Enjoy these expert video intermediate piano lessons on technique. Whether you need advice on legato, staccato, pedalling, forearm rotation, or any other major techniques, we're here to help!
If you're struggling with particular techniques in your piano playing, you've come to the right place.
We've filmed a selection of free piano lessons for those of you in the intermediate range of playing (grades 3-5 roughly), all filmed by our in-house teacher Graham Fitch at Steinway Hall in London.
Graham is a prizewinning concert pianist and teacher, and has taught thousands of budding pianists how to play.
Below, you'll find lessons on:
- Legato and staccato
- Octaves
- Technical exercises
- How to successfully practise slowly – Part 1
- How to successfully practise slowly – Part 2
- The basics of pedalling
- Advanced piano pedalling techniques
- Forearm rotation technique – Part 1
- Forearm rotation technique – Part 2
- Polyrhythms
- Repeated notes
- Correct ways to use the metronome
- Useful exercises for the weaker fingers
- Fingering for scales, arpeggios, chords and more
1. Legato and staccato
Graham Fitch demonstrates three different types of legato touch, and four different types of staccato touch.
2. Octaves
Check out our compact 15-minute lesson on octave technique.
3. Technical exercises
The debate over whether pianists should make time for technical exercises such as Hanon has been raging for years. Below, Graham recommends the most useful exercises out there.
4. How to successfully practise slowly – Part 1
Graham gives his advice on how to practise quick pieces slowly... and also how to practise slow pieces quickly where needed! It's vital that you incorporate slow practice into your sessions. You use slow practice to form muscular habits and to keep on refining them until they are perfect and in the automatic stage.
5. How to successfully practise slowly – Part 2
6. The basics of pedalling
Learn everything there is to know about the sustaining pedal, and how to use it effectively.
7. Advanced piano pedalling techniques
Looking again at the sustain pedal, Graham demonstrates how there is a lot more to pedalling than what meets the eye (or ear...).
8. Forearm rotation technique – Part 1
Keeping your arms and hands happy and healthy is of the utmost importance to all pianists. These two videos show you how to keep them injury-free.
Check out Graham's further lessons on staying injury-free.
9. Forearm rotation technique – Part 2
10. Polyrhythms
How on earth do we tackle complex rhythms?! It's all about dividing beats into equal parts.
11. Repeated notes
There will be occasions when we come across a section of music in which one note is repeated over and over. If we're not careful, it can be a real strain on our fingers. Graham shows us how to best practise them below.
12. Correct ways to use the metronome
Are you getting the most out of your metronome? Or could you be utilising it in a more effective way?
13. Useful exercises for the weaker fingers
Graham presents the best exercises to help you strengthen your fingers.
14. Fingering for scales, arpeggios, chords and more
All the fingering tips you need!
Enjoy our videos? We've got 100s more in our lessons hub, ranging from lessons for beginners, for advanced players, to jazz as well.