Thank you, Kate. Loved the way you linked playing expressively with preventing injury. Practicing in a plodding manner is practicing heavily. Although it is always useful to begin learning a piece non legato, that doesn't mean you dig into the key beds. Great to have a piano academic on RUclips!
One of the challenges, I’ve found, of trying to add a lot of expression when I’m just starting to learn a new piece is that I don’t understand it well enough to do so. It’s only as I grow with it that it becomes apparent.
I understand this, and I have learned that there's a physical reason that students often feel this way - when people are first learning music it's actually hard for your brain to process and notice sounds, because the learner is so cognitively caught up in how to read the notes and physically produce the sounds. If you struggle with this, my advice is to teach yourself to tie the expression together with the physical aspect of playing. For example, articulation is one aspect of expression. Playing a note staccato requires you to release the key. This is a different physical motion than connecting or playing legato to the next note. Notice what you have to do differently when you play short or long, or when you play louder or softer. To play louder, the key has to go down a little faster than when you play softer. Another example: teach yourself to automatically get a little bit louder (cresc) when a line ascends or get a little bit softer when a line descends. This way you're not thinking of expression as something extra that you add, but it's something that is physically intertwined with the process of actually playing the notes. Hope this is helpful!
Very good channel with some real professional pointers unlike so much flashy (literally) junk regarding piano playing which only confuses a lot of beginners.
Your instructional videos are a pleasure. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into them. You have helped me step over numerous landmines and time wasters.
The idea of the just-right practice tempo is interesting. There's a story about Rachmaninoff told by Marc André Hamelin - it took me a long time to track down the original source - that a pianist came to visit Rachmaninoff at his home in California and stood outside the great pianist's door for long minutes listening. He was practicing something so slowly that it was utterly unrecognizable. It turns out that he was practicing some Chopin etude but playing it so slowly that it didn't some like actual music. I described this story to a friend who studied in Moscow and he immediately said "Oh that was the influence of Zverev who was Rachmaninoff's teacher." All practice was to be glacial in tempo until everything about the form was right and there were no incorrect notes. As an aside, with string players, the warning about too-slow practice is particularly important because the physics of the instrument dictate a range of tempi where the technique required for a particular expressive gesture will either work or not. Slow sautillé bowing, for example, isn't a thing! I guess that's true to an extent for us also. Thank you for your excellent videos!
You're very welcome! 😊 Thank you for sharing this example which further proves these points. Yes, true for string players as well. I'm glad you've found this to be true!
Really helpful info, thank you. Especially about putting the expression in when you’re learning the piece. I am guilty of exactly what you said, waiting until I’ve learned the piece with the intention of going back later to do it. And also , playing the piece too fast when learning it.
All great advice. The advice about not looking at your hands too much in a previous video has REALLY helped a lot with the piece I am playing now (I can do jumps without looking that I never would have thought of attempting blind nine months ago), as well as (trying to) practice at an appropriate speed, and to repeat appropriately and consistently. Thank you!
This is wonderful - thanks for the update! Coincidentally, I've been practicing with eyes closed this week as I'm working on some big leaps in LH in the Brahms horn trio. It's helpful, right?? Good luck!
that's a really very useful video for my students too , most of them will simply doing sightread the whole pieces once both hands from the beginning but without noticing what're the mistakes they made , that's made me very hard to guide them or suggesting them an efficient practicing plan 😵💫cuz they will never change their bad pracitce habits 😓 But I do love Proffesor boyd 's video , an useful shor lecture again ❤
Glad it was helpful! Sometimes it's helpful for students to hear the same thing you've been saying all along, from other teachers, right? 😂 I have certainly found that in masterclasses, when a guest teacher says something I have been talking about with a student for many weeks, and then it just "clicks" and the student is able to synthesize it on the spot.
I’m so glad I found your channel! I’m curious your opinion - I am an adult who has played all my life, but have a lot of bad habits from reasons you’ve shared in your videos. Would you recommend lessons? Or does that not make sense for me since I already know how to play? I wouldn’t know who to look for as an instructor/mentor. Thanks!
If you are looking to improve your piano skills, grow your passion for piano, and implement newer habits, I think getting a teacher would be a great idea! Depending on where you live, research music schools in your area and Facebook groups as well. Word of mouth is a common method of networking for piano teachers, so if you have any musical friends or family, see if they know anyone who teaches!
Dear prof thank you for your great content as always. Am struggling with Chopin ocean Etude. My hands just get tired while playing and have this feeling that I just can't keep my hand open all the time while playing arpeggios Thanks !
I haven't seen you play but this feeling as you describe it often comes from thumb tension. I recommend focusing on opening and closing your hand as you play - not keeping the hand extended all the time. This video that I made about playing arpeggios might help: ruclips.net/video/l9FmAvy275A/видео.html Good luck!
Understanding the music theory and recognizing it in the music is by far the most challenging thing to do, I never recognize anything in the music I'm playing except for tonic. Even if I read up on some chord progressions, they are very disguised in the music itself, hidden in broken chords, modulations to other keys etc. I've also been unable to find good and accessible sources of information on the subject, any book on harmonic analysis gets way too complicated way too fast in my opinion. So yeah this has been a rather frustrating experience.
You're right - it can feel frustrating to look for harmonies buried in the music. I always advise to just focus on the cadences at first - identify the keys and chords at all the places in the music where it sounds like the music is coming to rest. Also, keep looking for resources to help - there's so much out there. The YT channel "Music Matters" may be helpful - I think he covers a lot of related topics. Good luck!
hi prof. i have just been accepted to the conservatorium, starting next year. do you have any tips? thank you. love the videos. it has taught me so much 🤓
Congrats on being accepted to the conservatorium! Where will you be studying? I suggest working on your scale and arpeggio technique, making sure you continue to practice sightreading, picking out an etude and a piece by Bach to work on. I'm sure your new teacher at the conservatorium will have helpful suggestions for you! Good luck!!
I doubt it’s possible to post a video for everyone interested in learning to play the piano that does NOT include generalized information. I trust that 99% of people who watch the videos can determine how best to apply the information to their individual piano journeys. I so appreciate you for taking the time to share your expertise, Dr. Boyd!
![Slow Practice at the Piano [with 5 tips!] | The Piano Prof with Kate Boyd](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hj_0YoJgHV8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Slow Practice at the Piano [with 5 tips!] | The Piano Prof with Kate Boyd](/img/tr.png)
👋Watch this next: How to Play the Piano MORE EXPRESSIVELY: ruclips.net/video/msU08Ah7wcw/видео.html
I watched this, learned, and have been putting into practice your suggestions. Thank you.
Thank you, Kate. Loved the way you linked playing expressively with preventing injury. Practicing in a plodding manner is practicing heavily. Although it is always useful to begin learning a piece non legato, that doesn't mean you dig into the key beds. Great to have a piano academic on RUclips!
Thanks so much!!
One of the challenges, I’ve found, of trying to add a lot of expression when I’m just starting to learn a new piece is that I don’t understand it well enough to do so. It’s only as I grow with it that it becomes apparent.
I understand this, and I have learned that there's a physical reason that students often feel this way - when people are first learning music it's actually hard for your brain to process and notice sounds, because the learner is so cognitively caught up in how to read the notes and physically produce the sounds.
If you struggle with this, my advice is to teach yourself to tie the expression together with the physical aspect of playing. For example, articulation is one aspect of expression. Playing a note staccato requires you to release the key. This is a different physical motion than connecting or playing legato to the next note.
Notice what you have to do differently when you play short or long, or when you play louder or softer. To play louder, the key has to go down a little faster than when you play softer.
Another example: teach yourself to automatically get a little bit louder (cresc) when a line ascends or get a little bit softer when a line descends. This way you're not thinking of expression as something extra that you add, but it's something that is physically intertwined with the process of actually playing the notes.
Hope this is helpful!
So very helpful! Thank you!
Very good channel with some real professional pointers unlike so much flashy (literally) junk regarding piano playing which only confuses a lot of beginners.
Your style is so clear and refreshing. Thank you.
You're so welcome - glad you're here!
Your instructional videos are a pleasure. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into them. You have helped me step over numerous landmines and time wasters.
You are so welcome!
Wonderful! Thank you!!!
As someone who learned to sight read many years ago to play double bass, and is trying to get into piano now, I appreciate your videos. 👍🏻
Great to hear!
The idea of the just-right practice tempo is interesting. There's a story about Rachmaninoff told by Marc André Hamelin - it took me a long time to track down the original source - that a pianist came to visit Rachmaninoff at his home in California and stood outside the great pianist's door for long minutes listening. He was practicing something so slowly that it was utterly unrecognizable. It turns out that he was practicing some Chopin etude but playing it so slowly that it didn't some like actual music. I described this story to a friend who studied in Moscow and he immediately said "Oh that was the influence of Zverev who was Rachmaninoff's teacher." All practice was to be glacial in tempo until everything about the form was right and there were no incorrect notes.
As an aside, with string players, the warning about too-slow practice is particularly important because the physics of the instrument dictate a range of tempi where the technique required for a particular expressive gesture will either work or not. Slow sautillé bowing, for example, isn't a thing! I guess that's true to an extent for us also.
Thank you for your excellent videos!
You're very welcome! 😊 Thank you for sharing this example which further proves these points. Yes, true for string players as well. I'm glad you've found this to be true!
Really helpful info, thank you. Especially about putting the expression in when you’re learning the piece. I am guilty of exactly what you said, waiting until I’ve learned the piece with the intention of going back later to do it. And also , playing the piece too fast when learning it.
You are so welcome! It's easy to play too fast and not even realize it. Good luck!
Thanks Ma'am for all the great advice
My pleasure 😊
All great advice. The advice about not looking at your hands too much in a previous video has REALLY helped a lot with the piece I am playing now (I can do jumps without looking that I never would have thought of attempting blind nine months ago), as well as (trying to) practice at an appropriate speed, and to repeat appropriately and consistently. Thank you!
This is wonderful - thanks for the update! Coincidentally, I've been practicing with eyes closed this week as I'm working on some big leaps in LH in the Brahms horn trio. It's helpful, right?? Good luck!
Yup. Especially when BOTH hands have jumps in close succession!@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd
Nice new glasses too.
Thanks! These are actually temporary reading glasses I picked up because my others are getting fixed.
that's a really very useful video for my students too , most of them will simply doing sightread the whole pieces once both hands from the beginning but without noticing what're the mistakes they made , that's made me very hard to guide them or suggesting them an efficient practicing plan 😵💫cuz they will never change their bad pracitce habits 😓
But I do love Proffesor boyd 's video , an useful shor lecture again ❤
Glad it was helpful! Sometimes it's helpful for students to hear the same thing you've been saying all along, from other teachers, right? 😂 I have certainly found that in masterclasses, when a guest teacher says something I have been talking about with a student for many weeks, and then it just "clicks" and the student is able to synthesize it on the spot.
I play a different instrument but these tips are still so helpful thank you!
You're so welcome!
Thank you Kate for nice recommendation. Will try to follow. Your sub.
Thanks for your comment - Good luck!
I’m so glad I found your channel! I’m curious your opinion - I am an adult who has played all my life, but have a lot of bad habits from reasons you’ve shared in your videos. Would you recommend lessons? Or does that not make sense for me since I already know how to play? I wouldn’t know who to look for as an instructor/mentor. Thanks!
If you are looking to improve your piano skills, grow your passion for piano, and implement newer habits, I think getting a teacher would be a great idea! Depending on where you live, research music schools in your area and Facebook groups as well. Word of mouth is a common method of networking for piano teachers, so if you have any musical friends or family, see if they know anyone who teaches!
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thank you so much!!
Dear prof thank you for your great content as always.
Am struggling with Chopin ocean Etude.
My hands just get tired while playing and have this feeling that I just can't keep my hand open all the time while playing arpeggios
Thanks !
I haven't seen you play but this feeling as you describe it often comes from thumb tension. I recommend focusing on opening and closing your hand as you play - not keeping the hand extended all the time. This video that I made about playing arpeggios might help: ruclips.net/video/l9FmAvy275A/видео.html
Good luck!
Understanding the music theory and recognizing it in the music is by far the most challenging thing to do, I never recognize anything in the music I'm playing except for tonic. Even if I read up on some chord progressions, they are very disguised in the music itself, hidden in broken chords, modulations to other keys etc. I've also been unable to find good and accessible sources of information on the subject, any book on harmonic analysis gets way too complicated way too fast in my opinion. So yeah this has been a rather frustrating experience.
You're right - it can feel frustrating to look for harmonies buried in the music. I always advise to just focus on the cadences at first - identify the keys and chords at all the places in the music where it sounds like the music is coming to rest. Also, keep looking for resources to help - there's so much out there. The YT channel "Music Matters" may be helpful - I think he covers a lot of related topics. Good luck!
hi prof. i have just been accepted to the conservatorium, starting next year. do you have any tips? thank you. love the videos. it has taught me so much 🤓
Congrats on being accepted to the conservatorium! Where will you be studying? I suggest working on your scale and arpeggio technique, making sure you continue to practice sightreading, picking out an etude and a piece by Bach to work on. I'm sure your new teacher at the conservatorium will have helpful suggestions for you! Good luck!!
🎹❤️
Re practice tempo: I think your discussion is to generalised and could be, probably, misleading.
I doubt it’s possible to post a video for everyone interested in learning to play the piano that does NOT include generalized information. I trust that 99% of people who watch the videos can determine how best to apply the information to their individual piano journeys. I so appreciate you for taking the time to share your expertise, Dr. Boyd!