Excellent ! I had an "old school" teacher early in my piano life who would say to me, "Take your foot OFF the pedal; now, play that melody line with your fingers and make me THINK you are on the pedal. That, my child, is legato !"
I can relate to this from my experience as a piano teacher. I think back to when I had my piano lessons as a child and was not allowed to use the pedal for a pretty long time. As in years. That is how I teach my students today. Even adults. First examine and learn a piece without the use of the pedal and only later on add it. Oh, by the way, and with all due respect. Have your piano tuned before you record videos 😉
Hi I have been learning to read music and play piano since my retirement nearly 4 years ago though à lot of your stuff is beyond me I do find it very interesting I am wanting to play in a gentle nice way even though I find Easy piano Classics not quite so easy thankyou
How about playing for almost 60 years and just now coming to understand Legato. My first teacher, a Lechitizky follower, stressed Hanon exercises but never taught me how to approach them as studies in legato as well.
Thanks for your comment! I think legato is something that a lot of people don't talk about enough and a lot of students misunderstand. Glad you found the video helpful!
Prof, Dumisani here from Durban, South Africa, glad I stumbled upon your videos. I've been playing piano for a long time but recently decided to resume formal training and it's going okay (I think). This presentation has just explained what I have been doing wrong all along and what my piano teacher is having me correct. I have not been getting, now thanks to this presentation, it has just made a lot of sense. 🙏🙏 You've gotten yourself a new subscriber.
I like your explanation on Legato touch with clear demonstrations. I will use your advice to teach my students to improve their Legato playing on scales. Thanks so much😊
Thank you Dr. Kate for this video. I always know I couldn’t play legato. My playing sounded horrible. I became frustrated with practice. Then I watched videos on how to play legato and using the sustain pedal. They all make sense but didn’t help me improving my playing. You are the only one who mentioned about playing with flat fingers. I tried that and it sounded so much better. It really works! I am so excited. I don’t dread practicing anymore. Thank you for the little trick which makes a BIG difference. Can you make a video on how to use the sustain pedal. I need help with that. Thank you again. You are God send ❤
Thank you so much - I'm so glad it was helpful and got you past a roadblock. Thanks for the topic suggestion - it's on my list to make a video about pedal! Happy practicing! ☺️🎹
I would like you to make a video on staccato. I am playing a Mendelssohn Prelude and Fugue Op. 35 No. 3, b minor and I am very unhappy with my staccato. I am interested to see how you would approach learning this Prelude.
When you are playing the Chopin piece your hands are flat. I always thought you always have to play pieces or technical stuff with an arch wrist. When should you play with an arch wrist vs flat?
Thanks for your comment - it gave me the idea for another video topic, to discuss the difference between a flat hand and a collapsed hand. When intervals are wider, the hand will look much flatter but there is still support. Think of a long, gradual bridge like a causeway, vs a shorter, steeper bridge. Both are supported, and you can drive across them, but the shape of the arch is virtually flat in the first example. So, the short answer to your question is that when you are playing something with smaller intervals (e.g., an Alberti bass figure) your hand will look more arched and rounded. When you are playing something with larger intervals, your hand will look flatter, as the fingers spread to anticipate the next note.
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd thank you, it makes sense. I have another request. Your thoughts on digital vs acoustic piano. I have been playing piano for just over two years. Always on a digital. Recently I bought a Yamaha P22. I like it but I'm pissing my family members off because it is too loud. My Kawai CA49 action is so good that I am almost dont have to adjust going from digital to acoustic. I also like that I can use headphones and play at a volume that does not hurt my old ears :-). I find that digital pianos have come a long way. What are your thoughts on playing/practicing classical music on a digital piano. Sorry for the long post. I really enjoy your videos, you have a simple way to explain the topics. I hope you will keep on making videos.
Great exercise. I realize that my struggling does not come from up to down but to down up (working the schubert’s f minor four hands fantaisie and having problems on the allegro vivace) After a short while all fingers seem to be much equally strong. And the hand does not collapse. Do you do this every day as your first exercise ? And for how long ? or many times a day? Thank you very much for your time and teaching. best from France .
Thanks for your comment! Glad you find it helpful. I no longer practice this daily - it's just become a part of my normal way of playing. What aspect of the Schubert are you having difficulty with? Feel free to reply with a measure number and more information about your challenge.
Someone failed to teach that student’s earliest lessons properly. How do you even get into music school without learning that, much less make it all the way to the end of four years without finding it out somewhere along the way? I can’t afford music school, but even I learned what legato is during the first lessons I ever took and how crucial it is to playing music that’s worth hearing. This wasn’t just a misunderstanding. Someone screwed up big time in that student’s learning process.
The instruction you get on this topic will vary from teacher to teacher. Personally I instruct students not to raise fingers high, but I know that some teachers and methods do instruct students to raise their fingers.
You are not wrong but there is more to legato than overlapping notes with the fingers to obtain a smooth sound. I was taught that first and foremost, legato is how a phrase is played. Example; start the phrase softly then increase the volume a bit then end the phrase softly. Legato resembles what taking a deep breath feels like; just imagine that the breath contains a string of notes sounding from soft to loud to soft. Even a succession of staccato notes without pedal can be played legato, it's how the notes are phrased in terms of smoothly graduated volume which creates the feeling that all the notes in a phrase are connected like a breath. Understanding this technique or approach is virtually the only way to make a Chopin nocturne sing. This way of phrasing also applies to left hand accompaniment. "Soft, Louder, Soft". I feel that many pianists don't spend enough time listening to good singers or string players. Forgive me for expanding on your idea, I do genuinely love your videos. Thank you.
Actually, thank you for posting and taking the time to help people explore technical solutions for enhanced piano playing. Sometimes I ask you questions that are meant to benefit people who might not know the question to ask or how to ask the question. It's really clear that you are serious about helping struggling musicians.@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd
![Slow Practice at the Piano [with 5 tips!] | The Piano Prof with Kate Boyd](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hj_0YoJgHV8/mqdefault.jpg)
Excellent ! I had an "old school" teacher early in my piano life who would say to me, "Take your foot OFF the pedal; now, play that melody line with your fingers and make me THINK you are on the pedal. That, my child, is legato !"
Love this quote! Very well said! It's all about connecting with the fingers. 🎹
best tutorial on legato technique on youtube
Wow - thanks! Glad you found it helpful!
thank you from the bottom of my heart !!! you just solved in an exact way my 35year long struggle !!! May God bless you !!!
It is my pleasure! 😊
My teacher did not allow me to use pedal until I can perfect my hand legato, it was quite a drill, I love your lessons, well explained, immense help
I think that legato is a really important skill - glad you had a teacher who helped you. Thanks for watching!
Prof, i had lost touch with legato by constantly pedaling. Through your teaching i am on my way back to a better path!
Excellent! Keep it up! 😊
I can relate to this from my experience as a piano teacher. I think back to when I had my piano lessons as a child and was not allowed to use the pedal for a pretty long time. As in years. That is how I teach my students today. Even adults. First examine and learn a piece without the use of the pedal and only later on add it.
Oh, by the way, and with all due respect. Have your piano tuned before you record videos 😉
Thanks! I know, sometimes it gets out of tune and it was pretty out for that video! 😂
I've seen several explanations and demonstrations of legato. This one clarified the most.
Glad to hear it!
Hi I have been learning to read music and play piano since my retirement nearly 4 years ago though à lot of your stuff is beyond me I do find it very interesting I am wanting to play in a gentle nice way even though I find Easy piano Classics not quite so easy thankyou
I'm so glad you've been learning piano! I hope these videos can be useful to you in your learning. You can do it! 😊
How about playing for almost 60 years and just now coming to understand Legato. My first teacher, a Lechitizky follower, stressed Hanon exercises but never taught me how to approach them as studies in legato as well.
Thanks for your comment! I think legato is something that a lot of people don't talk about enough and a lot of students misunderstand. Glad you found the video helpful!
Thank you Dr.Kate. You explained very well. 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
Prof, Dumisani here from Durban, South Africa, glad I stumbled upon your videos. I've been playing piano for a long time but recently decided to resume formal training and it's going okay (I think). This presentation has just explained what I have been doing wrong all along and what my piano teacher is having me correct. I have not been getting, now thanks to this presentation, it has just made a lot of sense. 🙏🙏
You've gotten yourself a new subscriber.
Awww, thanks! I'm so glad you're here!
I like your explanation on Legato touch with clear demonstrations. I will use your advice to teach my students to improve their Legato playing on scales. Thanks so much😊
Awesome, thank you!
Thank you Dr. Kate for this video. I always know I couldn’t play legato. My playing sounded horrible. I became frustrated with practice. Then I watched videos on how to play legato and using the sustain pedal. They all make sense but didn’t help me improving my playing. You are the only one who mentioned about playing with flat fingers. I tried that and it sounded so much better. It really works! I am so excited. I don’t dread practicing anymore. Thank you for the little trick which makes a BIG difference. Can you make a video on how to use the sustain pedal. I need help with that. Thank you again. You are God send ❤
Thank you so much - I'm so glad it was helpful and got you past a roadblock. Thanks for the topic suggestion - it's on my list to make a video about pedal! Happy practicing! ☺️🎹
I’ll try this method, it’s helpful when I use the method close and open during play scale, thanks
Thanks! Good luck!
Thank you kindly.
You're very welcome! Thanks for being here!
Thanks, Dr. Boyd. I'd love to see you make a video about the non-legato touch or staccato technique on piano.
Great suggestion - will do! Thanks for asking!
Thank you for this video. My legato sounds more like lazy staccato at this stage. Im going to do the Hanon exercise. ❤
Good luck with it! I bet the Hanon will help. 😊
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thank you so much! Im doing it daily!
I would like you to make a video on staccato. I am playing a Mendelssohn Prelude and Fugue Op. 35 No. 3, b minor and I am very unhappy with my staccato. I am interested to see how you would approach learning this Prelude.
Great suggestion, thank you! 😊 That piece is an excellent choice!
When you are playing the Chopin piece your hands are flat. I always thought you always have to play pieces or technical stuff with an arch wrist. When should you play with an arch wrist vs flat?
Thanks for your comment - it gave me the idea for another video topic, to discuss the difference between a flat hand and a collapsed hand. When intervals are wider, the hand will look much flatter but there is still support. Think of a long, gradual bridge like a causeway, vs a shorter, steeper bridge. Both are supported, and you can drive across them, but the shape of the arch is virtually flat in the first example. So, the short answer to your question is that when you are playing something with smaller intervals (e.g., an Alberti bass figure) your hand will look more arched and rounded. When you are playing something with larger intervals, your hand will look flatter, as the fingers spread to anticipate the next note.
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd thank you, it makes sense. I have another request. Your thoughts on digital vs acoustic piano. I have been playing piano for just over two years. Always on a digital. Recently I bought a Yamaha P22. I like it but I'm pissing my family members off because it is too loud. My Kawai CA49 action is so good that I am almost dont have to adjust going from digital to acoustic. I also like that I can use headphones and play at a volume that does not hurt my old ears :-). I find that digital pianos have come a long way. What are your thoughts on playing/practicing classical music on a digital piano. Sorry for the long post. I really enjoy your videos, you have a simple way to explain the topics. I hope you will keep on making videos.
Great exercise. I realize that my struggling does not come from up to down but to down up (working the schubert’s f minor four hands fantaisie and having problems on the allegro vivace) After a short while all fingers seem to be much equally strong. And the hand does not collapse. Do you do this every day as your first exercise ? And for how long ? or many times a day? Thank you very much for your time and teaching. best from France .
Thanks for your comment! Glad you find it helpful. I no longer practice this daily - it's just become a part of my normal way of playing. What aspect of the Schubert are you having difficulty with? Feel free to reply with a measure number and more information about your challenge.
Someone failed to teach that student’s earliest lessons properly. How do you even get into music school without learning that, much less make it all the way to the end of four years without finding it out somewhere along the way? I can’t afford music school, but even I learned what legato is during the first lessons I ever took and how crucial it is to playing music that’s worth hearing.
This wasn’t just a misunderstanding. Someone screwed up big time in that student’s learning process.
You'd be surprised at how many students don't play legato once they put the pedal down....
❤❤❤❤❤❤👍🙏
So glad you enjoyed it!
When playing exercises like Hanon should I rise my fingers high and hit keys or just press keys without rising fingers high, please?
The instruction you get on this topic will vary from teacher to teacher. Personally I instruct students not to raise fingers high, but I know that some teachers and methods do instruct students to raise their fingers.
First Like 🥰
🥳
You are not wrong but there is more to legato than overlapping notes with the fingers to obtain a smooth sound. I was taught that first and foremost, legato is how a phrase is played. Example; start the phrase softly then increase the volume a bit then end the phrase softly. Legato resembles what taking a deep breath feels like; just imagine that the breath contains a string of notes sounding from soft to loud to soft. Even a succession of staccato notes without pedal can be played legato, it's how the notes are phrased in terms of smoothly graduated volume which creates the feeling that all the notes in a phrase are connected like a breath. Understanding this technique or approach is virtually the only way to make a Chopin nocturne sing. This way of phrasing also applies to left hand accompaniment. "Soft, Louder, Soft". I feel that many pianists don't spend enough time listening to good singers or string players. Forgive me for expanding on your idea, I do genuinely love your videos. Thank you.
Great ideas! Thank you for posting!!
Actually, thank you for posting and taking the time to help people explore technical solutions for enhanced piano playing. Sometimes I ask you questions that are meant to benefit people who might not know the question to ask or how to ask the question. It's really clear that you are serious about helping struggling musicians.@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd