Here's an extended piano cover of the TV edit of My Hero Academia's (aka boku no hero academia) Season 3 OP. I have to admit, after hearing this opening for the first time I thought it didn't fit the show. But after repeated listenings (as well as the sweet animation that compliments it) it's become one of my favorite for the show. Up next is season 3 episode 9 ‘All for One’. With all the build up in the last few episodes, things are bound to boil over.
#myheroacademiaop #animepiano
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This song suffers from 'repeated note syndrome'. Aka when the vocalist says multiple rapid syllables on the same note. Easy for a vocalist, but hard on the digital keyboard. As a result this is one of the more challenging arrangements on this channel. This took a while to get into my fingers (had to delay it a few times) and it still doesn't feel settled/has some glaring mistakes. It’s right in the threshold of what I consider acceptable to upload. I'll probably let it rest for a bit, then come back to it and re-record it for my patreons.
My Hero Academia Season 3 OP ODD FUTURE by UVERworld (Advanced/Extended Piano Cover)Erik C Piano Man2018-05-27 | Want to learn piano? Try Flowkey (affiliate link): tinyurl.com/PianoMan-flowkey
Here's an extended piano cover of the TV edit of My Hero Academia's (aka boku no hero academia) Season 3 OP. I have to admit, after hearing this opening for the first time I thought it didn't fit the show. But after repeated listenings (as well as the sweet animation that compliments it) it's become one of my favorite for the show. Up next is season 3 episode 9 ‘All for One’. With all the build up in the last few episodes, things are bound to boil over.
#myheroacademiaop #animepiano
======================================
This song suffers from 'repeated note syndrome'. Aka when the vocalist says multiple rapid syllables on the same note. Easy for a vocalist, but hard on the digital keyboard. As a result this is one of the more challenging arrangements on this channel. This took a while to get into my fingers (had to delay it a few times) and it still doesn't feel settled/has some glaring mistakes. It’s right in the threshold of what I consider acceptable to upload. I'll probably let it rest for a bit, then come back to it and re-record it for my patreons.
Synthesia channel: youtube.com/channel/UCw63bGVavH-vRDXXfoBFSpooky Scary Nursery Rhymes (Piano) Halloween Mini MedleyErik C Piano Man2023-10-31 | To celebrate this Halloween season, here's a mini-medley of some of the most iconic nursery rhymes around with a spooky twist. Let me know if you recognize them all.
Sheets: coming soon
0:00 Mary Had a Little Lamb 0:26 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 0:50 Row Row Row Your Boat 1:06 Jingle Bells
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== One probably could just play these all in minor and call it a day but that's no fun. So here's a brief breakdown of what I did to each tune.
Mary Had a Little Lamb: I kept the melody in C major and displaced the root down a third to the relative minor. Then I shift it up a half step to create that unsettling dissonance. Put both hands in the extreme registers of the piano, slather it in pedal and you're done.
Twinkle Twinkle: The melody is intact here again, but I added an augmented chord accompaniment that sweeps across the piano as a backdrop to the ringing 'bell' like melody notes plucked out by the left hand. Easily the trickiest technique-wise of the bunch. Fun Fact: this shares the same melody as the "Alphabet Song" and "Baa Baa Black Sheep"
Row Row Row: This one is just straight up in minor (I allowed myself one!). I changed some of the harmonies around and ham it up a bit for the final cadence.
Jingle Bells: This one revolves around the C Minor-Major Chord. Kind of making the melody start out in G major-ish and then transition to C minor for the close. It almost has a weird bi-tonal thing going on but never really commits to it. Very fun to play.
I had a lot of fun coming up with different ways to spookify these classic tunes. I hope you enjoy!
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi Drew Becker H Nguyen Isaac Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianSuper Mario Bros. Wonder - Piranha Plants on Parade Wonder Effect Song (Piano)Erik C Piano Man2023-10-29 | One of the catchiest new tunes to come out of the recently release Super Mario Bros. Wonder also happens to coincide with one of the first wonder flowers in the game.
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This was a spur of the moment cover to celebrate the game's release. As such it stays pretty true to the original track. The piece itself is not too hard nor too easy. Experienced players should have no problem mastering this tune, but less experienced players will find it surprisingly tricky.
Also I definitely missed one of the chromatic lower neighbor 3rds in the melody and played it diatonic instead. Sharp listeners should be able to spot it. It will be fixed in the sheet music.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I have a special little video coming out for Halloween. Stay tuned!
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi Drew Becker H Nguyen Isaac Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Attack on Vah Naboris Piano Loop #piano #botw #shortsErik C Piano Man2023-09-30 | Attack on Vah Naboris is such a cool moment from the game. Too bad it's gone in a flash. Relive that moment with this simple loop.
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This one has my signature left hand repeated note pattern throughout, making the coordination/rhythm between the hands a bit of a challenge.
The right hand has a few additive flourishes but otherwise sticks to the original. Still can be tricky. That right hand part goes kind of hard so pianists be warned.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Debating extending this and making a full toccata version a la my Gerudo Valley Arrangement. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
P.P.S. Let me know what you think of this short format. I'll probably use it only for short "loop-able" videos like this, in between larger uploads.
#zelda #pianocover
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi Drew Becker H Nguyen Isaac Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianPokémon Scarlet & Violet - Nemona Battle Theme (Piano)Erik C Piano Man2023-09-09 | Here's my piano version of Nemona's Regular Battle theme, just ahead of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC: The Teal Mask drop. Unpopular opinion: her regular battle theme is better than her Champion Battle theme. Whereas the last couple of generations have had weak/forgettable champions, Scarlet and Violet finally gave us one with some actual character development/personality. And her battle theme exudes all of that.
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This track flies and at around 160 bpm, it's one of the trickier covers on the channel this year. It's full of many technical pitfalls that can take a good recording/performance and destroy it. To name a few: There are large rapid leaps, fast running passagework, and syncopations galore. But the biggest challenge for me is the chromatic stride/boom-chuck sections. Those alone caused me to delay the release of this video for months, trying to get a good take. A similar thing happened with my Bonetrousle cover (youtu.be/ViP1_wMzwmE?si=p6eOxWdISjlOQhUK). That technique is a weakness of mine for sure.
Even now this recording has it's blemishes. I spent days reviewing several takes, even asking for the advice of a trusted colleague/friend (shoutout to you Andrew) for his opinion before deciding on which recording to use. In the end the final result is one I'm satisfied with but admittedly it could be much better. It's super frustrating when I can play this so much better on an acoustic grand piano, but that's just a fact of life. No electric keyboard will be able to compare.
As for the arrangement itself, this one has a lot of artistic liberties taken. I've purposely changed the harmonies and drastically changed the textures/accompaniment in some places. Adding things here and taking away things there, with the goal of capturing the vibe of the original while tailoring it for piano. This cover took a lot of time to put together so if you like these kinds of covers, be sure to share it and show it some love.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I still have some more Zelda/TOTK covers on the horizon. Don't worry Zelda fans, I got you.
P.P.S. Congrats for reading the entire description. The secret message is "Alder Sucks". Put that in your comment and I'll know you read this far. I'll be sure to heart or respond to any comment with the secret message.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi Drew Becker H Nguyen Isaac Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Tears of the Kingdom Tulin Sage of Wind (Piano)Erik C Piano Man2023-08-12 | This is probably most people's first Sage and dungeon in Tears of the Kingdom. The game seems to push you to go there first. Probably the best buildup and boss battle out of all the Temples imho. This is one of the more overtly hopeful out of all the TOTK tracks. Enjoy!
Sheets: to be announced. These will take a bit longer as the free nature of this track makes it less straightforward to transcribe.
This tracks oozes hopeful exuberance and really embodies Tulin's character as he venture outside of Rito Village for the first time and discovers his role as a Sage. This is also the hardest of the Sage themes I've covered thus far (Fire, Lightning, Wind). Manaka Kataoka, the original composer, really fine tuned all these tracks to work well in a small ensemble. As such you have to take some liberties to get the same effect as the original, in a solo piano arrangement. And liberties I did take.
Most of the changes and challenges come in the latter half where the repeated chords start and build up to a climax before giving us a soft landing by harkening back to the start of the tune. I inserted a pretty glaring quote from another famous Zelda tune in here. Let me know in the comments if you recognize it. The repeated notes and voicing in this section make it the most difficult part of the arrangement by far.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi Drew Becker H Nguyen Isaac Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda (TOTK) Riju Sage of Lightning Theme PianoErik C Piano Man2023-07-15 | Another strong theme, reminiscent of Urbosa'a from Botw but with more energy/flair. This version of the theme is the slightly extended one used in the cutscene after you beat the Scourge of the Lightening Temple. Which order did you do the temples/Sages (3rd for me).
The sheets have a few slight differences from this video. Think of this performance as more of a rough draft where as the sheets represent the final product. I may include ossia passages for future uploads depending on how stark the differences are.
This arrangement sticks very close to the original track with only a few key differences made for dramatic flair. Riu's theme is a bit more challenging to play than Yunobo's, due to all the large left hand leaps, octave passagework and rapid triplet repeated notes in the right. Also the march-like section (each Sage theme used in the post-boss cutscene has one) of this theme has layering/voicing in the R.H. that can be tricky if you're not used to 'dividing' the hand. The upper melody needs to project and be phrased independently of the underlying harmonic chords. Good luck. Sheets will be linked in this description when they are finished.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi Drew Becker Evan McNicol H Nguyen Isaac Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
TOTK is here and we are starting with Yunobo's, The Sage of Fire's theme. This one really caught my ear in the cutscene after clearing the Fire Temple so I knew I had to cover it. I'll eventually do all the Sage's themes and a medley, but I have to beat the game first! So much to explore.
Note: there is a wrong note in the melody (supposed to be a g-flat not g-natural). Gives it that bluesy/folky feel. I can't believe I missed something so fundamental to the theme. I'll be correcting it in the sheets. Been a while since I made a mistake like that. Special thanks to @user-xz4cw2hg9y for pointing it out!
I love the march-like rhythmic intensity of this theme. Almost militaristic in a way and it kind of reminds me of the Fairy Tail Main Theme with it's modal, chant-like intensity. This one is fairly straightforward with the quirkiest part being the parallel octaves with added 5th in the middle to emulate some of the more modal folk-like harmonic lines in the original track. Not too much else to say with this one. For some reason this theme resonated with me more than the other Sage's themes thus far. Hope it gets the love it deserves as Yunobo was the most overlooked of the previous companions in Botw. His theme here slaps though imho.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I'll be working on getting these sheets out ASAP. Just finished Urbosa's and I am just waiting for my editors/sheet music distributor to release them.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi Drew Becker Evan McNicol H Nguyen Isaac Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda Breath of the Wild Medley - The Four ChampionsErik C Piano Man2023-05-12 | To celebrate the release of Tears of the Kingdom, and to mark the passing of an age, here is a medley highlighting each of the 4 champion themes. Let me know which is your favorite in the comments below.
I really wanted to get this medley out for the release today. As a result, the performance (while ok) is a bit less polished than my usual standard. I would've loved to give this another week or so to settle but release dates (AKA Today for TOTK) wait for no one. Let me know your thoughts and/or if you noticed this difference in the comments below.
Additionally, I plan on doing more TOTK covers as well as releasing full stand alone covers of the 2 remain champion themes found in this video that are not elsewhere on the channel (Daruk and Mipha). Feel free to give me TOTK track suggestions as well.
One extra element of this medley is the use of the infamous plainchant setting of "Dies irae", to represent death, throughout the medley (this is commonly done in film score, pop culture and in classical music). For we all know the ultimate fate of each of the champions in BOTW. The opening figuration of the plainchant is sprinkled throughout the themes/transitions/medley. Super extra bonus points if you can find all the references to it. Let me know in the comments. The first one to get them all with timestamps, will be pinned. Good luck.
This version of Urbosa's theme starts out fairly standard, but then builds in intensity towards the final climactic cadence, in the second half. Tremolos abound so players be warned. I'd like to think this more triumphant version is what her theme would have been if she were not defeated those 100 or so years ago.
This arrangement is actually part of a larger medley that I hope to get out before/to celebrate the release of Tears of the Kingdom, AKA Botw 2. I wanted to keep the almost somber/empty feel of the original track intact, and then grow out of that emptiness towards a huge climactic final cadence. I'm fairly pleased with how this track turned out, especially for such a condensed theme under 2 minutes.
Technique and performance wise, I actually struggled to get a recording up to my standard here. The recording process (not including practice or arranging time) took 3 days and over 20 takes. The only real technical challenge is the tremolos in the second half. Those require enough control and finesse, so that they don't overshadow dynamically, or effect the pacing of the melody in the right hand. Easier said than done, especially on a digital keyboard.
The real challenge of this track is the phrasing, dynamic control, pacing and use of rubato. All those things need to come together for that climax and final cadence to really have that sense of grandeur and intensity it needs. You also need to have a rock solid sense of pulse to not cut/rush through all those expansive long notes in the theme.
So many takes were rejected due to very subtle little things going awry. Ironically, it's often the slower, less technically demanding tracks that take the longest to/are the most nerve racking to record due to those little details and my pride not allowing me to upload a sub-par performance (knowing I can do much better), when I'm not even sure most people would care or take notice. So comment below if you appreciate the small details and show this video some love.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Sheets should be out soon for this one. I apologize for the inconsistency with sheets, but at least I am consistently inconsistent (looking to change that).
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianLance/Champion Red Battle Theme Extended (Piano)Erik C Piano Man2023-02-18 | The battle theme for the OG protagonist from Green/Red/Blue in Gold/Silver/Crystal. Also infamously used for Lance's Championship battle. Amazing what Junichi Masuda was able to do with 3 lines and a rhythm track in those 8-bit chiptunes back in the day.
This was originally supposed to be a round of VERSUS, but I delayed so much that my opponent had to upload. Sorry Ryan!
Check out my opponent's version here and let us know who "won" in the comments: youtu.be/RdjtTwNXUCs
0:00 Original Theme 1:28 Pokémon Puzzle Challenge Variation 2:17 Ending Theme Variation
Another tricky arrangement split into 3 main sections. I wanted to cover the original and also do something different with the somewhat more obscure Pokémon Puzzle Challenge Variation (Nobody has covered this variation to my knowledge).
The Original theme is fairly dense, but limited to the middle of the piano. I wanted to stay as true to the original Gameboy theme as possible. Fits fairly well in the hands all things considered. This is the easiest section, but still can be tricky. I would only expect an experienced pianist to be able to tackle this properly.
The middle section is based off of the Gameboy Advanced "Pokemon Puzzle Challenge" version. The source material is basically a Pokémon-skinned Tetris Attack; my favorite version of Tetris. I'll take anyone on in the N64 version of that game. If only more people played and there was online matchmaking... This part of the arrangement is the trickiest and full of tremolos, rapid double repeated notes, weird rhythmic ostinatos, fast passagework on and off the black keys, and large leaps. Players be warned. The passagework isn't the most awkward, but it's clear it was composed without taking an actual human playing it, in mind. AKA It took me much longer than anticipated to "master" this sections (still much room for improvement tbh).
The final section is based off of a "pseudo-tango-like" chromatic left hand accompaniment which leads into a final rapid flourish to close the piece. Not too much else to say.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Bastype Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Desirae Psenitchi H Nguyen Jake Shaw Jefferson Gubler John Patton JORDANTURK Junsuina LivingInTheNow Marcinko Orozco Matthew Clarke michael afanador ohio Orlando Hildalgo Pandora's Fox Proud Lobster Sean Steady Synthy OwO Wenjun Liu Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0
For more great covers, check out the other Piano Bros. Ryan Z 'Piano Guy's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zebeldar...
VERSUS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Piano Bros. Zelda Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianVolo Theme (Piano Etude) PokémonErik C Piano Man2022-10-13 | The infamous Volo Theme from Pokémon Legends Arceus. Probably one of the hardest Boss fights in the series so far (here's looking at you Pokémon Scarlett and Violet). This one took a bunch of practice to play on this digital keyboard.
Edit: I can't believe it but after listening to the original I unintentionally missed a chord change. First time I think. Bonus points if you can figure out where.
This arrangement is quite tricky because even though it is slightly slower than Cynthia's Theme, it contains her theme in it's entirety plus some extra new sections, exclusive to Volo's Theme, that are fairly difficult (the most difficult section is at 0:37 due to the voicing and leaps in the right hand combined with those left hand arpeggios). Individually each section isn't so bad, but put together and it becomes a bit of a nightmare to get a clean take. I'd say overall it is more difficult than Cynthia's Approach/Pre-battle music: youtu.be/FRZ9cUEF0NE
On a personal note, this is my first video in over 5 months. I was burnt out and took a much needed break from YT/the content grind this summer, completely updated my setup (still need to get a new camera though) and spent some time focusing on other aspects of life. I'm still trying to navigate/find a life/work balance that works for me, but am getting back into the swing of things here on YT. The break also allowed me to practice and really settle into the passagework/music for this arrangement, on a level that I almost never get to with YT uploads. Usually I upload very technical arrangements like this, barely in my fingers but this time everything got to 'marinate' for a while. The result is a much more accurate/settled performance imho.
Thank you for your patience and understanding/sticking with the channel during that 5+ month gap in content. The YT grind and algorithm can be hard, especially in a niche genre like piano covers. Every comment (I pretty much read all of them), view, like, etc is truly appreciated. Thank you. In the near future, my friend and colleague Ryan Z 'Piano Guy' and I have a Halloween VERSUS coming up next on a classic video game tune. Wish us both luck.
Side note: One downside for the new setup is the room has deeper (more plush/high) carpets which cause the keyboard to vibrate/rock/move during intense playing. I'm looking for a solution but decided to upload this video anyway to see how distracting it is. It wasn't nearly as bad as what I thought it was going to look like tbh. Let me know your thoughts, or if you even noticed it, in the comments below.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Sheets are like 95% done and I just need to put the finishing touches on them and submit them to my editors.
#volotheme #pokemon #pianocover =======(More Info)======= Track: Volo Theme Composers: Go Ichinose Hitomi Sato Hiromitsu Maeba Performer: Erik Correll Sheets: musicnotes.com/l/H2Kh4 Midi: TBA Audio: TBA
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Desirae Psenitchi John Patton ohio Zahlen 0 Amanda Hummel C Cameron Davin Valkri dimhoLt Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Malcom Collins Rebecca Barnard Sam Munro Tisun Tyler wenhao ruan
This one has been cooking in the oven for a little while. I had it locked and loaded for April 1st but just couldn't get a good take on my keyboard. I had to resort to recording a preview on the grand piano at my teaching studio.
As such this year's Rickroll is tricky, but only because it goes so fast. Otherwise it fits well in the hands. Watch out for those large and rapid leaps in the left hand as well as for the final cascading run that end the piece. Lots of little technical flourishes here and there.
The arrangement itself plays around the opening skeleton of the original chorus to the song. About halfway through it accelerates and changes to 3/4 briefly before returning to 4/4 time to signify a new section. The final last little breath before the ending section is another opportunity to push the tempo. It could go even faster at the end if you set it up well.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I'm going to be out of town for this upcoming weekend. So a slight delay on the Audio and Midi for my Patreons. I apologize for the delay. Thank you for you understanding.
#rickroll #nevergonnagiveyouup #aprilfools =======(More Info)======= Track: Ode to Rick Astley 2022 (Inspired by the Chorus of "Never Gonna Give you Up") Composer: Erik Correll Performer: Erik Correll Sheets: TBA Midi: TBA Audio: TBA
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
coco joe Desirae Psenitchi John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Synthy OwO Amanda Hummel C Cameron Rebecca Barnard Malcolm Collins Tisun
#shorts #rickroll #pianoJ.S. Bach Invention no. 13 in A minor (Piano)Erik C Piano Man2022-03-10 | This is the first 2-part invention I ever learned back in my childhood. These 2-part inventions pit 2 different melodic lines against each other in glorious counterpoint. These set of 15 inventions are a wonderful introduction to Bach's style.
Bach predates the piano and there's a lot of debate around the performance practice of his pieces on modern instruments let alone a digital keyboard. Pedal use, tempo, articulation and the like are all left up to the performer in these pedagogical pieces. As such performances can vary wildly. For me personally, I have no qualms about using the pedal to create resonance to taste whereas others staunchly believe Bach should never have pedal (because keyboards didn't usually have a pedal back then). Let me know where on the spectrum you lie.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. This is sorta a filler arrangement as I work on larger projects that just need more time in the oven. Expect another vid in a week or so.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
coco joe Desirae Psenitchi John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Synthy OwO Amanda Hummel C Cameron Rebecca Barnard Malcolm Collins Tisun
Twitter: twitter.com/Pianomasian5 Levels of Ganons Tower/Ganondorf Theme (Piano Etude)Erik C Piano Man2022-02-26 | Here's a Classic video game tune from one of the most iconic villains of all time: Ganondorf. This one emulates the strain of climbing his tower in Ocarina of Time, getting progressively more and more passionate/difficult as the track unfolds.
This is a VERSUS round against my colleague Ryan Z 'Piano Guy'. Check out his version of the theme here and VOTE in the comments who you think 'won' this round/arranged the theme the best:
This is a revived old round of VERSUS from many years ago. I kinda forgot how tricky this arrangement gets towards the end. This took a lot of drilling and running the arrangement to get this recording (attentive listeners may still hear the mistakes dotted about). This would be a great warm-up or etude for anyone thinking about going to college for piano.
I also slightly altered the ending to finish on a major triumphant harmony as opposed to the darker minor chord in the original. The entire arrangement is structure around the idea of climbing his tower at the end of Ocarina of Time. The music gets progressively more and more intense until you reach the top/final showdown accented by the arrival of the Major tonic chord at the end.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
coco joe Desirae Psenitchi John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Synthy OwO Amanda Hummel C Cameron Rebecca Barnard Malcolm Collins Tisun
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianPokédex Theme: Pokémon Pinball (Piano Cover)Erik C Piano Man2022-02-16 | Here's a short catchy tune to start off 2022. This one definitely has the potential to get stuck in your head for a few hours... days... weeks... months... years... Send help pls.
This is a catchy little tune, and half tricky to play and half not. This one is all about the small details. Keeping a steady pulse is imperative, especially if you are going to play it on loop for a while. The track has a tendency to rush due to all the syncopations. Articulation is equally important to get that crisp sound.
Think of this as a small 'filler' arrangement between larger uploads. I should have another big video coming out in a week.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
#Pokédex #pokémon #pinball =======(More Info)======= Track: Pokedex Theme from Pokemon Pinball Composer: Go Ichinose Arrangers: Erik Correll Sheets: musicnotes.com/l/KxjMw
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
coco joe Desirae Psenitchi John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Synthy OwO Amanda Hummel C Cameron Rebecca Barnard Malcolm Collins Tisun
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianThis should be the new Switch eShop musicErik C Piano Man2022-02-16 | This should be the new Swtich eShop Music. 'Nuff said.
#shorts #Switch #eshop
Featuring Music from Pokemon PinballThe Witcher - Burn Butcher Burn (Advanced Piano Cover)Erik C Piano Man2021-12-21 | Jaskier does it again with another hit song (among others) "Burn Butcher Burn" in the new season of Netflix's "The Witcher". A very different shade than "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher", this tracks shows a moodier side to the wondering bard. Which side do you prefer?
It was a scramble to get this track arranged, written out and then practice/recorded before I left for Winter Break. As this video premieres I'll probably be on my way to the airport! As a result, it's all very fresh/not settled into my fingers and this isn't the best/cleanest recording (more dynamics, better voicing, and a few missed notes/runs). Those with critical ears, let me know if you notice the difference and if it's a glaring as I think. I simply ran out of time. Otherwise this arrangement would have had to wait until January after I get back from seeing family and friends for the holidays.
As for the arrangement itself, I wanted to stay fairly true to the original. The latter half does get a little tricky with all the runs and jumps so players be warned. Also some of the vocal line rhythms should be taken with a grain of salt. I used some artistic liberty to adjust the timing so it fits better with the accompaniment patterns. However, you could still refine them to be closer to the original.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. This is the last planned/official video of the year. There may be one extra bonus video coming later.
P.P.S. Sheets are actually done with for these and I'm just waiting on my editors to make the official release. I'll update the description with a link once they are done. Let's try to get this video to at least 10k in the first couple of days in the meantime!
P.P.P.S. This is one of the first covers of this track on the Internet. The season just came out this past Friday. So if you enjoy the hustle, be sure to share this some love and share it around.
#thewitcher #piano #sheetmusic
=======(More Info)======= Track: Burn Butcher Burn Composer: Joseph Trapanese Arrangers: Erik Correll Sheets: musicnotes.com/l/L2RMq
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Cori coco joe Desirae Psenitchi Frostbite John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Quentin Ponath Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Rebecca Barnard
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianSkyrim: Dragonborn Main Theme (Piano Toccata) 10 Year Anniversary EditionErik C Piano Man2021-12-14 | Here's my take on this legendary video game track. Here's to 10 years of Skyrim and many more to come.
This track is fairly tricky and requires agile octave/chord movement (my weakness). Full disclosure there is 1 mistake I've edited out from this take. I'll upload the original unedited file on my Patreon, but see if your eye/ear is sharp enough to figure out which note it is! Note: this will be made even trickier do to all the 'phantom' notes throughout the performance.
*A phantom note is a note that is recorded by the midi, but played at such a low velocity you can't really hear it. Fairly common in these types of recordings if you do not edit them out. I choose to usually present the midi in its raw, unfiltered form unless otherwise noted.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Lots of stuff to practice and get done before I leave to visit family for the Holidays in December. Wish me luck!
#dragonborn #skyrim #piano
=======(More Info)======= Track: Dragonborn Composer: Jeremy Soule Arrangers: Erik Correll Sheets: TBA
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Cori coco joe Desirae Psenitchi Frostbite John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Quentin Ponath Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Rebecca Barnard
Track: Tank! - The Opening Theme to Cowboy Bebop Performed/Composed by: Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts. Featured Soloist: Masato Honda - Alto Sax
#shorts #cowboybebop #masatohondaPokémon Diamond and Pearl Twinleaf Town Theme Piano (Nostalgia)Erik C Piano Man2021-11-20 | Here is a quick spur of the moment upload of the Hometown theme to celebrate the release of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Enjoy!
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This arrangement is to tide you over while I practice some more involved projects. Out of all the hometown themes from Pokémon this is one of the more complex in terms of harmony and the like.
I was originally going to loop this video (30mins to an hr) for people who want to have something relaxing on while they study (the end of the semester is fast approaching). Let me know your thoughts on those types of videos as I may experiment with them in the future (very rarely).
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Lots of stuff to practice and get done before I leave to visit family for the Holidays in December. Wish me luck!
=======(More Info)======= Track: Twinleaf Theme Composer: Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose Arrangers: Erik Correll Sheets: musicnotes.com/l/vLdMm
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Cori coco joe Desirae Psenitchi Frostbite John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Quentin Ponath Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Rebecca Barnard
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianSkyrim 10th Anniversary Dragonborn Main Theme Piano (Teaser)Erik C Piano Man2021-11-11 | Here's a teaser of the Dragonborn theme to celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of Skyrim. Expect a full version/video soon!
#Shorts #skyrim #10yearanniversaryAnimal Crossing: The Roost/Brewsters Theme (Piano Lullaby Variations)Erik C Piano Man2021-10-28 | With the announcement of the new Animal Crossing New Horizons update coming in November, we get the much anticipated return of our favorite coffee loving feathered friend. Here's a small set of variations to celebrate.
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== I used the Bosendorfer VST on the new keyboard for first time with this arrangement. Let me know if you noticed the difference in sound.
The arrangement itself is pretty straightforward. I wanted to maintain the same general feel as the original. The stride/ragtime part was added in last minute as I felt we needed at least 1 more new section to balance out the piece before coming to a soft close. This is one of the more approachable arrangements on the channel so happy practicing.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. The next month will be packed with videos. There's so much stuff releasing. Wish me luck and more vids to come.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Cori Desirae Psenitchi Frostbite John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Quentin Ponath Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Rebecca Barnard
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianSquid Game Way Back Then but its Russian (Piano Variations)Erik C Piano Man2021-10-14 | Imagine if this was one of the 'games'. Miss a note and you fail. Would you survive?
0:00 Original Theme 0:17 Russian Version 0:36 Reharmonization 1:00 Jazzy? 1:18 Bonus: Squid Game Jingle
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== Squid Game has taken the world by storm. With this arrangement, I wanted to see how different I could make it sound using a stride bass while keeping the melody relatively intact. It ended up being a short and sweet arrangement. Players be warned that those large leaps in the left hand are tricky if you've not had a lot of experience with the technique.
As for the bonus: What can I say? Whenever I hear a single note with a 'short-short-long' rhythm, I think of Jingle Bells.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Sorry for the shaky cam at the end. My camera tripod was accidently resting against the keyboard, transferring the shockwaves/vibration of hitting the keys onto the camera. I'll have to be more careful next time.
#squidgame #waybackthen #spooktober
=======(More Info)======= Track: Way Back Then Composer: Jung Jaeil Arrangers: Erik Correll Sheets: musicnotes.com/l/vCgMn
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Desirae Psenitchi Frostbite John Patton chana scofield Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt John Paul Robmy Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Quentin Ponath Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk Rebecca Barnard
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianMy face when I realize the rhythmic styles on my keyboard harmonize with what you play.Erik C Piano Man2021-10-13 | ...Kirby: Gourmet Race/Fountain of Dreams Duet ft. Ryan Z Piano GuyErik C Piano Man2021-09-28 | Here's a quick duet featuring my friend and colleague Ryan Z 'Piano Guy'. It was great to finally be able to collab/visit each other after over a year of not being able to. Can you guess who's who?
0:00 Original Gourmet Race 1:31 Major/Turning the Black Keys White 2:34 Delayed/Sleeping Soloist 3:07 Tritone Displacement
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== Ryan and I threw this one together pretty quickly. We need to work on our ensemble playing together so this duet was kept fairly straightforward; especially compared to our Spider Dance duet which we plan on rerecording!
The primo has the most technical difficulties with the fast repeated notes in the latter half. Players be warned as it does get crowded there (primo and secondo are almost on top of each other).
We also decided to include some 'bonus' clips at the end. Weird variations we did while fooling around between takes/recording. Let me know what you think of these little extra clips at the end.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Let me know what you think of the new visualizer.
#kirby #gourmetrace #fountainofdreams
=======(More Info)======= Track: Gourmet Race Composer: Jun Ishikawa Arrangers: Erik Correll and Ryan Z 'Piano Guy'
Sheets:TBA
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Cori Desirae Psenitchi Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt Elrisa John Paul Robmy Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk RallerenP Rebecca Barnard
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianWhat Happens When Small Hands Try to Play Flight of the Bumblebee (Piano)Erik C Piano Man2021-09-09 | Large Hands = Blocked Chords Small Hands = Rolled Chords
Which are you? A blocker or a roller?
0:00 Big vs Small Hand 0:16 Flight of the Bumblebee
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This is the Rachmaninoff arrangement of Korsakov's infamous "Flight of the Bumblebee". Which has become the unofficial litmus test for "fast/flashy" playing in the performance world. My version takes a fairly conservative tempo and is admittedly not the cleanest. But it's time to move on.
Funnily enough this was at performance level a few weeks ago (practicing on the grand pianos in my teaching studio) but it always takes me a few extra weeks to work it out on the digital piano. The grand basically plays itself whereas this digital keyboard forces you to really know the passagework (for me personally my Yamaha p-255 is starting to show its age RIP). That new keyboard I ordered in April can't come soon enough!
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. What did you think of the outro? Let me know in the comments.
#flightofthebumblebee #lingling40hours #piano
=======(More Info)======= Track: Flight of the Bumblebee Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Arranger: Rachmaninoff
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Cori Desirae Psenitchi Joy Weidner Davin Valkri dimhoLt Elrisa John Paul Robmy John Patton Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Philipp Schurch wenhao ruan Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Skyward Sword Fis Theme/Farewell Piano (Variations)Erik C Piano Man2021-08-18 | Here's a set of extended variations on Fi's Theme based on your final encounter with her in the game. I wrote it as a track that would play as Fi remembers her adventure as she waits silently in the Master Sword for the next chosen hero.
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This arrangement was originally going to be a quick one but throughout the process of arranging, it ballooned into this. So the arranging process took much longer than usual due to me not making up my mind with what direction I wanted the arrangement to go. Lots of trial, error and scrapped ideas.
I'm not sure I'm 100% satisfied with the result. I feel as though the arrangement is still missing something...
Performers beware. The middle ‘Battle’ variations are pretty tricky; especially because there are times when the hand 'de-sync' with each other's beat structure. Also, much attention is needed to the dynamics, pedal and voicing in this little set of variations.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. A huge contributing factor to the lateness of this arrangement was my treble 'E'. It's still sticking, even after getting it looked at. It's just unreliable (works 70%) and sluggish, even when it doesn't stick. This made recording this track an absolute nightmare. So many scrapped takes/recordings... Also the new keyboard I ordered back in April still hasn’t arrived. I’ll be elated when that gets here.
P.P.S. I also changed my process for this arrangement. I wrote the sheets as I arranged the piece so sheets will be out soon. I did this because I needed to visually see how the hands lined up in battle variation to practice/arrange it.
P.P.P.S I so bad at writing/complying sheets. Sry 😣 They'll get done at somepoint!
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Cori gixelz derek fortin John Patton Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin friedrich fusco Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts K T Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath wenhao ruan Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianNew Super Mario Bros. Wii Underwater Theme (Extended) Piano WaltzErik C Piano Man2021-07-21 | Here's a cover that's a blast from the past. Underwater level music always has a special place in my heart. Maybe because the levels themselves are usually kinda frustrating, the music is always so calming.
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This arrangement was originally from a few years ago, so once again I'm reviving a video from the early days of the channel. The idea was to play the original theme fairly straightforward, and then do a more ridiculous/exaggerated variation. As a result this one gets more difficult in the 2nd half. Players be warned.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Expect a new vid to celebrate the recent release of Skyward Sword next. Better late than never I always say.
#mario #underwatertheme #waltz
=======(More Info)======= Track: Underwater Theme From: New Super Mario Bros. Composer: Shiho Fuji
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
derek fortin John Patton Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Amber Flevaris Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Breath of The Wild 2 (Piano) Trailer Theme E3 2021Erik C Piano Man2021-06-29 | Here's a short and sweet piano version of the music for the new Botw 2 (Breath of the Wild 2) trailer Nintendo dropped this E3 2021. I stay pretty true to the original track with a few artistic liberties take in some places. Hopefully we'll get a full version of this theme closer to release. Until then I wish the developers the best of luck and the blessing of Hylia as they complete the game.
I originally wasn't going to do this theme and wait for more official tracks to be released but I couldn't help myself. If this trailer is anything to go by, the music for botw 2 is shaping up to be even better than the original. The track itself seems to be a mixture of at least 3 different themes: The main 'Soaring' theme at the start, the dissonant octave triplets, and Zelda's Lullaby.
I took some minor artistic liberties in this arrangement. For Ex: The octave ostinato only loops 4 times and not 5 to better fit the phrase. Reharmonizing Zelda's Lullaby and changing the last bass note/pedal tone from an "F" to a "C". Making the track end on a deceptive cadence to give it more of a sense of finality.
Also this is one of the more approachable arrangements on the channel but there are still a few tricky things. The left hand accompaniment is nearly all double notes. Also large leaps in both hands and the 2 vs 3 polyrhythm in the octave section. I would only expect someone with decent experience to be able to perform this confidently.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I'm going to be away on vacation visiting family from July 2nd to the 10th. So no videos until I get back.
#botw2 #linksarm #e3
=======(More Info)======= Track: Trailer Theme From: Breath of the Wild E3 2021 Trailer Composer: If anyone knows who exactly composed this, let me know and I'll update this.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
derek fortin H Nguyen John Patton Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Gene Grey Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Amber Flevaris Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianUndertale: His Theme Piano (Nostalgia Edition)Erik C Piano Man2021-06-23 | I'll have to do Megalovania at some point but for now here is a more subdued theme from Undertale. This plays only a few times in the game, most notably when facing one of the final bosses.
This is actually one of the first covers I ever made for the channel. So if you remember this one, you're one of the true OG subs for this channel. Thanks for sticking with me all this time.
The arrangement itself is a set of progressively harder mini-variations off of the 4-bar theme played at the start. Large leaps and running passages make the ending of this pretty tricky compared to the start, but still manageable. Performers beware.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I plan on doing a special upload for this weekend. Wish me luck as I try to finalize the arrangement and get a recording.
#undertale #histheme #asriel
=======(More Info)======= Track: His Theme From: Undertale Composer: Toby Fox
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
derek fortin H Nguyen John Patton Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Gene Grey Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Amber Flevaris Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianNieR Replicant: Kaine Salvation (Extended) Piano SoloErik C Piano Man2021-06-09 | Here's an extended version of this fan favorite track. Watch out for the last section. It gets a bit tricky in the end!
I was a big fan of NieR Automata when that came out in 2017. One of the things that struck me about the series is it's excellent and diverse soundtrack. NieR Replicant follows the trend and it was hard picking out a single track to cover.
This cover is split into 2 halves. The first states the original theme. The 2nds half is an extension and variation on that theme:
First we get a "3-hands" texture where the melody is in the middle with accompaniment below and above to give the illusion of 3 distinct musical lines being played at the same time. Then the final part is a passionate version doubling the speed of the runs underneath the melody. This is a good workout/warm-up for the hands.
Technique wise, you'll need to comfortably be able to hit a 10th in the right hand to play this properly. Also the large leaps and fast passagework in the variations are tricky. Voicing is another important aspect of this piece. Making sure that the melody is phrased beautifully while everything else compliments the line without overpowering it. There is certainly room for improvement with this recording in that regards.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Thanks for reading this far. You're one of the club of description readers; A rare dignified breed indeed! Leave a smiley face in the comments below to prove you were here.
#nier #kaine #piano
=======(More Info)======= Track: Kaine Salvation From: NieR Gestalt and Replicant) Composer: Keiichi Okabe
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
derek fortin H Nguyen John Patton Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Gene Grey Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Amber Flevaris Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Gene Grey Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianSuper Mario Piano Medley: Classic vs Modern ThemesErik C Piano Man2021-05-14 | Here's a nostalgic filled medley highlighting some of the prominent themes from the Super Mario Franchise throughout these past 35 years. I hope you enjoy!
Sheets (No Jump Up Superstar in Japan due to copyright/licensing issues): musicnotes.com/l/VlWMP
0:00 Background Music World 1-1 0:46 Gusty Garden Galaxy 1:29 Character Select SMB2 2:03 Jump Up Superstar! 3:21 Ending Theme from Super Mario World 3:59 Overworld Theme SMB 2 4:12 Ending Theme (Reprise) 4:34 Game Over 4:44 Coin and 1-up
This is a remake of a medley I did a few years ago. Longtime viewers should recognize it, but now in this bird's-eye perspective. There are a few minor mistakes (and a few larger mistakes) dotted about this recording so beware if you're trying to learn off of the midi.
I put a lot of time into thinking of the transitions between the tracks and track order, to make sure that the medley works/flows well as a whole. Let me know what your favorite part/track was in the comments.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Sorry for the delay in sheet as of late. I'm planning on getting these out in the next month so bear with me.
#mario35 #mariomedley #nostalgia
=======(More Info)======= Track: Background Music From: Super Mario Bros. Composer: Koji Kondo
Track: Gusty Garden Galaxy From: Super Mario Galaxy Composer: Mahito Yokota
Track: Character Selection Screen From: Super Mario Bros. 2 Composer: Koji Kondo
Track: Jump Up Super Star From: Super Mario Odyssey Composer: Naoto Kubo
Track: Ending Theme From: Super Mario World Composer: Koji Kondo
Track: Overworld Theme From: Super Mario Bros. 2 Composer: Koji Kondo
Track: Game Over From: Super Mario Franchise Composer: Koji Kondo
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
derek fortin H Nguyen John Patton Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Gene Grey Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Amber Flevaris Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianXenoblade Chronicles 2 Title Theme “Where We Used to Be” Extended (Medley)Erik C Piano Man2021-04-09 | Here is an extended take on the main menu theme for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, highlighting some of the pivotal moments it's used in the game. Let me know if you can spot/place them all.
This main/title theme is my favorite out of the entire Xenoblade series. There's something about the solemn piano writing that reminds me of Studio Ghibli/Joe Hisaishi's work. The challenge in this piece is mostly with interpretation/musicality. Careful attention must be made for the phrasing, voicing and use of rubato. I choose to play this a bit more flowing, with more subtle use of rubato than in the original performance. Let me know if those subtleties make a noticeable difference.
I also extended the theme to highlight some of my favorite musical moments in the game as the main theme is thematically transformed and manipulated all throughout the games soundtrack. I hope you can enjoy these hauntingly beautiful theme.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
#xenobladechronicles #pyra #mythra
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Main Theme/ Were We Used to Be From: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Composers: Yasunori Mitsuda Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
derek fortin H Nguyen Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Yannic Prochnow Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Amber Flevaris Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Zackk
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Main Theme (Piano Toccata)Erik C Piano Man2021-03-11 | To celebrate the 35th year of Zelda, here's the series iconic main theme, arranged in dramatic fashion. I hope you enjoy!
This is a VERSUS arrangement. Check out my opponent and cohort's (the other Piano Bro.) Ryan Z ‘Piano Guy’s version and let us know whose arrangement reigns supreme in the comments: youtu.be/LYec1qep73E
I'm not good with octaves. Or rather, I'm not good with playing rapid octaves. This arrangement was a struggle to record due to some very small minor mistakes that took weeks to practice out. Some of you may have caught the livestream, where I practiced through the piece last month. Not much has changed since then but you will notice a few differences.
Overall this arrangement was vaguely inspired by the 25th Anniversary Orchestral version of the main theme. The arrangement itself is divided into 4 main sections: A slow intro, the main theme proper, an interlude/variation on the theme, and a closing section. Each one has the theme with slightly different harmonies and figurations, leading to the difficulty of memorizing this piece. It's easy to get your wires crossed.
Zelda is one of the backbones of the channel. So consider this my official 200k sub special. I hope you enjoy it and here's to another 200k and beyond!
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I did edit out 1 wrong note. See if you can spot it! Unedited raw versions will be posted on my patreon.
#zeldamaintheme #zelda35 #zeldamusic
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Main Theme From: Legend of Zelda Series Composers: Koji Kondo Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
derek fortin H Nguyen Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Kris Matt W Morgan Lopez Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Ryan DeYoung
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Breath of the Wild Champions Ballad Piano (Waltz)Erik C Piano Man2021-02-16 | Here's a slightly extended version of the main theme from the Champions' Ballad DLC for Breath of the Wild. I hope you enjoy this soothing waltz.
This track is actually a remake of an arrangement I did years ago. There are a few very minor differences (long-time viewers may be able to notice them). This arrangement is fairly straightforward until the end where I extend the theme and add a quote from the entire franchise's Main Theme.
This is one of the more approachable arrangements on the channel but still has some tricky bits. Also attention to articulation and phrasing/dynamics is paramount, when you have a transparent piece, such as this.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I have another video in the works for the upcoming Zelda 35th anniversary. It still needs a bunch of work so wish me luck!
#botw #championsballad #zelda35
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Main Theme From: Champions' Ballad DLC Composers: Manaka Kataoka Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
H Nguyen Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf MusicSoup Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Justin M Arney K T Kris Matt W Morgan Lopez Pandicorn 3012 Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianHalo: Combat Evolved Main Theme - Piano ToccataErik C Piano Man2021-02-04 | Here's my take on this legendary video game theme. I played a lot of Halo: CE back in the day so I hope I did the theme justice. You be the judge and remember to always "Finish the Fight!"
0:00 Intro (Halo 3 Quote) 0:20 OG Halo Theme 0:45 Master Chief Arrives 2:07 Outro 2:27 Finish the Fight!
This track was a challenge to arrange. It's very atmospheric with the use of choirs/strings and other sustained instruments to create a unique mysterious/monolithic sound. That type of texture is hard to translate to piano without losing a lot of the impact. So extensive experimentation was needed until I found a sound/direction that I liked.
The track itself, is structured around a choral-like opening (quoting the Halo 3 theme) which also triumphantly ends the piece, and the more energetic middle section based off of the OG Halo theme.
Technical challenges in this would be the ostinato-like left hand passagework and a few rapid arpeggios and dense runs in the right hand. So players be warned.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. This is the first video of the year so expect a few more vids this month (I hear there's an anniversary coming up) and more to follow. Here's to a good 2021!
#haloinfinite #halo #masterchief
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Main Theme From: Halo (Series) Composers: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
H Nguyen Joy Weidner Matt Scalf MusicSoup Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jason Giese Justin M Arney K T Kris Matt W Morgan Lopez Pandicorn 3012 Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Breath of the Wild - Revalis Theme (Extended) Piano WaltzErik C Piano Man2020-12-23 | Revali's Theme is now ready. Probably my favorite of the champion themes, here's a slightly extended take on it. Players be warned as the passagework is trickier than it sounds.
This video is the counterpart to my rival’s version of Mipha’s theme. Check his video out here: youtu.be/Sr61KRjmEyQ
0:00 A Theme 0:22 B Theme 0:55 Transition 1:08 A Theme (Reprise)
This track is deceptively tricky. The middle section requires fast hand changes, and clever use of rubato and pedal to navigate the melody and running 8th notes in the right hand. On top of that it needs to sound effortless (I do a good job here but may be a little heavy handed on voicing the inner running notes). Other than that everything else stay pretty true to the original with the occasional arpeggio to emphasis a moment here or there.
Finally, this is the last planned video of 2020! Thanks to all my viewers, especially those of you who have been around for a while (let me know when you joined the channel in the comments below). 2020 has been a wild ride. Now I plan to get some rest and come back strong in early 2021.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I'm planning on 1 or 2 more videos for the year and then I'll see you in 2021. Hopefully this upcoming year is better than this one.
#revali #botw #ravioli
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Revali's Theme From: Breath of the Wild Composer: Manaka Kataoka Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall H Nguyen Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Christina Super Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jason Giese Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Matt W Morgan Lopez Pandicorn 3012 Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianUndertale: Bonetrousle (Advanced Piano) Toccata VariationsErik C Piano Man2020-12-02 | I can't believe it's been 5 years since the release of Undertale. To celebrate here's a version of Bonetrousle, Papyrus's Battle Theme, that gets harder and harder/more and more Russian as it goes along. The final variation is very tricky so players be warned.
0:00 Intro 0:29 Variation 1 The "Easy" Part 1:28 Variation 2 The "Russian" 2:29 Variation 3 The "Hard" Part
Also this is the latest round in VERSUS. Where I battle against another YouTube Pianist to see whose arrangement reigns supreme. Let us know who won in the comments.
This arrangement is a long time coming. I originally planned it for Halloween 2 years ago, but had to delay it multiple times because of the difficulty. So this year I put my foot down, and decided to get this recorded no matter what. This took far too much practice (just straight technical work for the past month) to get to performance level, so I hope the extra effort shines through.
The arrangement itself is divided into 3 variations of increasing difficulty with a short introduction at the start. The boom-chuck/stride left hand gets deceptively tricky at parts in the 2nd and 3rd variation due to all the chromaticism and stepping bassline, with the occasional octave thrown in there for good measure (original all the bass notes were full octaves. I'd still be practicing it if I kept it that way.)
I struggled so much to get a clean recording of this arrangement: If I nailed the last variation, then I'd have a silly mistake in the first variation and visa versa. So full disclosure, I replaced the audio with a different take for a portion of the 2nd variations to edit out 2 wrong notes. Sharp-eyed viewers may be able to spot it. I just didn't want to throw away a great take due to 1 or 2 random mistakes. Plus it's time to move onto the next video. Otherwise we'd be here until the end of the year.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I'm planning on 1 or 2 more videos for the year and then I'll see you in 2021. Hopefully this upcoming year is better than this one.
#bonetrousle #undertale #spooktober
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Bonetrousle From: Undertale Composer: Toby Fox Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Brendan Hall H Nguyen Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf Zahlen 0 Benjamin Watkin Christina Super Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Matt W Morgan Lopez Pandicorn 3012 Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda: Breath of the Wild - Kass Theme (Extended) Piano WaltzErik C Piano Man2020-10-26 | Here's one of the more iconic tunes from Breath of the Wild, from our always heard-before-seen, feathered friend. I'll always remember hearing the moment when you first hear Kass play the full theme in-game.
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== Fore some reason, this track too way longer to get to performance level than I thought. The right hand has some pretty 'fingery' passagework that can be deceptively tricky (in the 2nd half). Full transparency: I also made audio edit (towards the end) to get rid of a silly mistake (wrong bass note) that ruined an otherwise great take. Sharp-eared listeners may be able to tell.
The first half of the arrangement is an older version of the theme that I posted years ago. It stays very true to the original (perhaps a bit more waltz-like accompaniments), and I wanted to have a sense of completion/arrival at the end (hence the dynamics and rubato).
The second half is an embellished version of the full theme. I had a hard time coming up with embellishments that didn't seem extraneous/fit properly within the piece. You be the judge.
The ending section is a development of the initial figuration in the Zelda Main Theme, finishing with a virtuosic flourish with some inspiration from Liszt. I hope you enjoy.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I'm racing to get a Halloween upload finished in time. But I won’t sacrifice quality for a deadline. Wish me luck.
#kasstheme #hyrulewarriors #botw
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Kass' Theme From: The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Composer: Yasuaki Iwata Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders Chandler Hise H Nguyen Jefferson Gubler Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf Paul Weist Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste Benjamin Watkin Christina Super Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Matt W Pandicorn 3012 Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Si seth webb
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianSuper Mario 64 - Dire Dire Docks (Piano Nostalgia) ImpromptuErik C Piano Man2020-10-07 | With the release of Super Mario 3d All Stars, Mario 64 is now thrust back into the minds of current gamers. Here is one of the most iconic tunes from the game with a modern/nostalgic spin to take us all back to the days when 3D platformers were in their infancy.
0:00 Original Tune 1:42 Let’s a Go! Variation 2:37 A Calm Ending
This is a round of VERSUS. Check out my opponent's version here: youtu.be/NR1tUT3p06o
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== I originally didn't know how to tackle this iconic tune. The atmospheric nature and relaxing harmonies lend themselves to a more laid-back/chill arrangement, but I wanted to inject some much needed energy/variation for this particular piano cover. Otherwise, this video would blend in with the sea of, "fine-but-very-true-to-the-original" piano covers already out there.
I go through the theme proper as normal but at the halfway point, an explosion of arpeggios set up a triumphant version of main theme. Then I work towards taking the energy back down for a more intimate variation on the B theme, before looping back to the start.
All in all the process for writing this arrangement was a bit more impromptu/directionless/go-with-the-flow than my usual process. As a result I'm a bit surprised how it turned out. I hope the new additions to the theme don't detract from the original. OG Mario 64 players let me know your thoughts in the description.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. I have a few special uploads planned for this month. Wish me luck. One is a track I've been looking at for a while.
P.P.S. Haven't done one of these in a while but if you've read this far: Thank you! Let me know you made it this far by adding this face to your comment: (⌐■_■)つ
#dirediredocks #nostalgia #marioallstars
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Dire Dire Docks From: Super Mario 64 Composer: Koji Kondo Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders H Nguyen Jefferson Gubler Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf Paul Weist Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste молоко Антон Benjamin Gray Benjamin Watkin Christina Super Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Landon Hawes Matt W Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Si seth webb
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianSecret Tunnel Medley: Avatar the Last Airbender - Nomad Song Piano SuiteErik C Piano Man2020-09-21 | After many requests here's SECRET TUNNEL and every other song from that episode packed into a mini-medley. Turn on subtitles and belt out to your heart's content.
0:00 SECRET TUNNEL 0:40 Traveling Girl 0:58 Cave-in Song 1:20 The Love in Your Heart 1:45 SECRET TUNNEL (Reprise)
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This was a fun medley to throw together. It's one of the more approachable covers on the channel but it still has it's challenges. Some of the left hand ostinati (repeating accompaniment patterns) can be a problem if you're holding too much tension. I kept the tunes very true to the original, which caused me to use some weird figurations. Sheets will be coming soon (within the week). GL and happy playing!
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Up next. A round of VERSUS to celebrate the recent release of a classic video game collection. P.P.S. Let me know which tune from this medley was your favorite in the comments. YT got rid of polls :(
#secrettunnel #avatarthelastairbender #piano
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Nomad Songs From: Avatar the Last Airbender Composer: Jeremy Zuckerman Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders H Nguyen Jefferson Gubler Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf Paul Weist Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste молоко Антон Benjamin Gray Benjamin Watkin Christina Super Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Landon Hawes Matt W MercyArts Pandicorn 3012 Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Si seth webb
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianDragon Ball Super - Ultra Instinct Mastered (Clash of Gods) Piano ToccataErik C Piano Man2020-09-11 | Here's an intense track from Dragon Ball Super, where Goku finally masters Ultra Instinct. This is a tricky one, so players be warned!
0:00 Intro 0:30 Main Theme (A Section) 0:50 A’ (Grand Priest/Minister Variation) 1:09 B Section 1:27 C Section (Transition) 1:44 D Section (Major!) 2:16 Ending (Ultra Instinct Mastered!)
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== I actually recorded this arrangement 2 years ago, when the Tournament of Power Arc (the point in the show where this track shows up) was airing. This track is full of all kinds of acrobatics for both hands, including the most difficult part where an almost 3-hand texture is created by playing a melody and bass in the left hand, while the right also adds another accompaniment line spanning several octaves. Voicing is the key to making this section sound clear and unmuddled.
There are a few minor adjustments to some of the runs and a slightly different flourish on the very final chords. I think the recording is much more solid than the one I did 2 years ago (still has a few mistakes and the voicing can always be better), but you be the judge and let me know in the comments.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Bonus track up next. Maybe a few? P.P.S. What do you think is more difficult? This track or the Champion Cynthia Theme I uploaded last month? Let me know in the comments below.
#dragonballsuper #ultrainstinct #piano
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Clash of Gods (Ultra Instinct Reborn/Mastered) From: Dragon Ball Super Composer: Norihito Sumitomo Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders H Nguyen Jefferson Gubler Joy Weidner Luke Harris Matt Scalf Michael Barnett Paul Weist Zahlen 0 jerrell baptiste молоко Антон Benjamin Gray Benjamin Watkin Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Landon Hawes Matt W MercyArts Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath seth webb
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianAnimal Crossing New Horizons: Nooks Cranny Shop Closing Theme (Lullaby Waltz) PianoErik C Piano Man2020-08-31 | Anyone who's been shopping late at Nook's Cranny in New Horizons, right before closing will recognize this calming tune. Even Timmy and Tommy need to go home at some point. I hope this relaxing cover helps you to unwind/relax after a long day's work.
0:00 A section 0:33 B section (a bit of drama) 1:09 A' section (a calm finish)
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== In stark contrast to my last upload, this gentle waltz is anything but tempestuous or virtuosic. I tossed around the idea of making a grand waltz variation set, but ultimately decided to stay more true to the original calmness of track. As a result, I tried to keep things simple and let the music speak for itself.
The recording process was much more relaxed for this upload. This was recorded over a few days, with me reviewing each day's takes and recording the next. This allowed me to really focus on the phrasing, dynamics, and pacing; letting me really sink my teeth into this track and get comfortable playing it/enjoy it a bit. Otherwise, I usually record videos when they are just barely in my fingers. So this was a nice change of pace.
The structure is a simple ABA with the A sections being more calm and the middle B section adding a bit of drama. I tried to make the return to A even more tender and sweet by use of dynamics and shifting a few choice phrases up an octave. I think all those subtleties add up and make a big difference in a performance. You let me know what you think in the comments!
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. Up next is a virtuosic track from the past.
P.P.S. If you’re wondering were exactly this track is in-game; It only plays in the shop 10 minutes before closing.
#animalcrossing #closingtheme #newhorizons
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Nook Closing Theme From: Animal Crossing New Horizons Composer: Yasuaki Iwata, Yumi Takahashi, Shinobu Nagata, Sayako Doi, Masato Ohashi Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders H Nguyen Jefferson Gubler Joy Weidner Khalid AlQassimi Luke Harris Matt Scalf Michael Barnett Paul Weist jerrell baptiste молоко Антон Benjamin Gray Benjamin Watkin Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Dante Case Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jacob Glatts Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Landon Hawes Matt W MercyArts Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath seth webb
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianPokemon Diamond/Pearl: Approaching Champion Cynthia Piano Etude (Extended)Erik C Piano Man2020-08-10 | Here's the infamously hard/iconic battle introduction music for Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion. This track is very tricky, especially if you don't have wide hands. Players be warned!
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== This is by far the most difficult cover for me personally in 2020 thus far. I completely underestimated this piece and it took a lot more practice to get up to performance level (admittedly with a few mistakes) than I original thought. Those left hand arpeggios do not fit well in my hand, forcing me to use weird fingerings/finger crossings to navigate the passagework. If you've got big enough (wide enough) hands to fit the left hand arpeggios, then it's considerably easier (still tricky though).
The arrangement itself stays very true to the original track. I composed a new middle section to add some variety and extend the theme (Gold notes = original, Blue notes = added sections). Bonus points to whoever can guess which classical piece I quote for the transition into the B section.
The B section itself just develops 2 of the ideas presented in the original theme. I add thirds to the melody at the end to heighten the drama/tension before returning to the track proper. All in all this makes for one of the trickier covers on the channel.
I'm relieved I was able to get a recording, as I've been dreading this track for the past couple months. Could it be a bit cleaner and more controlled? Yes, but it is definitely time to move onto the next video.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. The next track will be a calming tune from a video game franchise that blew up this year. Also more Zelda is on the way!
#approachingcynthia #pokemon #etude
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Approaching Champion Cynthia Composer: Go Ichinose Performed and Arranged by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders H Nguyen Jefferson Gubler Joy Weidner Khalid AlQassimi Luke Harris Matt Scalf Michael Barnett Paul Weist jerrell baptiste молоко Антон Benjamin Gray Benjamin Watkin Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Dante Case Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jj Justin M Arney K T Kris Landon Hawes Matt W MercyArts Philipp Schurch Quentin Ponath Rodney Jones seth webb
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianMaple Leaf Rag (Piano) SaloonErik C Piano Man2020-07-17 | There's not much to say about this timeless classic. Stay tuned for the bonus/special version at the end. Everybody loves some good ragtime. I hope you enjoy my take on this classic.
0:00 Classic/Original Version 2:50 Sacrilegious Boi 3:19 Speed Version
=====(The Details/Performer's Notes)===== Tempo, pedaling and articulation are the 3 main things to worry about here. Joplin himself said not to play his pieces too fast so I tried to pick a moderately fast pace that gives the music energy without getting too cluttered.
Articulation and pedaling. There's a lot of different approaches to playing in this style. Some performers prefer with no pedal at all, others add a bunch. Joplin's music is universal enough that I don't think there is a definitive answer, so I use a combo of both (Joplin himself plays them fairly dry/no pedal, thought that may have not been by choice as many pianos of the day did not have fully working pedals). I tried to highlight the melodic and chromatic lines in the left hand via the pedal while not getting too 'soupy'. You be the judge.
Also a quick note on the repeats: I add a few little variations (blue notes) for variety but a true ragtime pianist would have no problem transforming the piece on the repeats. It’s up the individual performer to decide how much of their own spin they want to put on it.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
P.S. This piece always wants to speed up. Maintaining a steady pulse throughout is super tricky. 9 out of 10 times any recording of this piece will gradually accelerate throughout.
P.P.S. For those of you who read this far down, let me know what you think of the 'Bonus' version at the end.
P.P.P.S. Sorry for the lack of uploads lately. These next couple of videos coming out needed a lot of practice/time to settle. More vids to come these upcoming weeks. Thanks for tuning in!
#saloon #tutorial #ragtime
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Maple Leaf Rag Composer: Scott Joplin Performed by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Aleksso Rojas Brendan Hall Cameron Sanders H Nguyen Jefferson Gubler Joy Weidner Khalid AlQassimi Luke Harris Matt Scalf Michael Barnett Paul Weist jerrell baptiste Benignbee Benjamin Gray Benjamin Watkin Brandon Susini Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Dante Case Darren Griffith Gavan Chan Isaac Loyer Jj Justin M Arney K T Matt W MercyArts Percight Quentin Ponath Rodney Jones Woodn seth webb
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianAvatar: The Last Airbender Piano MedleyErik C Piano Man2020-06-12 | After working on this for the past few months, here's a medley that will take you through a musical journey of the Avatar the Last Airbender Series. I wanted to do this show justice and I hope I did. Let me know in the comments below/wherever they are now.
Tracks: 0:00 Opening Theme 0:42 Blue Spirit/Tsungi Horn 1:11 Ba Sing Se 1:30 Leaves from the Vine 2:15 Destiny and Iroh's Speech 3:32 Avatar's Love 4:02 Avatar Theme (Reprise) 4:25 Final Blow/The Avatar State
=======(The Details)======= NGL this is one of my favorite shows of all time and as such I really wanted to take my time with this medley and do the show good. This was a challenge. You may have noticed that despite it's popularity, there are not a lot of ATLAB piano medleys floating around. That's due to there not being an official release of the soundtrack, and the motivic/percussive/non-traditional harmonic and atmospheric nature of much of the shows music.
It's a double edged sword, insofar as the themes can be used in any context allowing for great flexibility, but that also means there not a lot of full concrete themes to play off of. As such, it took quite some time for me to pick out what themes to use and how to structure them into a satisfying cohesive whole.
As far as actually playing it goes, this arrangement is tricky. It has a lot of unusual techniques for me. Tremelos are everywhere. Players be warned.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
#avatarthelastairbender #BaSingSe #nostalgia
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Various selections from across Avatar: The Last Airbender Composer: Jeremy Zuckerman Arranged and Performed by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Joy Weidner Luke Harris Jerrel Baptiste H Nguyen Brendan Hall Matt Scalf Aleksso Rojas Richard Keith Bennett Jefferson Gubler Paul Weist Cameron Sanders Michael Barnett Benjamin Gray Nooborghini MercyArts Darren Griffith Seth Webb Justin M Arney Dante Case Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Isaac Loyer Benignbee Brandon Susini Benjamin Watkin Matt W Robert Le Percight Philipp Schürch KT Gavan Chan Woodn Quentin Ponath Rodney Jones
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianZelda Twilight Princess: Midnas Lament (Extended) PianoErik C Piano Man2020-05-25 | After many, many request. I finally got to covering this iconic, yet tricky tune. More zelda tunes to come! Also this is a special 3-way round of VERSUS, a series where I battle against another pianist/arranger to see whose cover reigns supreme.
=======(The Details)======= This one is deceptively tricky. The left hand passagework is not pianistic, forcing you to switch hand position or otherwise be creative in how you navigate the 8th note runs. On top of that the left hand needs to sound smooth/controlled and natural while doing all those hand position changes and not missing a note. You can see where I lost concentration here (1:30)
The track was equally tricky to arrange. I’ve been working on this in the background for the past couple months and the arrangement only finalized in the last couple days. It was hard time coming up with ways to develop the theme, while staying true to the original. Many sections slowly evolved or were scrapped in the process of arranging this tune. I even originally had a whole major section featuring Zelda’s lullaby.
I knew I wanted to play through the theme fully, fairly intact, before adding different harmonies and stuff. I tried to be very tactful about varying the left hand accompaniment as the track goes on, to create some variety without straying from the original too much. In the second half, I experimented with harmony and texture, trying to keep to the somber mood, before looping back to the start. Overall a little different than my usual style and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
#midnaslament #twilightprincess #nostalgia
=======(More Info)======= Tracks: Midna's Lament Composer: Koji Kondo From: The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess Arranged and Performed by: Erik Correll
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Joy Weidner Luke Harris Jerrel Baptiste HoanVu Nguyen Brendan Hall Matt Scalf David Amadeus Pacheco Aleksso Rojas Richard Keith Bennett Jefferson Gubler Paul Weist Cameron Sanders Michael Barnett MercyArts Darren Griffith Seth Webb Justin M Arney Dante Case Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Isaac Loyer Benignbee Brandon Susini Benjamin Watkin Matt W Robert Le Percight Philipp Schürch KT Gavan Chan Woodn Quentin Ponath Rodney Jones
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianCoffin Dance but it gets harder and H A R D E R and then its beautifulErik C Piano Man2020-05-07 | “Coffin Dance” Meme Astronomia, but in progressive variations. Which level are you?
=======(The Details)======= What started off as a spur-of-the-moment, side-project, turned into this. 90% of the arranging and practicing was on the last half/Cadenza section. Here I tried to really develop/mold the theme into something beautiful. I love writing and playing those rich harmonies. Now back to working on my previous/longer projects. More uploads to come!
Also this is another round of the VERSUS series where I battle against a fellow musician to see whose cover reigns supreme.
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Joy Weidner Jerrel Baptiste HoanVu Nguyen Brendan Hall Matt Scalf David Amadeus Pacheco Aleksso Rojas Richard Keith Bennett Jefferson Gubler Paul Weist Marcinko Orozco Cameron Sanders Michael Barnett Dante Case Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Isaac Loyer Benignbee Brandon Susini Benjamin Watkin Matt W Robert Le Percight Philipp Schürch KT Gavan Chan Rodney Jones
=======(Bonus Level)=======
Support the Channel and Bonus Content (Midis and Audio Files): patreon.com/pianoman
Twitter: twitter.com/PianomasianFinal Fantasy VII (FF7) Main Theme Piano (Nostalgia Edition)Erik C Piano Man2020-04-11 | The Final Fantasy 7 remake is finally here. To celebrate, here's a custom arrangement of the game's main theme. I hope you enjoy this beautiful and iconic video game tune.
This is also another round of VERSUS, where I go head-to-head against another pianist to see whose cover reigns supreme. Be sure to vote in the comments or the 'i' card.
=======(The Details)======= To me, this is one of the most beautiful tracks from the series; ripe for variation:
The main theme of the track, stated at the very beginning, comes back 3 times. With each repetition it gains intensity, like a wave cresting higher and higher, until it finally breaks triumphantly at the end.
This is the 3rd time I've recorded this track (1st with this setup) and I tried to be more subtle with the rubato this go around. Let me know if you think it's an improvement.
Your Pianist,
Erik C.
#ff7 #maintheme #ff7remake
======== (Credits)======= A very special thanks to all my patreon supporters, especially top donors:
Joy Weidner Jerrel Baptiste HoanVu Nguyen Brendan Hall Matt Scalf David Amadeus Pacheco Aleksso Rojas Richard Keith Bennett Jefferson Gubler Paul Weist Marcinko Orozco Cameron Sanders Michael Barnett Dante Case Cassandra Ziemski Christina Super Isaac Loyer Benignbee Brandon Susini Benjamin Watkin Matt W Robert Le Percight Philipp Schürch KT Gavan Chan Rodney Jones
=======(Bonus Level)=======
Support the Channel and Bonus Content (Midis and Audio Files): patreon.com/pianoman