The Cascades by Scott Joplin

[PlaceBoInternational]

After listening to this version, I decided to learn it. Eleven months later, I can play this piece!! :D

[sutasman]

You play it much slower than all the other versions I've seen - and I like it! After all Joplins Rags were usually meant to be slow.

[gabsylv]

very harp-like and soothing...ahhhh nice!

[marseilletarot]

Just. Wow. You treat the music so gently and it comes accross with such beautiful simplicity. Bravo. Viva Joplin.

[Gianluke01]

E' molto simile a Maple Leaf Rag, cmq bravo! good!

[madmax21254]

So, when are you going to try the Pineapple Rag?? I know you'll do justice to it.

[richg199]

Awesome job man. I can play this too. I love seeing other people's interpretations of it!

[Fixnitup]

Sheet music is the map ..... how you get there is up to you !!! Would love to hear you on an acoustic piano though ..... WELL DONE !! ... ROCK ON !!!

[Zettsuu]

dude, you have the exact same piano I do! =D

[Dan474834]

You are very good, but your talent shouldn´t be wasted on a digital piano... buy an acoustic one.

[rachizzleo]

Wow really good...just maybe abit too legato for my liking :)

[SmartStart24]

lol, I have no Idea what these people are talking about, im not a piano whiz, but i do like your playing. It makes me grin! :) Its nice to listen to.

[madmax21254]

I always enjoy your interpretations of SJ

[amazing763]

I like the ornaments. As the critics have said, "It's ragtime." In my book that means you can roll chords, add trills, go RH 8va, use rubato (not too much, p-l-e-a-s-e; keep that beat), or emphasize notes that others play straight. Ragtime is one of the ancestors of jazz, and who would tell a jazz musician, "You can't play it THAT way!"?

[soturquoise]

great!

[NotStevieWonder]

Hi there. I like your playing style, very considered, but... this is a rag, not debussy, so compress the dynamics a bit and play it with a bit more authority.. also lose those little arpeggios. You shouldn't over-embellish a rag, it's supposed to be fun and entertaining, remember that. Tempo is not far off though. Overall, a very good player, but I'd tackle this piece differently.

Hope that helps :)

[lozza925]

pretty good man but get rid of that cadenza before the third section

[jleeproductions]

Great job. HAHA. Totally understand what you mean by "but after playing it about ten times for the camera, I said screw it, I'm uploading it."

[tdub1941]

Lovely! Very good indeed. 5 Stars!

RagJazzMonkey

Tom Warner

[krikletipain]

I don't understand Titopasaribu (but I respect his mind !), I think a piece is made to have a lot of interpretations. If everybody play it the same way, it's borring.

And I'm sorry Titopasaridu, but a rag IS pretty ! Why are you differentiate rag and beauty ?

[notyouz]

Kind of reminds me of a music box or an ice cream truck -- in a good way. The only thing that bothered me was the lack of a consistent tempo. The expressiveness of the slow-downs notwithstanding, I think it would be better played the same speed throughout in order to create that music box feel.

[andykoehler]

Thank you, that is probably good advice.

[chloelovescats]

it comforts my heart. but it at the same time makes me sad. it's strange. I think that artistice people will sometimes will feel the same.

[aakid987]

Hey, check out my video of Cascades too!!! just type in "Scott Joplin, cascades" and I'm i little lower on the list. i need comments/suggestions to make it better/if its good.

[laxattack1]

good job, but i would say like 2 thinks about it. make it a little faster, and not so legato. its a rag so it should be kind of stacatto and jumpy. but good job

[music1mania]

pretty freakin awesome! good polished sound and smooth transitions. i have yet to learn this one too!!! so far i only know three of joplin's songs...oh well...i will have to be patient

[lentoagitato]

stop rolling the cords. its not supposed to sound pretty...its a rag

[andykoehler]

I've said this in response to one or two other people, and I'll say it to you. I'm not trying to play it how it's "supposed to sound". I play for myself, and myself alone, so I'll roll the chords if I want to roll them. I do hope that people enjoy my playing, but if not, life goes on.

[titopasaribu]

totally agree with lentoagitato....the way he played it sound great..but unfortunately wrong...it rag..its not meant to be prety...but nevermind me...i think he did alright

[andykoehler]

lol, great, but wrong. Thanks, I think. Once again, my intention isn't to play it how it's "meant to be". Let's not forget that all new styles of music come from people coming along who do something different or innovative. While I'm not claiming to be either, it annoys me to have someone tell me I played something "wrong".

[titopasaribu]

dude if u cant take critics..maybe u shouldnt put stuff on youtube...its as simple as tht...if ur trying 2 play it 4 urself...then gut 4 u...but please do not mess up a masterpiece and post it here..

[andykoehler]

I think you're a bit confused... First you say "it sound great", then "wrong", and then "mess up a masterpiece". Make up your mind. I think the overwhelmingly positive comments and four stars speak for themselves. Let's hear your interpretation.

[lefliesoopreem]

It's music, and that's an art. How it is interpreted is up to the player, so if you think it should be played a certain way, then play with that style and upload it yourself.

[vanillacustard]

lol it sounds different hearing it being played on piano :D...we played this song in our woodwind quintet for a competition...hehe good job

[abbafan999]

Brilliant. I think the way you interpret it is a matter of opinion. I tried learning this one years ago but gave up as I found the third section impossible to play and couldn't work out what fingering to use on the fourth part. Great tune, one of my favourite Scott Joplin tunes.

[andykoehler]

Thank you! Yeah, those bottom hand octaves are a bit tough, but I've got big hands which helps a lot. I would do more with the dynamics, but unfortunately life sometimes interferes with sufficient practice time.

[abbafan999]

I agree about practice time they take a lot of work to perfect and I don't really have the time. My problem is I enjoy playing ragtime that much that tend to move onto a different one before I have completely mastered the one I'm learning, as I like trying them out. I found The Cascades far too hard for me though.

[trolias2]

hard?ive learnd the first two parts in maybe 2 days no im learning them precisely and i think that this peice is wuite easy er then the others.

anyway andy very nice

[jmoanx]

oops! sorry, I'm referring to the first part!

[jmoanx]

good! but, you should also add some dynamics there, you r performance is but a soft one.. hehe! but still nice! ^_^

[nicolejustin]

cool!! but it's so dark

[kelbolsa]

excellent performance!

[uraharashop153]

Really great job!

[Kasquar]

Scott Joplin and the St. Louis World's Fair would be proud of you...thank you

[ps121911]

wow, great timing; not rushed. would like to hear more!

[steven1231]

I hate playing for a camera. I usually make a lot of random mistakes that I dont normally make.

[beethovenkain]

haha yeah me too

[nicolejustin]

same here!! haha!!

[SelfTaughtPianist]

same here. And for me it's the same if someone is watching me playing... :)