One Year of Piano Progress | Pianist Reacts

In this video I react to Joel Snape's video of his first year of piano progress.

Here is the original video:

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[WOY]

Thank you for showing this video. I'm 54 I had a piano teacher when I was a teenager. My biggest problem was lack of discipline practicing daily. I still have a desire to play the piano. This video encouraged me to use the pedal that I do have for my electric piano. And just not to give up in general. Thanks again:-)

[frankwilson]

Very important point mentioned here. No other skill when learning either piano / keyboard is more important than to disassociate visually from what your hands are doing on the keys. Playing 'blind' forces the brain to develop muscle memory, and this is key to easily finding intervals as you play. The problem here is that until someone learning becomes aware of this and begins to rely on it, they default to hand-eye co-ordination rather than the hand-brain co-ordination necessary to play an instrument. Keyboard instruments have this 'flaw' inherently, and it is less of a problem with string instruments such as guitar, and completely absent in brass instruments, such as trumpet. Without reading music while playing, the eyes naturally fall on the hands, reinforcing playing as a skill requiring visual reliance, when that should be disassociated in favour of a far better and quicker skill of playing by muscle memory 90% of the time. Otherwise the outcome is playing which amounts to slowly plodding around the keys rather than music, ad infinitum. Even someone learning to play 'by ear' would be well advised to look at a dot on the wall while learning, otherwise the brain will always rely on hand-eye co-ordination rather than building up muscle memory, which is massively more speedy once the skill is learned. People already ahev something that they can relate this principle to: A touch typist will always type at least twice as fast as someone who has learned while watching their hands, and can read what they're typing too. Same basic concepts apply to playing piano and reading music. Playing/learning without music in front of you, or not keeping your eyes on it as much as possible, first causes then later compounds this issue.

[dfpolitowski]

I'm thinking, this guy in the video has an above average talent or he's training himself just right for the best way his brain works. Maybe he was a piano prodigy that never picked up the piano until into his thirty's. Undiscovered, untapped until now. Perhaps, there are a lot of superstars out there in the world in all disciplines untapped, undiscovered. I mean undiscovered by themselves.

[thepianoplayer]

When I started over a decade ago, there was a price difference between an 88-keyboard with weighted keys and a portable 61 or 49 so got myself a 61 before the upgrade. Today the price difference would be negligible.
Personally I've seen students who struggled to read an easy piece quit music after a year. Many teachers prefer students start reading from day 1. We also have to admit not all students are naturally good at reading. This is why some prefer the Suzuki approach of teaching students to play by ear for Y1 before introducing notations.
Many teachers tend to focus on getting students to be good at reading. On the other hand, ear training is also important. Students need to be good at both. In the beginning someone like myself tend to be better at 1 than the other. If you allow students who are not good readers to learn a few songs by ear while developing their reading skills, I'm sure many people who are poor readers would still be playing years later.
There is a debate whether a student should learn pieces above his level than work on easier pieces first. Not all are inclined to start with "Mary Had a Little Lamb", then "Minuet in G", Bach Prelude in C from easy pieces up. Learning a hard piece means you set the bar higher what you can achieve. It's a personal achievement just learning the notes even without the nuances like dynamics, phrasing, etc. In the future learning a similar piece would be easier.

[Cat_in_Bljat]

I'm using SimplyPiano. It gets the job done. Dont know how far it will take me but as a stepping stone it's gold

[stevesm]

What I like about your reaction videos is, as a total beginner, it's pointing out pitfalls not to fall into like not having a pedal. I'm very lucky in that I have a brand new Roland FP-30x to start on and I have a pedal for it. I do intend to use a book for learning but I'm going to supplement that with my own note spotting, scales and time learning. Although I'm not in a rush, I do look forward to being able to play something to my own perfectionist standard LOL

[lshwadchuck]

You didn't mention the fact that even with the new piano he's got it sitting so far fom him that his arms are stretched out straight. I think I saw this laundry room beginner a while back. The thing that changed my journey after self-teaching for two years was seeing a choir accompanist play incredibly rhythmically and read music, flipping pages all the while. I got a coach. That was four years ago. My goal is rhythmic and keyboard fluency so I can play from lead sheets, improvising the accompaniment. So many adult beginners are content brute-forcing complex pieces to impress people. My coach's goal for me is that I become addicted to how good playing feels.

[madhatterentmt]

selft taught musician here glad i found your channel i play many instruments always fascinated by piano decided to buy a keyboard after seeing this video glad i got the 88 key with the sustain pedal

[jaybee]

I’ve been watching a lot of “one year progress” videos. I think most of them are fake. This guys progress was feasible. But what I’m really looking to see is Alfred’s book one, alpine melody etc. The earliest Hanon exercises etc. Those are the progress videos I love, not just because they’re more authentic but also it feels they’re learning skills rather than pieces. A lot of these videos learn pieces they want to play and move on quickly without ever mastering it because they can’t, it’s too advanced for them. If I wanted to play Vanessa Carlton I wouldn’t be happy with his version and I’d end up coming back to it sometime later when I was able to play it fully, so I find it a waste of time when could have been learning a grade one/two piece. It’s better not to rush, and take on things once you’re able to do them well. The tried and tested beginner paths are the best way to learn the piano. If you only want to learn particular pieces then this approach is okay but slower progress but with better technique is best for the long term.

[BibethSharma]

I am 43 and playing 1 hour everyday I am learning the I am loving the learning moments. I know someday I will be able to play the piano and I am going to miss the learning sessions.

[DougMcDave]

I am a clarinet player who wants to learn piano to write original songs. I have had a 61 key Casio, but I have upgraded to a Roland FP30 (88 weighted keys with simulated hammer feel). I made sure to add a stand and three pedals and adjustable bench the same day.
Clarinet demands and a busy schedule have slowed my piano progress, but I am getting back into the swing of it.

[welshwizard]

Nice commentary, I don't wish to take exams I play for my enjoyment I took piano lessons for one year and gave it up at 12, I picked up a guitar and never looked back, 50 years later at 62 I decided to go back to the piano(mainly because I have left hand problems). I then decided to get a tutor, also changed from a keyboard to a decent electric piano(Roland HP704) I'm nearly 69 now and enjoy playing every single day, I'm starting to play grade 5 music, so it's been slow progress, I think this is down to my age and slower hand eye co-ordination. Given that thoroughly enjoy playing.

[chironchiron]

Im thirteen and I’m rcm lvl 10. Beautiful video, agreed with all honesty.

[GariotsPianoJourney]

Im on the older side too and decided to finally learn an instrument. Since i loose interest and motivation quick, i really like these kind of videos! :) And it maybe also helps that i decided to document a lot what id do to look back one day and can say "damn, man, you are still bad" lol

[deana]

That's a Yamaha EZ 300 & the keys light up for the songs in it's memory.

[hippophile]

I think he showed good rhythm from early on. And it starts to be really useful when he goes for the Mozart...

[JoaoPedro-gtqq]

Did he have lessons with a teacher? He looks tense as hell. One thing I fortunately learned in the first few weeks is to keep a relaxed posture.

[SidmanJam]

Just started playing the keyboard a week ago the first song I'm learning is the Entertainer. Yes, i know i should pick an easy song but that's the song i want to learn lol and moonlight sonata the 1st movement

[cristibaluta]

I have a piano for few months but didn't had discipline to learn and I was also away from home half the time, so i'm starting now, but i'm not attempting fur ellise or any other song till i don't know the notes on the piano and on the sheet lol.

[djroskedjroske]

Did anyone notice the learner video is mirrored?