7 Unforgettable Lessons I Learned at the "World's Best Music School"

You like a high piano bench and went to Glenn Gould's school for your ARCT!!!! Sacrilege! Anyway, I realize that a lot of music performance is very subjective and if you aren't playing the piece the way the adjudicator wants then you will get low points. I found this out when I attempted my Grade 10 in Classical guitar at the Royal. I am working on it again at the age of 68 years old. I'll probably finish it and get my ARCT in two years. It'll keep me off the streets. Like all your videos a lot of thought went into them. You give excellent content. Music is such a glamorous profession, unlike dentistry. But with dentistry, there is always gum disease that will keep you working. And I think judging by your amazing video you make an excellent teacher. But does that sit well with you? I taught guitar for most of my life but there was always the stupid saying in my brain that said: Those who can do, those who cannot teach (and those who cannot teach, teach gym). This always infuriated me at some level, though I know Bach, Mozart and Beethoven all taught. Does anything like this affect you?

Nahre, I'm an amateur musician. I love writing songs with my guitar ever since I'm 14 yo. Songwriting was my refuge when I had a really tough time as a teenager. Unfortunately, I didn't study music in college and I never really learned music theory, and now I regret it so much. I did do 2 years of audio engineering in my twenties and I kept writing songs until I was 27.
But at 27 a really bad time in my life started and I became really depressed. I couldn't write anymore and I thought I had to let go of my dream of ever becoming a musician. Luckily I was able to overcome my challenges and this year I'm back to living life 100%... and songwriting is back :) It's just a fire in me that I luckily couldn't put out. After 7 years, I grabbed my guitar and put my midi keyboard back up again. But now I also realized how much precious time I've lost.
I really want to dedicate this second half of my life to music and doing what I've always wanted to do: writing songs professionally and producing them on my computer, maybe even creating soundtracks for movies (one can dream :). However, my knowledge of music theory is very basic and this is very limiting in songwriting as well as in production. It would also be impractical for me to go back to school since I now work a 9 to 5 for a living and to pay rent. So here's my question: what is a great, complete, music theory or piano course online that will give me the tools to compose with freedom? I want to be able to write songs and express my creativity and style with as much freedom as possible. There's so much online that I can't waste time trying every course. I know that studying online I won't get to the level of someone who trained in a conservatory, but I want to learn as much as I can. I really want to know what the best path forward would be, because having that certainty will allow me to commit fully to it, without reservations. I am willing to spend as much time studying as necessary if I have the right course in front of me. What would you do in my place to get where I want to be? Btw I live in Dallas, TX. THANK YOU!!!

Music schools are waste of time. We need to get back to 1:1 COMPLETE learning. This horse race in classical world particularly needs to stop

Some say that the music school in Moscow is world best...

aS I take it. Your best teaching is your smiling attitude. playing, learning to play takes a lot of pressure. Having the ability and attitude to put some distance from pressure, make the best inner resources spread out. I love your smiling, that's clear.

Miss ya

Wow.....just wow!

always wonderful to see you, you are so smart, thoughtful, articulate, you glow. yes to part 2 and more...

"I went to JULIARD, Richter. Can't you just let me have this?"

❤❤❤❤ admire this Chanel tremendously

Just discovering your channel -- great stuff! I'd love to see you do an analysis of the Bach D Minor Concerto, preferably the third movement. Though I'd be thrilled with the first movement, also. The second movement isn't so bad either, actually. The third is the one that really does it for me.

How much music school cost?

Are those little clips really necessary? they can be so stigmatizing.

I would have loved to juilliard.and study piano

The problem of inattentive teachers depends on where you choose to study. There are music schools and conservatories where you may get more individual attention than at Juilliard. Generally it's best to find a teacher you like and admire, then study with him or her, wherever based.

Thanks so much Nahre! I am so glad to hear you say you've followed your own path . . . that of a concert pianist is so difficult, lonely and not a great way to live one's life (not that I've experienced it . . . but, for example, Yuja Wang's jet lag must have jet lag, and one hotel room ends up looking like another, and accolades from hoards must become indistinguishable one from the other. You are truly living a creative, self directed life. I so admire you. And send you love.

I like to listen you!!! Thanks

Q: Is it worth the money?
A: No.

I appreciate this post and it brought back memories of my past studies. I play the Double Bass and I received my Bachelors degree at Queens College in the early 1980's and I had the wonderful opportunity to study with a former member of the Cleveland Orchestra and a former member of the NY Philharmonic. I ultimately dropped out of the Masters program as I needed to make some money to survive.
The one thing nobody suggested to me (which might seem obvious) was, join the Musicians Union. In NYC that is local 802. I might have had some issues with my self esteem as I thought I was a decent player but in contrast to my teachers, I thought man, are they talented and could I ever get to a similar level. I suppose not everyone can get a job with a major orchestra, but in NYC there is always the Broadway pit. One of my teachers suggested that I apply for Julliard but I was on my own and I didn't think I could afford the tuition. Perhaps the fact he made the suggest was, he thought I was good enough to audition but I thought otherwise.
So now in my late 60's having played every club, restaurant and dive in NYC and perhaps it could have gone another way. I have also performed as a working professional at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Alice Tully Hall and Merkin Hall and I have wonderful memories of my College years and all the Orchestral literature I was a part of performing. Music is a difficult master and there are no promises. Best to all who study and my one suggestion, Join the local Musicians union in your area.

I loved the last statement about pursuing your own interests. I'm happy that you learned this early on. I was not a professional musician (I mostly played in restaurants) and my music education was a patchwork of mentors online classes and many books/videos. But it is only in the last few years that I've realized that to make my music, I have to rely largely on me.

I thank heavens every day that I never put myself through this torture.
I was taught this stuff by my Dad, which was tough enough.
Playing drums saved my musical life, since he didn't know drums.
I've seen too many people get the 'swing' beaten out of them with endless hours of Hanon, Czerny, etc.
They have no 'feel' for anything written after 1870.
What a shame.
I wonder if this is what Liszt, Wagner, etc. wanted............................
Bill P.

Very very good points! Another video would be great. Brava to you for figuring out what you really wanted to do and sticking to it! The life of a touring musician can be brutal, despite some spectacular rewards.
One thing I'd add is that you need to have adequate time when you're NOT practicing for the practice benefits to create the brain connections that practice initiates. This has been demonstrated by brain science. Also your level of focus & intention is more important than the amount if time you're practicing.
NB: Most of the classical musicians I know in NY think Manhattan is the best music school in NY - and most of them went to Juilliard. Don't know about "world's best" [ A lot of people think New York IS the world].

For those uncertain about music school, i honestly recommend finding a community college with a music program and starting with some basic music theory classes. Community college is cheap, and from what i understand generally focus on practical skills to succeed as a working musician, which is what I was interested in. I wasn’t interested in trying to get into a competitive music school that I was uncertain would ever pay back, so I enrolled in my local community college’s music program. In only 2 years, I learned every skill necessary for become a working musician. I now have a deep understanding of music theory, am vocally trained and have experienced doing chorale and musical theater singing, was taught piano by a highly qualified professional, played in jazz bands, and have even played in musical theater pits- all in only 2 years. And now I’ve been hired to music direct local community productions, i have a jazz trio with a couple fellow students and we do gigs here and there, i’ve been hired for musical theater pit gigs and and I’m cooking up my teaching business. The crazy thing is, I payed $0 for it. Because of my state’s new community college PACT program, I was able to get free college for 2 years, and so I got all the training and knowledge needed for free at community college. You just gotta put in work! There are qualified people working in those institutions and they have connections! networking is key!!

I am not a professional musician and this young lady makes very valid points. The things she talks about can be applied all types of environments.
It took me a lifetime to finally understand a lot of these things. I am a amateur musician and play for the walker, wheel chair, and Gerry-chair set at rehab facilities. I use a lot of what she spoke about.

Nahre - your remarks are pretty consistent with what some other pianist presenters have also shared. The music school bubble is not easy to negotiate and the path for YOU may be non standard. Takes courage. You mentioned in another video that things really fell apart for you at some point. If there is some of that you are prepared to share, how you climbed out of it, I’m sure it will be of benefit to others. Music careers are very challenging !!

Nahre, my question to you is who turned out to be your favorite composers before you went into composition? Enjoyed your talk.

As an organist, the worst playing related lain for me was in my feet. If I wasn't careful, I would get pain in my big toes and the balls of my feet. Sometimes I still do. I also discovered that it's a good idea to work out fingerings on a piano first, and then go to the organ (otherwise I would fall into the trap of adding pedal before the manual parts were ready).

Having also studied trumpet, I learned that it's important to get adequate rest during your practice sessions. You don't want to just go and play until your face falls off. That slows your progress drastically. You can get a lot more quality practice time if you take enough rest that you don't get fatigued. Same for keyboard instruments. Stop at the first sign of unnecessary tension or fatigue. Then, take an appropriate rest period.

Good morning

i am an old main. you are so impressive. i have fallen in love withy you you. the sound of your feminine voice and playing arouses me.

That part about coming to lessons half sleep always got me 😭😭. I hated Monday lessons cause I wouldn't practice over the weekend. I went to a school with a music department and it still had its own pressures.

It was a smaller department, so we had a handful of staff and all of us (staff included) had to assume multiple roles. Staff had multiple classes, some outside of their specialty area, and the same group of students in multiple ensembles. At one point, there were 5 or 6 main students out of like 20-25 taking 4 or 5 ensembles in a semester. The same few were in marching band too, so kiss the night goodbye and less time to practice, plus being tired all the time and then add of gen eds on top with papers, etc. Gotta love it

Hi! Can you please do an analysis of Bach and why real musicians think he was a great composer? To my untrained ear, he is no different than any other composer. Thank you for any consideration

I have a question for you actually it's a multi-part question first of all do you like jazz and second do you like hip-hop R&B and how about Latin jazz and last but not least do you like alternative rock I know I'm all over the place😂

Wow hearing your testimony I realize we're a lot alike it takes me longer to learn but when I get it I really get it and Stage Fright is a real thing I did three live gigs and I was nervous I hit some wrong notes and in one case I was even in the wrong key but I was stressing out because of all the songs I had to learn and all the pressure but I think I'm over it now I learned not to take on more than I can chew and I even canceled two gigs because I knew I was going to be tired and I was not going to perform well❤

Part 2!

Part 2, Part 3 and more please

Great article and good advice. Gave me flashbacks to my time studying music in college. The toughest and most rewarding period if my life.

I was on a private school all my life until I went to the conservatory in my country. It was awful!!! From having all the attention I had nothing, uninterested teacher, who can blame them, I mever knew If I was doing ok, it was very stressful pluuuus I suffer from anxiety, biiiig messs I feel like I got my degree by doing nothing

So interesting! I want to hear MORE! & what were your experiences at the other schools.

I know ppl from there. They’re snobby and come from privilege

I am 72 and over the years I have found that the closer I was to school, college, uni and work the more likely I would be late. I bet, I am not a charter member of that club. 😅😅

I feel like most Ivy Music Colleges are way too strict with their students, to the point that they break them and suck all enjoyment they ever had for music, turning them into technical anxious snobs who feel that they are worthless if they make even one single mistake.

I majored in Music Ed in college and got admitted to Berklee but never went because I knew I was going to be even more miserable if I went there, as I knew several students who got crippling depression from their time studying at Berklee.

My point is: make the music that you want to do. Be disciplined, but have fun. Make music that only you like and don't expect anyone else to like it or even appreciate it. Make music to save your soul. No college degree would show true talent more than actual talent and dedication, and no, the opinion of a college professor snob doesn't matter, nor does anyone else's.

Great video discussing serious strategies flor young musicians. Keep up the great work!

What a great video! I love and appreciate the honesty of your story and experience. It’s nice to hear the feelings that I can relate to in my own journey

I'd love to hear about the experience of your unhelpful (and clearly insensitive) teacher who discouraged you and how you dealt with it in the moment or period of time, and eventually arrived at clarity on where your heart lay regarding the music ecology and possibilities. You certainly overcame his ill fit with you, so congratulations! (from a returning senior adult piano student who also encountered a spirit-killing private piano teacher not long ago, who is a renown classical pianist-teacher of some note).

Very interesting video. Thank you! (and best wishes to you, from Montreal).

👍🎶

Thank you ! I would love to pick up an instrument and start playing! Your video gave me food for thought!!