I just put up a few pieces on youtube

[allthumbspiano]

Hey everyone, I just posted about 6 pieces on youtube.  I'm curious if people could just choose one or two and leave a comment/advice.  I am a student and looking to see what people think or advice to make my playing better.  Thanks it would be very appreciated.

Chopin Prelude in A Op 28 No 7

Chopin Prelude Op 28 No 4 e minor

Chopin Prelude Op 28 No 20

L'Arabesque

Beethoven Bagatelle Op 119 No 9

Beethoven Ecossaise in G

[pianowolfi]

I think you are on a good way with learning the piano, but your playing could benefit from a more flexible wrist. You are quite a bit stiff. And secondly, try not to play only the correct notes, but live more in the music. It seems like you have focused only on learning the correct notes but not more and thus your playing sounds too mechanical.

[allthumbspiano]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.  I see what you mean about my wrists being stiff.  When I see others playing they look much more relaxed when compared to mine and is probably the reason I feel my hands/wrists/arms get tired faster than I think they should.  I'll do a search on the board to look up advice on keeping wrists relaxed.  I've been visiting this forum for a long time but haven't asked many questions because all my questions are there already : ) 

When I get more used to the pieces or am more comfortable playing in front of a person or camera I think (hope) I will get more free with the pieces because like you said I was pretty detached from the music side of the pieces as my mind was just thinking "don't mess up, don't mess up."  What I'll probably do other than keep playing the pieces and getting more used to them is record myself playing more just to get used to and relaxed when I am being watched in some way and maybe I won't be thinking more about hitting the right notes.  Once again thanks for the advice.

[keyboardclass]

Hey everyone, I just posted about 6 pieces on youtube.  I'm curious if people could just choose one or two and leave a comment/advice.  I am a student and looking to see what people think or advice to make my playing better.  Thanks it would be very appreciated.

Chopin Prelude Op 28 No 4 e minor

Dear me.  Fortunately here's one I prepared earlier - to illustrate how to drop your arm weight.  That's my excuse for being slow anyway.  What's yours?

[allthumbspiano]

I actually like this piece pretty slow, but after hearing my recording I think I was playing a little slower than I would like.

[pianisten1989]

Personally, I don't mind slow. Though, I do mind when it's not moving somewhere. Now it was like "chord... chord.... chord..." without any connection. Ant that is not a good thing.

[allthumbspiano]

Do my arms/wrists/hands look to be at the correct angles?  I'm trying to work on being more relaxed when playing and want to make sure I'm not messing that up or I will not be able to fix anything else.

[lontano]

I question the instability of your keyboard and the potential denigration of your overall performance. It's impossible for me to tell outright if there's any connection but you might try to find a way to stabilize the instrument. Personally I think that much wobble would distract me from fully focusing on the music.

[allthumbspiano]

Yeah it does shake a bit.  This was supposed to be my starter keyboard but I'm thinking of maybe stepping up and getting a digital piano as I think it would have weighted keys, won't shake, and I'll be able to change the loudness/softness of notes more like a piano would.

[lontano]

Yeah it does shake a bit.  This was supposed to be my starter keyboard but I'm thinking of maybe stepping up and getting a digital piano as I think it would have weighted keys, won't shake, and I'll be able to change the loudness/softness of notes more like a piano would.

Yes, that would be a good move. You could also consider buying a used console piano that may need a little work and end up with a decent acoustic piano that might last many years. I suppose it depends on what your future plans with the instrument are. I once bought a Sohmer 6' grand from a local church for $400 (it's main problem was that it had wax spilled on it from the childrens choir it was used for). I put about $200 into it and it served me well for quite a few years. I eventually had to sell it. I got $1200 for it. When I was about 15 my parents bought a new Yamaha studio piano which I got a lot of use out of. Eventually we parted ways, but after they passed 3 years ago I received that piano in the will some 45 years later and it's still a very nice piano that just needs tuning and a bit of regulating. But a good digital piano would be very nice...

[quantum]

Chopin Prelude in A Op 28 No 7.

Try not to remove your LH from the keyboard on every phrase. Move it directly to its next position after finishing the current chord.