1:29 Hey, that’s me!! Thanks for the shout out glad to be able to contribute 😁 5:41 Never knew “audiating” was a word…looked it up and was surprised to see it confirmed! 😅
Charles that was an outstanding tutorial. I have to learn The Scientist such a cool song. Your viewers already know you're an excellent pianist but you have awesome teaching skills as well; you explained everything so thoroughly step by step in this video. Sometimes I get frustrated watching other channels teaching a new technique because they leave things out or glance over something important to figure out yourself- not everyone has the gift of teaching. And we got a little sampling of your singing voice - you can sing! You got alot of talent. Looking forward to more videos.
Hey Charles, the best thing about your videos is that someone can see your enthusiasm and joy. It's a pleasure to watch you enjoying playing and also explain music, it just looks natural. There's many other good pianists on youtube for sure, but it's sometimes more about showing their skills. You're really focusing on what's important, and that's the way you play it and put emotions in your covers. Thank you.
- watching this again -- I think it is about the most appropriately-comprehensive (i.e. just exactly the right amount of scope, depth, and detail) and best organized (sequential development) and illustrated (examples of each step, the freedom to experiment, encouragement of trial and error, removal of fear of perfection) tutorial of learning to play a piece by ear I've seen !!! Congratulations! This should be of considerable benefit to *many* who are self-taught (and even formally-taught). I'm *really* looking forward to your future presentations -- on anything! :-)
Finding this video now is very timely - I bought a book of Christmas music based on an album I love, but one piece was missing, due to copyright issues. I'm going to have a go at playing by ear, something I've never done. Thanks!
I have an idea for another segment: piano pieces that *EVERY* *PIANIST* *SHOULD* *KNOW* ... There are already quite a few YT's out there that are variations of this, mostly along the lines of "typical" formal piano lit -- i.e. (depending on the level) Fur Elise, Minuet in G, Bach WTC Prelude in C, etc.). What I'm thinking of is more along the lines of "social" songs and "non-repertoire" pieces. One approach I include with my beginning students is to take some pieces and modify them from simple to more advanced arrangements (the "soft kitty" variations, for example). The following are songs/pieces which lend themselves to this approach and are among those "must know" pieces: - chop sticks - start with the two hands playing the top part, then learn the bottom part (bass and triads), be able to switch to play either part; then learn variations of the top part, then learn to play both the bass and triads in the left hand and the top part (including variations) in the right hand - the "knuckle song" (all sharps) -- the basic top part (RH), the bottom part (bass and triads), variations of the top part; then both the bass and triads in the left hand and the top part (including variations) in the right hand - Heart and Soul -- the basic top part (RH), the bottom part (bass and triads), variations of the top part; then both the bass and triads in the left hand and the top part (including variations) in the right hand - Happy Birthday - from very simple versions to more complete versions - in a singable key (G) - We Wish you a Merry Christmas - from very simple versions to more complete versions - Deck the Halls, a few other Christmas songs - all in singable keys Maybe Auld lang Syne -- not mybe so much any more these days ... Any others you or others can think of along these lines ?
I find that learning pieces by ear taps into your musical brain store from a slightly different angle and re-enforces, re-vitalizes much of your other learning -- especially ear-training and theory. It's like the lab part -- "hands-on" -- as opposed to the lecture. Also the more you do it the easier it gets, and the more proficient you get. It helps build confidence in being "away from the page" -- hearing sequences in advance as opposed to reading. Finally, it's a great gateway towards improv -- all the skills learned come back with dividends. And finally, it saves you some money -- you no longer have to buy the music -- or some half-baked arrangement -- you can do your own thing and make it just the way you like it! ! :-)
Thanks, Rodrigo! Glad you enjoyed the video. Hope to continue to see you around the channel and maybe at a live stream Q&A too! I do them every other Wednesday!
Nicely done! It's so important and helpful to understand how getting the bass line lays a foundation for building the harmony and melody. Great (SIMPLE! -- not overly-complicated ) explanation of the theory -- triads built on each scale degree within the key. One thing I like to point out that seems to help is that any of the three notes in each triad can be used as a bass note (which you sort of covered) -- prepares a seque for inversions.
Yup! My students have usually had trouble going from root position triads too early. If I introduce inversions too soon, they start to build "root position" looking triads on each of the other notes of the chord... which leads to new harmonies, not inversions. I usually need to wait about a month before going further.
@@PianistAcademy1 exactly! it takes a little time for thigs to settle in -- so getting the root position down solid works well. But I find it helpful even with root position triads to point out that any of the three notes can be in the bass -- you did that nicely in this tutorial when showing how the bass note would be one of the notes in the triad :-)
@@serwoolsley Stuff like how to use them in your own writing or improv? Or how other people have used them? Or both? I appreciate hearing your thoughts!
@@PianistAcademy1 the theory behind it and how to use the theory, of course i know i can find the info everywhere on the internet but i feel that getting it in small doses here and there helps me fix the concept better that pick a book or a music theory course and start learning there. Could be nice to see how other ppl have used it but not pop music, more like classical music and romantic composers :)
Thx. 👍Did I need this! Playing for years (working on that Chopin Impromptu! 😆) but harmonizing a simple melody? Can't do it despite "knowing" the theory. What good is knowing the theory without being able to apply it? Can't even harmonically analyze pieces I play beyond the bare basics. Sheesh! Embarrassing. Will watch over and over.
Great question haha. My Kawai MP8II digital is playing the Abbey Road CFX by Garritan through my computer. So on the interface, I'm able to change the tuning of the instrument... I raised it 16 cents to match the track in this case.
Study classical piano! Not only can I play songs that I hear by ear; I can notate them on staff paper, in the keys they’re recorded in. There’s no substitute for knowing music theory & learning to write out the music yourself rather than relying on musical notation software.
Typically I'd completely agree with this because I think studying classical piano and theory is so incredibly important! But I think we both know it takes more than just studying classical piano and music. Nearly all of the pianists I studied alongside during multiple degree programs cannot play by ear, notate, transcribe, or improvise... even those with doctorates, even those who are big competition winners, etc... so if classical music study and theory alone was the key, then there'd be a whole lot more people graduating all of the classical programs with these skills. Yes, theory is absolutely important, and so is a great understanding of the keyboard as well as learning how your ear hears things, which are all things you mention. But beyond that, if you're self-taught you should spend some considerable time challenging yourself to learn by ear... and if you have a teacher, most often you'll need to request this kind of study with them and find out if they can even provide it. All of my own skills in playing by ear and notating came from my own dabbling in music, away from all of my lessons and degree programs. By the time aural skills was introduced in college, there were literally two of us in class who could write parts down by ear (myself and another, jazz, pianist)... everyone else sat, mostly dumbfounded, holding a pencil with no idea what to do! 4 semesters later, most of those students were still **very** bad at writing music by ear because there was almost nothing given to them to guide them in the development of the skill.
@@PianistAcademy1 My piano teacher knew I had a very good ear, so she did everything she could to prevent me from playing by ear. I received absolutely no ear training. BUT when my parents & I started attending a church that had no printed music for the worship choruses we sang, and I was the only one who could sight read well & play for the choir cantatas & such, I was suddenly thrust into the position of having to play by ear-much like throwing a child into the water & expecting him to swim. I learned very fast, thanks to my good ear & perfect pitch. I also have the ability to transpose music in my head; I don’t have to write it down. So the music director could sing in any key he chose, modulate to other keys, & I followed along perfectly. That was the way I was challenged to play by ear. But again, by the time I started doing all this, I had already taken 8 years of classical piano lessons (I took 11 years of lessons total) & was well grounded in theory & technique. I stand resolutely in favor of classical piano training with a certified master teacher. To me, there simply is no substitute. I have met my fair share of self-taught pianists & can truthfully say they would all benefit from proper training. I can always tell who has been well trained and who is self taught.
@@RUT812 Yes! This story is exactly what I'm talking about! Thanks for sharing. Also a bit sad that your teacher would discourage ear training. Yes, good music education is well rounded and you also need to be a proficient reader, but that doesn't have to mean throwing ear training away. The best teachers should incorporate both aspects, and more with their students. And I also agree that classical training is really the best way to go, just highlighting how often it doesn't include that ear training component, unfortunately.
1:29 Hey, that’s me!! Thanks for the shout out glad to be able to contribute 😁
5:41 Never knew “audiating” was a word…looked it up and was surprised to see it confirmed! 😅
Haha yes! Thanks for the suggestions!
Charles that was an outstanding tutorial. I have to learn The Scientist such a cool song. Your viewers already know you're an excellent pianist but you have awesome teaching skills as well; you explained everything so thoroughly step by step in this video. Sometimes I get frustrated watching other channels teaching a new technique because they leave things out or glance over something important to figure out yourself- not everyone has the gift of teaching. And we got a little sampling of your singing voice - you can sing! You got alot of talent. Looking forward to more videos.
You are too kind Richard, thank you! I’m very glad you enjoyed the tutorial, and I’m always open to new suggestions for more songs to cover here!
Hey Charles, the best thing about your videos is that someone can see your enthusiasm and joy. It's a pleasure to watch you enjoying playing and also explain music, it just looks natural. There's many other good pianists on youtube for sure, but it's sometimes more about showing their skills. You're really focusing on what's important, and that's the way you play it and put emotions in your covers. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Severin! I really appreciate that! And thanks for sticking around and watching new videos when they come out 😁
- watching this again -- I think it is about the most appropriately-comprehensive (i.e. just exactly the right amount of scope, depth, and detail) and best organized (sequential development) and illustrated (examples of each step, the freedom to experiment, encouragement of trial and error, removal of fear of perfection) tutorial of learning to play a piece by ear I've seen !!! Congratulations! This should be of considerable benefit to *many* who are self-taught (and even formally-taught). I'm *really* looking forward to your future presentations -- on anything! :-)
That makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing this :-)
Finding this video now is very timely - I bought a book of Christmas music based on an album I love, but one piece was missing, due to copyright issues. I'm going to have a go at playing by ear, something I've never done. Thanks!
Fabulous! Good luck, Nancy!
I have an idea for another segment: piano pieces that *EVERY* *PIANIST* *SHOULD* *KNOW* ... There are already quite a few YT's out there that are variations of this, mostly along the lines of "typical" formal piano lit -- i.e. (depending on the level) Fur Elise, Minuet in G, Bach WTC Prelude in C, etc.).
What I'm thinking of is more along the lines of "social" songs and "non-repertoire" pieces. One approach I include with my beginning students is to take some pieces and modify them from simple to more advanced arrangements (the "soft kitty" variations, for example). The following are songs/pieces which lend themselves to this approach and are among those "must know" pieces:
- chop sticks - start with the two hands playing the top part, then learn the bottom part (bass and triads), be able to switch to play either part; then learn variations of the top part, then learn to play both the bass and triads in the left hand and the top part (including variations) in the right hand
- the "knuckle song" (all sharps) -- the basic top part (RH), the bottom part (bass and triads), variations of the top part; then both the bass and triads in the left hand and the top part (including variations) in the right hand
- Heart and Soul -- the basic top part (RH), the bottom part (bass and triads), variations of the top part; then both the bass and triads in the left hand and the top part (including variations) in the right hand
- Happy Birthday - from very simple versions to more complete versions - in a singable key (G)
- We Wish you a Merry Christmas - from very simple versions to more complete versions
- Deck the Halls, a few other Christmas songs - all in singable keys
Maybe Auld lang Syne -- not mybe so much any more these days ...
Any others you or others can think of along these lines ?
Ooo good idea! I'll keep thinking about it!
I find that learning pieces by ear taps into your musical brain store from a slightly different angle and re-enforces, re-vitalizes much of your other learning -- especially ear-training and theory. It's like the lab part -- "hands-on" -- as opposed to the lecture. Also the more you do it the easier it gets, and the more proficient you get. It helps build confidence in being "away from the page" -- hearing sequences in advance as opposed to reading. Finally, it's a great gateway towards improv -- all the skills learned come back with dividends.
And finally, it saves you some money -- you no longer have to buy the music -- or some half-baked arrangement -- you can do your own thing and make it just the way you like it! ! :-)
Yup! Love all this!
This is an amazing video. So glad I’ve found this channel recently!!
Thanks, Rodrigo! Glad you enjoyed the video. Hope to continue to see you around the channel and maybe at a live stream Q&A too! I do them every other Wednesday!
Excellent! I loved this. Thanks!
Thanks for watching, Lyn!
Nicely done! It's so important and helpful to understand how getting the bass line lays a foundation for building the harmony and melody. Great (SIMPLE! -- not overly-complicated ) explanation of the theory -- triads built on each scale degree within the key. One thing I like to point out that seems to help is that any of the three notes in each triad can be used as a bass note (which you sort of covered) -- prepares a seque for inversions.
Yup! My students have usually had trouble going from root position triads too early. If I introduce inversions too soon, they start to build "root position" looking triads on each of the other notes of the chord... which leads to new harmonies, not inversions. I usually need to wait about a month before going further.
@@PianistAcademy1 exactly! it takes a little time for thigs to settle in -- so getting the root position down solid works well. But I find it helpful even with root position triads to point out that any of the three notes can be in the bass -- you did that nicely in this tutorial when showing how the bass note would be one of the notes in the triad :-)
I'd love to see some more music theory on the channel
I'd love to make those! Any requests in particular?
@@PianistAcademy1 chords and harmony
@@serwoolsley Stuff like how to use them in your own writing or improv? Or how other people have used them? Or both? I appreciate hearing your thoughts!
@@PianistAcademy1 the theory behind it and how to use the theory, of course i know i can find the info everywhere on the internet but i feel that getting it in small doses here and there helps me fix the concept better that pick a book or a music theory course and start learning there.
Could be nice to see how other ppl have used it but not pop music, more like classical music and romantic composers :)
@@serwoolsley I will have to think about this! Thanks for the idea 🙂
Amazing, thank you!!
Absolutely, CJ! Thanks for watching!
Thx. 👍Did I need this! Playing for years (working on that Chopin Impromptu! 😆) but harmonizing a simple melody? Can't do it despite "knowing" the theory. What good is knowing the theory without being able to apply it? Can't even harmonically analyze pieces I play beyond the bare basics. Sheesh! Embarrassing. Will watch over and over.
Yay! Thanks for checking this out Jose! I hope it helps to bridge a gap between your classical work and some other music you enjoy!
Jose R - are you ok with matching pitch? You may need to focus on that to be sure you're able to match what you're hearing ...
btw -- what did you do at 35:15 to adjust the tuning to match? Are you playing the acoustic grand or the P125?
Great question haha. My Kawai MP8II digital is playing the Abbey Road CFX by Garritan through my computer. So on the interface, I'm able to change the tuning of the instrument... I raised it 16 cents to match the track in this case.
@@PianistAcademy1 -- ahh - the coolness of technology -- the Abbey Road CFX sounds great btw!
@@aBachwardsfellow It's one of my favorite sample libraries! Amazing that it's been out since 2014, nearly 10 years.
Study classical piano! Not only can I play songs that I hear by ear; I can notate them on staff paper, in the keys they’re recorded in. There’s no substitute for knowing music theory & learning to write out the music yourself rather than relying on musical notation software.
Typically I'd completely agree with this because I think studying classical piano and theory is so incredibly important! But I think we both know it takes more than just studying classical piano and music. Nearly all of the pianists I studied alongside during multiple degree programs cannot play by ear, notate, transcribe, or improvise... even those with doctorates, even those who are big competition winners, etc... so if classical music study and theory alone was the key, then there'd be a whole lot more people graduating all of the classical programs with these skills.
Yes, theory is absolutely important, and so is a great understanding of the keyboard as well as learning how your ear hears things, which are all things you mention. But beyond that, if you're self-taught you should spend some considerable time challenging yourself to learn by ear... and if you have a teacher, most often you'll need to request this kind of study with them and find out if they can even provide it. All of my own skills in playing by ear and notating came from my own dabbling in music, away from all of my lessons and degree programs. By the time aural skills was introduced in college, there were literally two of us in class who could write parts down by ear (myself and another, jazz, pianist)... everyone else sat, mostly dumbfounded, holding a pencil with no idea what to do! 4 semesters later, most of those students were still **very** bad at writing music by ear because there was almost nothing given to them to guide them in the development of the skill.
@@PianistAcademy1 My piano teacher knew I had a very good ear, so she did everything she could to prevent me from playing by ear. I received absolutely no ear training. BUT when my parents & I started attending a church that had no printed music for the worship choruses we sang, and I was the only one who could sight read well & play for the choir cantatas & such, I was suddenly thrust into the position of having to play by ear-much like throwing a child into the water & expecting him to swim. I learned very fast, thanks to my good ear & perfect pitch. I also have the ability to transpose music in my head; I don’t have to write it down. So the music director could sing in any key he chose, modulate to other keys, & I followed along perfectly. That was the way I was challenged to play by ear. But again, by the time I started doing all this, I had already taken 8 years of classical piano lessons (I took 11 years of lessons total) & was well grounded in theory & technique. I stand resolutely in favor of classical piano training with a certified master teacher. To me, there simply is no substitute. I have met my fair share of self-taught pianists & can truthfully say they would all benefit from proper training. I can always tell who has been well trained and who is self taught.
@@RUT812 Yes! This story is exactly what I'm talking about! Thanks for sharing. Also a bit sad that your teacher would discourage ear training. Yes, good music education is well rounded and you also need to be a proficient reader, but that doesn't have to mean throwing ear training away. The best teachers should incorporate both aspects, and more with their students. And I also agree that classical training is really the best way to go, just highlighting how often it doesn't include that ear training component, unfortunately.