Hey everyone - I hope you've found this tutorial useful. For more stuff by me, please do take a look at my Patreon community over at www.patreon.com/billhilton . Signing up gives you complimentary access to my hugely popular Piano Packs, my Exercises, Inventions & Ideas PDFs (great for beginners and intermediate players who want to boost things like finger control and hand independence. Plus you get to join a friendly community and get regular exclusive videos, articles and podcasts episodes from me, right in your email. If you have any questions about the community, just drop me a message or reply to this comment and I'll be happy to help!
Thanks for posting. Re other instruments I like to play pieces using the other instrument sounds on my keyboard. As you say, you are tied to a percussive timing on the piano, but as soon as you start using a string orchestra or organ you really have to consider the length of notes. Some pieces sound so much better too, especially ones that were originally written for strings or voice and even for the remainder, it is a godsend to me to be able to change the sound of pieces that I haven't mastered yet, but am growing tired of them.
I was using your vids 3 years ago and just stopped in tonight and found this fresh vid on superb topics as I get back into learning piano - thanks so much.
This video came at a perfect time because I am at lesson 8 and I have been practicing "Dance" for 2 weeks with very little progress. Seeings it as the example you are using here was a pleasant surprise.
Aha - good to hear! Lesson 8 seems to be a common plateau point: one strategy that I've seen work several times is to go back and practise stuff from the previous two or three lessons alongside "Dance". Everyone who sticks with it seems to get through in the end...!
As a perpetual beginner I need to spend a *lot* more time on your channel. Your videos always contain ideas and practical solutions I don’t find anywhere else; nobody recommends counting out of time to keep track of your place in the music, what a novel concept. Does playing my harmonica count as another instrument? Thanks for the inspiration.
And like every other of your videos; the rewatch reveals so much more. I have seriously considered drumming as a second instrument to improve my piano.
Thank you for making and sharing this video. The stories about the principle of using to the max of what you get are very inspiring! Thank you. Although well known, it is worth repeating to shake us a bit out of our comfort zone "I don't have the latest XYZ stuff, oh, I cannot work" 🙂
You're really welcome! Yes, equipment anxiety is something I come across a lot - consumer culture and RUclips videos of people sat in specc'd out studios doesn't help...!
I am an adult who began to play the piano 12 years ago. My teachers always asked me my pulse…because i used to play pieces i already heard, i tought i had the good tempo!!! I was totally wrong. The result? I did not recognise what i was playing. By working on pieces i never heard, my tempo (rythmn,groove,etc) improved drasticaly. First three most important things when playing the piano? Rythmn, Rythmn and….Rythmn. A false note often is not noticed by the audience..
I've long been in the habit of having a cup of tea around when I'm practising piano, and I'm proud to report I've never spilled it yet. Btw the only Welsh word I've ever coined is "pianad", to refer exactly to such a drink.
@@BillHilton Recently I found one songbook in which the piano part has dynamics and tempo markings in Welsh instead of Italian, French or German. I'm not used to just being able to naturally just read what it says.
Hey Bill, great video! I’m just curious as to why you think it’s a bad idea to teach music to your own children, do you have any other videos on this? Thanks!
Thank you! I don't have any videos on it, but it's an interesting area. My view is that the relative formality and the structure of an outside teacher really helps. If I'm teaching my boys it's something that easy to put off doing ("OK, we'd better do some piano - ah, I need to do some shopping... we'll do it tomorrow..."). Whereas 11am on a Saturday morning at Mrs X's house is fixed in the diary. Also it goes without saying that kids tend to respect the knowledge of outsiders more than that of their own dad! That's not to say it can't work, which is why I referenced Leopold Mozart. I was only semi-joking there. Context matters hugely: e.g., I'm sure a lot of piano-playing home educators could do a stand-out job, because they already have habits, structures and routines around educating in the home. I should say I *do* teach my own kids to an extent, in that I pitch in and help with their practice: I just find it incredibly useful to have an outsider setting the structure and goals. (I should also say it's also useful to have teaching done by someone with a lot of experience of teaching piano to kids, which is an area where I have practically no experience.) Does all that make sense?
I had lessons as a returner a few years ago. I did reasonably well, but became very ill and had to stop. I want to get back on the piano again now. Any advice Bill?
I'd say find a way in and a medium-term goal and stick to it, Martin. There are two things that really sink beginners these days: the first is the "oh, I guess I'm just not very good at this" voice in your head which starts chirruping as soon as progress seems to stall (which it always does at various points, for everyone). The second is the sheer number of options and resources out there. Again, when things get challenging with one piece/course of videos/approach it's so easy to find another one that a "grass is greener" mentality kicks in, and people wind up hopping from goal to goal. I've started to say a lot recently that it's more important have *A* direction of travel than to have *precisely the right* direction of travel. So think of something you'd like to do (learn a particular piece/song, reach a particular point in my beginners' course or somebody else's, commit to 6 months of in-person lessons or whatever), give it a time frame and see sticking to the plan and the timeframe as a success in itself if you manage to do it, irrespective of whether you achieve your goal to the level you'd like. That's the kind of thinking that leads to progress. Does that make sense?
Hey everyone - I hope you've found this tutorial useful. For more stuff by me, please do take a look at my Patreon community over at www.patreon.com/billhilton . Signing up gives you complimentary access to my hugely popular Piano Packs, my Exercises, Inventions & Ideas PDFs (great for beginners and intermediate players who want to boost things like finger control and hand independence. Plus you get to join a friendly community and get regular exclusive videos, articles and podcasts episodes from me, right in your email. If you have any questions about the community, just drop me a message or reply to this comment and I'll be happy to help!
Counting looks like a significant part of the process to putting left and right hands together. Thank you
Thanks for posting. Re other instruments I like to play pieces using the other instrument sounds on my keyboard. As you say, you are tied to a percussive timing on the piano, but as soon as you start using a string orchestra or organ you really have to consider the length of notes. Some pieces sound so much better too, especially ones that were originally written for strings or voice and even for the remainder, it is a godsend to me to be able to change the sound of pieces that I haven't mastered yet, but am growing tired of them.
I was using your vids 3 years ago and just stopped in tonight and found this fresh vid on superb topics as I get back into learning piano - thanks so much.
Just what I needed just when I needed it! Thanks, Bill!
This video came at a perfect time because I am at lesson 8 and I have been practicing "Dance" for 2 weeks with very little progress. Seeings it as the example you are using here was a pleasant surprise.
Aha - good to hear! Lesson 8 seems to be a common plateau point: one strategy that I've seen work several times is to go back and practise stuff from the previous two or three lessons alongside "Dance". Everyone who sticks with it seems to get through in the end...!
Also stuck on "Dance"
As a perpetual beginner I need to spend a *lot* more time on your channel. Your videos always contain ideas and practical solutions I don’t find anywhere else; nobody recommends counting out of time to keep track of your place in the music, what a novel concept. Does playing my harmonica count as another instrument? Thanks for the inspiration.
Glad to hear it, Dougy - and yes, I'd say harmonica definitely counts, especially if you use it to pick out tunes from a score!
And like every other of your videos; the rewatch reveals so much more. I have seriously considered drumming as a second instrument to improve my piano.
Thanks Marti!
I’m an adult. And I’m GUILTY of not counting!❤
Thank you for making and sharing this video. The stories about the principle of using to the max of what you get are very inspiring! Thank you. Although well known, it is worth repeating to shake us a bit out of our comfort zone "I don't have the latest XYZ stuff, oh, I cannot work" 🙂
You're really welcome! Yes, equipment anxiety is something I come across a lot - consumer culture and RUclips videos of people sat in specc'd out studios doesn't help...!
I am an adult who began to play the piano 12 years ago. My teachers always asked me my pulse…because i used to play pieces i already heard, i tought i had the good tempo!!! I was totally wrong. The result? I did not recognise what i was playing.
By working on pieces i never heard, my tempo (rythmn,groove,etc) improved drasticaly.
First three most important things when playing the piano?
Rythmn, Rythmn and….Rythmn.
A false note often is not noticed by the audience..
Great video as usual, Bill!
Thanks Donna!
I saw Oscar Peterson play in the early 2000’s this was after his stroke. He could only play with his left hand but still sounded great.
Don't spill that cup over your keyboard!
It’s making me nervous.
0:30 My piano teaching mother wouldn’t ever tolerate drinks near a piano. I wouldn’t have dared do that.
I've long been in the habit of having a cup of tea around when I'm practising piano, and I'm proud to report I've never spilled it yet. Btw the only Welsh word I've ever coined is "pianad", to refer exactly to such a drink.
@@BillHilton Recently I found one songbook in which the piano part has dynamics and tempo markings in Welsh instead of Italian, French or German. I'm not used to just being able to naturally just read what it says.
It is hard on the syncopation notes. Adds a constraint to other constraints 😆
Hey Bill, great video!
I’m just curious as to why you think it’s a bad idea to teach music to your own children, do you have any other videos on this?
Thanks!
Thank you! I don't have any videos on it, but it's an interesting area. My view is that the relative formality and the structure of an outside teacher really helps. If I'm teaching my boys it's something that easy to put off doing ("OK, we'd better do some piano - ah, I need to do some shopping... we'll do it tomorrow..."). Whereas 11am on a Saturday morning at Mrs X's house is fixed in the diary. Also it goes without saying that kids tend to respect the knowledge of outsiders more than that of their own dad! That's not to say it can't work, which is why I referenced Leopold Mozart. I was only semi-joking there. Context matters hugely: e.g., I'm sure a lot of piano-playing home educators could do a stand-out job, because they already have habits, structures and routines around educating in the home. I should say I *do* teach my own kids to an extent, in that I pitch in and help with their practice: I just find it incredibly useful to have an outsider setting the structure and goals. (I should also say it's also useful to have teaching done by someone with a lot of experience of teaching piano to kids, which is an area where I have practically no experience.) Does all that make sense?
I had lessons as a returner a few years ago. I did reasonably well, but became very ill and had to stop. I want to get back on the piano again now. Any advice Bill?
I'd say find a way in and a medium-term goal and stick to it, Martin. There are two things that really sink beginners these days: the first is the "oh, I guess I'm just not very good at this" voice in your head which starts chirruping as soon as progress seems to stall (which it always does at various points, for everyone). The second is the sheer number of options and resources out there. Again, when things get challenging with one piece/course of videos/approach it's so easy to find another one that a "grass is greener" mentality kicks in, and people wind up hopping from goal to goal. I've started to say a lot recently that it's more important have *A* direction of travel than to have *precisely the right* direction of travel. So think of something you'd like to do (learn a particular piece/song, reach a particular point in my beginners' course or somebody else's, commit to 6 months of in-person lessons or whatever), give it a time frame and see sticking to the plan and the timeframe as a success in itself if you manage to do it, irrespective of whether you achieve your goal to the level you'd like. That's the kind of thinking that leads to progress. Does that make sense?
That's all relevant for me
I just guess the timing lol