+cdowis You can find a detailed video breakdown in the Description Box - with clickable time stamps (so there's no need to write your own in the comments) :))).
Incredible! It is the difference of being "polished" and just playing the piano. I love the holistic approach and yes, you can tell a world of difference. Please continue with your fine tuning of the skills for professional piano playing. You have a new fan.
This is soooo beautifully played!!! Love the way your hands "stroke" the keys! I am THE BIGGEST FAN of the piano Russian School!! Just amazing! Please carry on posting these great videos, I learn more than in a year's worth of teaching! Thanks again!
Do you have any plans to give us a lecture on Mussorgsky's picture at the exhibition? or maybe some of them? for example, the great gate of kiev, The old castle, Bydlo or even later compositions, for example, Duma(reverie).
Thank you so much for your appreciation! I don't have any current plans about Mussorgsky - but I do like your idea (and I do absolutely LOVE his 'Pictures'!) :))) I will definitely create one (or several tutorials) dedicated to these masterpieces if I find the time.
And that Arthur Rubinstein's playing style, was like a mirror image of Rachmaninoff's playing style. The complete control of the gravity drop in the hand and less usage of the back to create a loud noise, the usage of the "shoulder blade" muscles (hardest thing to do...), no lifting of the shoulders (which is often a habit found a lot today). A nice way to find some answers is Josef Hofmann's book about Anton Rubinstein's teachings.
Your videos are a great resource these techniques are very important especially for western students that play so rigidly and inefficiently when playing composers like Mozart.
Hi. Thanks again for very helpful video. When I practice I try too much thats why the tension comes really quickly. I hope your video help me to practice with more relaxed mind and enjoy. Thanks again
I love your videos :) My piano teacher growing up taught me a lot but I always felt it was natural to move my elbows out to create a beautiful legato sound and I was told that that was wrong. It wasn't till I got to college to study piano performance that my polish teacher Ewa kept telling me to loosen my wrist shoulders breathe and move my elbows outward. This video reminds me of her techniques love it so much!
Thank you very much for your excellent video. It is so clear and concise. I played violin in my younger days, and now at 69 years old, I like to learn to play some piano. I just love Chopin's music. Listening to you, I can feel your sincerity to share your knowledge with us, a must-have quality for a good teacher. This is what I call "from Russia with love". Keep up with your great work. You have one mor subscriber and student. Kelvin
for two years, i failed to put the proper weight and expression to my pieces. and this video has really helped me to do just that! its incredible that this improved my overall playing. thanks a lot! :)
Thank you for sharing! Now I understand way better the purpose of all that "coreography" that I always watched in great pianists playing having no exact idea what it was for...It seems so obvious now, but sometimes you need that someone more experienced removes the band on you not to remain blind. I appreciate that you shared this tips with the comunity)
Thank you, Enrique! :) I'm happy that this tutorial helped you to have a better understanding of whole-arm action, weighted playing and the benefits of a fluid and relaxed piano technique :).
Thank you very much, Susan! 😊 By the way, my hand movements are not random - and there's an entire ergonomic science behind them 😇 (which I teach on PianoCareerAcademy.com).
Thank you so very much for sharing! I watched riveted because I so want to play with such expression but I did not know the technique. I took NOTES. I will start to practice tonight with your techniques and I promise I will be patient with myself if I do not become an overnight legato illusionist:). No teacher has ever taught me in the manner that you did. You spoke clearly, demonstrated the technique clearly. Thank you, I wlil keep up with your "lessons."
Such a beautiful set of instructive ideas! I love it so much, I shared the link on the pianoworld forum under the topic Russian Piano Method that I started. I've watched this video so many times and each time I learn something new. Thank you again!
Hi Ilinca, you are so great... what a ballet on a piano! So expressive! Thank you for your coaching and explanation. You are a super teacher and a beautiful one to boot!
Thanks so much. I really appreciate that you take the time to explain these elements of pianismus so well and thoroughly. The Russian piano school is truly the standard of excellence. Your skill-sharing blesses me and I am grateful.
You're welcome! Yes, scales and arpeggios have to be played expressively as well - it's awesome that you have noticed this improvement in your playing! ;)
Thank you very much for this beautiful lesson! I stopped playing piano years ago, now I want to start again and your lessons are so inspiring for me! You have a special talent for teaching, very sweet and accurate, you're really lovely and able to transmit enthusiasm and patience. I love this holistic approach and I love how you underline the importance of relaxation. It's a teaching for our soul. Thank you again, I will join your website. With love and blessing, Marcy
The idea of using the weight of your relaxed arms and pressing rather that hitting the keys was a revelation to me. In the past i sort came to this sound after lots id practice in one thin but now inunderstand the technique a little better, thankyou
Hi! Practice slowly first, hands separately, focusing on the difficult spot (the trill). Don't forget to count and make sure that the rhythm is even and everything feels comfortable in the slow tempo. Keep your arms and wrist entirely relaxed, but your fingers should be crisp and precise. Gradually increase the tempo, maintaining the feeling of comfort, stability and relaxation - until you reach the needed tempo. Slow, mindful, focused practice is golden! Good luck! ;)
I'm enjoying your piano playing techniques, immensely. You have a lovely quality in your teaching methods. It makes so much sense to me. I'm wondering if you could please include (in the descriptions below) or mention the names of EACH piece of music you demonstrate. It would be extremely helpful to students who wish to learn them. Thank you so much. I feel very inspired...
Thank you so much, Carol! I just wrote a list of all the pieces that I played in this video (with clickable time stamps for each one) - find them in the 'pinned comment' above! ;)
again, amazing video and you have helped me immensely with this jam-packed video. by the way, what was that beautiful piece you played at the beginning?
Thanks! I am a student at a college and I never had formal lessons. I am good about musicality but my technique is far below the music I am studying! I enjoy and am inspired by your videos. Thanks! Please post a video on memorizing and how to keep strong repertoire. Thanks.
Wow! As a beginner piano student and a dance teacher, I can relate and learn so much. Of course there is a huge task nobody can help: practice :). Thanks so much! You keep no secrets. Just subscribed, now your channel it is when I can find some time to watch youtube for tips. Will search for your #1 lesson :)
Hi! Thank you so much! :) By the way, my RUclips videos do not form a step-by-step Course (so there is no Lesson No. 1 as such): they are just the 'tip of the iceberg' of my online teaching, and here I simply post 1-2 free samples from each major project that you can find in the Members Area of my Piano Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com (PCA). PCA offers its members many hundreds of detailed video and written tutorials (including step-by-step Courses and interactive projects). For example, you can find Lesson No. 1 of my Course for Beginners here on RUclips (ruclips.net/video/_So-VEyBZ3w/видео.html - and don't miss the related free article on PianoCareer.com - www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/) - and also Lesson No. 75 of this Course is available for free as well (www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/tchaikovsky-waltz-of-the-flowers-piano-tutorial/). Similarly, here on RUclips (and also on my free blog, PianoCareer.com) you can find the Introductory Lesson of my Scale & Arpeggio Course (www.pianocareer.com/piano-technique/piano-scales-arpeggios-art-exercise/). I actually recommend going to the PianoCareer.com Archives (www.pianocareer.com/archives/) - there you will find ALL my free video and written tutorials (including the RUclips ones, and much more!). And, last but not least, if you wish to learn more about my Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com, please take a look at our detailed FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/) - paying special attention to answers No. 1-6 (find out how PianoCareerAcademy works, what is included in the membership etc.), No. 17 (a description of the Video Course for Beginners) and No. 19 (a description of our Scale Course). Good luck and enjoy your practice! ;)
Thank you, Ilinca! I posted the comment before checking out your website. Just spending a couple of hours to read. I've decided to drop my real life teacher and subscribe to your online lessons for a year and see if I make a better progress. 'See' you real soon!
Thank you so much for your appreciation! :) We're looking forward to welcoming you to our community - and I hope you will enjoy the learning experience on PianoCareerAcademy! ;)
Nice tips for piano techniques and really admired the way you illustrate. Your looks seems more alluring and very interesting to look at. Thanks a lot I have new knowledge to lingers. Oliver Ciruela
WOW! I've only been watching for 4 minutes and have been learning a lot! :) I don't even know if I am a beginner or Advanced/ntermediate player. been playing since 2009
I have been taking piano practice for a couple of weeks now and my instructor is teaching me this technic. He wants me to have a relaxed wrist whenever I start and end the song and when I press a key repeatedly.
Wow, no wonder my fingers were getting sore for the past few days this week when I woke up after long practice sessions the nights before (I'm a piano beginner. :)). I just tried 04:27. Tip No. 1: Play with your arms, not only with your fingers!, and I think I'm finally getting this technique! (Although I have to ask my piano teacher in my next piano lesson if I'm still using my fingers' strength most of the time and not using my arm and wrist) Thank you for saving me from finger injuries! :D
Hi! I'm very happy to hear that this video helped you to get acquainted with the fundamental whole-arm action principle (as opposed to the old-school finger-only approach). In this tutorial, however, I only remind you about the importance of using whole-arm action (and I don't teach it in a step-by-step manner). Being aware of this is not enough for assimilating this technique. You can learn more by watching some of my other free tutorials, especially these ones: 1. The 5 Basic Elements of a Correct Piano Posture (www.pianocareer.com/piano-posture/correct-piano-posture/). 2. The Secrets of a Correct Piano Key Attack (www.pianocareer.com/piano-sound/correct-piano-key-attack/). 3. Video Course for Beginners. Lesson No. 1 (www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/). These videos can be found here on RUclips as well - but if you follow the links above, you will find additional tips in the accompanying articles. Good luck and enjoy your practice! ;)
i dont play much piano, but i do play a lot of classical guitar, and i have the same problem with legato. this video gives me a lot of ideas.. . . thanks
Anyhow, the similar playing styles tends to be, the least and most comfortable amount of wrist rotations necessary and this tends to come with a flexible wrist. Least amount of motions necessary to conserve energy, like "restricted energy" when playing. Without lifting or dropping the wrist below the keys, the fingers have complete control alone to create a very soft sound and a very loud sound through finger strength alone. It's often said that Rachmaninoff, never made super gestures.
Hello! Just wanted to say that your videos have helped me out tremendously, even just the few I've watched (I've still got plenty of them left to see). My playing was so muddied up by my pedaling technique, but thanks to the video you did on that, my playing has sounded so much clearer and professional. Now all I need to do is work on my key attack...! Thanks again :)
Great video! Your English is indeed very good. Being a Russian, I cannot imagine how you can explain this so well especially living in your country. Thank you for your video. I think your video is very unique and very valuable. The best of luck on your other videos.
Hi Anna! Thank you very much for your appreciation! By the way, I'm actually not from Russia :)). You can learn more about my professional journey by reading the answers to questions No. 27 and 28 from our detailed FAQs at PianoCareerAcademy.com (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/).
The remark about proper priorities - relaxation, sound, and only then technique - was one of the most helpful I have ever got. This is a permanent internal conflict I experience - I can play neater if I try harder, but the harder I try, the stiffer I get. It requires a lot of Buddhist zen 'let go' approach - you have to accept that you're going to play imperfectly if you choose to relax and patiently wait for the sound to improve while you're working on relaxation of the muscles. So better sound and technique can't be the goals you try to reach at all costs because then it's counterproductive.
Hi! I'm happy to hear that this video was helpful! :) Indeed, relaxation comes first, and accuracy follows. However, good sound quality can ONLY be achieved if your arms/wrists have the right amount of relaxation (stiffness instantly makes your sound harsh and brittle). Therefore, by developing a healthier technique (relaxation, weighted playing, wrist flexibility/navigation etc.) you will SIMULTANEOUSLY improve your sound and expressive pallette :). In its turn, your technique will naturally improve if your hearing is active and you have clear expressive tasks. In the end, all the major elements of our art (hearing, expression, technique etc.) cannot be separated - but the focus should obviously be the right one (hearing/expression/relaxation come first, accuracy appears as a result). You can learn more by watching my free video "Developing a Brilliant Piano Technique - The Holistic Professional Approach" (ruclips.net/video/s0fFVGzBFqc/видео.html).
Absolutely loved your video! I have never been taught this. Thank you so much for sharing this information and sharing your passion and talent. Love your style!! I'd like to know how to play in order to avoid notes that don't play...I often have this annoying problem when trying to play softly and gently.... that the notes sometimes don't produce a sound?
Thank you so much, Renata! :) The short answer to your question is 'whole-arm action, weighted playing and non-legato practice combined with a change of perspective on sound production': we stop perceiving the keys as something we depress (or strike) with the fingers; instead, the keyboard becomes a deep flexible surface into which we 'dive' with the entire energy coming from the upper body. A detailed video answer (to this exact question) is available on PianoCareerAcademy.com :).
@@VidCLR That particular Yamaha (which I was using for a couple of months back in 2012) was an acoustic (real) piano, but it also had a built-in digital mechanism that allowed 'silencing' the sound when using headphones. In the video above, I only used the acoustic mechanism (so the sound is 100% real).
@@VidCLR Hi, not sure if your question was for me or not. Anyway I am playing a Yamaha Grand Piano. I only just started playing 9 months ago, after not playing for 20 years. I am now in my fifties and decided to start playing again, and am quite dedicated and motivated to learn and improve. I think it must just be my technique that is lacking, and maybe I am trying to play too soft ??? If that is possible
Hello there, I came across your website and by by God's grace I am convinced that you will help me improve my piano skills. I do have a rhetorical question but do you also teach how to read music for adults, because I never had the training as a child and its much harder to read music fast at the age of 23. Please let me know, thank you and may God bless you
Hi Margaret! Yes, of course - my online Piano Coaching Program is addressed to adults, and by following my step-by-step Video Course for Beginners you will develop ALL your piano skills (including reading) in a harmonious manner, according to the professional system used in the Russian piano school :). You can learn more about this Course (and the functionality of our program) by taking a look at our detailed FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). Please pay special attention to the following answers from the FAQs: No. 17: a detailed description of our Video Course for Beginners. No. 40: a description of our Sight-Reading Course. No. 1-3: discover what PianoCareerAcademy is, how it works, what is included (and what is not included) in the membership - and also the List of Tutorials currently available for our members. No. 4-6: learn more about our membership options (monthly and yearly) - and how they work.
Hello Pianocareer. Great videos! I am currently learning these things from the russian school with my teacher. Very effective and logical. I have a question: I currently own a yamaha CLP 340 digital piano, it has one of the latest weighted key design, GH3, and although it feels similar to an upright, my question is: Will practicing technique on this piano hinder me from performing well on a grand piano in the future?
Just finished the vid. You are a great teacher. :) If you were in my country I'd seriously enroll lol! Having difficulty using the arm movements in quick songs... can the legato be applied to arpeggios?
Okay, I'm going to stop talking about piano... either way... I'm still totally entranced by the beautiful lady in the video and her voice. Her personality seems to show through in the efforts of these videos and just comes off angelic. It's so hypnotic. @.@
Adult begnner here. I've been struggling to lift my fingers individually and with a tense posture/hands. This actually helped me a lot in my practice session today! I could immediately tell the HUGE improvement your tips made. Now the other thing I'm struggling with is playing staccato. Is there any chance you could create a video like this for staccato? Thank you for the help! :D
Hi! I'm really happy that this tutorial was helpful - and please, please stay away from the outdated '5-finger' methods that tell you to lift the fingers individually while keeping your hands tense! This is a shortcut to bad habits and hand injuries :(. I demonstrate how to play staccato correctly (among many other things) in my step-by-step Video Course for Beginners (available in the Members Area of PianoCareerAcademy.com). This Course will help you to develop ALL your piano skills (technique, expression, hearing, reading, theory & analysis, pedaling etc.) in a harmonious manner, according to the professional system used in the Russian piano school. Find out more about this Course (and about the functionality of my Piano Coaching Program) by taking a look at our detailed FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). Please pay special attention to questions No. 17 (dedicated to the Beginner Course), No. 19 (dedicated to the Scale Course), No. 40 (dedicated to our Sight-Reading Course) and 1-6 (you will learn how PCA works, what is included in the membership etc.). Good luck! ;)
![How to Avoid Piano Injuries | Get Rid of Tension and Pain [Hand, Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder & Back]](/img/1.gif)
In this tutorial I played fragments from the following pieces:
00:00. Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 1, 2nd movement.
01:26. The Theme from "Schindler's List".
01:38. Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.
01:56. Rachmaninoff - Vocalise op. 34 No. 14.
04:56. Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 11, 1st movement.
06:27. Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 1, 3rd movement.
07:20. Chopin - Fantaisie-Impromptu op. posth. 66, middle section.
11:11. Chopin - Prelude in E Minor, op. 28 No. 4.
16:15. Chopin - 'Revolutionary' Etude op. 10 No. 12.
16:16. Chopin - Nocturne in E Minor, op. 72 No. 1.
I'll be watching it over and over again to get all the right tips! ::) + the other ones of course!
it's very nice of you to share your tutorials online
and i find them helpful :)
Beautiful, everything: the lesson, the examples, the voice, the face. Always a pleasure to watch.
Truly a very nice person, in addition to being an artist.
Thank you so much, guys - it means a lot! :)))
4:30 technique 1: arms and shoulders
6:00 #2 key attack gradual and relaxed
6:40 #3 wrist
8:10 #4 walking arm
14:00 #5 hear, imagine, anticipate
17:00 final advice
+cdowis You can find a detailed video breakdown in the Description Box - with clickable time stamps (so there's no need to write your own in the comments) :))).
Wonderful lesson! Thank you.
You're very welcome!
Thank you for another wonderful video tutorial! :)
One of the best tutorials on youtube. Great work!
A blessing and wonderful pianist teacherProf. Thank you for your magic lessons.Please continue your channel.👍⭐🙏💐👏🥰
Thank you so much! 🥰
Thank you so much for these videos. Best piano instructional videos I have found in RUclips.
Incredible! It is the difference of being "polished" and just playing the piano. I love the holistic approach and yes, you can tell a world of difference. Please continue with your fine tuning of the skills for professional piano playing. You have a new fan.
This is soooo beautifully played!!! Love the way your hands "stroke" the keys! I am THE BIGGEST FAN of the piano Russian School!! Just amazing! Please carry on posting these great videos, I learn more than in a year's worth of teaching! Thanks again!
This is the greatest lecture of all time. I am very grateful for this "secrets" and insights! Thanks.
Do you have any plans to give us a lecture on Mussorgsky's picture at the exhibition? or maybe some of them? for example, the great gate of kiev, The old castle, Bydlo or even later compositions, for example, Duma(reverie).
Thank you so much for your appreciation! I don't have any current plans about Mussorgsky - but I do like your idea (and I do absolutely LOVE his 'Pictures'!) :))) I will definitely create one (or several tutorials) dedicated to these masterpieces if I find the time.
Great! :))
Very helpful tips you made in this video!
Thank you! Learned so much from this video. One of the best piano channels
Thank you very much, Michael! ;)
Thank you for this video. I wish I had teachers who could explain the mechanics to me this way.
Thank you, Daniel! ;)
I learned a lot with the video. I wish I had a teacher like you. You are a really good one. Congratulations and keep it up !
And that Arthur Rubinstein's playing style, was like a mirror image of Rachmaninoff's playing style. The complete control of the gravity drop in the hand and less usage of the back to create a loud noise, the usage of the "shoulder blade" muscles (hardest thing to do...), no lifting of the shoulders (which is often a habit found a lot today). A nice way to find some answers is Josef Hofmann's book about Anton Rubinstein's teachings.
Your videos are a great resource these techniques are very important especially for western students that play so rigidly and inefficiently when playing composers like Mozart.
Hi. Thanks again for very helpful video. When I practice I try too much thats why the tension comes really quickly. I hope your video help me to practice with more relaxed mind and enjoy. Thanks again
I love your videos :) My piano teacher growing up taught me a lot but I always felt it was natural to move my elbows out to create a beautiful legato sound and I was told that that was wrong. It wasn't till I got to college to study piano performance that my polish teacher Ewa kept telling me to loosen my wrist shoulders breathe and move my elbows outward. This video reminds me of her techniques love it so much!
+Melanie L Thank you so much, Melanie! :)
This is an absolutely magnificent tutorial
Thank you! ;)
Extremely helpful, thank you!!!
Thank you so much, Peter! :)
You are a great teacher! Thank you for sharing....
The most helpful video I've ever seen for my piano learning!! Thank you so much Ilinca!!
Thank you very much for your excellent video. It is so clear and concise. I played violin in my younger days, and now at 69 years old, I like to learn to play some piano. I just love Chopin's music. Listening to you, I can feel your sincerity to share your knowledge with us, a must-have quality for a good teacher. This is what I call "from Russia with love". Keep up with your great work. You have one mor subscriber and student. Kelvin
Thank you so much, Kelvin!!! Enjoy your practice! ;)
for two years, i failed to put the proper weight and expression to my pieces. and this video has really helped me to do just that! its incredible that this improved my overall playing. thanks a lot! :)
you are such a talented teacher! its so easy understandable when u apply each technique on a song and demonstrate it.!
Thank you! I'm happy this video was helpful! ;)
Thank you for your wonderful classes, professor Ilinca!!!
Thank you, Mariano! I'm happy you enjoy my tutorials! :)
I appreciate your articulate explanations of details. You are very understandable!
Thank you, Rene! ;)
Those were incredibly helpful tips! Your explanations are concise and easy to understand. Love your talent and beauty. Will be back for more.
Thank you! ;)
You are an AMAZING TEACHER!!!!!!!!! Thank You!!!!!
Thank you so much! :)))
Thank you for sharing! Now I understand way better the purpose of all that "coreography" that I always watched in great pianists playing having no exact idea what it was for...It seems so obvious now, but sometimes you need that someone more experienced removes the band on you not to remain blind. I appreciate that you shared this tips with the comunity)
Thank you, Enrique! :) I'm happy that this tutorial helped you to have a better understanding of whole-arm action, weighted playing and the benefits of a fluid and relaxed piano technique :).
Again, so much help from one video! You're definitely the best piano teacher I've come across at least on the internet. Thanks!
+Randy te Morsche Thank you! ;)
Love all your videos. Every piece you play is beautiful, and your hand movements are so prety and flowry.
Thank you very much, Susan! 😊 By the way, my hand movements are not random - and there's an entire ergonomic science behind them 😇 (which I teach on PianoCareerAcademy.com).
Thank you so very much for sharing! I watched riveted because I so want to play with such expression but I did not know the technique. I took NOTES. I will start to practice tonight with your techniques and I promise I will be patient with myself if I do not become an overnight legato illusionist:). No teacher has ever taught me in the manner that you did. You spoke clearly, demonstrated the technique clearly. Thank you, I wlil keep up with your "lessons."
Such a beautiful set of instructive ideas! I love it so much, I shared the link on the pianoworld forum under the topic Russian Piano Method that I started. I've watched this video so many times and each time I learn something new. Thank you again!
Thank you so much for appreciating my work, Rich! :)) By the way, check out my newer tutorials as well! ;)
Hi Ilinca, you are so great... what a ballet on a piano! So expressive! Thank you for your coaching and explanation. You are a super teacher and a beautiful one to boot!
Thank you! I'm really happy that my tutorials are useful for you! :))
These side by side comparisons are very helpful in training my ear to hear. Thank you as always Ilinca.
+John Kilbourne You're very welcome, John! ;)
Thank you so much! Your videos are so helpful, and you explain very clearly. :-)
that's very helpful,thank you so much for these tips!!
Thanks so much. I really appreciate that you take the time to explain these elements of pianismus so well and thoroughly. The Russian piano school is truly the standard of excellence. Your skill-sharing blesses me and I am grateful.
Thank you so much - your appreciation means a lot! :)))
Thank you. I enjoy practicing my arrpeggio nowadays. It sounds so very beautiful that unbelievable I produce it myself!
You're welcome! Yes, scales and arpeggios have to be played expressively as well - it's awesome that you have noticed this improvement in your playing! ;)
Awesome video for real!
i'm having some problems with legatto, and what you taught here helped a lot!
thank you
+Vinicius Barros You're very welcome! I'm happy this video was helpful! ;)
This is very helpful! I enjoy watching your videos they really help and inspire me 😄
+Maria Fedyushina Thank you, Maria! :)))
Thank you very much for this beautiful lesson! I stopped playing piano years ago, now I want to start again and your lessons are so inspiring for me! You have a special talent for teaching, very sweet and accurate, you're really lovely and able to transmit enthusiasm and patience. I love this holistic approach and I love how you underline the importance of relaxation. It's a teaching for our soul. Thank you again, I will join your website. With love and blessing, Marcy
Very helpful video.
Looks like the wrist is doing more work bending & rotating in a circular motion.
The idea of using the weight of your relaxed arms and pressing rather that hitting the keys was a revelation to me. In the past i sort came to this sound after lots id practice in one thin but now inunderstand the technique a little better, thankyou
You're very welcome! I'm happy that this tutorial was helpful! ;)
privyet iz new york!... thanks for such an amazing lessons. spacibo bolshoe!
beautiful lesson, thank you
Thank you, Luca! ;)
besides your knowledge and wisdom your teaching lesson are great .GOD bless you .thanks.
You are very welcome! :)
Really useful tips! Let’s make our pianos sing 😊
:)))
Great job, thank you from Sydney.
Thanks for making these videos, you're helping a lot of people. Fortunately, I had teachers who taught me the things you talk about in your videos. :)
Thank you.I have learned a lot from your video clips.I m very much appreciate it .I m trying to correct my mistakes.You are a real shining diamond.
Thank you! Enjoy your practice! ;)
Wow, amazing tutorial tips!!!
Thank you so much, Catarina! ☺️
my playing has always been mechanical and dead. your videos are a big help to me understanding how to bring life into it.
I'm really happy to hear that! Enjoy your practice! ;)
Hi! Practice slowly first, hands separately, focusing on the difficult spot (the trill). Don't forget to count and make sure that the rhythm is even and everything feels comfortable in the slow tempo. Keep your arms and wrist entirely relaxed, but your fingers should be crisp and precise. Gradually increase the tempo, maintaining the feeling of comfort, stability and relaxation - until you reach the needed tempo. Slow, mindful, focused practice is golden! Good luck! ;)
I'm enjoying your piano playing techniques, immensely. You have a lovely quality in your teaching methods. It makes so much sense to me. I'm wondering if you could please include (in the descriptions below) or mention the names of EACH piece of music you demonstrate. It would be extremely helpful to students who wish to learn them. Thank you so much. I feel very inspired...
Thank you so much, Carol! I just wrote a list of all the pieces that I played in this video (with clickable time stamps for each one) - find them in the 'pinned comment' above! ;)
Extremely helpful. Thanks ver much
again, amazing video and you have helped me immensely with this jam-packed video.
by the way, what was that beautiful piece you played at the beginning?
This is your fist video that I'm watching and I really like it! I'll be watching all of them soon!
Cheers from Brazil! :)
so beautifull, beautiful dance of hand, bravo
Sylvain
Thanks! I am a student at a college and I never had formal lessons. I am good about musicality but my technique is far below the music I am studying! I enjoy and am inspired by your videos. Thanks!
Please post a video on memorizing and how to keep strong repertoire. Thanks.
Very helpful advise.
Wow! As a beginner piano student and a dance teacher, I can relate and learn so much. Of course there is a huge task nobody can help: practice :). Thanks so much! You keep no secrets. Just subscribed, now your channel it is when I can find some time to watch youtube for tips. Will search for your #1 lesson :)
Hi! Thank you so much! :) By the way, my RUclips videos do not form a step-by-step Course (so there is no Lesson No. 1 as such): they are just the 'tip of the iceberg' of my online teaching, and here I simply post 1-2 free samples from each major project that you can find in the Members Area of my Piano Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com (PCA). PCA offers its members many hundreds of detailed video and written tutorials (including step-by-step Courses and interactive projects). For example, you can find Lesson No. 1 of my Course for Beginners here on RUclips (ruclips.net/video/_So-VEyBZ3w/видео.html - and don't miss the related free article on PianoCareer.com - www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/) - and also Lesson No. 75 of this Course is available for free as well (www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/tchaikovsky-waltz-of-the-flowers-piano-tutorial/). Similarly, here on RUclips (and also on my free blog, PianoCareer.com) you can find the Introductory Lesson of my Scale & Arpeggio Course (www.pianocareer.com/piano-technique/piano-scales-arpeggios-art-exercise/). I actually recommend going to the PianoCareer.com Archives (www.pianocareer.com/archives/) - there you will find ALL my free video and written tutorials (including the RUclips ones, and much more!). And, last but not least, if you wish to learn more about my Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com, please take a look at our detailed FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/) - paying special attention to answers No. 1-6 (find out how PianoCareerAcademy works, what is included in the membership etc.), No. 17 (a description of the Video Course for Beginners) and No. 19 (a description of our Scale Course). Good luck and enjoy your practice! ;)
Thank you, Ilinca! I posted the comment before checking out your website. Just spending a couple of hours to read. I've decided to drop my real life teacher and subscribe to your online lessons for a year and see if I make a better progress. 'See' you real soon!
Thank you so much for your appreciation! :) We're looking forward to welcoming you to our community - and I hope you will enjoy the learning experience on PianoCareerAcademy! ;)
You're very welcome! Glad I could help! ;)
This channel is aweosme! glad i found you!
Woooow .o. Best tutorial ever .o.
thank you for posting these!
You're very welcome! :)))
Nice tips for piano techniques and really admired the way you illustrate. Your looks seems
more alluring and very interesting to look at. Thanks a lot I have new knowledge to lingers. Oliver Ciruela
You are a great teacher
Thank you! 😊
Thank you so much!
I love your videos, very helpful and inspiring!!
Thank you!!! :)))
WOW! I've only been watching for 4 minutes and have been learning a lot! :) I don't even know if I am a beginner or Advanced/ntermediate player. been playing since 2009
I have been taking piano practice for a couple of weeks now and my instructor is teaching me this technic. He wants me to have a relaxed wrist whenever I start and end the song and when I press a key repeatedly.
Wow, no wonder my fingers were getting sore for the past few days this week when I woke up after long practice sessions the nights before (I'm a piano beginner. :)). I just tried 04:27. Tip No. 1: Play with your arms, not only with your fingers!, and I think I'm finally getting this technique! (Although I have to ask my piano teacher in my next piano lesson if I'm still using my fingers' strength most of the time and not using my arm and wrist) Thank you for saving me from finger injuries! :D
Hi! I'm very happy to hear that this video helped you to get acquainted with the fundamental whole-arm action principle (as opposed to the old-school finger-only approach). In this tutorial, however, I only remind you about the importance of using whole-arm action (and I don't teach it in a step-by-step manner). Being aware of this is not enough for assimilating this technique. You can learn more by watching some of my other free tutorials, especially these ones:
1. The 5 Basic Elements of a Correct Piano Posture (www.pianocareer.com/piano-posture/correct-piano-posture/).
2. The Secrets of a Correct Piano Key Attack (www.pianocareer.com/piano-sound/correct-piano-key-attack/).
3. Video Course for Beginners. Lesson No. 1 (www.pianocareer.com/piano-practice/nikolaev-russian-piano-school-practice-guide/).
These videos can be found here on RUclips as well - but if you follow the links above, you will find additional tips in the accompanying articles. Good luck and enjoy your practice! ;)
@@pianocareer Thank you, online piano sensei. I will watch those videos, too!
i dont play much piano, but i do play a lot of classical guitar, and i have the same problem with legato. this video gives me a lot of ideas.. . . thanks
Anyhow, the similar playing styles tends to be, the least and most comfortable amount of wrist rotations necessary and this tends to come with a flexible wrist. Least amount of motions necessary to conserve energy, like "restricted energy" when playing. Without lifting or dropping the wrist below the keys, the fingers have complete control alone to create a very soft sound and a very loud sound through finger strength alone. It's often said that Rachmaninoff, never made super gestures.
Hello!
Just wanted to say that your videos have helped me out tremendously, even just the few I've watched (I've still got plenty of them left to see). My playing was so muddied up by my pedaling technique, but thanks to the video you did on that, my playing has sounded so much clearer and professional. Now all I need to do is work on my key attack...!
Thanks again :)
Great video! Your English is indeed very good. Being a Russian, I cannot imagine how you can explain this so well especially living in your country. Thank you for your video. I think your video is very unique and very valuable. The best of luck on your other videos.
Hi Anna! Thank you very much for your appreciation! By the way, I'm actually not from Russia :)). You can learn more about my professional journey by reading the answers to questions No. 27 and 28 from our detailed FAQs at PianoCareerAcademy.com (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/).
very useful technique for contemporary music as well, thanks
You're very welcome! ;)
Fascinating discussion on piano technique for beautiful sound.
Fantastic Video !
+Thomas Jones Thank you so much! :)))
The remark about proper priorities - relaxation, sound, and only then technique - was one of the most helpful I have ever got. This is a permanent internal conflict I experience - I can play neater if I try harder, but the harder I try, the stiffer I get. It requires a lot of Buddhist zen 'let go' approach - you have to accept that you're going to play imperfectly if you choose to relax and patiently wait for the sound to improve while you're working on relaxation of the muscles. So better sound and technique can't be the goals you try to reach at all costs because then it's counterproductive.
Hi! I'm happy to hear that this video was helpful! :) Indeed, relaxation comes first, and accuracy follows. However, good sound quality can ONLY be achieved if your arms/wrists have the right amount of relaxation (stiffness instantly makes your sound harsh and brittle). Therefore, by developing a healthier technique (relaxation, weighted playing, wrist flexibility/navigation etc.) you will SIMULTANEOUSLY improve your sound and expressive pallette :). In its turn, your technique will naturally improve if your hearing is active and you have clear expressive tasks. In the end, all the major elements of our art (hearing, expression, technique etc.) cannot be separated - but the focus should obviously be the right one (hearing/expression/relaxation come first, accuracy appears as a result). You can learn more by watching my free video "Developing a Brilliant Piano Technique - The Holistic Professional Approach" (ruclips.net/video/s0fFVGzBFqc/видео.html).
Great and inspiring lesson. I still suck at the piano, but at least I do so expressively.
Thank you, Antonio! We all have our flaws, the important thing is to keep learning! 😊
Absolutely loved your video! I have never been taught this. Thank you so much for sharing this information and sharing your passion and talent.
Love your style!!
I'd like to know how to play in order to avoid notes that don't play...I often have this annoying problem when trying to play softly and gently.... that the notes sometimes don't produce a sound?
are you playing in a Real Piano or Digital Piano?
Thank you so much, Renata! :) The short answer to your question is 'whole-arm action, weighted playing and non-legato practice combined with a change of perspective on sound production': we stop perceiving the keys as something we depress (or strike) with the fingers; instead, the keyboard becomes a deep flexible surface into which we 'dive' with the entire energy coming from the upper body. A detailed video answer (to this exact question) is available on PianoCareerAcademy.com :).
@@VidCLR That particular Yamaha (which I was using for a couple of months back in 2012) was an acoustic (real) piano, but it also had a built-in digital mechanism that allowed 'silencing' the sound when using headphones. In the video above, I only used the acoustic mechanism (so the sound is 100% real).
@@VidCLR Hi, not sure if your question was for me or not. Anyway I am playing a Yamaha Grand Piano. I only just started playing 9 months ago, after not playing for 20 years. I am now in my fifties and decided to start playing again, and am quite dedicated and motivated to learn and improve. I think it must just be my technique that is lacking, and maybe I am trying to play too soft ??? If that is possible
@@pianocareer thank you very much for your kind reply. Are you referring to a free video or one that is part of the membership? Many thanks
To be from Russia you speak very well and well understood,thank you for the tips.
Hello there,
I came across your website and by by God's grace I am convinced that you will help me improve my piano skills. I do have a rhetorical question but do you also teach how to read music for adults, because I never had the training as a child and its much harder to read music fast at the age of 23. Please let me know, thank you and may God bless you
Hi Margaret! Yes, of course - my online Piano Coaching Program is addressed to adults, and by following my step-by-step Video Course for Beginners you will develop ALL your piano skills (including reading) in a harmonious manner, according to the professional system used in the Russian piano school :). You can learn more about this Course (and the functionality of our program) by taking a look at our detailed FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/).
Please pay special attention to the following answers from the FAQs:
No. 17: a detailed description of our Video Course for Beginners.
No. 40: a description of our Sight-Reading Course.
No. 1-3: discover what PianoCareerAcademy is, how it works, what is included (and what is not included) in the membership - and also the List of Tutorials currently available for our members.
No. 4-6: learn more about our membership options (monthly and yearly) - and how they work.
This was an incredible video. Thank you so much!
My pleasure! Thank you for your comment! ;)
Thank you - and have an enjoyable practice! ;)
Hello Pianocareer. Great videos! I am currently learning these things from the russian school with my teacher. Very effective and logical. I have a question: I currently own a yamaha CLP 340 digital piano, it has one of the latest weighted key design, GH3, and although it feels similar to an upright, my question is: Will practicing technique on this piano hinder me from performing well on a grand piano in the future?
Thanks a million!
My pleasure! :)))
your an amazing teacher. I'm inspired!!
Thank you! ;)
ascoltare e vedere le tue lezioni è suggestivo e rilassante. Non capisco la lingua inglese ma riesco comunque a seguirti...Brava, capace maestra
Mille grazie! :)))
Its very beautiful nice technique relaxed emotion and very interesting
Thank you! ;)
Just finished the vid. You are a great teacher. :) If you were in my country I'd seriously enroll lol!
Having difficulty using the arm movements in quick songs... can the legato be applied to arpeggios?
Hi Mocha! Thank you - and enjoy your practice! :)))
Hi! You're very welcome! ;) I'm happy to hear that my videos have helped you to improve your playing - keep the spirit and lots of good luck! :)))
Okay, I'm going to stop talking about piano... either way... I'm still totally entranced by the beautiful lady in the video and her voice. Her personality seems to show through in the efforts of these videos and just comes off angelic. It's so hypnotic. @.@
Adult begnner here. I've been struggling to lift my fingers individually and with a tense posture/hands. This actually helped me a lot in my practice session today! I could immediately tell the HUGE improvement your tips made. Now the other thing I'm struggling with is playing staccato. Is there any chance you could create a video like this for staccato? Thank you for the help! :D
Hi! I'm really happy that this tutorial was helpful - and please, please stay away from the outdated '5-finger' methods that tell you to lift the fingers individually while keeping your hands tense! This is a shortcut to bad habits and hand injuries :(. I demonstrate how to play staccato correctly (among many other things) in my step-by-step Video Course for Beginners (available in the Members Area of PianoCareerAcademy.com). This Course will help you to develop ALL your piano skills (technique, expression, hearing, reading, theory & analysis, pedaling etc.) in a harmonious manner, according to the professional system used in the Russian piano school. Find out more about this Course (and about the functionality of my Piano Coaching Program) by taking a look at our detailed FAQs (www.pianocareeracademy.com/faqs/). Please pay special attention to questions No. 17 (dedicated to the Beginner Course), No. 19 (dedicated to the Scale Course), No. 40 (dedicated to our Sight-Reading Course) and 1-6 (you will learn how PCA works, what is included in the membership etc.). Good luck! ;)