What Separates Intermediate from Beginner Pianists??

There's so much beginner content here on YouTube AND so much highly advanced content... but really not much that discusses the intermediate player. Today, I begin to solve that problem with this video! So, what DOES separate intermediate pianists from beginners? It actually has NOTHING to do with the repertoire you play 😉

Charles Szczepanek is an international prize-winning pianist, has collaborated with GRAMMY Award winners, and has taught music for over 20 years to everyone from his next-door neighbor to finalists on NBC's America's Got Talent. Through Pianist Academy, he now brings that wealth of knowledge to you: the beginner, the intermediate, the professional, or the fellow music teacher.

[drsofty]

Basically, he is saying that I am still a beginner after 10 years of practice 😞

[voskresenie-]

I took lessons for about 15 years, through college, and especially my college teacher really pushed me in good ways. but I was always so focused on making measurable progress on my pieces week to week, I wouldn't allow myself room to just sit and play around with one phrase for 2 hours with no guarantee of progress. 6 months ago I started playing again after 8 years away from the instrument and I told myself I'd see how far I could get without a teacher, then find one when I hit a wall. Well, in 6 months I've made more progress than I did in 2 years of lessons, in part because I've spent more time at the piano, several hours most days compared to 60-90 mins a day, but in part because I needed to allow myself permission to be inefficient with my practice in order to learn how to be efficient.

Surprise, surprise, many of the things that in college I wouldn't do because there was no guarantee of progress, I realized were actually the things that have caused me to make the most progress, often in a short burst. For example, I was struggling to get a certain arpeggio past 70bpm for sextuplets, and after literally an hour of just trying random things on one measure, I had an epiphany and within 2 minutes got the arpeggio up to 105 bpm while also making it far more fluid and even than it'd been at 70. A good teacher could have identified the problem in 30 seconds, I'm sure, but I had some sort of understanding gap in physically playing the piano that can't be taught verbally, it must be felt, and while teachers tried to explain how I can go about feeling it, with varying degrees of success, I never spent the time necessary playing around with movements and physical sensation to internalize it — I was always trying to move my hand or fingers in the way my teachers said I should, but without the fluidity one would have if they really understood the concept, rather than just attempting to force a bunch of micromovements to make my hand do the thing it was supposed to do.

Watching this video was so satisfying because at the end of college, I was playing early advanced repertoire, and often could get it to come together pretty well, but I didn't have the comfort or understanding of piano I thought I should have, but couldn't really articulate exactly what was wrong. I would have maybe passed 4/7 of these. But now, years later but with only 6 months more practice, I can confidently say I am competent in all 7. I'd love to see a similar video on the difference between intermediate and advanced.

[meganpiano]

Thank you for this! We need more intermediate level lessons and tips on YouTube!

[gaugeonesteam]

I totally agree with you about different keys. Almost like learning a totally different instrument learning a different key. I'm pretty good in C, G, F, Eb, Bb, D and A, However, I'm not sure every top pianist can transpose any piece into any key at the drop of a hat. Having said that, I'm sure learning all the keys really well is a good thing.

[bh]

Ah, dear, will always be a beginner.

[sp]

When I was playing regularly in uni, I remember having "automatic" moments when i would hear something in my head, and the music would just materialize through my fingers. That. was. awesome, and I would love to get back to that place. :)

[pamelasaunders]

I found this by accident after hearing a Mozart piano sonatas today on the radio that he described as for beginners so I was trying to find beginners performances as I was thinking perhaps there are some pieces that they could do as well as a more advanced player could.

But I was glad to find your video and found it very relevant to my own experience and have assessed myself as almost intermediate. I can't remember section by section but I did not know the 1, 1V, V, V1 for example but having heard them could clearly hear the same progression each time in the different variations. I could also easily sing back your little melody but I am really not good at playing by ear but could have figured it out on the piano in 2 or 3 goes.

I have dabbled with a lot of musical opportunities in all my almost 60 years, but piano is the one I use the most. I only ever had 10 lessons when I was 13 when we were looking after someone's piano for them and I had taught myself from a tutor book and got stuck on grade 3. But I hated the lessons.

Then my daughter saw an ex demo electric grand piano and asked could we get it which we did. She taught herself and has passed her grade 8 and did music at uni and now teaches.

Her first instrument was clarinet. She hated her lessons but carried on so that she could use the school clarinet to play duets with me at home. My first instrument was also clarinet.

But she got her own piano at uni so I have kept the original one. I love to learn by playing lots of variety of pieces, which each have their various challenges within them.

I have improved enough and learned enough chords by name that I can manage basic pieces pretty well with either reading both hands or playing the melody right hand and improvising left hand based on the chord notation. If there is no chord notation I can often figure something out but not at a sight read.

Recently we got stuck at church and I was able to fill in just enough, some items better than others depending if I already knew them or not. I could not have done that 3 years ago.

I know I continue to make progress e.g. some music seems relatively easy now that was a real struggle a couple of years back and I am tackling more difficult pieces not just ones that have been specially arranged, so I am definitely forward from "easy pieces", which I was enjoying but now they don't seem full enough in comparison.

I love listening to radio 3 and I think that helps to develop the discernment on the listening skills. Your #7 all comes easily to me. I have a good awareness of all those points you mentioned and I love trying to get them all right and really enjoy when a piece or part becomes fluent. I have sung all my life too including in choirs so all that training will have contributed to e.g. dynamics.

I have a huge collection of music to play but I can't resist picking up more when I see some I can afford mostly in charity shops. I had to buy more storage for it but I donated some of the very easy stuff now to the library as the music section is pretty woeful.

I am just glad I have the opportunity to enjoy it anyway but I may well have a browse through some more of your videos now I have discovered them. Thank you for doing them :)

[mytruthbekind]

Excellent video. I find this inspirational. Going to keep at it! It is a lifelong pursuit. Have fun playing. I am having much more fun the deeper I get!

[quentingrand]

Great video Charles! So, after playing the Piano for 25 years, you confirm what I already knew about me : I'm still a beginner haha. The only point from your video I can partially achieve is the last one.

[dimitrovboeleepianoduo]

Wonderful video! You explain very very well. Love how you emphasize that it's not about the repertoire. Professionals often enjoy playing 'simple' music because there's things to work on at any level of repertoire.

[e.j.grandmaison]

Loved the audiation skill. It was 7 AM when I was watching this and even that early, I sang it back and then played it on the piano. I teach piano on the side as I'm an elementary music teacher by day. I didn't take formal piano lessons until I was in college. Thank you for letting me know I'm on my way to advanced intermediate despite my later start. 😅

Many piano students can play pieces of a certain level, but nevertheless, they are not very fluent in chords and inversions (especially more advanced chords). They need to prepare it beforehand. In my opinion this is often overlooked.

[kristinamusik]

Best explaining I ever heard. In fact the only explaining I ever heard. So I am an intermediate player, sadly enough an early intermediate player. And the reason is because so much is missing in basic knowledge. And it is hard to catch up. Thankfully enough I now have a teacher trying to fill in the gaps.

[OtetsYazikov]

Wonderful VID! The point about keys and their scales and arpeggi is astoundingly clarifying! Once all the relations are "within and ready" in your mind and hands, you have already acquired an intimacy with the instrument that simply opens the gates to more demanding challenges!

[lawrencetaylor]

I can already do many of the intermediate level technical skills, but I seriously lack in audiation and ear recognition. And I have difficulty playing simple songs. I have an inner ear problem which gives me an excuse, but I've also made some progress. Actually, I don't mind calling myself a beginner for several more years. I've geeked out on music theory, and my piano teacher is impressed with what I am doing. And supportive in continuing on the journey.
This was a good explanation and helps many of us with taking an honest assessment.
Merci from western Switzerland.

[serwoolsley]

-😱😱 wait, it's all scales??
-😵 🔫 always has been

[miguele.colonp]

Great video!! I’d like a video like this but between intermediates and advanced

[johnmackey]

As a dyslexic musician I found this video to be very helpful. It's painful to go back to square one and start from scratch again, but necessary. I've always had great difficulty reading music, but will try to focus on what you suggest. I've subscribed and will buy your course. Many thanks😎

[great-garden-watch]

Each of my hands appear to belong to different people 😢. And oh man, after watching this, my question is, what comes before beginner? This is actually depressing.

[Milkiyas]

Great video! I'm a late beginner but my ears are late intermediate because I've been practicing relative pitch for quite a while now. With the reference note, I was immediately able to play the melody on my first try! I'm also able to transpose the melody to different keys. At the moment I'm learning to recognize chord progressions.