Piano and Music Videos

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I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. In this video, I’m sharing an excerpt from my recent interview with Zsolt Bognár, where we discuss everything from my YouTube channel to the wide range of content I create. If you’re interested in the full conversation, be sure to check out the complete interview here. Enjoy the clip!

Zsolt:
I’ve known about your channel for a long time. I have many colleagues and friends who grew up watching your many videos. At the time that we’re speaking, you have about 1400. You have nearly 30 million views.

Robert:
Being in 21st-century America, classical piano is irrelevant to a lot of people’s lives. But by casting a wide net, I’m able to connect with people who love the piano as I do. And that is very gratifying.

Zsolt:
This is a channel on which you host what kind of content for your over 110,000 subscribers right now, which is the envy of many serious channels in the classical music world?

Robert:
Well, I have a very wide range because, you know, with, as you say, over 1400 videos, there’s always new topics. And the most remarkable thing is I have a document with suggested topics. Whenever I think of a topic, wherever I am, I whip out my phone, go to my Google Drive, and put the topic in there. So I probably have 100 new topics that I haven’t done yet on there, and they’re inspired, a lot of them are inspired by my students and such. So they range from piano instructional type of videos—not going through a piece note by note, but more like concepts, whether it’s how to deal with expression or something of that nature or technical challenges—but also piano videos about the construction of pianos, because I also am involved with pianos as well as piano playing.

Watch the complete interview
here.

How Robert Estrin Unleashes Creativity at the Piano — A ‘Living the Creative Life’ Exclusive

I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. In this video, I’m sharing an excerpt from my recent interview with Zsolt Bognár, where we discuss everything from my YouTube channel to the wide range of content I create. If you’re inte

I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. Improving your piano playing doesn’t have to feel mysterious or overwhelming. When you understand the core elements of the process, real progress becomes not only possible but enjoyable. We’re going to break it down into the essential elements: reading music, learning music, refining music, and developing your technique. If you embrace the process in each of these areas, you can make huge strides in your playing in a short amount of time.

The Problem: Wanting It All Now

Here’s the problem. You sit down to practice or play something, and you just want it all now. The temptation is to try to skip the steps, thinking that you’ll get there faster. But in fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Let’s start with reading. You want to develop your reading so you can sit down and enjoy playing music at sight. And what a joy that is! You see people do this and think, “I should be able to do that.” So you take out your favorite Chopin or Debussy or Beethoven, and you struggle. You don’t get to the enjoyment part. It’s deflating. It makes you feel like you just can’t do it, and you put it away feeling dejected. The good news is, while there’s a lot of great and very complex piano music, there’s also great music at a simpler level that you can enjoy right now. If you start playing music on your level, you’ll build up gradually. Play something you can feel the satisfaction of doing well. Do that every day, and your reading will grow. Try reading with other musicians. That’s a great way to improve. Eventually, yes, you’ll be able to read the music you’ve always wanted to play. But start at a realistic level, and don’t feel it’s beneath you to do simpler music. Don’t think you won’t gain anything from it. You absolutely will if you play it well. That’s the key to developing your reading.

Learning Music

Learning music is much the same idea. Choose music that won’t take you six months or a year to learn. You could learn dozens of pieces in that time. That way, you’re incrementally increasing both the difficulty and your command of the music.

When you sit down to practice, you see a whole piece with several pages and think, “Oh my gosh, I better learn as much of this as I can.” So you work through the first page again and again, trying to take it all in. But that’s way too much to absorb at one time. Worse, you start developing bad habits by playing music again and again—not the way you want it to sound—thinking you’ll make it sound better later. That’s a big fallacy. Instead, take tiny chunks of music. If you watched me practice, you’d be astounded at how small the sections are that I work on. I break things down into digestible pieces, work hands separately, then together—methodically. I resist the temptation to just read through the piece again and again when it’s not sounding the way I ultimately want it to. I read through the piece only on the first day. After that, I get right down to work. You should do the same. Don’t feel like you’ve wasted time just because you’ve only learned four measures in a practice session.

Look through your music. You’ll be amazed at how much repetition there is. Repetition and development are the foundations of music composition. So by learning thoroughly, you allow the story of the music to unfold naturally. Like reading a book, one part leads to the next. Learn one small section. Understand the logic of that section. Perfect it. Move to the next section. Connect them. Each day, reinforce what you learned the previous days. Instead of trying to take on more than you can absorb in one sitting, try this method for just one week. Resist the urge to read through everything. Limit yourself to small sections at a time, and you’ll see real growth.

Refining Your Playing

Now, what about refinement? You might think, “I’ve got all this music—I’ve got to get it to a higher level.” So you try to go through everything just to keep it in your fingers. But if you’re not careful, that can work against you. If you’ve already learned the music but it’s not where you want it yet, go slower than you think you need to. Anything you play wrong, you’re going to have to unlearn later. So go very slowly. Better yet, focus on digestible sections of music for refinement. Maybe the first few lines of your piece are fine, but when you get to the fourth or fifth line, there’s a four-measure phrase that just isn’t coming together. With laser focus, practice just those four measures. Use your metronome. Find the speed at which you can play it absolutely perfectly and with confidence. Once you can do that, increase the tempo one notch at a time. You won’t even feel it! You’ll get those four measures up to speed, then connect them with the previous section. Move on to the next part that needs attention. Don’t work scattershot. Focus 90% of your effort on the 10% of music that needs it most. You’ll make far greater progress, and the quality of your playing will soar.

Practicing Technique

Now let’s talk about pure technique. Scales, arpeggios—you might think, “I hate doing that. I don’t want to spend hours on this.” The good news is, you don’t have to! Just spend a few minutes a day. Maybe you’ve worked on scales and arpeggios before, but they’re rusty. Or maybe you’ve never learned all of them, and now it feels overwhelming. After all, there are 12 major keys, 12 minor keys, harmonic and melodic minors, and arpeggios. It’s a lot. But don’t be overwhelmed! Focus on one scale for a whole week. What’s the hurry? You’ve got a lifetime to develop your playing. That’s really the point of all of this: embrace the process. Don’t feel rushed. Don’t feel like you have to accomplish everything every day. Focus on a small amount of music. Bring a high level of playing to just a little bit of music. That mastery will carry over to everything else you play. You’ll gain insights into how to conquer music. You’ll feel the comfort that comes from truly being in control of your reading, your learning, and your technique. Take it one bit at a time. Build day by day. Don’t feel overwhelmed. Focus on what needs the most work. You’ll see your playing rise to a level you never imagined.

I’m Robert Estrin. This is LivingPianos.com, your online piano resource. If you’re interested in a free personal consultation with me, click here!

4 Proven Techniques to Instantly Improve Your Piano Playing

I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. Improving your piano playing doesn’t have to feel mysterious or overwhelming. When you understand the core elements of the process, real progress becomes not only possible but enjoyable. We̵

I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. If you’ve been studying piano for any amount of time, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: Why is the left hand so hard? Well, you’re definitely not alone. It’s something pianists on all levels wrestle with. Let’s dive into the reasons why the left hand tends to feel more difficult and what’s really going on under the surface.

Right-Hand Dominance: The Most Obvious Reason

Most people are right-handed. That means the right hand is generally stronger, more coordinated, and more naturally adept at fine motor movements. So it makes sense that the right hand feels easier at the piano. But that’s just the beginning.

The Melody is in the Right Hand

When you’re learning a piece like Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, K. 545, what stands out? The melody. And where is the melody? Almost always in the right hand.

The left hand, in contrast, often plays the accompaniment—the harmonic and rhythmic foundation. Try playing the left hand of that piece by itself. It might not even sound like much on its own. That’s because it’s not designed to stand alone. The melody is what we latch onto by ear, and learning something tuneful is always easier.

Reading the Bass Clef: An Early Challenge

When you’re just starting out, reading notes in the bass clef is a challenge on its own. It’s generally easier to count up the musical alphabet from middle C than it is to go down into the bass register. That alone makes the left hand harder in the beginning. But even after you become fluent in reading bass clef, the left hand still often feels more difficult. So while reading may be part of the initial struggle, it’s far from the whole picture.

The Left Hand Plays Larger Intervals

You know, I have a video I did a few years ago about why your left hand is bigger than your right hand. And if you don’t think so, go test it out on the piano right now. Why is that? Well, that brings us to another reason the left hand is harder than the right. Typically, your left hand has more outstretched music than your right hand. It’s often required to play larger intervals and leaps, which adds to the challenge.

Examples from Chopin and Scriabin

Take Chopin’s Nocturne in E minor, for instance. The left hand is all over the place with wide, sweeping accompaniments, while the right hand plays a simple, elegant melody.

Or consider the famous Nocturne in E-flat. Again, the left hand jumps, stretches, and builds the harmonic foundation, while the right hand floats effortlessly above it.

In Chopin’s Prelude in E minor, even when the left hand isn’t stretching far, it’s working hard—managing complex harmonies and progressions. It’s much harder to internalize than the tuneful line in the right hand.

Scriabin’s Étude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8 No. 12, gives us another clear example. Both hands are demanding, no doubt. But the left hand features huge leaps and octaves that are much less forgiving than the more melodic right-hand lines.

The Left Hand Is the Foundation

Think of it like constructing a skyscraper. The visible structure above the ground is beautiful and inspiring—but it’s the many stories below ground that hold everything up. In piano playing, your left hand is that underground foundation. Without the support of the left hand—harmonically, rhythmically, and structurally—the right hand’s melodies can’t soar. That’s why mastering the left hand is so important!

You’re Not Alone!

So yes—the left hand really is harder. Not just because of physical dominance or reading challenges, but because of what it’s asked to do: larger intervals, more complex harmonies, greater jumps, and less melodic content. There are always exceptions, of course. But in most music, the left hand carries the heavy lifting.

Do you feel the same way? Or have you found tricks that help you manage the left hand more easily? Join the conversation at LivingPianos.com or leave a comment on our YouTube channel. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Why Is the Left Hand So Hard on the Piano?

I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. If you’ve been studying piano for any amount of time, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: Why is the left hand so hard? Well, you’re definitely not alone. It’s something pianists

I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. Are you struggling to break a bad practice habit? Science might have the answer for you. Let’s explore how to replace detrimental habits with effective techniques.

Understanding the Habit Loop

Understanding the habit loop—cue, routine, reward—can help you identify and alter unwanted behaviors. Replacing a bad habit with a positive one that offers a similar reward is key. Let’s discuss strategies to rewire your brain for better practice habits.

Implementing Change

By applying this approach, you can transform detrimental habits into productive ones, paving the way for continuous improvement. For example, if you find that you aren’t implementing practice of scales and arpeggios in your practice, but you see the value in this, try putting your Hanon book right in the center of your music rack and make it a new daily routine to start with just five or ten minutes of scales and arpeggios. It’s simply the act of starting that makes all the difference in the world. Once you do this for several days, it becomes routine, which is exactly the point! You can do this with almost anything in your piano practice, as well as in your life.

By understanding and applying the science of habit formation, you can effectively overcome bad habits and cultivate a more productive and fulfilling practice routine.

Looking to get more out of your practice? The Living Pianos Mastermind Club offers expert support, proven techniques, and a supportive community to help you reach your musical goals faster. Click here to schedule your free consultation and elevate your playing today!

Cue-Routine-Reward: Supercharge Your Practice!

I'm Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. Are you struggling to break a bad practice habit? Science might have the answer for you. Let's explore how to replace detrimental habits with effective techniques.

How Sleep Enhances Your Musical Learning

I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. Want to improve your piano skills overnight? Literally? Let’s discuss how sleep plays a crucial role in musical learning. The Role of Sleep in Learning Sleep is essential for memory consolid


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I’m Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com. Is repeating the same passage over and over the best way to practice? Maybe not. Let’s explore the benefits of variable practice.

Understanding Variable Practice

Variable practice, which involves altering tempo, dynamics, or articulation, challenges your brain to adapt, leading to more flexible and resilient performance skills. We’ll discuss how to implement variability in your practice routine.

Benefits of Variability

Embracing variability in practice prepares you for the unpredictability of live performances, making you a more versatile and confident musician. There are key areas you can explore to open up your musical horizons. Playing on different instruments can be enlightening. Simply changing the sound of your piano by either opening it up fully if it’s normally closed or vice versa can change the way you hear your music, inspiring new ideas when you hit a wall in your practice.

Don’t be afraid to experiment wildly.

Even if you discard 99% of what you do, you may come up with something new that you love and incorporate into your playing. It could alter the way you approach all the music you play! Don’t judge. Just try things, no matter how crazy they may seem at the time. Play faster, slower, louder, softer; even play erratically, letting the music take you to places you normally wouldn’t dare go. This is a great way to expand your musical creativity.

By incorporating variable practice into your routine, you enhance your adaptability and deepen your musical understanding, leading to more expressive and confident performances.

Inspired to take your practice to the next level? The Living Pianos Mastermind Club offers expert guidance, personalized strategies, and a vibrant community to help you grow as a musician. Click here to schedule your free consultation and start your journey today!

Variable Practice: Why Exact Repetitions May Not Be Best

Variable Practice: Why Exact Repetitions May Not Be Best