Most Piano Students NEVER Make it to Level 4 (Intermediate) | Piano Teacher Tips
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- Have you noticed that even the brightest students can struggle or even GIVE UP all together before they make it to Level 4?
Why is this!? Let's talk about this crucial transitional stage between elementary and intermediate skill levels. And how we can help our piano students navigate these challenges!
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00:43 What is this transitional period?
01:16 The "Level 3-4 Bridge"
01:36 What are the challenges?
04:03 How to help your students
11:55 Free sheet music
12:59 Curious about Wunderkeys?
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Thanks for watching! lots of love
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🎯Goal Setting Assignment Book link (finally) up: amzn.to/3TRbQPa
I hate that word with a twist because it usually means of less quality or baring away from the truth. I'm not condemning the book I have my reservations. I know what will help my case is to try Suzuki method in playing the piano. A reading disorder doesn't work well with musical notations. Maybe the bars that are computer generated may work. I can play by ear if the work is not too difficult. In fact some of my Christian songs were learned by ear. That's another project for another video. 73
Intermediate repertoire requires the student to practice, figure stuff out. Without this personal interest, there’s nothing the teacher can do at this point.
Absolutely agree. If they are not willing to spend time practicing or don’t have the mental capacity, there is very little a teacher can help.
100% untrue. I get transfer students hooked on classical rep and developing well into the intermediate stage all the time.
Too many teachers require accuracy first to start working on shaping the sound, making beautiful phrases, balancing the hands. If you put artistry ahead of everything else in the lesson, kids will get hooked, they will practice, and you'll enjoy your job much more.
Point taken..if they can't step up and practice, intermediate repertoire just isn't going to be within reach!
@@jasongallagher631 That’s great they’re practicing, and nothing contradicts what I said.
@@scarbo2229 Did I misunderstand you? You said there's nothing the teacher can do. How you teach, what you decide to focus on, what goals you give them--that's what awakens personal interest in the student. Plenty is within the teacher's locus of control.
I am 53 and in the middle of method book 3. Took lessons up to early book 3 and felt like I had enough fundamentals to continue on my own. I am just learning piano as a hobby. This time in my journey is absolutely a bridge I didn’t realize was in front of me until watching your video.
My piano teacher gave me loads of repertoire pieces to try and at first I didn’t understand why the repertoire was so much more difficult to learn. She told me they were not written for the learner. That was a lightbulb moment for me and I was less hard on myself for not learning as fast as the method book pieces.
Good for you--keep going...there are good things on the other side! Not that there aren't challenges after 'the bridge,' but you'll be able to play repertoire, like you say, that isn't just written to help a learner, but sounds good for the sake of sounding good (and is fun to play once you rise to the challenge). Good luck!
Don’t give up…. Try to enjoy !
Which brand are u using? Alfred piano library?
@@pallavisreetambraparni6995 I am using Alfred’s Premier Piano Express series. There are 4 levels and they have companion Repertoire books available that help solidify the method book concepts and skills. This series seems geared for an adult or teen learner. I really like them. I got them all on Amazon.
this teacher makes you wish to have kids so they can have her as their teacher
Wut
Oh, that is so kind! Thank you, you made my day 💙
This teacher makes me wish I had kids with her lol
Wow. You are so right. I really wish I had someone explain this to me when I was younger and learning piano. When I was about 16 I got burned out with piano after about 4 years of playing. I had made lots of progress up until that point, but I think feeling overwhelmed with things happening my life, made it difficult to keep going. So, I took a 6 month break from piano. I don't think I even touched the piano for that 6 months. After that I realized, I really did love music and playing the piano. So, I picked it up again and over 20 years later I'm still playing piano, still learning new pieces and really enjoy it. If anyone is thinking about quitting piano, maybe take a break, but try to keep going if you can. Especially if you are a young person, because later in life, you will be thankful that you took the time to learn a skill many people only dream of acquiring.
So inspiring, thank you! For most (like you say, younger students, especially), just sticking with it through those difficulties or discouragements can be the difference between quitting forever and finding that spark of inspiration further down the road. But I'm so glad to hear your 'piano break' was not forever and it fueled your love for music! Thanks for sharing.
It’s that point when you hear your playing more realistically and realize how good the greats really are.
Oo, really well said!
That's why it's so important to get past this bridge in the first year if at all possible, while they're still little and absorb new languages quickly.
You're a very passionate teacher who can ignite the same spark in students, it's so precious. Thank you for the video!
Oh, thank you! You're too kind 🥰
As a piano student of 10 years, this video really makes me appreciate my current teacher even more than I already did. I started out for about 3 years with a teacher who used method books, then I shifted to my current teacher who used some workbooks to get started.
I began to "cross the bridge," around 2-3 years ago. My current teacher has always made sure that I enjoy the pieces I play, but something shifted when I began "Puck" by Edvard Grieg. As you suggested, she acknowledged the bridge and the step up I would need to make with this piece. I was so excited, and with her encouragement, I went home and practiced 4 hours straight and got the whole piece memorized in 2 weeks. With her being in college for a music degree, she also has developed her way of teaching as I have progressed. This has also led to her inviting me to workshops memorization techniques and practicing tips.
She really has hit the nail on the head with every point on this list. If nothing else, this video truly makes me appreciate my teacher all the more, and I thank you for that.
Thank you for sharing your experience! That's a perfect example of a successful "bridge crossing" where a student realizes their potential and the work needed to level up and then they follow through and reap the rewards. Sounds like you have a great teacher. Keep it up!
Great explanation of what can happen while learning piano. I dropped out of lessons as a teenager. I still love playing piano though and appreciate the intermediate knowledge that I do have.
That is great to hear! Us piano teachers have to remind ourselves that even if our students don't finish ALL the books, they can still have a wonderful, lifelong gift to revisit through adulthood. Thanks for sharing your story!
great video!! been struggling with this a while and this magically came up on my feed, thanks!
Oh I'm so glad! That just made my day! 😊 Good luck with your Level 3's!
Hi, as an ex-student, I quit after 2nd grade exam as the examier was a terrifying dragon witch. I figured at 70 I didn't need other people's behaviour affecting mine. I did continue lesson for several years but remained disappointed that I was never going to achieve my goals. I have had a 3yr break & started practising again last week. No more lesson though.
Interesting
I try to avoid having my students do exams (except if _they_ come into the lesson with a preconceived goal of taking one). I often don't even discuss exams with them. I mean, I can teach them to prepare for an audition if that's relevant to them, but IMO those exams don't make much sense unless you're doing some sort of class for school credit, which for a lot of students doesn't happen unless they decide to major in piano in college.
For a hobbyist student whose goal is to play the music itself rather than to achieve something academically (e.g. get a degree or scholarship, or gain admission to a performing-arts magnet school), I just think exams are irrelevant.
Dragon witch! 🐲 Oh no! I'm glad you're playing again and I'm sorry to hear you had hat experience.
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher Musicians are sometimes known for being eccentric and temperamental, lol. It's definitely best not to butt heads if it can be avoided, though sometimes if one is getting lessons from a brilliant virtuoso it's worth grinning and bearing it, lol. I had a teacher who was a Julliard graduate who would assign way more of an exercise than would actually fit into the time period that was supposed to be allotted to it.
Great teaching. And your piece "Love for a Moment" is very beautiful. Thanks!
Thank you so much!
Love Love Love this video!!!!! My studio is usually full of primer and level 1 (high turnover due to multiple issues- family changes, pandemic, etc.), but things have finally stabilized and I have students achieving higher and higher levels. I'm so grateful to you for bringing my attention to the "bridge" so I can be prepared and know how to handle it. Love all of your suggestions. It was very reassuring to see some of the strategies I am already doing, and I am super excited about the new ones I learned from you. I am totally going to look into your piano skill goal setting book. What a fantastic resource. I always interview my kids at the beginning of the piano year to set goals, discover their motives for taking piano lesson, and what motivates them in life (some kids are super motivated by checklists; some kids couldn't care less about checklists but want that opportunity to perform or love the challenge of overcoming a difficult skill). I think I want to incorporate your book into that aspect, especially for my older students who I am trying to transfer ownership and responsibility off of teacher and parent and for them to take it on themselves.
Oh, thank you so much! I hope the Goal Setting Assignment Book is motivating for your students. It sounds like you're a thoughtful and resourceful teacher and your students are lucky to have you. And, you're absolutely right--different students are motivated by different things, and what a game-changer if we can understand their unique goals and personalities. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Great topic! Great ideas!
Thanks so much!
I've been teaching using the Faber series for 15 years. The books are fantastic, but very few of my students proceed past Books 3/3A. This is because, by the time they have reached that skill level, many actual repertoire pieces are within reach. And while they could still benefit from the Faber books, the repertoire teaches them even more, while also being more engaging and satisfying to learn.
Basically, anyone who is interested enough in the piano to make it to Book 3 is interested enough to want to learn an actual piece of music.
Why not do both?
Because the repertoire teaches them even more, while also being more engaging and satisfying to learn.
Yes! I think that for that age group, graduating to "mature" repertoire by actual brand-name composers can be very motivating.
Great point. From my personal experience, I have to agree with @M_SC and keep the method books and add in the repertoire. Most of my students find repertoire they love within the PA Level 4/5 Lesson & Performance books and we use that as a starting point. The tricky thing about leaving method books altogether is that you lose the foundational skill set laid out by the authors. A good teacher can choose a wonderful balance of repertoire so they aren't skimming over any skills but that is a lot of responsibility. It sounds like you've made it work though, and that's awesome!
Exactly. I have one student in 3A, which was really an experiment for me and I'm not convinced it was a good one. But I'm also getting her feet wet in Catherine Rollin's Pathways to Artistry Repertoire Level 2. She's a very unusual student though, and only 11 years old, so a little behind but not terrible yet.
The title of the video was attractive, and I think she nails the challenges, but boy do we have differing opinions on the solution. I say you blitz through PA until they learn Treble C, then add on either Pathways to Artistry Repertoire 1 or Everybody's Perfect Masterpieces 1 (eds. Bigler/Lloyd-Watts) to start nudging them beyond positional thinking and get into hands together playing ASAP. Students need supplementary repertoire to teach them to think beyond the carefully laid out thinking in PA. PA sets a wonderful foundation, but just focusing on that alone is a recipe for failure.
If you're a parent and your child is starting 3A, you need to discuss with your teacher what's wrong. If they're starting 3B, you've got to find a new teacher. If you're a teacher and you routinely go this far into a method, it's time for better pedagogy workshops.
YES to the Wunderkeys! I’ve enjoyed exploring these books with my students (I spent time playing these pieces personally fell in love with them )
Yes! Do you use the Primer books as well? Or just the Intermediate? (I first discovered the Intermediate books years ago and loved Andrea's lovely compositions, and then later learned about the younger level books.)
The only issue I have with Wunderkeys is that it stays in one “position” for way too long. Almost all of my students I’ve used it with, if they aren’t super motivated to learn to read music, they find the “laziest” way to read which is hand position. It is SO hard to fix and super difficult to spot because their sight reading appears to be really really good. The WK has some section where they go out of position, but it’s not a lot at all - not enough to make a difference. I have given WK a long go with multiple students, but I have almost solely switched back to Faber because it moves around earlier. It’s more challenging, yes, but really helps students experience first hand that there are 88 keys on the piano, and they only have 10 fingers! They have to start to move!
You are so right😊
I find it hard to keep them motivated at that level.
Love your ideas❤
Thank you! 💙
I love this video about the bridge. I am a adult learner and im at this stage and it just lets me know that the pieces do get a lot harder and its normal to find them a lot harder. I love the explanation you give. Thank you it helps a lot.
Oh I'm so glad it is helpful! Keep going...good things on the other side. Thank you!
Pssst...I am in awe of the traction this video is gaining. You are on FIRE. Great video topic!
Great observations filled with compassion and clarity. Love it!
Fabulous suggestions as well!
@@MotifMusicStudios
Down bad
It's pretty insane... 😅 It's been a fun week of reading so many comments!
I became as proficient as I wished to be during intermediate piano. That was the right time for me to stop taking lessons. Not everyone needs to become an advanced pianist. If a student does want to continue, the tips in this video.would be very helpful.
Awesome video :) I started lessons when I was 10 and stopped at about 16, because I didn't have time in high school. I switched from sheet music to chording at a church for another 13 years. I learned chording mostly by Googling. And then I ended up picking up sheet music again after my Grandpa asked me to play for his wedding. I can't even tell you the stress! I played "Dawn" from Pride and Prejudice.
I decided I want to start learning sheet music and theory - now as an adult with a renewed respect for theory and sheet music over just chording and noodling on the keys.
Thanks for the resources! They'll come in handy even as a mature student.
Yes to all the theory! 😁 Although I've always liked music theory, college was when I really gained an appreciation for it. And I agree, weddings are stressful! 😆 Thank you for sharing your story!
Great video ! 🙂
Thank you!
I play drums and Im really grateful that my teacher is so encouraging. Ive learned so much just by being tricked into practicing a skill alongside whatever I actually intended to practice.
I still have a long way to go, and school is making it so that I dont have any time to practice for weeks on end, but it has given me the resolve to push through
You see through our music teacher trickery 🫣😂 I know it's so challenging when life gets in the way of consistency, but keep going! Good luck!
I’ve been at piano adventures 4 and Suzuki level 3 for a whole year, so I can definitely relate!
You're definitely not alone! Keep going 😄💙
What a marvelous video for Students and Teachers alike!!! I have used a few of your tips for my “bridge” students. I found out that cutting down material is the best way to get them excited again. Mostly, because it is now “achievable.” I do exercises, 1 small challenge piece of the genre they enjoy (very short and easy) and 1 medium challenge (usually a piece right in their current level that poses a new technique or note reading concept). Recital or Competition time is the only time I bring in a 3rd “larger” challenge for bridge kiddos. Usually, we pick that together so they are more motivated through the many months of practice for that one. It really works wonders.
Absolutely love this video. It would have saved me a ton of trial and error with some of my kids.. When all else fails, I am just as honest as I can. “What do you like about piano? What do you want to do with piano now or in the future? What do you like listening to or want to play? How much are you doing outside of school? “ Actually, listening to them and adjusting the lesson plans to their answers is most helpful and removes the stress of the unknown.
Really well said! I use a lot of the same approaches you mentioned. One of the true blessings of teaching kids one-on-one is the ability to really connect, listen to them, and find a one-of-a-kind combination of materials, activities, and goals. It's so rewarding. Thank you for sharing!
A great presentation
I learned violin in school. Level 4 was a nightmare and disaster waiting to happen. The teacher introduced vibrato, playing double stops (2 notes at a time) & broken chords (3 or 4 notes together) in the same year.
As an adult piano learner I was much more prepared by watching online videos posted by students & teachers. I know the pieces students would play at specific levels.
Unlike my violin days, I'm learning on my own as much as with a teacher. I started downloading pieces outside beginner series like Alfred's Bastian & Faber including many I wasn't ready for. I started learning some pieces out of a church hymnbook in SATB (soprano, alto, tenor & bass) 4-part harmonies. Challenging in the beginning but not any more. At some point started working on dynamics changes, big jumps, octave stretch, playing legato & staccato and use of the sustain (damper) pedal.
IMO what teachers can do is introduce a piece slightly more challenging before a student finished a beginner book. Or teach new techniques and apply to the same pieces they already learned such as when the passage has a repeat, play softer the 2nd time, hold the last note with the pedal to get the student used to playing dynamics or using the pedal sort of thing.
Great suggestions. Finding just the right challenge--a next-level piece, or a new technique--can bring a spark of inspiration at just the right time. Thank you for sharing!
You can now actually buy an electric piano( it's available at Costco) and some even have a built in teacher and guide for easy playing. I have taken piano for 7 years in my younger days but now that I am an adult, and I 've got some health issues, I just want to try to relearn a little bit of piano and I want to try to do it on my own. I am not doing this for giving any stage performances or anything. I am doing this for love of music.
This video really resonates with me. I started when I was 7 and quit piano when I was 11 because of all the challenges you mention. When I quit I remember being stuck at Level 3a and dreading the fact I have to finish 3B before jumping to 4. I also had undiagnosed ADHD and autism at the time so it made consistent practicing much harder. What heavily influence me to stop playing is that my piano teacher never told me any of the stuff you’re saying in the video. I was left to believe that I’m a bad piano player which sabotage my motivation. I believe this train of thought for so many years and continuing to an extent. I tried overcoming some of these thoughts by performing, playing songs I enjoy and practicing piano theory in a way that works for me.
I'm so sorry to hear your teacher didn't support you through Level 3. But I love that you're picking it back up, and finding your own processes on your own path! Wishing you growth, confidence, and enjoyment on your piano journey!
That's why for my girl I use another book together with piano adventures. I also find that piano adventures level 1 is not the same level as ABRSM grade 1, even though some teachers use it to prepare their students leading to ABRSM exam pieces. I used to not use this book for my students at all, and when they are at ABRSM grade 2-3 level I start to give them total free choice of pieces. But recently I switched to this book for my young beginners as I find that the audio is really engaging and it helps them to play in time when the practice with it.
Yeah you’re absolutely right. My parents made me learn an instrument-I chose piano. For years I didn’t really like it, and it seemed like a chore. It also didn’t seem like I made a lot of progress. But once I got to the intermediate level, I found I was able to progress much more rapidly. The first few years are slow, but the learning definitely get faster later on.
Great thoughts! I would agree that personal interest is crucial. Community is often lacking for private lesson situations. And in an age where the entire globe is connected, it seems there are so many possibilities for that! Also, the specific aspects students would benefit from resources that you mentioned are gold. Imagine an online resource or teacher dedicated to just helping people memorize? Or any specific aspect of music education? I love that idea. Thanks for sharing!
Great video! But I think that what you say describes what happen at any bridge between levels that need to be crossed. I mean roughly those ones: beginner-elementary / late elementary-intermediate / late intermediate-advanced. I haven't experienced the last one I mentioned yet. But the two others, especially the latest one felt like an existential crisis.
For what you mentioned with the method books, I mostly had it when I was switching from beginner-elementary. I was following an online program, was teacher supported, but at some point found that I was in need for more. So the compromise that I made was that I had to finish it no matter what, but had it supplemented with extra repertoire. Hopefully, I got the right input to know how and how long to practice, so very little changes were needed. Another indirect help was the upgrade from a stage 88-keys keyboard to an accoustic piano.
The switch from elementary to intermediate felt like hell. I finished the online program, as promised myself earlier. Felt like there were so much more that I ignored. As an adult, the gap between my theoretical knowledge and my motor skills felt so big that I became frustrated at some point. Being able to sight-sing but not play as I wanted... That same teacher, this time, was not really able to support me, so I changed teacher. I let this one decide entirely on the repertoire so that I could fill in the gaps and help me to fine tune my practice and technical skills.
Fast forward now. I am entering the late intermediate stage. I still have this teacher, who is doing an amazing work to empower me as a pianist. With her input, I have changed once more how, when and how long I practice in order to accomodate a big repertoire, performances and further learnings. I supplement the teachings with regular attendance to online workshops and group classes. Her Alexander Technique training, her teaching and student experience in conservatories are very helpful. In group classes, we would go into advanced repertoire and she would challenge us to find ways a specific passage could be played in the most "ergonomic" way.
I *_love_* what you said about your teacher challenging _you_ to figure out how to play a passage as ergonomically as possible (forcing you--and thereby giving you PERMISSION--to make decisions about fingering and hand positions rather than just treating those decisions as "better left to the 'real' experts" and blindly following the fingering in a book). Partly because as you and I both know, you ultimately want to be able to pick up a piece of sheet music without finger numbers and play it, but *_more importantly_* because not everyone's going to find the same fingering ergonomic.
For instance, many fingerings I've come across in both the Festival Collection (edited by Helen Marlais) and the Willard Palmer edition of the Well-Tempered Clavier have places where they have non-adjacent fingers hitting adjacent notes (think RH 2nd finger on C, 3rd finger on D), and with my hand size and structure I find that VERY un-ergonomic. I often will sit down with a pencil and strategize a fingering solution that feels more ergonomic to me.
@@philipmcniel4908 What an interesting experience! This is exactly what I find frustrating with many editions, especially for Bach works. I remember how many times, as the good student as I trived to be, I would play the piece for my teacher during individual lessons. She would watch my fingerings (taken from the book) and say: "Let's try something better. What about a,b,c ?". Or sometimes, she would find me struggling in some places and have me try new fingerings and... like magic, my struggles would disappear. Then, at one point, she said: "We don't choose fingering just for anticipating the next bar or line or accomodate hand shape. We also have to choose fingerings that are good for the brain."
That last sentence stuck in my head. Then I got a new understanding of it during a lesson where she had me work on a passage of Beethoven's appassionata. Seeing arpeggiated passages on the page, I worked it like I would do a scale. But in my head, it seemed to stop at each bar. Soon I got stuck in terms of speed, because I was turning my wrists too much. Having smaller hands, I twicked a bit the fingering. There she said: "Keep the fingering as it is." I replied: "I can't, this is too big." Then she said: "This is a Bm arpeggio, then switch to Gm. Make what you read as blocked chords and see the pattern for yourself." I don't know why but when she said that, I magically had hands that were big enough to reach all notes of the triads at once. She had me jump between octaves according to the pattern. I got up to speed.
Then she said: "Congrats, you have figured out in 20min how to play that passage from a piece which is part of the grade 8 exam syllabus. This is what happens when your brain understands what is going on in the music and go beyond bar numbers."
Yes, I want to be able to pick up a piece and play without bar numbers. But this is not something that I am obsessed about. I have learnt to be more patient with myself in this regard and to convince myself that it will come at some points. A lesson I got, not from my teacher this time, but directly from Graham Fitch while giving a masterclass about piano practice last September. While demonstrating exercises from a Cortot's edition (The exercises were suggested by Cortot) of a Bach works series as an example of how to create exercises out of a piece, I noticed him sometimes saying that they could be modified in this or that way or that they were not relevant. During the Q and A, I asked him what was his reasoning behind the changes that he made. He took some time to think and said: "This comes with experience. Like other things like fingerings. It takes time to figure out. Be patient and think that it is okay to ask your teacher for guidance."
Your dedication is admirable and it sounds like you have crossed many bridges! It makes my heart glad to read about your wonderful teacher. She sounds like a gem. So interesting to hear your experience. Thanks for sharing!
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher Oh thank you so much! Let's see how far I can get with it.
Thank you so much for this! My daughter is in this stage at level 3B. We had to change piano teachers this year and it is not a good fit. She hasn’t really touched the piano in 4 months. I’d love to be able to find a teacher like you for her!
Oh, thank you. That is very kind. The right teacher can help so much just to get over these challenging hurdles. Keep searching for the perfect match! Good luck!
My 8 year old finished level 5 about half year ago… and you are right, she can’t be ready for the lesson only play the piece 3 times anymore… it is hard to get her to practice and I dont think she is super into playing at this point. So I am happy as long as she still plays and continues with her lessons.
That is normal and I do notice 'dry spells' with every student where they aren't practicing as much or motivated to practice without reminders. Personally, I think that's okay to keep playing minimally and attending lessons. A spark may come again just down the road so I think it's great that she is sticking with it!
I wish you had been my teacher when I hit that hard spot. I attended piano class during the 90's and there was only one way to teach piano back then, which basically was "my way or the highway". I started out as a gifted student that could play easily by ear and then, as my lessons progressed, I had several issues with reading notes. To make a long story short, the teacher was really not a good teacher (couldn't deal with my "playing by ear bit") , my parents thought I was just rebelling because I was a teenager and I was just frustrated because none of the stuff the piano teacher did (or didn't do, most likely) worked. I grew up with the stigma of being a piano quitter, massively frustrated with music and piano in particular. Later in life, I picked up violin, to which my hearing was a true asset. I still had a problem with reading notes, but I got a teacher just like you, who went beyond teaching methods and was interested in helping her students out. I can read music now (it was a slow process, but she helped me out!) and enjoy music playing a lot. Music is a wonderful subject, but it does requiere a good teacher. If you had been my teacher, I would have played piano for sure. I envy your students. keep the good work!
Thank you so much for your kind words!! You're right...it used to be one-path-fits-all. It's cool to hear your story though--you didn't get stuck forever in discouragement about struggling to read the notes, and you didn't switch exclusively to playing by ear. You found a way to use your strength (a good ear) and find your way to reading the notes as well! I wish you would've been surrounded by more supportive people from the start, but congrats for not giving up! Thanks for sharing your story 💙
My piano teacher was technically very competent and caring, but she never quite ignited my passion in music. She only taught classical and I was really into rock at the time. As a result I quit at 16 when I was working towards my Grade 8 exam. I regret not reaching that milestone, but at least she taught me enough skills so that I can pick up piano again now years later. I wish I had a teacher like you back then, I think I would have persisted and completed grade 8.
Oh thank you, that is so kind! That is great that you made it far enough to have a good foundation later on. It may not seem like it, but I see a big difference between my adult "re-learners" who got all of those fundamentals down before taking a break as a kid, and those who didn't. Good luck to you!
I hit the bridge in the middle of level 4 and didn’t grow much through middle school and most of high school before I finally got back into it by playing pieces I loved already
So glad to hear you got back into it and are playing pieces you love! Thanks for sharing your experience!
My daughter is learning piano. She has a teacher, but I have totally been doing a lot of things you mentioned. She got into kpop so she learned new jeans. She got into genshin impact so she played genshin songs. Now she is into one piece so she is learning one piece songs. Also in terms of how to practice. I watched a lot of videos from Jazer that helped a lot. The “aar” method is really one of the most efficient. I wish you were my daughter’s teacher!
That is very kind of your to say! Wow, you are an amazing piano parent! She is lucky. I hope she keeps going with lessons and finding passion projects along the way as well! Keep it up!
This applies to a lot of arts! I teach both piano and dance and see students in both struggle when they hit the “bridge”-especially when it happens in middle school
I don't have a lot of experience in the dance world so it's really interesting to hear that perspective. Makes sense though! Thanks for sharing!
Hi! Greetings from far off Finland (yeah the happiest country, neighbor to the big bully...) and at 70 years old I'm exactly at the place you're describing in my (clears voice) harp playing, and approaching it in my guitar playing and definitely there in my recorder playing (have an entire range of recorders). The transitional aspects are crucial. You are making me consider what it is that most eases the transition (retired teacher, so of course...). Enjoyed your take.
Welcome! Glad you're here, multi-instrumentalist and teacher-at-heart! I do find that 'the bridge' exists for other instruments as well so that is interesting to hear your personal experience. Did you play an instrument(s) as a child, or did your musical endeavors start in adulthood?
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher thank you and excellent questions. My father's antipathy to hearing a music learner "learn" meant adulthood. My first instrument (recorder) in the university's teacher ed program didn't eliminate ignorance (actually increased it) and I "passed" because I promised never, ever to have anything to do with music again - a promise I kept for almost 40 years. Um. Yeah. Mistakes have occurred. Then a recorder course opened up. And that same year I encountered a busker from down under with a harp and I could not stop crying - even hours after leaving. I had five plus years of excellent instruction, which helps me glean from posts like yours which help me connect missing dots. It's like taking advanced courses where you get all the interesting tidbits.
P.S. I first fell in love with the harp when I was 7, watching an already old Marx brothers movie.
P.P.S. Keep teaching!
@@susannekalejaiye4351 You have an interesting journey! Thank you so much for sharing! Glad to know you.
Merci.
This teacher...made me cry...I wish I'ld known this as a kid but at least I know it now. ❤
Aww, bless! 💙💙
For me I think the new challenges started at grade 6 where there is composition
Oh interesting! And did you make it 'over the bridge?'
Trinity’s composition starts at Grade 1.
I ended up as an advanced amateur (despite some innate clumsiness) by playing as much as I could at a time of music I liked, and I had earlier learned to like music in my childhood from hearing it on the radio and on phonographs, decades ago. Sometimes I'd have to laboriously count my way into a rhythm and laboriously repeat my way into a challenging finger pattern, but patience and persistence paid off as I could see up ahead where I wanted to be.
I'd suggest the same background for the prospective pianist, or indeed prospective player of any instrument. Listen to music, of as many genres as prove interesting, and follow a corresponding score as best as possible. (It should even be possible to score extreme cases such as rap and its instrumental ostinatos, though one may have to do it oneself.) When one understands what music is supposed to be, it's more meaningful to press on to its execution, whatever one's skills.
It helped that I had an uncle who was a concert violinist who encouraged me.
Advanced amateur 😆 I love it. Well spoken and great advice. Thank you!
Your a wonder teacher
You make me want to keep playing the piano 🕊💐🌈🦋🌻🎉
Aw thank you!! 🥰
From my experience, a lot of this is also falls on the parents’ shoulders too. I’ve been pushed to practice 1 hr every day no matter what, no excuses. 3 hrs in the summer to prep for practicum exams.
I’ve also heard from my parents at the time from their friends’ kids giving up piano or weren’t able to progress bc shockingly, a lot of them never quite learn how to read sheet music so each lesson is just them memorizing their teachers’ hand positions (no small feat on it’s own!)
The bit about playing contemporary songs is also an issue. I distinctly remembered the students who were successful were the ones who had teachers who didn’t cave in to give them pop songs to play bc the kid can ‘relate to the music more’.
Interesting perspective. Thank you for sharing! I do have a student whose parents always required him to play every song 5 times in a row from day one when he was young, along with practicing 7 days a week. He's now in high school and playing at a college level.
Ok this is for school students. Adults have other interests. Mine was to play the third movement of the moonlight sonata. And Chopin fantasy and impromptu which is not even on the bridge it's at the mountain top. I made a point earlier that playing music that your technique cannot handle is a big issue. Which is mine. Also the staff hasnt changed its rules you just have to count the lines above. I always cheated and wrote the name of the note if it was above C. C starts at being a line note then a space note and a line note above the staff. What is hard in theory the C clef is the middle line which is B in the trebble clef. But piano not so much a problem. Viola is easier because thats your main clef. As what i saw. I never took viola but i believe it would be easier to read C clef music. I guess i play by positioning on the staff. Thanks this does bring light to my early years as a piano student. I learned Schaum books up to C then the tescher did the fourth book of Alafletcher then put me in the oxford which there was a missing gap. Also i never knew what a slur was so i played non lagato insted of connecting the notes. I think the slur was in the D book of schaum which i bought on ebay. I was going to look for my missing technique that i missed from changing curriculum books. I believe in staying with the same until you have your base line of technique then try new things. I loved my piano teachers but they had issues in teaching my problems. I should have practiced more and not rushing into putting the piece together. Iron out problem passages before trying to put a piece together its seems like i should practice the center of the piece before the beginning. It seems like my beginning is strong but the center is weak. I guess because of the form of classical music ABA in most pieces. Thanks this video may help my practice sessions. 73
that’s exactly what happened to me 8 years ago :( i felt like i was never improving and pieces were not fun to learn anymore. my progress was so slow that i wasn’t enjoying anything. honestly if i could go back i would just practice over and over and not give up so maybe today i’ll be as good as i should be
So many have a similar story! It is difficult to keep trudging along when the progress is slow and the rewards seem so far away. Hopefully you're still playing today though, because it's never too late! 💙
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacherthank you so much for your kind words. i'm still playing today and will be playing for next 10 years or so 💖 i just love piano so much that i plan on learning it again after graduating college and hopefully i'll get better this time. would be great to have a kind hearted teacher like you 🥺
@@nomsodka Good for you! Honestly, I have found that students really LOVE the piano are more likely to reach their goals than those with natural talent who just don't care as much. You can do it!
I completed Royal Conservatory Three and never started Four. It was like the joy had been completely sucked out of the instrument. Then I switched to a teacher who was willing to forgo the Conservatory and just teach me how to listen to music and figure out how to arrange it (he is also a guitar teacher). It was like night and day. Piano was *fun* again.
I'm so glad you didn't get stuck and found a new path to loving the piano. Thanks for sharing your experience!
In other words, not reading sheet music?
Fantastic content!!!! My boys have said out loud that it’s “boring to play and have no one listen.” Helping my boys through their bridges required sitting with them so they didn’t feel so alone in that transition. Especially as their practice sessions had to increase in time.
Also, learning to work on sections of the song instead of just playing from beginning to end over and over again.
I love this from a piano parent perspective! That support can make a big difference. Thank you for sharing your experience.
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher I lived this video! As a piano parent content like this is so helpful!! I’m excited to be subscribed now and learn more from you. As a parent I feel like a team teacher. Our teacher is phenomenal, but it’s my job to help continue mentoring between lessons and be the home support.
@@brindygray4410 Ugh, I wish all my students' parents were like you! 😄
Whenever I learned a new piece I wanted to play it for my mom. She'd stand in the doorway and lsten for a few bars and then say, "that's nice" and close the door long before finishing. I realized I can't be doing this for mom. I started doing it for myself. You have to find that connection within yourself. I did this by listening to advanced pieces I liked and I wanted to learn. Took me many years, but I finally learned Rhapsody in Blue. Mom passed before I could play it for her. In the end, she still didn't listen to me play but I thank her every day for paying for my lessons.
This is the Gandalf filter called, “you shall not pass until you have passion and dedication“
Your a sweetie. Great teacher well done🎉
Thank you! Comments like this make my day 🥰
Currently transitioning from level 3 into level 4! I’ve been playing since April 2022. I’ve kind of struggled with having piano start to be more difficult and slower for me to learn pieces. The pieces are definitely harder in level 4 and there is more of a learning curve. Just 6 months ago, I probably could have been assigned a piece from my teacher and the next week, I would have a solid foundation and would be starting on polishing from then on.
I can’t say that anymore as a level 4 piano player now! 😅 I love piano and I want to work through it because I know it will make me a better player, but it’s truly hard to digest the fact that I can’t “breeze” through the pieces anymore. I know my hard work will be satisfying in the long run tho…
So true--different mindset when you get into intermediate pieces. I remember being there too after breezing through the earlier levels. There's more satisfaction in polishing a l-o-n-g piece after working on it for months, though! Thanks for sharing!
I quit piano when i was 13 years old because the frustration and lack of motivation got to me.
Now as a 33 year old, im finally revisiting piano again. I regret not pursuing it back then but i can only move forward now.
Sadly, a familiar story. But, you know, it's never too late to restart 😄
no regrets, you wouldve been a totally different person if you did not quit back then. you wouldnt be the same person who would still pursue something in your position.
this vid caught my eye cus I quit at the same level but only because my parents made me to save money :') I've been self taught for 5 years now after that, and this is inspiring me to take a look at my level 4 repertoire book! thanks for making such an informative video, I'm definitely checking out the piece you wrote ʕ•ٹ•ʔ
I hope you like it! Learning piano on your own can feel a bit overwhelming or slow-going, but it's better than quitting altogether! I hope you keep going and growing. Good luck!
Haha, I'm a student who made it to the second book of the 3rd level. However, my piano teacher had to move across the state due to medical issues (they had better doctors who could do the treatments she needed). Not seeing her every week almost made my love for piano die down a little bit in a way. It was that really awkward covid year this started and we face timed for a while. About 7 months ago I got really sick and couldn't do lessons for a while. Then my teacher had to go back to the doctor. Now it's been 6 months since I've had a lesson with her or even talked to her. I'm trying to think of how to ask her if I can do lessons again, but I just don't know how.
Anyways, this video is great. I honestly got bored of the music in the Faber books, so I went off and printed some music for myself to learn. They're all intermediate pieces. I learn these songs that are very hard, but I'm not learning much nor making I getting better. This video is honestly giving me some more motivation so thank you.
There's other things I wanted to write, but I'm very tired (my school gets out at 4 and I got home one hour ago and am suuuuper tired. Thank you though.
(If anyone has other ideas of how to get motivated to learn more again, pleaseee help because I love music and I love piano, but it's just been hard for me lately)
When you lose the momentum, it's so hard to make progress again! I'm sure your teacher wouldn't mind you reaching out to see how they're doing and if they're able to resume lessons. If they're not up to it, they may also have a recommendation for another teacher who could fill in.
But I love the idea of finding songs you love that motivate you! I think a balance of a method book of some kind to keep you growing your skills, knowledge and musical foundation paired with familiar songs you really want to play can be a winning combo for moving forward and enjoying the journey along the way.
Be encouraged that just by sitting down at your piano occasionally and not giving up entirely, you're keeping that door open to keep playing the piano for life. Good luck! 💙
A few factors were missed here as to why I always quit around level 3.
1. Learning chords starts to become really important. It's no longer just random combinations of notes. You have to memorize the different chords and what they actually mean. That's very daunting.
2. In book 3 is usually when the pedals are introduced. I have been focusing on my hands so much that using my feet too just seems impossible to think about. I can't split my attention like that.
3. The songs are way less fun. The songs in the early books are all ones I know. Things from Mary Had a Little Lamb to Take Me Out to The Ball Game. In my level 3 book, there wasn't a single interesting song that I knew to look forward to. Every song in the book was unfamiliar to me, so I didn't have any motivation to learn them
I still haven't touched the piano in years because my mom had 5 different piano learning series at home and I couldn't get past the 3rd book in any of them. Even with a teacher, he had the same feedback lesson after lesson even if I practiced, and I just couldn't get it. I couldn't get to a point where I made no mistakes on the songs; I was always making some mistake somewhere.
Really astute observations! I'm sorry to hear you got stuck in that place every time though! 😓
I am 70 years old. At age 37 I took piano lessons for the first time. I slowly progressed over a few years and got through level 3. I bought several books on the side, too. The teacher was a friend. I hit the same level 4 wall, and I also lost access to my teacher, since she moved away. I keep saying I will try to relearn what I once knew. The piano is there, in the corner, taunting me!
"If you're going to do it eventually, why not do it now?" I keep that quote at the top of my phone where I see it every day! I hope you pick it up again 🥰 Good luck!
I played clarinet in grade school, took up bass clarinet and then double bass, and played through high school and partly in college. However, I had always had a fascination with brass instruments (but was told that one gets a "sore lip" from playing them). At age 68 I decided to buy a used trombone off eBay, and have had a lot of fun since. I took lessons for a while, but then with my musical background I stopped and continued on my own. I've also taken up other brass instruments, along with the clarinet and some additional woodwinds. Now at almost 72 I could keep myself busy all day with them if I didn't have other things I had to do.
I say all this because I sincerely hope you will start playing again!
Not everyone is meant to play an instrument which is why most people do not. You have to have a combination of patience and also be a glutton for punishment, but most importantly, you have to LOVE the music, and that can never be taught no matter how excellent the teacher.
You do have to love the music!
You can have a love for baroque or classical music and it still be a challenge. You can rven hate the music because you worked too hard on the piece. Also playing too hard of music that your technique is failing is an indication of failed teaching methods. If four year olds can play Suzuki method maybe it should be taught in piano as well as violin. I believe i could learn that way if i had the chance to be taught that way. Not many teachers that teach that method. 73
My daughter quit at the end of level 3.
She did not play at all for about 5 years and then decided to teach herself from scratch. She re learned all her pieces and began ordering music. I would often wake up to find her at the piano in the middle of the night practicing some grade 6 or 7 piece.
I did notice that her teacher who had praised her quite a bit began pressuring her at the grade 3 level. Making accusations and such.
Once she was doing it for herself only she was able to get through that level 3 to 4 bridge.
I listened to the recordings of the lessons and the change in the teacher was also very obvious. My daughter needed to spend way more time practicing but then it became a battle.
I was very sad when she quit as she put so much into it.
Now I am learning as a senior citizen. I am finding the exact same issue. I am stuck at level 2 as level 3 is really a big jump.
If I decide to stay with it I might have to go get some lessons.
Interestingly, the same issue occurs in high school ol math as there is a huge jump and many kids cannot cope with the increased difficulty.
However, quitting is not an option for most and they can start to exhibit depression and anxiety.
I've noticed some piano teachers exhibit this change as well--expecting an increase in practice and proficiency at a certain level. I tend to think, if my student is "slipping" or becoming frustrated they need more support and encouragement (not to mention gentle guidance) rather than a stricter approach! But I'm glad to hear your daughter kept going on her own. Good luck on your own musical journey! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Love all of this! I've never heard of Wunderkeys before. It looks amazing. I tried to find a sneak peak online but there wasn't one available. I want to know if the 3rd book would be good/equivalent to the level 3 RCM curriculum?
I do have a Comparison Chart that includes Wunderkeys here that may help: thetattooedpianoteacher.com/piano-method-comparison-chart/ But I understand you want to see it before you buy it! There are page previews at wunderkeys.com. I always check there and then buy on Amazon, which is the only place they are available. Let me know what you think if you do try them!
Thank you for sharing this!@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher
Free sheet music here if you're interested: thetattooedpianoteacher.ck.page/be3c2ab47a
I started as an adult. I learned how to read. My teacher spent very little time on counting or really any theory. Basically explained it and went on. She would hand out a new song every week. I quit her after she said she didn’t expect her adult students to really learn. Still struggling along alone.
On behalf of piano teacher everywhere, I'm sorry you had that experience! Sounds like she did not have a heart for teaching adults piano so I think you made the right decision. I hope you can find a really excellent teacher who knows how to teach adult learners and loves working with adult pianists! Wishing you some better luck in the future. Don't give up!
Are you using the Faber’s books? I was a good friend of Nancy Fabre (Trithart). She and I were first and second chair flutes players in high school. She is a great pianist.
I do use many of the Faber books. That's so neat! I've met Randall Faber but have not met Nancy. She is a great composer. Maybe I'll get to meet her someday! Thanks for sharing
Great video. May I know whats that piano behind you? Thanks
That is my Yamaha CLP-545 Clavinova. I've had it for almost 10 years and I love it! It has wooden keys and that's the main reason I chose this model. Thank you!
My biggest challenge was moving from Bach's 2-part inventions to his 3-part inventions, and then the multi-voiced fugue. My goal is to play every piece in the WTC books 1 and 2. Then, I truly should be happy.
Bach is my favorite composer to play so I fully endorse that goal 😄 I still have the Henle WTC books gifted to me with a personal note from my high school teacher..priceless. The good news is once you can tackle 3 voices, 4 and 5 don't seem like SUCH a stretch. You'll get there!
I believe the transition from elementary to intermediate is difficult because students are only learning pieces ( and not well either) rather than skills.
This is evident in my many transfer students who play pieces with somewhat correct notes but with wrong rhythms, inconsistent tempo, awkward fingerings, ignorance on how to execute a good connected legato and little to no expression. Listening them at a prospective piano interview can be so painful. I feel so sorry for these kids.
More demanding intermediate level pieces require skills such as: hand independence (one hand can play opposite touches or dynamics than the other) slurs, concepts such as phrasing etc. Can they play with a metronome? Are foundational necessities like scales and chords ingrained? Has the student been introduced to supplemental solos and ensemble playing? I’ll maintain that a teacher should already know what music appeals to their students but always be stretching them to try unfamiliar repertoire too. An annual “theme recital” encourages trying new things and is a lot of fun too.
Well said! I do an annual theme recital as well and the students love it!
i’d love to know how you would assess me. im self taught and didnt receive any professional instruction. my music repertoire isn’t very high but im chasing the complex pieces. i can play the 3rd movement of beethovens 14th sonata at the standard tempo around 140-150 bpm and i’ve been told i have great aptitude for rhythms and tempo control. im not sure if my foundations are solid, or if my fingering is as efficient as it can be - i observe the fingering of better pianists in certain parts of pieces if i find it tough and awkward. not sure if i have expression in my playing. have you seen anyone similar to me, and if so what faults did they have that needed severe improvements? id appreciate the insight ❤
@@tubax926 sounds like you’re doing great! What you may want to assess is your musical understanding because your technical skills sound solid. What is the composer expressing? Where is the tension/resolution? And how would you communicate that through dynamics and possibly rubato? How does the fingering enable me to bring out a melody through touch and dynamic control?
Bottom line: it’s all about the music. The pianist translates those lines and dots into an emotional experience through performing art.
Congratulations! Playing at your level, you are one of the lucky ones. 😊
These aren't really problems at all I got through these pretty easily. What really once held me back for years was how to put a soul into the piece I was playing.
So important but when you get it, everything comes to life!
My piano teacher was very much a classical teacher. She loved classical music, so many of her students played classical music, for me it just didn't work for me. I didn't like it, it wasn't fun, it was obvious I wasn't enjoying it. One day for fun she put a jazz piece in front of me. That's when she realized jazz and ragtime is what I loved playing. I contribute it to having ADHD, my brain likes the movement and constant of something that jazz and ragtime offered me where as I felt like classical was very boring and repetitive
That's interesting! Imagine if your teacher hadn't pivoted to jazz, you might've thought music wasn't for you 😮 Thanks for sharing!
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher I'm so thankful she did too! It led me to also end up in jazz band in school on saxophone. I've always loved music that isn't as "straight laced" as classical music. Every once in awhile I'll sit down and play some, but it's got to be at special request as I don't enjoy playing it
This was really helpful. It really explains a lot. I have one student who seems motivated to play songs, but not lesson books. MY gut is to still push the lesson book, but minimally and encourage them to keep playing what they are motivated for? Do you agree?
That does sound like a good plan. I agree that the best way to ensure a good foundation of skills and knowledge (so they can play anything they want down the road) is to work in some sort of core curriculum book, even if minimally. However, be open to maybe trying a different lesson book or experimenting with different curriculum! And depending on the student's age/situation, you may find that any lesson book just turns off the whole experience for them--and that's okay too. In that case, I would just have conversations with the student & parents to make sure everyone is on the same page about sticking to a casual "just songs" assignment plan. Great question! Thank you!
Awesome video - aligns with a lot of what I've been preaching to piano teachers. This is such a challenging time for students but get them over this hump and suddenly they start identifying as a musician and why would they quit if they believe "I'm a musician!" :) Keep it up!
Well said! When they start to identify as a true musician, they weave music into every day and truly settle into that lifelong learning journey. Thank you!
Can you explain what you mean by "level 3" or "level 4"? I feel like im really out of the loop, but ive heard many people use these terms as if theyre universally understood by other pianists. How do i find these "levels"? Will they help me get better at piano?
Great video btw
Another idea for a passion project is to play the fight song for their favorite college football team if they have one.
Good call! I love that idea
I was looking forward to reviewing the comparison chart, as I'm working from multiple method books right now. I followed the link, but I don't see anything in my email. 😢
Sorry to hear that! There should be a confirmation email, and once confirmed the file should open right away. If you don't see the initial email in your spam folder, feel free to reach out to me directly at thetattooedpianoteacher@gmail.com. Thank you!
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher Cool! Thank you! So I was today years old when I learned that my RCM Celebration Book 2 correlates with the Alfred Basic Series 4, 😳 of which I have on hand levels 2-6. Apparently I'm starting "at the bridge", which I had a feeling. 😅🥴
@@sp1704 You have a unique situation because you knew a lot going in, but then also had a long hiatus. And it sounds like you're doing a lot right! Trying different method series, remembering those foundational concepts, getting some technique in there. But when you are more advanced in some areas, feeling like you're starting from scratch in others, and still other areas just need a quick reminder...well, I can see how you're feeling a little stretched too thin right now!
I think you're asking all the right questions, but unfortunately I don't think I'm the right person to answer them. 😅 And the reason is because you are uniquely you and your skills and experience are uniquely yours! If I were your teacher I would sit down for a good chunk of time and work through all these different areas/questions and formulate a plan to get you from where you are to where you want to be. In conclusion lol, I would highly recommend finding a really good teacher for in-person lessons if you can! Even if you just take private lessons for 6 months or a year and then go off on your own, I think just the clarity of having a trained teacher sit down with you and sort it all out would be invaluable.
I know that's probably not the answer you were hoping for, but it sounds like you're doing great and are a highly motivated person! With a little bit of personalized guidance, I'm sure you can fast-track your progress!
Some questions came to mind during this video regarding why students may quit their music programs:
1) Is the student really interested in music and learning to play a musical instrument? (Or did the parents pressure the child into doing so?)
2) If the student is interested in music, is s/he specifically interested in piano, as opposed to another instrument or even voice training? (Perhaps the family owns a piano, so this is seen as the "default" instrument, with no other options under consideration. This initially was the case in my family, when my father proclaimed "We're not lugging instruments around!")
3) If the student is genuinely interested in learning to play piano, is there a limit to this interest? (That is, is the student satisfied with a level of proficiency that's less than what the teacher or the parents expect? This might depend on what kind of music the student wants to play.)
I recall a blog on "why students quit their musical instruments" and one thought presented was that it is essential that the student be given an opportunity to perform at a fairly early stage--if that isn't provided, the student is much more likely to lose interest.
Good thoughts. Thank you for sharing. That sounds like an interesting blog post. I would give it a read if you remember where you found it!
I've been playing piano since I was about 8 years old and have been at it for 7 years now, and none of the challenges that I faced made me want to give up and quit. I always felt like this is what I wanna do. The reason I started playing is because my siblings and many kids around me were playing an instrument, so I wanted to join in too, and I got so much into it, like much more then the other kids at some point. And then all of them basically quit. I'm guessing the reason is that not everyone is ment to be a musician, and they don't have to keep playing if it's not something they're passionate about.
Thank you for your perspective. I can relate personally. I've been thinking about this a lot lately--how when something is a part of your *identity* quitting is not an option and every challenge just propels you forward. Thanks for sharing!
What I have experienced is that no teacher has ever taught me what to practice or how. Thanks to RUclips, as an adult I have finally been able to break through this thanks to a combo of my teacher as an accountability measure (I have to play for someone each week) and actually learning. Apparently arpeggios, chords, sight reading are all important but I've never once been given a structured way to practice, memorize, learn these until I designed it myself. To me, going home and "practicing" a single song has been the most boring part of piano. Even as an adult I just gave up trying to "pass" fur Elise after a month and just went to the next song. I'm learning faster than if I kept playing the same song rather than trying to perfect something.
I had a similar experience, where I was not taught how to practice by my piano teachers. I had to figure it out with a steep learning curve my freshman year of college majoring in piano performance. That was before RUclips 😆 I'm glad you've found what works for you!
I am a classical guitar, I read sheet music for the classical guitar and now I wish to learn what I played in classical on keyboard now and I am 66 years old, love Bach my goal to learn
Bach is so beautiful on guitar! My college roommate was a guitar major. I hope you reach your goal of playing Bach on piano!
It is true that a lot of people I know stopped playing piano at level 3. Funny that my boy took longer at RCM level 3 but then the teacher suggested him to skip level 4 because it was too easy for him, and then he skipped level 6. Now he’s level 9 and going to high school soon.
Oh wow, he's doing great! So glad to hear he has a good teacher working with him and is going strong into high school. Thanks for sharing!
This is all fine and dandy as long as the elementary students have a sufficient skill-set to take with them on that long journey across that bridge to the intermediate side where they can succeed and compete. After that, it will seem that any challenge put before them can be met with ease.
I love that you used the term skill set! One of my overused piano teacher words. 😄 So true that building skills from day one makes it so much easier.
Great video chock full of great content. My only constructive criticism is that I found the popping sound grating- sort of like someone saying "Umm" too often.
Thank you
Those grades never made sense for me. I did on my first year the alegro from cpe Bach, from the Anna Magdalena book, and it was ridiculously easy. Some consider that to be grade 6, but some stuff from Schumann that is grade 4 i have difficulty with.
That's funny because I currently have a student who breezed through a Schubert & a Schumann piece, but is struggling with his first Bach piece...it's so interesting how everyone is different!
is challenge #1 a case for not teaching position reading? I never recalled being taught that way at the beginner stage
Honestly, this topic is highly debated in piano-teacher-land. I use both position reading and non-position reading with my beginners, but there are teachers out there who are very against position reading because it can be a jarring transition later on. This could be a video all on its own! 😂
I quit after a year when I was 11. But you know what? I went on to enjoy playing the piano for the next 50+ years. I learned enough theory about chords that I was able to play by ear, and I could read well enough to play popular songs from sheet music. I continued working on learning music that was beyond the level I was on when I quit. I remember how hard I worked on Maple Leaf Rag, for example.
Right abour the time I quit I took up folk guitar (thank you Laura Webber!) And starting in junior high I played viola in the orchestra for six years. As an adult I taught myself folk harp and penny whistle and bowed psaltry and several other instruments. I kept on learning new instruments until old age and arthritis in my hands made it too hard, and then I joined the choir.
Why did I quit piano lessons? It wasn't because I didn't want to practice. I'm not sure. Maybe recitals made me nervous. Maybe I just wanted more free time. Maybe it was because my teacher smoked like a chimney as she sat beside me on the bench.
But I liked her, and the music theory she taught me allowed me to continue on my own, and brought me pleasure all my life.
A true musician at heart! Thank you for sharing your journey. I can't get over the picture of your teacher chain smoking right next to you in the lesson, though! 😂😮💨
Well, it was about 1967. It was a different time, for sure.@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher
For me it was because of chronic golfer's elbow. I haven't been able to practice piano for two years now, and it has me super depressed. I'm only 26 so it sucks I got it this early in life :/
That must be frustrating! I've had issues with my wrist and I can relate a little bit to wanting to play but physically not being able to make it happen. 😔
Thoughtful video…. The same applies to adult language learning?
I'd say so. Music really is a language!
What’s the book with Elton John songs? Movie theme songs? Pop songs?
That’s what I’m hoping to learn
There are lots of pop/movie songbooks out there at all levels! The two publishers that offer the most options are Hal Leonard and Alfred Publishing. You can preview books before ordering so you know it's at the right level for you. Another option is searching a site like MusicNotes.com or SheetMusicDirect.com for a specific song and seeing what arrangements are available. Sometimes the amount of options out there can be overwhelming...if you work with a private piano teacher, they can help you find just the right arrangement for your skill level, too! Good luck!
Taught myself online all the jazz theory, then I went to a lesson and realized I knew more theory then the teacher.
😱 Oh no!
How about an adult continuing from where they left off in high school? I suspect I'm an intermediate student. How do I grade myself as to level?
First of all, that's awesome that you are restarting! I find that every "I used to play" adult student that comes to me lands in a different place on the grading scale. Reason being, they come with their own unique experiences and strengths...they remember some skills and concepts really well but need more review on others...you get the idea. Maybe the closest to a tangible self-grading system would be to see which of the RCM levels you could master a piece in? If it's possible to take a few lessons with a private instructor in your area, they may just save you time & money by assessing exactly where you are and what books might serve you best. Good luck!
I can play level 2 with practice but when level three comes its a hard challenge. I cannot get the number 8 bach 2 part invention to go. I can play each part hands alone but to put it together im at a challenge with no success. I do have a reading disability im dislexic. I can see the issue. 73
Me trying to learn in my 30's not even able to do things 5 year olds can..... 😭
I hope it's even possible for me to learn.. I'm so dyslexic, it's hard not to get discouraged.
I feel so dumb sometimes.. 🥺
I can feel very awkward to start a new skill as an adult..I hear that! But you do have advantages that you just may not see yet. Adult beginner piano students bring their own life experience, artistic creativity, and established sense of self to the learning process. I hope you stick with it and find a great teacher to help you! 💙
To get past the bridge you have to practice at least an hour a day
I didnt hit the bridge until 4-5. Im at level 6 now. Practice becomes even more important now. My left hand independence was/is a struggle. Not sure why?
I think the left hand struggle is a common experience amongst pianists. I've played for over 3 decades and it still seems like my left hand is always one step behind my right hand 😄 but I like to think of my two hands as having their own strengths and personalities. That's great that your momentum carried you through to Level 6--don't give up now!
I find kids want to learn the piano or guitar but when you ask them what they listen to most of them just don’t listen to much.
I add a lot of nicer songs from Disney songs/ Movie soundtracks/popular songs and classical pieces in between the the songs in Piano Adventures 3a and 3b.
I like that idea! 💙
Many of my students don’t listen to any music, don’t know what they like, they don’t mind coming to lessons as much as there’s not any pressure.
I have been playing piano for decades and the pieces I know, I play well (well enough that my wife thinks I am good). Yet when almost 3 years ago I wanted to add two additional ambitious pieces (Tchaikovsky's Barcarolle and Chopin's Nocturne No. 20) to my repertoire, I just had to deal with sounding like crap for months until I could get these pieces "under my fingers." One of my neighbors asked if I was taking on students? I said "No, that's me learning something new." Honestly, until I have a piece just about memorized I can't concentrate on touch and interpretation -- it just sounds awful - like I'm playing with hammers. But it's worth it when it comes together. Beautiful pieces are worth the effort.
Beautiful pieces ARE worth the effort! Thank you for sharing your story!
I am still going at grade 4...ABRSM...aiming to reach grade 8 and beyond!
Yes! I love that attitude. Grade 4 ABRSM is about equal to Level 6 in these books, so you are past this particular bridge. Keep it up!
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher thank you...that's very kind🥰
I stopped at level 7 because you have to practice at least 3 or 4 hours and I didn't have the time.
You're right, the practice requirement gets REAL intense in the upper levels!
Have you heard of the French educator Piaget? The brain grows and is dormant, grows and then is dormant. He says during a growth phase the student should learn new material and during a dormant phase the student should repeat prior topics learned. Sounds like your students bridging from 3 to 4 are in a dormant phase. Piaget would probably say go back and re-learn old material/topics/theory but at a deeper level of understanding. Simple example, relearn Freau-Jacque (spelling) but only with significantly more sophisticated articulation than the first time. Dormant phases are easy to observe because the student starts to go stupid all over again! Don't criticize just start assigning deeper renditions of prior material.
I've read more on Steiner's childhood development than Piaget's, but I believe there are similarities there? Interesting perspective! And a whole other aspect to consider as the 'bridge' can happen at different ages for different students.
The interesting thing is that I studied Leila Fletcher levels 1, 2 and 3, but never accomplished the level 4. I then went straight for Bach Well Tempered Clavier, chopin Waltz and preludes, Mozart and Beethoven Sonatas. I now realize it may have been a bad thing.
Can I quote you on that to my students? 😂 Jk. But I can relate. As a kid, I wanted to jump to the REAL music. I learned Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata behind my teacher's back way before I had any business tackling some of the technical sections. To this day, I feel like the unevenness of my kid fingers follows me on those pieces. But, it didn't completely ruin me. I do highly recommend working with a really excellent private piano teacher though who can help you level up in strides without missing any necessary skills! 😁
@@TheTattooedPianoTeacher Of course you can. Thanks for the reply.
im learning winter wind at 13
Winter Wind is a good one! So fun to 'fly like the wind' once you master the twists and turns of the eighth note melody. Good luck!