Five 5-Min Videos for Beginners - 1/5

For whatever reason, you want to start playing the piano. No matter what music you'd like to play or compose (!), you need to know your major scales and get used to seeing the whole piano as that key. Also, start using your fingers in new combinations immediately. The major scales are a great tool for that due to the variety of back and white notes. This first video of five in this mini-series cover these two extremely important facets of piano playing. Remember, it takes days and weeks, not months and years to get very good at this stuff! Move on to part two once you're comfortable with this part's teachings...

This Theme goes from C major and works through the cycle of 4ths. Each video, apart from the intro, is around 7 minutes long and contains the same structure: scale construction, general shape, patterns, emotional connections, then moves to discovering your

This Theme goes from C major and works through the cycle of 4ths. Each video, apart from the intro, is around 7 minutes long and contains the same structure: scale construction, general shape, patterns, emotional connections, then moves to discovering your natural fingering with both hands over 1 and 2 octaves, then 'jabbing' the scale to really enforce its shape.

When I was about 6, I learnt this song for fun, not really touching a piano again for almost a decade. It came to me that the left hand accompaniment can be used as a great background to so many

When I was about 6, I learnt this song for fun, not really touching a piano again for almost a decade. It came to me that the left hand accompaniment can be used as a great background to so many right hand benefits: major scales, improvising, chord types, inversions, endurance, precision... so here is the result! It doesn't need timestamps since I just throw out many examples quite quickly.

Everybody is on a different musical path but we all need to master the major scales and spend time getting those fingers flexed and accurate at the piano. Here are some videos, updated when necessary, which apply to everybody starting out at the piano. Chromatics, basic chords and precision.

I found a bunch of chords in my notebook and didn't remember what they were for... then it hit me! Ah yes, I wanted to make a video a few years ago on how you can get into composing (or at

I found a bunch of chords in my notebook and didn't remember what they were for... then it hit me! Ah yes, I wanted to make a video a few years ago on how you can get into composing (or at least have a bit of fun with random chords and melodies) so in this video, I revive that crumpled piece of paper and do another example live, to reinforce the method: 6-10 random notes. Don't think about keys or diatonic stuff. Then give a random chord type to them just for some chord practice. You can use that result as the basis for a composition or improvisation. Then/or, divide the notes into groups of 2 or 3 and find any random chords which contain at least 1 or 2 of the notes of the group. You'll get some very nice sounds as a result! Just have fun, really.\n

I have so many videos that it's difficult to find your way through them. I've collected some which I recommend to beginners, no matter your path. We all need major scale mastery, to know at least a few chord

I have so many videos that it's difficult to find your way through them. I've collected some which I recommend to beginners, no matter your path. We all need major scale mastery, to know at least a few chord types and progression and to keep those fingers flexible and hands independent. Enjoy this selection just for you.

There are two ambitions I have with this channel: for you to have major scale mastery and know all chord shapes in all keys. I already have a major scale mastery playlist linked below. I also have a chord video in

There are two ambitions I have with this channel: for you to have major scale mastery and know all chord shapes in all keys. I already have a major scale mastery playlist linked below. I also have a chord video in which I show all chords (link below), so that may help before you dive into this one. Either way, I will not stop until you become a major scale and chord master! So come and play along with me...

Your mastery of chords is very important to me and I've made a lot of videos to help you with it: games, different keys, extensions, inversions. Do your best to spend a lot of time of chord mastery once your major scales are mastered.

There are two ambitions I have with this channel: for you to have major scale mastery and know all chord shapes in all keys. I already have a major scale mastery playlist linked below. I also have a chord video in

There are two ambitions I have with this channel: for you to have major scale mastery and know all chord shapes in all keys. I already have a major scale mastery playlist linked below. I also have a chord video in which I show all chords (link below), so that may help before you dive into this one. Either way, I will not stop until you become a major scale and chord master! So come and play along with me...

It's all well and good playing music which has been composed by other people and it's very important indeed to spend time on technical exercises, especially personalising them... but not enough piano students discover their inspirational source and start to write

It's all well and good playing music which has been composed by other people and it's very important indeed to spend time on technical exercises, especially personalising them... but not enough piano students discover their inspirational source and start to write down what they hear inside. Enjoy these videos in which I share my own method(s) and give you some steps on discovering your own.

Assuming you've enjoyed and played around on your own what I discussed in part 1 so that you can experience the different feeling part 2 will give you, for which you will remove all restrictions and either play a bunch of

Assuming you've enjoyed and played around on your own what I discussed in part 1 so that you can experience the different feeling part 2 will give you, for which you will remove all restrictions and either play a bunch of random notes and put chords to them (by trial and error!) or find a few chords and put a melody to them. I demonstrate both in this video. The key signature and time signature come naturally, as happened here. An enjoyable exercise indeed!

In addition to the official Water Pianism Podcast Collection available in my online store, I occasionally post free podcasts when the topic doesn't require me to play a lot yet is too much to write in a short article. Listen on the go, use your internal piano and spend some time on your mind with these episodes.

Instead of doing an single-song analysis, of which I have many, I thought it would be a nice change to do a podcast episode in which I show many jazz songs and how you would go about studying the lead sheet

Instead of doing an single-song analysis, of which I have many, I thought it would be a nice change to do a podcast episode in which I show many jazz songs and how you would go about studying the lead sheet to identify 251s and the like. I hope you don't mind the length of this video because it's audio with piano background but with the leadsheets on the screen which I recorded. Feel free to listen, however, without looking at the screen. If you'd like more audio videos like this, let me know!

Sometimes, I can't find a suitable Theme so the videos go in here. Quite miscellaneous but still a useful mix of theoretical and philosophical discussion and demonstration!

Most chord progressions (80%+) are based on the cycle of fourths. Each new key a fourth up from the previous adds one more flat to the key, until Gb. From Db/C#, however, if you continue in fourths, you will actually start

Most chord progressions (80%+) are based on the cycle of fourths. Each new key a fourth up from the previous adds one more flat to the key, until Gb. From Db/C#, however, if you continue in fourths, you will actually start going backwards round the cycle of 5ths, removing a sharp each time (from C#). You need to get used to fourths, that's my point, and this video will help you do that with various technical exercises.

I've made a few videos which fall under this title. They're more 'hold my hand' in nature than other videos but I always encourage personalisation anyway!

Instead of doing an single-song analysis, of which I have many, I thought it would be a nice change to do a podcast episode in which I show many jazz songs and how you would go about studying the lead sheet

Instead of doing an single-song analysis, of which I have many, I thought it would be a nice change to do a podcast episode in which I show many jazz songs and how you would go about studying the lead sheet to identify 251s and the like. I hope you don't mind the length of this video because it's audio with piano background but with the leadsheets on the screen which I recorded. Feel free to listen, however, without looking at the screen. If you'd like more audio videos like this, let me know!

The most famous of my Themes, do enjoy it but be sure to see newer videos because many, many comments helped me over the years to refine content, philosophies, presentation style and recording quality.

**PLEASE READ** - Welcome! I apologise for the lower quality of this video - things improve with later videos. I do hope you will consider this video a doorway to my channel and not get caught up in only

**PLEASE READ** - Welcome! I apologise for the lower quality of this video - things improve with later videos. I do hope you will consider this video a doorway to my channel and not get caught up in only older videos. I upload 1-2 times/week and I fear many new subscribers are stuck in the past or with only this playlist..

Many people like jazz but can't improvise because they freeze. I've made many, many videos to help unfreeze you, no matter your level and experience, so that you can discover how You naturally improvise without getting too caught up in theory, or using it as a way to stop using it!

I do love a blues. Who doesn't? This little educational piece I wrote years ago but thought it was time to update and present it to you in a shorter, better quality video. It purposefully includes common RH techniques and is

I do love a blues. Who doesn't? This little educational piece I wrote years ago but thought it was time to update and present it to you in a shorter, better quality video. It purposefully includes common RH techniques and is open to any LH accompaniment style. I demonstrate three in the video. Near the end, I provide two further RH blues riffs you might like to try, which require some brain power. You'll learn the 12 bar blues structure/feel as you go.

You may have come to the realisation that your musical personality involves more complex chords, improvisation and blues. With all the aforementioned skills in place, you're well on your way to entering the world of jazz with minimal difficulties. Modal theory? Improvisational layers? Extended chords? 12 bar blues? Target notes? Listening recommendations?

I do love a blues. Who doesn't? This little educational piece I wrote years ago but thought it was time to update and present it to you in a shorter, better quality video. It purposefully includes common RH techniques and is

I do love a blues. Who doesn't? This little educational piece I wrote years ago but thought it was time to update and present it to you in a shorter, better quality video. It purposefully includes common RH techniques and is open to any LH accompaniment style. I demonstrate three in the video. Near the end, I provide two further RH blues riffs you might like to try, which require some brain power. You'll learn the 12 bar blues structure/feel as you go.

Videos which have been published within recent weeks that you have probably missed because YouTube never notifies my subscribers. Be sure to have the notification bell selected to receiving all notifications because I upload 3-5 times/week and I'd hate for you to miss useful content!

There are two ambitions I have with this channel: for you to have major scale mastery and know all chord shapes in all keys. I already have a major scale mastery playlist linked below. I also have a chord video in

There are two ambitions I have with this channel: for you to have major scale mastery and know all chord shapes in all keys. I already have a major scale mastery playlist linked below. I also have a chord video in which I show all chords (link below), so that may help before you dive into this one. Either way, I will not stop until you become a major scale and chord master! So come and play along with me...

There are not enough people, of any level, composing piano music. I've taken it upon myself to make a few videos in which I both share how I compose my compositions and how you might go about creating your own. Listen

There are not enough people, of any level, composing piano music. I've taken it upon myself to make a few videos in which I both share how I compose my compositions and how you might go about creating your own. Listen to some of my own tutorials to see connections between melodies and chords/progressions and be encouraged to listen to your inspirational source and start playing what you hear. With a combination of major scale and chord mastery, your music will not be a dull collection of major triads and safe-note melodies!

I wrote quite a few compositions before I started this channel so I thought it was a useful name to it as my name and what I was doing! My compositions are available via the link below. I hope in this

I wrote quite a few compositions before I started this channel so I thought it was a useful name to it as my name and what I was doing! My compositions are available via the link below. I hope in this video to show you three ways to compose, as well as the main way I do it. More people need to compose even little songs because there's so much benefit in doing so. It's also a nice break from technical exercises and chord stuff! Feel free to share any results in the comments section!

People often ask for me to just play without teaching. Over the years, I have done that a few times but I really prefer to teach than perform. However, enjoy the few performance videos I have made in which I do not speak or teach.

First I play the first two parts (you can work out the third on your own if you get that far!) and then I give you the one main right then left hand technique behind all of ragtime so I hope

First I play the first two parts (you can work out the third on your own if you get that far!) and then I give you the one main right then left hand technique behind all of ragtime so I hope you'll get those down before watching Part 2 in which I show you how to play what I did in the performance. This is a personalised version and not note for note from a score.

There is a wide variety of pianist types who watch my content so in here are some favourites for everybody, whether you're into jazz or just complicated technical excises; you'll find those, and some surprises, in this Theme.

I do love a blues. Who doesn't? This little educational piece I wrote years ago but thought it was time to update and present it to you in a shorter, better quality video. It purposefully includes common RH techniques and is

I do love a blues. Who doesn't? This little educational piece I wrote years ago but thought it was time to update and present it to you in a shorter, better quality video. It purposefully includes common RH techniques and is open to any LH accompaniment style. I demonstrate three in the video. Near the end, I provide two further RH blues riffs you might like to try, which require some brain power. You'll learn the 12 bar blues structure/feel as you go.

We need to make playing the piano as fun as possible so instead of just doing technical exercises or playing repertoire, I like to challenge you via a game. Often you can personalise them but don't be fooled: it may

We need to make playing the piano as fun as possible so instead of just doing technical exercises or playing repertoire, I like to challenge you via a game. Often you can personalise them but don't be fooled: it may be a game but it's beneficially challenging! Could be chords, could be scales, could be hand or finger independence. I think you'll enjoy this mix!

You don't necessarily stumble because you're not technically good enough. You stumble because you don't know what's coming next! Why does this happen? Because you get too caught up with what you're playing at the very moment and your brain just

You don't necessarily stumble because you're not technically good enough. You stumble because you don't know what's coming next! Why does this happen? Because you get too caught up with what you're playing at the very moment and your brain just forgets to look ahead. These little exercises help you to separate your brain in two which will, eventually, enable you to play without any thinking whatsoever. Consider this the training wheels before riding solo! Good luck..

Jazz is about 'playing the changes' but how can you do that if you don't know how to memorise progressions? I have made many videos on mastering progressions away from the piano and thinking numerically. This requires major scale

Jazz is about 'playing the changes' but how can you do that if you don't know how to memorise progressions? I have made many videos on mastering progressions away from the piano and thinking numerically. This requires major scale mastery, something I mention in almost every video and have a specific playlist and collection of videos for which you can easily find on this website.

To get by with jazz repertoire, you need to know the 251s instantly in all 12 keys (just because a song is not often in C#, for example, doesn't mean you shouldn't learn its 251 because it still appears in 'floating

To get by with jazz repertoire, you need to know the 251s instantly in all 12 keys (just because a song is not often in C#, for example, doesn't mean you shouldn't learn its 251 because it still appears in 'floating 251's where the root is not the master key! Happens in every song. So follow along with me until you can do them at this speed. Good luck!

I receive many repertoire tutorial requests and I use them to teach some musical or pianistic element rather than spoon-feeding the notes. This is a very useful playlist not only because of the variety of tunes but the technical ideas and philosophies presented.

One of the first songs I ever learnt, Moonlight Serenade is a lovely Glenn Miller tune I play in F (but the original is in Eb if you go and listen). After a quick performance of both A and B sections,

One of the first songs I ever learnt, Moonlight Serenade is a lovely Glenn Miller tune I play in F (but the original is in Eb if you go and listen). After a quick performance of both A and B sections, I dive into the chord progression of section B and show how and why the chords sound nice, along with the melody. As with most jazz songs, melody notes often include chord extensions and this song is no different! I really hope you add this piece to your repertoire!

This Theme provides videos in their own Theme which have been recommended and which are not from my own video choices... however, happily made for my subscribers-in-need!

It's hard, I get it. Herein, learn the process of achieving total hand coordination in boogie-woogie. First, get the LH down so well that you can talk to someone or watch something while it's happening. This is removing all conscious interference.

It's hard, I get it. Herein, learn the process of achieving total hand coordination in boogie-woogie. First, get the LH down so well that you can talk to someone or watch something while it's happening. This is removing all conscious interference. Then, play one note or chord on only beat. Stay in one key first. Then add two. Then three. Try different LH patterns. Eventually, once you've mastered each stage, bit by bit, you'll be amazed how easily you can do it. Then you'll be ready to play the nicer riffs from video 2 and 3.

Repertoire is difficult to perform with pleasure if you can't tackle some technical requirements. Technical exercises are also good for patience and eyes-closed precision practice. Don't aim for speed, aim for consistency and endurance. I have many, many

Repertoire is difficult to perform with pleasure if you can't tackle some technical requirements. Technical exercises are also good for patience and eyes-closed precision practice. Don't aim for speed, aim for consistency and endurance. I have many, many videos under this theme and will continue to add many more. Be sure to sit in the same position and do the tendon stretches I often share.

Most chord progressions (80%+) are based on the cycle of fourths. Each new key a fourth up from the previous adds one more flat to the key, until Gb. From Db/C#, however, if you continue in fourths, you will actually start

Most chord progressions (80%+) are based on the cycle of fourths. Each new key a fourth up from the previous adds one more flat to the key, until Gb. From Db/C#, however, if you continue in fourths, you will actually start going backwards round the cycle of 5ths, removing a sharp each time (from C#). You need to get used to fourths, that's my point, and this video will help you do that with various technical exercises.

This Theme forces me to make 10-12 minute videos. The first 10 or so are in order, then they become a little more random but always involve knowledge you have already acquired from previous episodes. Enjoy internal philosophies, technical exercises, chord content and many other pianism concepts. They are based heavily on the Water Pianism philosophy.

You really need to spend more time doing one technical exercise to get the benefits of it. Consistency is also important. I don't want you to be playing lots of repertoire without making progress with dexterity, precision and fluency. Endurance is a very powerful way to develop these pianistic elements

I have selected a set of videos you may enjoy watching which have probably never been suggested to you by the YouTube algorithm. This is an ever-involving playlist so you'll never see the same video twice but feel free to add it to your Watchlist for later viewing!

For whatever reason, you want to start playing the piano. No matter what music you'd like to play or compose (!), you need to know your major scales and get used to seeing the whole piano as that key. Also, start

For whatever reason, you want to start playing the piano. No matter what music you'd like to play or compose (!), you need to know your major scales and get used to seeing the whole piano as that key. Also, start using your fingers in new combinations immediately. The major scales are a great tool for that due to the variety of back and white notes. This first video of five in this mini-series cover these two extremely important facets of piano playing. Remember, it takes days and weeks, not months and years to get very good at this stuff! Move on to part two once you're comfortable with this part's teachings...

All these videos involve the foundational principles behind all my teachings. Water Pianism is the path to your own method, self-mastery and internal philosophy mastery. Spend as much of your time with these videos as possible because playing the

All these videos involve the foundational principles behind all my teachings. Water Pianism is the path to your own method, self-mastery and internal philosophy mastery. Spend as much of your time with these videos as possible because playing the piano is not at all about repertoire or technique, it's self-awareness, Own path and self-expression, most of this being achieved away from the piano than at it!

You don't necessarily stumble because you're not technically good enough. You stumble because you don't know what's coming next! Why does this happen? Because you get too caught up with what you're playing at the very moment and your brain just

You don't necessarily stumble because you're not technically good enough. You stumble because you don't know what's coming next! Why does this happen? Because you get too caught up with what you're playing at the very moment and your brain just forgets to look ahead. These little exercises help you to separate your brain in two which will, eventually, enable you to play without any thinking whatsoever. Consider this the training wheels before riding solo! Good luck..