Hey guys! This is my first time submitting anything in this section, and I'm honestly a little nervous as a beginner to be doing so. But I got to play on this really old Steinway M yesterday and I wanted to share it.

I'm new to the piano (as my signature says) and I recently (last month) had my first couple of piano lessons. I'd love to hear what I could improve on this (other than not missing notes or stumbling, which I did a couple times), as I'm sure there is a lot to work on. I hope you can enjoy it despite the mistakes

Like I always say, this is remarkable for someone who's only been playing for a little over a year. Sure there are issues, but that's what your teacher is for and you obviously have the aptitude to do well.. thanks for sharing, I enjoyed listening to it.

That was very nice! You are definitely progressing faster than I ever did, I still wouldn't be able to pull this off.

This was a very good, sensitive and insightful performance and pretty remarkable for a self-described beginner. Given a bit of time to percolate it will get even better. The more of a composer's music you play, the better your performance of each individual composition will become.

I'll look forward to your continuing to post other performances now that you've taken this initial and most difficult plunge. Hope you can get your hands on that Steinway again soon.

This is very impressive for a beginner who is playing the piano only for 15 months.
Also, I am glad that you now have a teacher, it is crucial at the beginning.

As for the nocturne, I personally prefer a more flowing line beginning at 1:57. If I am not mistaken, Chopin had composed this piece for his sister, and that part is a recall from the second piano concerto.

Congratulations !! and keep up the good work.

regards,

Thank you

I was not aware of the point you mention about 1:57. I kinda like it the way I played it, but I need to try some other ways too. I will discuss it with my teacher.

There is so much to learn at this stage; it's sometimes VERY overwhelming. And I hardly even have time for lessons now because I'm busy with so many things. I've only had time for two lessons thus far. I need to schedule another one, but life gets in the way

This is amazing! This is one of my favorite compositions. You are a fast learner! I really enjoyed your playing a lot. Thanks for posting.

Best wishes,

that is incredibly awesome.. you must have some aptitude. superb for a new pianist. I am glad I got to watch. Hurray for you tube.

The one thing i would suggest is to pay attention to what 'legato' means. there is a lot of space between the notes, which you can't hear because of your excellent pedalling. i kind of like to think about it as 'trodding heavily' from note to note, even when playing lightly. .. no 'air space; whatsoever, unless indicated, or you CHOOSEto create that space. . you want to be very comfortable being in close contact with the keys.

again.. very very very nice.

Thanks a lot apple!

Can you help me out here? As you know, I'm new to reading music and playing the piano. I read your comment about legato, and I'm not sure I really understand it. As far as how you press the keys, how would you have done it differently in order to make it legato? I've had two lessons thus far and we didn't discuss legato (we mostly talked about technical things like body position and using arms and such), so I have no idea how to do it.

Also, what would the difference in the sound be between doing it legato, and using the pedal the way I did?

Thanks

first of all try playing the piece, creating the same sound while not using the pedal. There are forms of legato, finger, pedalling, paying close attention to what notes are held and which are not.

i notice, particularly at the beginning in the slower notes, that your hands totally come off the keys.. your runs are perfectly legato (perhaps in that there is no time for the space to occur).

ask your teacher about exercises to teach and focus on legato. You often achieve a very nice, solid melody line, but it happens naturally.. cause you really are an awesome player.

I like to play scales slowly, pressing the next note while the previous is still engaged.. walking, not hopping. I think you will very quickly pick this up. you particularly want to focus on the notes that carry the melody.. (the upper right hand fingers for instance). your left hand is fine most of the time. I'd watch your video with this in mind.

if you are a singer, you know how to sing legato from note to note without air space... the upper notes would often get a little louder with the added uooomph needed to bring them out. (for being a new sight reader, your tempo/timing is really nice.) how long have you been working on this piece and is your 'ear' really good. Can you play by ear?

on the surface it may not sound all that different from expertly pedalling, but the choice of emphasis will bring out melody notes and voice your chords.

if you were playing blind, your hands would seek the next notes, the keys and be reluctant to leave the previous ones.

I don't think I'd be able to do that, since my hands are really small.




Which notes exactly, so I can see what you mean? Do you mean the chords that start the piece?



I'll be sure to discuss it with my teacher. I don't know how I'm going to find the time to learn all the things I want to learn. There are not enough hours in the day


I have done this, but I think I need to practice it more, without pedal. When I started playing, I used to pedal everything, and it was terrible. When I started learning Fantaisie Impromptu I realized that just wouldn't do, and I've been trying to slowly wean myself off of the pedal since then (with some success).



I don't really sing, but I think I know what you mean. Of course, I wasn't sight reading this. I memorize pretty easily, but I don't read very well. I've struggled through some really hard music which has improved my reading a lot, but I need to spend more time on simple sight reading exercises.



I'll try playing some time without pedal and with eyes closed. I wish I had access to a good piano (like the one in the video) to play on. Here in New York, I have a digital (Yamaha CP300) and a very old Yamaha U3 which is in mediocre condition
I guess it could be worse though...

your hands are about twice as big as mine!!!!! maybe you want to focus on extending the flexibility of your 1 - 3 span, (stretch that thumb, gently of course while doing something else) so fingers 3, 4, and 5 can carry the melody. you are sooooooooo on your way.

If it sounds legato where it should I don't think it makes any difference whether that is done with the fingers, the pedal, or some combination of those.

it does.. that ability to utilize and rely on finger legato expands one's breadth of expression, for one thing. If you listen carefully you can hear, if only in your own mind. who knows when the pedal is going to fail anyway..?

Fabulous, Sam. Didn't you say something about seeing music as a form of communication, or what exactly did you say? I think that's probably the key to your progress as much as technical ability per se... I mean the technical ability in your case, must follow naturally from the desire to communicate!

Well now I have a story to share re: the pedaling/legato question above. My teacher was having her exam (grilling, interrogation, whatever) to get her license from the RAM back in the 1950s. One of the examiners played two "held" notes and asked if she could hear any difference. She said, Yes, on the one it was held with the pedal, the other was held down on the keyboard. The examiner said, very blustery, Nonsense. They're exactly the same! Teacher, in telling this story, said, "I didn't care what he said. I could hear a difference and I said so. And they gave me a passing mark on that question." (This came about because I got called on my last lesson for releasing a series of half note chords a bit early, while sustaining the sound with pedal... She had me play it again depressing those chords the entire two beats, and I could hear a different ringing sound to it.) But I wouldn't have noticed anything on your video if it hadn't been mentioned. Look forward to more uploads!

Wow, Sam! You have excellent musical sense! This was very nice to listen to.

You said you had a chance to play this old Steinway M. Did anything about playing on this piano throw you? Or did you take to it like it was your own?

As far as the "legato" comments, I think it is just a matter of practice in concsiously transferring the weight of your hand from finger to finger as smoothly as possible--that's how one of my PW friends explained it to me, anyway. I practice scales extremely slowly sometimes to get the feel of finger legato, making sure that I kind of overlap--just barely--the playing from key to key so the musical line is all connected up and down the scale. It's good exercise that really helps when you go to actually play legato. And speaking of exercise, whether you think you can do it or not, like apple says, just try playing parts of this nocturne without pedal and make your fingers do the legato, no matter how small your hands are or how crappy it sounds. You are the only one gonna hear it! You'll learn something from the experience!

But, again, this is a beautiful performance. You are a very sensitive butcher!

--Andy

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it


I generally have a lot of trouble adjusting to different pianos. As I progress and get the chance to play more and more different pianos, I'm getting better at adjusting. This piano happened to be one of the more enjoyable ones, and probably the most enjoyable one I've ever played outside of a showroom (you can't record in showrooms; this was a private house). The action was light and not at all what I was expecting from an old Steinway (I was expecting heavy and plodding, like the last one I played). Nevertheless, it's always a challenge when I play a new instrument, and it's always a (BIG) challenge for me to record myself. Considering all of that, I was happy with this recording, even though I wish a few things had been a bit better.



Thanks for that helpful explanation. More practice is definitely in order (I NEED A NICE PIANO!! )



Thanks Andy! In gratitude to you for your comments, I offer you 50% off the finest cut of meat from this cow. I promise to cut it very smoothly.

You share the dream of many.



Sounds good to me!