone can become a professional, but 40 minutes a day can get you pretty far, especially if you have a musical background.
Ballin Hamster - "Anyone can play these pieces" - I don't think so. A fair few people could probably play this but very far from "almost anyone". Something as arbitrary as "pessimism" has nothing to do with it.
I agree with Ballin Hamster. The only reason why most people fail to do anything meaningful in their lives is because they give up before they've even started.
I highly doubt that the same piece, although technically not very much demanding, played by an absolute beginner (with average talent) after a few weeks of training will sound anything close to this performance.
0:47
Him: *if we could just find 40 minutes a day*
Ling Ling: *if we could just find 40 hours a day*
TwoSetViolin knows
This isn’t a hard prelude, BUT, it’s a challenge to capture the emotions and control dynamics well.
That's basically in all Chopin's pieces, Rubato and another things not present in music sheet.
It takes deep understand in every "sentences".
Ofcourse, for the non-pianists regular people, they might not notice the difference or that much.
Sooo, if your purpose just to show off a bit, it is not too hard haha
Ayo is it really you Daniil Dubov ?
It's true...everone wants to have skills but without putting forth the effort it requires.
Some people acquire skills, only to have their heart and soul torn out of them, to have their bodies broken... leaving only the inertia of what was and a Monster to stand in their stead.
I refuse to let that happen. That's why I decided ages ago not to bother with competitions.
I'm 27 and always wanted to learn how to play the piano. big fan of classical music and jazz. love all the great Classical composers, however, I'm always drawn to Chopin, there is just something about his music that reaches down into the soul.
I agree 100%
Prelude in E minor op 28 no 4
Ana Bri no 6 is even easier
hell no, I can play both and I assure you 6 is not as easy as it looks. Sotto voce (under voice) played by the left hand must be much stronger and it is easy to mess up the melody with the harmony
Yes!!! I am 33 and just started taking lessons and will play this for a recital! I love it! Chopin is my favorite!
Thank you so much for the name of the piece! I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I often fantasise about myself playing things like the third movement of moonlight sonata, Fantasie Impromptu, or La Campanella from Listz... And I forget that simpler pieces are just as beautiful and can be just as powerful.
Hahahaha easy...omg guys, you are so wrong. It's easy to play the notes but it is very very hard to make the music which Chopin wrote.
I live by those words. I think people live so vicariously through tv or sports when they could spend their energies on creativity learning something which brings true fulfillment and so much joy.
Wonderful commentary. You're reasoning pretty much is what got me to return to the piano after over 20 year hiatus. Began with digital then smaller grand now moving on to larger grand practicing 10 hours per week.
Thank you.
I'll continue practicing Fantasie Impromptu now
lol
goo
lol
lol
lol
very inspirational...but it does help having a nicely tuned Steinway
shut the fuck up get to the piano and pratice!!!!
not at all piano no play itself
1:42 he says you don't need it. You can just use a cheap keyboard. That's what I use at home when I cannot get to a nice piano
Inspiring talk. The James starts to play and....GOOSEBUMPS!
You have inspired me Mr. Rhodes. I’m 29 and have been a self taught musician and I now want to learn piano.
James Rhodes is such a talented, humble and charismatic pianist! He has this rare ability to touch your soul through his delicate and emotional playing! Thank you so much for sharing your gift and for being so accessible! Best regards. xxxx
Agreed. :)
I saw James Rhodes in concert recently and since then I became I big fan of him. I learnt to play in my piano this piece of Chopin and also the Adagio of Bach - Marcello that James also discovered to me. Thank you James Rhodes!
he's so positive. I like it.
Anyone can learn to play the piano as long as a person has the desire and willingness to do so.
I only took may between 6 - 12 months of piano lessons as a child.
For many years, I didn't play.
One day, I decided to play the piano again. I managed to teach myself Chopin's Waltz In C# Minor in 2 weeks. My mother, who has been playing the piano since she was 6 years old, is very impressed that I taught myself the piece without a teacher.
So, yes, it is never too late to learn how to play the piano if there is the desire and willingness to do so.
Very inspiring. I've been learning the piano on and off for the last 25 years and can attest to the joy it brings, even though my playing sounds nothing like James Rhodes. But I would add that if anybody is truly serious about learning classical piano, above all get a good teacher. It's amazingly easy to learn bad habits and improper technique if you try and teach yourself - and then it will take a very, very long time to unlearn them - as I know firsthand. For example, in the Chopin prelude played above, one important technique to make it sound smooth (said legato) is good pedaling. Without a good teacher I don't know if I could have learned that on my own, but some people can. But if you have the right teacher they can also inspire and motivate you.
A lot of food for deep thought. Thank you!
I have been taking my 5-year-old daughter to piano lessons and learning piano with her from ground zero (I couldn't read music at all before those lessons). One day, I "felt" that I may be able to play this piece and I was right. I spent 15-30 minutes a day (me, piano, and the sheet, no instructions) and after a few weeks, I can now play most of it (I am working on bar 16-19). I am a living testimony of what you say in the video. Most importantly, I feel great about wanting to go home and finishing all my house keeping jobs with my wife asap, just to play this piece.
Right on!!!
Excelente video and piece of advice.
One step at a time adds up to enormous results.
Most of Chopin's music is very difficult to play but this beautiful piece by Chopin Is easy to play a very good piece to learn for beginners a very good video for aspiring pianists !!
Bravo...to the performance of Chopin's Prelude, and to your encouraging words.
This is one of my favorite pieces, I'm glad it won't be too demanding to start with. Music doesn't have to be hard to be enjoyable
Playing this piece is not particular a hard thing. The hard side of this piece is how to express it right! If you dont play this piece with lot and lots of expression it does not sound enjoyable.
Be that as it may, that is not the point he is trying to make. Sadly these comments are what keep some from returning or wanting to learn the piano. What count's is that you enjoy it. Besides most people will not know the difference from your performance or Richters...
Naero Piano thats so true. Took me one year after learning this piece to find a satisfying way of interpreting it
Well, I might have played the piece for about 45 years, and I am still working on how to interpret it ...
Anyhow, just heard Cortot playing Chopin. Oh dear, always thought Rubinstein was the best ... oh dear ... Cortot is ... well, go listen to him yourself ...
Yes yes, totally agree. I too am a great admirer of Rubinstein, heard him in concert many times and he was always wonderful, absolutely, much better than Horowitz. But Cortot! He is in a class all by himself, like Chopin come back to life! Nobody, absolutely nobody like him, ever.
Yes ...
Lucky you, you have heard Rubinstein, but probably not the Etydes ...
They were a bit to difficult ...
However some of Cortots slow pieces, walzes etc. might be, well, a little slower sometimes ... But maybe it is just me ... I am playing them much slower ...
I often think of how many moments of creative beauty, how many instances of life affirming creativity and mystical oneness with the divine have been lost because the human that has the potential to channel them chose to watch a tv soap or play a computer game instead.
I did exactly as you suggested...went to library- got the Chopin Prelude #4, am learning it...picked up piano. Thank you...perfect advice.
It's so true that if we really want to, we can find the time to do anything
I bought your book and learned to play Prelude, Moonlight Sonata and on to a 3rd piece. Thanks!
James, I'm Polish and 9 out of 10 of the old Polish movies features this piece of music. Chopin is big in Poland and listening to his music reminds me of Poland. I don't play the piano but I do play the guitar and your video challenged me to learn this wonderful piece of music. Let's face it, in this multimedia charged world one needs to stop and consider the well being of their soul. TV will not quench it, music is something that we all share, something that resonates when we think of our Creator. My good man you rock... Perhaps not a thing to say to a classical musician... Respect
Learning this piece at the moment for my Level 5 grading exams. I only started taking lessons this year and I learn the notes first before I adjust the tempo and ultimately feeling of the piece. Seems to be working for me so far.
Him : anyone can play chopin
Him : -wears Bach shirt-
Never had anyone in 20 years of full time professional teaching have I seen anyone be able to play this piece after a couple of quick lessons "to show where the fingers go" and a few weeks. But maybe I am a bad teacher lol. Never say never I guess. And musicality is whole another bag.... But have at it!! Just don't be discouraged if it takes longer (quite a bit longer). By the way I do love love this guys playing.
Does anyone remember that this was one of the easy piano numbers in the movie, "Five Easy Pieces"? I started playing Chopin after seeing that movie... late sixties or 70s.
^..^~~
No but you don't have to take him literally. I think the point he is making is that it's a great thing to try and it's a whole lot better than not trying at all. Of course he has deliberately selected Chopin (or Bach). It's pretty difficult trying to encourage people with twinkle twinkle.
Actually, this piece is so simple to play that one can learn it even without a teacher. The fingering is simple and the tempo is very slow so there will be no technical problems. The main issue will have to be the expression and/or delivery, which can be polished once you memorize the piece and have time to ponder while playing, then the emotions will spew.
The Etudes on the other hand will take a lifetime.
I needed this. Thank you!
well said, work well and steady and a lifetime of enjoyment awaits.
Very expressive. More than some concert performers.
Damn, this guys got fire and grace.
"Yea I play piano!"
*plays this song*
"Wow Jaidyn that was so pretty! Now play another"
"....uuhhhhhhhhhhhh"
That's what I was thinking.
Plus, this piece is boring! Put your audience to sleep.
If you think this piece is boring then I don't really think you should be looking for Chopin music, he's probably not your style.
Flowey When you’re trying to entertain an audience, you ain’t gonna just go upto them while they are almost asleep listening to this and tell them this isn’t the music for them while you’re literally playing it for them.
I was talking about the user who commented its boring. If your audience falls asleep then nothing can be done. It was the wrong audience to play in front of.
Flowey I know how you feel, it also enrages me, generally people love flashy and fast pieces. Fantasie Impromptu, the third movement from moonlight sonata, alla turca etc. I hate that, I hate how they aren't able to feel, they are just looking for a dexterity show and praise, not the music itself
Very inspiring! I have began playing piano again because I do not want to look back at my life and think "wow I wish I learned how to play paino".
One of my all time favorite piano pieces. Took me about 5 weeks to get it down. Tooooo many people playing bars 17-20 really fast. This version was perfect IMO.
Couldn't agree more on creating something in 40 minutes a day! Well done!
Great vidéo I'm guitarist 50 years and beginner on piano and your vidéo give a lot of encouragement to practice and play fabulous piece of music. Have a good week.
J-pascal
Great sentiments followed by great playing. Thanks.
I started playing piano at age 28, (my 1st instrument). I taught myself Chopin's Raindrop Prelude, (appx 5 mins long and grade 6 of 8) and went to a Piano Teacher having memorized it and asked her to take me as a pupil. This and some other short, easy Chopin Preludes were the first pieces she taught me. I had listened to all of the Chopin preludes at least 100 times, so had a good idea for the dynamics and moods. Teaching the feeling and subtle dynamics to a child would not be so easy, but I will try teaching a Chopin piece to my young daughter to see if it is worthwhile.
Try teaching her Ballade no 1 for 2 minutes a day for a couple of months. Anyone can play it. It's like James says.
I play the piano a little - so, taking Mr. Rhodes advice, have started the G minor Ballade... ha ha ha, talk about biting off more than you can chew!!
Little Kiwi If you get stuck, learn some easy pieces in the meantime. and go back to the challenge again when you feel ready for it again.
The Coda alone took me 2-3 months (the whole summer). I ditched a lot of friend hangouts to learn it.
well you still need common sense. There are things you can and cannot play. It is different for every person. There are things that are easy for one, but hard for another, but there are things that are universally hard for everyone, such as the ballade in g minor. i think there are about at best 15 easy Chopin pieces, and the ballades are extremely difficult. I may say I do something a little, but it doesn't mean that even with Mr. Rhodes' advice i will do it with 40 minutes a day. its just not enough. If talented people work 2-6 hours a day from a young age to play something difficult at their 15's or 20's, i just have no business thinking i will get that result in a short time with as little time as i put into it.
It's all about patience. Polish 2 bars at a time, and after 6 months you've got there.
Powerful video. I used to attend a classical painting workshop when i was like 10 but i gave up on it to focus on the piano. I picked it up again two years ago when i was 16 and it was a bit hard focusing on those two plus schoolwork but it's a lot of fun and definitely worth it!
Totally true. I started to learn piano from scratch at 36! a year and a half later and I can play some (simpler) chopin!
Thank you, you are great!
Yet - I've heard classically trained musicians with the technical chops massacre Chopin. Takes alot of artistic talent and intuition to get Chopin right.
This is typical of any art form, not just playing Chopin. For instance, if you took up pottery, your attempts at making pots will be awful for the first few months, probably years. But it wouldn't be wrong to say that the first functional pot you made is still a pot.
So with Chopin it's the same. You obviously have to play any piece (not just Chopin) badly before you can play it well. So really you're not saying anything meaningful lol.
you are an inspiration! :-) and prelude no4 is a master piece!
I'm trying this challenge. I'm practicing 2 weeks and I'm playing the middle of this piece. Thanks!
nice playing!
Muchas gracias, James!!!
That's so true! You can just start playing most pieces! I'm halfway in Bach's C maj fugue without ever having touched a piano before, it's all about practice.
Fugue or prelude? It's just that the prelude is one of the most commonly used introductory pieces
1.don't own a bad piano,even if it is free.It will depress and defeat your progress. all keys pedals and mechanisms should work .
2. get a good electronic piano with full range of weighted keys.(korg etc)0
3. many music/adult ed depts have practice pianos for you to use, just ask.(I had a choice of a Bosendorfer or Steinway )
4.If you can remember the plot of a soap opera or follow Lord of the Rings or similar,the memory trick is the same as with music.
5.play for fun,practice with focus.
6.Hanon
7.Watch and listen to great pianists
8.dont play simple versions of classics
9. no good music is easy [there is a world of nuance in simple music by great composers).
10. ignore nay sayers. Learning is fun and easy.
I started teaching myself piano at age 30 and can now play some of the great Beethoven sonatas and most repertoir in higher\medium range. thanks
Actually a full weighted keyboard is loads heavier than my Bechstein grand. Actually a half weighted keyboard i have is even heavier than the Bechstein which has a downweight of about 50 grams per key.
korg pianos suck. hrrobile tonal range. u cant play soft. get a steinway model L instead
love the sweater
this is my favorite song,love you
Loved it, Tony. Makes total sense.
Hey James! I read your books and I loved them :) I'm 18 and I started playing the piano when I was 5. I just wanted to tell you I love the way you play and you explain music. Congratulations!!
I hope you have a couple of minutes to listen to the covers I uploaded on my YT channel. Thank you so much for everything! I hope you play here in Spain to see you : D
I lost my hands in the war
That unmistakable sweet Steinway sound
Playing the piano is one thing, playing it well is another.
He's a world-renowned, professional classical pianist. :) I think it's safe to say that he's aware of the distinction. His point is one of encouragement. That one should just start.
True. Learning to play this on my own, never had a lesson.
Spot on. Just do it. Don't chew over it.
Hi Tony, Great Video! Thank you for posting... Dead On! :)
shared on fb thank you tony
And you can learn to read music by playing NoteBlaster on the iPad or iPhone.
me watching this sat at my piano: ‘hmm interesting’ **plays moonlight sonata mvt 3 whilst still looking at the screen**
I love James Rhodes . I've attempted to learn to read music and it's just never happened . I envy people who can . Despite this I do write and play my own classical music in my very own unorthodox way . I now feel strangely attached to this approach and have lost all interest in learning how to read notation . I admire James and have read his book ' Instrumental ' . Wish I could read music but it doesn't stop me from composing , which is the positive side of things .
So what's stopping you from learning to read music?
There isn't a lot to it:
Staff or stave: that's the bar lines - 5 upper lines for treble (high notes) and 5 lower lines for bass (low notes) - middle C sits in between these two pairs of 5 lines
Notes: You only really use 4 different note lengths when you're starting out, and gradually add the compound ones (dotted notes, triplets)
Rests: Same principle as the notes
Bar lines: divides the music into regular 'phrases'
That's about it. You read it from left to right, much like Western writing.
The 'grammar' of music notation is extremely rigid and predictable (unlike real language).
A good teacher could probably teach you to read music in a few hours.
Where do you get these shirts?
Just search Bach tshirt and something is bound to pop up
Everyone says they wish they could play an instrument, most are too lazy to learn.
Can you please say where you got that shirt
....I'm glad I heard this...;-)
Yes,you are right.
However,to be able to develop proper technique real piano or at least weighted keyboard with hammer action is needed.
Unless the goal is to play some synth chords for modern music(no dynamic)
Another thing to be able to practice this 40-60 min a day with full concentration and be physically not tired after all day at work.
I do manual work and my hands and muscles are simply stiff and sore after 9 hours of labour.
Just to mention,not everyone has 9-5 office job and pushing pencils and papers.
That shirt though!😂
That little prelude is easy to bang out, but incredibly hard to play well. The A major prelude (#7) is even shorter, and apart from having to stretch a 10th at one point, is pretty easy. Another good one for beginners, and only 13 bars, is the one in C minor (#20), which lets you pound away at ff, then crescendo, making it relatively easy to come down to p and then pp, whereas in the e minor, you have to go from p, then dim., then play three big chords pp. ANd that isn't even the hard part.
Thank you. Let me finish revolutinary etude now...
I want that shirt.Where did you buy it??
how are pedals being used?
so truee... I'm a beginnner and I can play Chopin's Nocturne op.9 no.2
Muito lindo!
Where can you buy this dope sweatshirt? :D
2:12 pretty shallow motivation.
Lmao when he said 40 hours a day is all you need I’m like .... I have six pieces to learn in three months sir for my exams -.- I need AT LEAST 4 hours a day
Nice shirt!
Actually this is the first piece I learned a year ago. :O Now trying to make Clair de lune perfect! :)) That's a progress I guess.
I think the left hand should be a little more softer. None the less, powerful video
Chopin Ballade No.1
Anyone can play that. Just ten minutes a day for two weeks. Honest.
ibuprofen303 LOL wtf
That's what James Rhodes reckons.
Can anyone tell me what is the piece he plays?
chopin.
thank you
op 28 no 4 in e minor to be extra correct ;)
Gustav Mahler why not, I love your symphonies!
*me going threw recommended videos finds this looks at title about to click then stops when I see the bach shirt*
How about Liszt?
totally missing why a lot of people dont like this guy on a personal level
Bit more pedal?
si hasta el carnicero!
you are so nice trying to make it look very easy for everybody...it is naive...then frustration comes...the truth is that it takes work, long work, hard work, galley slave work, but is worth it, the more you put the more you get.
"Chopin´s playing evoked all the sweet and sorrowful voices of the past. Chopin sang the tears of music...in a whole gamut of different forms and voices, from that of the warrior to those of children and angels..." Bohdan Zaleski, polish poet, personal diary 2 feb 1844.
"Under the fingers of Chopins´s hand the piano became the voice of an archangel, an orchestra, an army, a raging ocean, a creation of the universe, the end of the world." Solange Clesinger
" SIMPLICITY IS EVERYTHING, IT IS ART¨S FINAL OBJECT. ONE HAS TO HAVE STUDIED A LOT, TREMENDOUSLY, TO LET SIMPLICITY EMERGE WITH ALL ITS CHARM, GRACE AND MAGIC. PLACE THE HAND AT EASE, WITH A MAXIMUM OF SUPPLENESS AND FLEXIBILITY, -- ( FACILEMENT, FACILEMENT ) -- EASILY, EASILY. TO ATTAIN GOOD TASTE, NATURALNESS AND PERFECTION IN PIANO PLAYING, LEARN FROM THE BEST OPERA SINGERS, LISTENING CAREFULLY HOW THEY BREATH. "
- CHOPIN -
i change my mind...it is not naive...it is wonderful to start people to music...playing very difficult works really well it takes a lot of sweat, thats all, i like the sweat, but if you don´t you can have a muse too...on the contrary many after the sweat lose the muse....so watch where to stop a bit
This title makes me think of Ratatouille
I think this man is a talker
bla bla bla , play play play
You forgot a "S"
look at my face when you are talking
It might be helpful for you to learn something about what Mr. Rhodes has been through before obsessing about his mannerisms.
Anyone can be a nuclear scientist / opera singer / surgeon...uh, sorry, they can't. More than the capacity to understand is the art of appreciation and the intelligence but a willingness to devote hours each day to mastering a subject instead of checking FB every 3 seconds. This is probably one of the easiest pieces Chopin wrote and even it is tricky if one highlights the melody and keeps the support in the background.
I can’t believe how pessimistic you are. Almost anyone can play these pieces and enjoy them if they want to. Not everyone can become a professional, but 40 minutes a day can get you pretty far, especially if you have a musical background.
Ballin Hamster - "Anyone can play these pieces" - I don't think so. A fair few people could probably play this but very far from "almost anyone". Something as arbitrary as "pessimism" has nothing to do with it.
I agree with Ballin Hamster.
The only reason why most people fail to do anything meaningful in their lives is because they give up before they've even started.
I highly doubt that the same piece, although technically not very much demanding, played by an absolute beginner (with average talent) after a few weeks of training will sound anything close to this performance.
My Chopinheart chopinlife chopinidentity WAS MAINLY CRASHED BY A NORTHPEOPLE WHO TOOK NECK PEE POO ON GERMANS
Were you reading scripts?
Why he wear BACH when he teaching Chopin. Pls wear CHOPIN!!! 😂😂😂😂