Today, we're diving deep into a question that has the potential to transform your piano practice: "How can I make this easier?" It's a query I encourage all my students and Piano Ninja Tricksters Club members to keep in mind. It's a simple yet powerful concept. Whenever you're at the piano, always ask yourself this question because, without fail, there's a way to make it easier. I'll share an anecdote from my high school days when I attended a music festival and received a profound lesson from a mentor, Anne Marsh. At the time, I considered Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto as a monumental challenge, far beyond my capabilities. Yet, Anne Marsh's guidance left me speechless. He said, "Lisa, did you know that you could sit down right now and play Rachmaninoff 3?" It may sound unbelievable, but the key is tempo. By slowing it down to a manageable pace, even the most daunting pieces become attainable. I learned that there are numerous methods to simplify music, and today, I'll introduce three fundamental ones applicable to almost any piano piece. The first approach is to slow it down. In essence, take your music at a much more comfortable tempo. This can help you manage complex or challenging passages with greater ease. But slowing down is just the beginning. The second trick involves breaking the piece into smaller, repetitive sections. By focusing on these bite-sized segments, you can refine your performance and tackle complex passages with precision. The third trick  is to practice hands separately. It's a crucial step, especially for pieces with intricate hand coordination. Separating the hands allows you to master each part individually before combining them.  I'll demonstrate these tricks using Chopin's C minor Nocturne, a piece I'm currently relearning. In this episode, I'll slow it down, break it into sections, and practice hands separately, illustrating the practical application of these strategies. Through this process, I aim to make the music more approachable and improve my performance. So, if you're looking to simplify your piano journey, keep these three techniques in mind. As I work on this Nocturne and rediscover its nuances, I hope that this demonstration inspires you to apply these tricks to your own repertoire. Remember, there's always a way to make any section of music easier, no matter how challenging it may seem. I encourage you to take out a sticky note and write down this powerful question, "How can I make this easier?" Place it on your piano as a reminder. By doing so, you'll cultivate a mindset of continuous improvement and find joy in the process of mastering the piano. I'm eager to hear how you apply these techniques to your music, so keep listening to the podcast for instructions on how to share your experiences with me. My desire is to make playing the piano an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, that's what I do in the Piano Ninja Tricksters Club. The Piano Ninja Tricksters Club is welcoming new members through Friday,, 11/3. Are you an adult pianist, intermediate to advanced level, who wants to double your proficiency in half the time with little known tricks I learned after breaking my ri Music opening and closing played by Lisa Spector Opening: End of Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 12 "Revolutionary" Closing: Beginning of Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 2 in F minor Instagram IG Broadcast Channel YouTube Best Free Piano Ninja Fingering Tricks Piano Ninja Tricksters Club Website Podcast Art by Cindy Wyckoff at Design It Digital