Piano Ninja Tricks

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Piano Ninja Tricks

Lisa Spector

60 episodes

9 months ago

Send us a text https://LisaSpector.com/Groundhog Register for the Masterclass. Free through Feb. 7. ⬆️ Welcome to the last episode of Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎧✨ In this special episode, I’m taking you inside a YouTube Live Masterclass where we tackled one of the biggest struggles pianists face—feeling stuck in slow progress. If you've ever repeated the same passages over and over with little improvement, this is for you! I’ll introduce you to Piano Ninja Tricks designed...

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Performing Arts

Music Commentary

All content for Piano Ninja Tricks is the property of Lisa Spector and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send us a text https://LisaSpector.com/Groundhog Register for the Masterclass. Free through Feb. 7. ⬆️ Welcome to the last episode of Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎧✨ In this special episode, I’m taking you inside a YouTube Live Masterclass where we tackled one of the biggest struggles pianists face—feeling stuck in slow progress. If you've ever repeated the same passages over and over with little improvement, this is for you! I’ll introduce you to Piano Ninja Tricks designed...

Show more...

Performing Arts

Music Commentary

Episodes (20/60)

Piano Ninja Tricks

SEASON 2 FINALE: From Practice Frustration to Major Progress!

Send us a text https://LisaSpector.com/Groundhog Register for the Masterclass. Free through Feb. 7. ⬆️ Welcome to the last episode of Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎧✨ In this special episode, I’m taking you inside a YouTube Live Masterclass where we tackled one of the biggest struggles pianists face—feeling stuck in slow progress. If you've ever repeated the same passages over and over with little improvement, this is for you! I’ll introduce you to Piano Ninja Tricks designed...

9 months ago

9 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

STOP REPEATING MISTAKES: Smarter Practice for Chopin's Revolutionary Étude

Send us a texthttps://lisaspector.com/groundhogIs your piano practice is stuck on repeat—practicing the same sections over and over with little to no progress? 🔁 You're not alone! In this episode, I bring you into my live, sold-out performance of Chopin’s Revolutionary Étude and share the smart practice tricks I used to prepare for it.🎹 Featured in This Episode:🎶 Live performance of Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude🎶 How I overcame challenges post-hand injury to play this piece again🎶 Essential Pi...

9 months ago

9 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Practice Slow to Play Fast

Send us a textFree Masterclass on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2ndFrom Practice Frustration to Major ProgressRegister here ⬇️https://LisaSpector.com/groundhogMastering the art of slow practice is the key to unlocking precision, speed and musical expression in your playing. In this episode, I discuss why slowing down is essential for learning challenging pieces, how to incorporate under tempo and under dynamics into your daily practice and ways to keep it engaging.Opening music from Coda of Chopin 3rd ...

9 months ago

16 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Quick Piano Ninja Tricks for Instant Progress

Send us a textWelcome to another episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! I’m Lisa Spector, here to make your piano practice easier and more effective so you can play and feel like a true piano ninja.In this episode:🐾 Meet Sundance, my new 1.5-year-old yellow lab who’s bringing joy to my life and recordings!🔥 Learn about my initiative to support musicians affected by the Los Angeles fires through MusiCares.🎵 Discover two quick, actionable Piano Ninja Tricks for mastering challenging passage...

9 months ago

13 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Two Things I Never Look at in a Music Score—and Why You Shouldn’t Either

Send us a textDiscover why some score markings—like editor's fingering and pedal markings—are better ignored! Join Lisa Spector, your Piano Ninja, as she shares her top tips for choosing efficient, personalized fingering and using the pedal as a "dimmer switch" rather than an on/off button. Learn how to make piano playing easier and more natural, whether you're tackling Beethoven, Chopin, or Debussy. Plus, grab Lisa's free Piano Ninja Fingering Checklist to master your techniqu...

10 months ago

14 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Piano Goals Made Easy: Start 2025 With Smart Practice Habits

Send us a text🎹 Welcome to 2025 with the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎉In this special 51st episode, Lisa Spector introduces her new four-legged companion, Sundance, a 17-month-old career-change dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Sundance is already learning the art of settling during piano practice! 🐾Lisa dives into essential strategies for setting achievable, measurable, and specific goals for the new year and discusses how habit-building is the key to success. Learn about the free checklist...

10 months ago

17 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Beethoven, Trills and Quick Reflexes: Holiday Harmony In Less than 20 Minutes a Day

Send us a textIn this milestone 50th episode, I share practical Piano Ninja tips to help you make major progress with minimal practice during the holiday season. 🎹We’re halfway through the free Holiday Harmony Challenge, but there’s still time to join! These quick, 2-minute daily audio prompts will guide you through stress-free and efficient practice habits. Plus, I celebrate Beethoven’s 254th birthday with a mini-performance and a behind-the-scenes look at my favorite Ninja tricks for master...

10 months ago

12 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Micro Practice for Maximum Progress: Holiday Harmony Tips

Send us a textJoin Lisa Spector, the Piano Ninja, as she explores how focused micro-practice sessions can lead to faster progress at the piano. Inspired by her upcoming 12 Days of Holiday Harmony Challenge (Dec. 12–23), Lisa explains why short, intentional practice is scientifically proven to be more effective—and shares actionable tips for making the most of your time at the keys.Discover:🎵 The power of 20-minute focused practice sessions🎵 How Piano Ninja Tricks like cyclical rhythm and quic...

11 months ago

14 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Holiday Harmony: Focused Practice Tricks for a Stress-Free Season

Send us a text🎹 Celebrate International Ninja Day with a Special Episode! 🎹Feeling the holiday rush? Discover how to create harmony—both at the piano and in your life—through focused, efficient practice sessions. In this YouTube Live episode, Lisa Spector, your Piano Ninja, shares tips to help you maximize your practice time during the busiest season of the year.Learn how shorter, intentional practice sessions can lead to greater progress, reduce stress, and keep your music thriving thro...

11 months ago

35 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Less Is More: Smart Piano Practice for the Holiday Season

Send us a textThe holiday season is here, and your piano practice time might feel squeezed. But don’t worry! In this episode, Lisa Spector shares actionable tips to help you accomplish more in less time.✔ Discover how short, focused sessions can transform your playing✔ Avoid brain fatigue and eliminate poor practice habits✔ Master essential techniques like cyclical rhythm, fingering, and pedalingSpecial Event! 🎉 Celebrate International Ninja Day with us on December 5! Lisa will go live on You...

11 months ago

14 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Pattern Recognition: The Fast-Track to Piano Proficiency

Send us a texthttps://LisaSpector.com/BlackFridayWaitlistThis Black (& White) Friday week, discover the ultimate piano productivity boost. Learn twice as much at half the price! Discover how recognizing patterns in your music can accelerate your learning process exponentially. In this episode, Lisa Spector, Your Piano Ninja, breaks down the importance of pattern recognition and demonstrates its application in works by Mozart and Chopin. Learn how identifying patterns can save you pra...

11 months ago

13 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Music Lessons From My Dog Gina, R.I.P.

Send us a texthttps://LisaSpector/BlackFridayWaitlistWelcome to a special and deeply personal episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast. This week, I’m stepping away from the usual format to remember my beloved black Lab, Gina, who passed away this week at 15 and a half years old. Gina was my agility champion partner, my devoted companion and a familiar presence during my YouTube sessions. In her memory, I play a poignant piece by Belarusian composer Skulta and will share how the sublime...

11 months ago

13 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

From Amateur to Professional: Piano Tricks for Touch and Timing

Send us a textGrab my focused practice checklist ⬇️https://lisaspector.com/practiceIn this special election-eve episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast, host Lisa Spector demonstrates the subtle but vital differences that set professional pianists apart from amateurs: inner pulse and touch. Amid the uncertainty and stress of the moment, Lisa shares music that calms and centers, sharing the importance of an internal pulse and how the speed of pressing the keys impacts dynamics and control. U...

1 year ago

15 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Halloween Piano Tricks: Bumblebee Style

Send us a textHappy Halloween from me and my bumblebee sidekick, Gina! 🐝 🐶Today’s Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast episode features a quick dive into fast, efficient fingerwork and musical expression. Playing in my bumblebee costume, I perform Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee and share tricks to tackle challenging, quick passages. From keeping fingers close to the keys for light, efficient movement to my trick of practicing sections “backwards” for better retention, these tricks can help a...

1 year ago

10 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

From Nerves to Piano Ninja: Mindset Tricks for Thriving Under Pressure

Send us a text🎉 Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast is here! I’m Lisa Spector, your Juilliard Alum Piano Ninja, helping adult classical pianists play with more joy and ease. This season, in addition to Piano Ninja Tricks that help your technique and musicianship, we’re also focusing on mindset mastery, because every great performance starts in the mind.In the 1st episode of Season 2, I’m sharing powerful tricks to turn performance anxiety into excitement, inspired by my recent session ...

1 year ago

10 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Season Finale: Piano Ninja Tricks for Chopin Nocturne in C minor

Send us a textIn this closing episode of Season 1 of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, join your host Lisa Spector, The Piano Ninja, as she shares Piano Ninja Tricks from her recent all-Chopin YouTube Live concert. Lisa shares Chopin's Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1 as performed in her recent All Chopin program on YouTube Live. WATCH THE FULL CHOPIN PROGRAM ON YOUTUBE HERE ⬇️https://www.youtube.com/live/E92z-cyEgWMListen in to discover specific piano ninja tricks highlighted during her ...

1 year ago

12 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

My Favorite Chopin in Memory of My Mom Sunday night on YouTube Live

Send us a textQuick bonus episode to invite you to My Favorite Chopin Sunday night on YouTube Live in memory of my mom.https://www.youtube.com/live/E92z-cyEgWMAdd to your calendar of choice here. 👍 Sunday, August 4TIME 5 pm PT / 8 pm ETMy mother and I shared a deep love for the music of Chopin. In Trudy's memory, you're invited to "MY FAVORITE CHOPIN: A Night of Romantic Elegance" As I immerse myself in the sublime beauty of Chopin's masterpieces, featuring a selection of Scherzi, Mazurk...

1 year ago

6 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

From Velvet Keys to Lightning Fingers: The Tricks of Piano Touch

Send us a textWelcome to the 40th episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! This episode is all about the tricks of touch. Play into the keys? Pull up the keys? When? Why? How?Learn the art of touch and knowing when, why and how to apply specific touches can make you sound like a Piano Ninja!Join me as I prepare to perform My Favorite Chopin in a YouTube Live concert in memory of my mom, a passionate lover of Chopin. This concert will feature a selection of my favorite Chopin piece...

1 year ago

9 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

BEHIND THE SCENES: Practicing for My All-Chopin Performance on YouTube Live

Send us a textThis week, I’m sharing my preparations for an upcoming all-Chopin concert on YouTube Live, happening Sunday night, July 28th. Etudes, nocturnes, scherzi and mazurkas... oh my!https://www.youtube.com/live/E92z-cyEgWMI’ll also demonstrate the more subtle use of my Quick Reflex Motion Trick with Chopin’s Ocean Etude, showing you how to practice smart and effeciently. Tune in to get inspired, learn new piano tricks, and elevate your piano playing!Plus, hear all about my exciting pla...

1 year ago

8 minutes

Piano Ninja Tricks

Effortless Practice: Merging Piano Ninja Tricks

Send us a textIn this episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector shares her latest adventures in the world of piano. Lisa talks about her recent YouTube Live performances, including a special American music concert featuring works by Gershwin, Earl Wilde, Zach Gulaboff Davis and Amy Beach. She introduces her new YouTube Live series, "Piano Practice in PJs," and demonstrates how she applies multiple Piano Ninja Tricks while practicing Chopin’s Third Scherzo. Lisa offers valua...

1 year ago

17 minutes