Winston's "Carol of the Bells" Tutorial Pt. 1, Debbie Center

[hairflipperify]

HI debbie! can you help me with the keys, please? can you Give me the notes of this?

[Pianomam]

@hairflipperify Hi there! Um, I can't write out all the notes, there are way too many! However, there is sheet music available to buy for this piece, and it's really close to what I'm playing. Anyway, hope that helps! Good luck!

[hairflipperify]

@Pianomam But idunno how to read chords or music sheets. :(

[AlFonZoWoody12]

I have for the left hand at the beginning as follows: A#, D, A, A#, G, D, A#, D, A, A#, G, D. Correct me if I'm wrong. It is very hard to see what your hands are doing but I believe that's right. The part from 1:00 - 1:07

[Pianomam]

@AlFonZoWoody12 Yep, that's right!

Debbie  :)

[jolieluvie]

U r a good pianist but in the future say the notes outloud because when I was watching it hand was blocking the notes so I could not tell what notes u were playing. Other than that u did a beautiful job doing this.

[LuigiRules2k11]

Hey Debbie!! This is really helpful and I've learned bits of it and I plan to learn it by Christmas!!!! Thanks for making this video!!

[mmoserrr]

Thank you soso much for making this video! My goal is to be able to play this by christmas! I'm 16 and completely self taught and I've never taken a lesson, but I picked up an intermediate version of Carol of the Bells easily in a couple hours so I'm hopeful. Thanks again Debbie!

[Pianomam]

@mmoserrr I'm sooo glad it's helping you! Thanks for letting me know!

Debbie :)

[pinkleopard28]

Do you have a music sheet for this song? You play it really good:)

[Pianomam]

@pinkleopard28 Hi there! I originally learned this by ear, but there is sheet music available. It's not quite the same as what I play, but it's very nice. I'm sure you can find it online or order it in a music store. And thank you for the compliment! :)

Debbie

[horselver4everx]

In the begining the right hand collides with the left hand I'm confused on how you fix this

[LuigiRules2k11]

@horselver4everx me too but you just have to keep practicing!! PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!!

[JossyG10]

@UnidentifiedAccount Im 13 and can play this...

[TickleToeTv]

Wow...

[ImCalebRosengard]

My dear, THANK YOU SO SO SO SO VERY VERY VERY MUCH FOR THIS, If I could pay you I would, seriously

[Pianomam]

@ImCalebRosengard Hi Caleb! Pay me? I think you just did! I'm really glad it's helping you!

Debbie :)

[alarae93]

its really hard to see what keys your pushing. =/ 

[TheGBlade]

im a bit of a self taught person

but i find it a little easier knowing what notes you are playing instead of pausing the video every so often

do u think you could write the letter names out somewhere, this is how my old music techer would establish a song through the class since none of us knew how to read music and it was only a elective class at school

[Pianomam]

@TheGBlade Hi! Gosh, that would take forever to write out all those notes! Sorry!

[TheGBlade]

@Pianomam oh thats fine ^^

thanks for replying though :)

[legodroid]

I like when you said "hello up there" XD

[Pianomam]

@legodroid LOL, thanks!

[ilovebandpercussion]

@UnidentifiedAccount I can and i'm 12!!!:)

[Pianomam]

@ilovebandpercussion That's awesome! Let me know if you post a video of yourself playing it!

[DawnDayLuv]

i can

[Pianomam]

@UnidentifiedAccount My piano student, Derek, played this at age 11.

Debbie

[nsnskilletandjblvr]

hard to follow

[jimpkim]

Midi!!!

[formula945]

Its great :D thanks learned it fast.

[TheGrugruxKing]

Debbie, you're a sweetheart

[viggom8N]

You're playing it beautifully, but you use a weird finger position, which makes the song a little harder to play, if you ask me. But hey, that's my opinion, and we can all feel free to use which fingers we want, since you showed us the right tunes. Thanks for posting this tutorial!

[Pianomam]

@viggom8N Hi! You bring up a great point! I'm using fingering that works for MY hands, but it's certainly not to say those fingerings are the best for everyone. We've all got different sized hands, different abilities, and maybe different past injuries that contribute to the need to work out fingerings that work for you. Anyway, hope it helps you! Happy Holidays, Debbie :)

[thoras101]

I LOVE YOU! I've been looking for a tutorial for this song for such a long time. You're the best!

[Pianomam]

@thoras101 Awww! I hope it will really help you! Let me know if you record it!

Debbie :)

[xLeonRulez]

Hi awesome tutorial I don't remember it well so every year around this time I learn it n yeah it make my family happy during Christmas thx very much :)

[Pianomam]

@xLeonRulez That's awesome! So glad it's helping!

Debbie :)

[maryjune93]

Hi Debbie,

I love to watch this video,because this is one of my favourite christmas carols :)

And thanks to your great video I hopefully will be able to play this song at Christmas...

Thank you so much for teaching how to play the song!

[Pianomam]

Hi MaryJune! I am thrilled to hear that you're enjoying my video and that it's helping! It means so much to me to know I'm helping people all over the world, an amazing feeling. Let me know if you get it down and record it.

All the best,

Debbie :)

[Pianomam]

@adamantiumP5 Hey Adam, sorry, I'm not sure what you mean. However, I do know that I play this piece a little differently EVERY time I play it, because I do a lot of improvising, as does George Winston. So I'm guessing you picked up on some differences because it is played a little differently every time I do it. I did the best I could and it took forever to create this tutorial. I guess the bottom line is, this teaches ONE way to play this piece, and it's close, but could never be just perfect.

[adamantium31]

everyone commenting on this, did you find it easy to learn? she does great teaching it, but does it take a while to get it down because of the coordination?

[jinjabreadboi]

Thank God for YouTube and thank him even more for people like you!

[Pianomam]

@jinjabreadboi Aw thank you so much! I sure hope it will help you!

Debbie :)

[mica5683]

Debbie!! i love you Thank you

[Pianomam]

@mica5683 You're welcome!!!

[TwilightGirlSparkles]

Thank you SOOOO much for this, I've been wanted to learn this song for ever but never thought it was possible since i can't read sheet music very well. But thanks to you now I'm learning to play this song =)

[Pianomam]

@TwilightGirlSparkles Hi there! I tell you, it just makes my day getting comments like this! Makes it soooo worth it, putting together tutorials! So glad it's helping!

In harmony all ways,

Debbie :)

[TwiddleXTormenT]

Hi Debbie! Thanks for the tutorial! I'm start to learn this piece and it's so easy how you teach it. I didn't think I would be able to play even the beginning. Hahaha! And I can't believe how you learned this by ear! Nice work! Thanks a ton!

[Pianomam]

Hi there! You are so welcome, I'm thrilled that it's helpful to you! Keep me posted on your progress, okay/

In harmony all ways,

Debbie :)

[brians69d240]

Do you have any recommended drills that you give your students to get the left hand part down so "you can do it in your sleep"? thanks!

[Pianomam]

Hi Brian! I think one thing that helps is if you rock your hand to the left on the first note, to the right on the 2nd, left on the 3rd, right on the 4th, left on the 5th, and right on the 6th. It's basically a repetitious 6-note pattern. Just let your hand really relax and rock left and right through the notes, kind of like a rocking horse, then the notes sort of fall out of the hand. I hope that makes sense and helps. Practice that pattern over and over until it's easy!

Good luck!

Debbie

[jtimester]

i have a kawai piano too. anyways good tutorial.

[3gees123]

thanks for posting. I was looking for a decent tutorial with a step by step process and i finally found something that really helps me take it slow, then have it stuck in my head. Its my favorite christmas song!

[Pianomam]

That is AWESOME! Comments like yours are the whole reason I took the time to create this tutorial, I was really hoping it would help people!

Merry Christmas!

Debbie :)

[omgrachelftw]

Thank you so much for posting!

[Pianomam]

You're so welcome! Hope it helps!

Debbie :)

[TheLeader171]

please put a tutorial of the sugar plum fairy

[Pianomam]

I'd have to learn that one first myself! Perhaps I'll compose an arrangement, it's such a pretty piece!

[baddabingxyouredead]

HELLO UP THERE!

[Pianomam]

LOL, hello!!!

Debbie  :)

[twilight8970lmk]

How long did it take for you to learn that by ear? I'm accustomed to using sheet music, unlike most people.

[Pianomam]

To be honest, it was at least 20 years ago that I learned it! I think it was a few hours or so. Have a great holiday season, and thanks for commenting!

Debbie :)

[twilight8970lmk]

i like your piano^^

[Pianomam]

Thanks! I've had it since 1986, and I teach at least 30 to 40 piano lessons per week on it. I can't believe it's held up as well as it has!

[seanaldwho]

i would love for u to do a tutorial on dance of the sugar plum fairy, that is if u know it of course ^_^

[Pianomam]

I have only played various easy arrangements when teaching students. That would be a nice one for me to arrange, though!

Have a great holiday season!

Debbie :)

[seanaldwho]

thanks for replying, and have a great holiday aswell!

[jmanx35]

thanks for the video, it's very thorough

[Pianomam]

You're so welcome, thank you for the comment!

Debbie  :)

[jealously9340]

thank you thank you :))

i really needed this

[Pianomam]

You're welcome! I hope it helps!

Debbie :)

[lovevictorcreed]

hello! it's really helping so far! i just have a question: what notes are you playing on your left hand from 6:39 - 6:41? thanks so much! =)

[Pianomam]

@lovevictorcreed Hi! I'm playing D F G B flat G B flat. Hope that helps you!

All the best,

Debbie :)

[shortpeoplerule1134]

oh my god thank you soo much.. all the other versions were for beginners. this one is almost profesional =))

[Pianomam]

@shortpeoplerule1134 , I'm so glad! I enjoyed doing it, and love hearing from people all over the world, awesome!

Debbie :)

[Britnayy328]

no, im right handed. and this was very easy to learn so thank you(: this helped alot!(:

[Pianomam]

Britnayy, I'm so happy it helped you! Happy holidays!

[ChrisTheSpiritOfGods]

Hello up there :)

This made me feel like God:P It's really funny when you keep popping in and out:)

5/5. Very useful and detailed

[Pianomam]

Hi Chris / God! That was so funny, I never thought of it that way! So glad it helped you! Happy Holidays!

[mMa2598]

I've always thought this piece was beautiful. It really gets me into the Christmas mood. I'm only 11 years old, and I've been playing piano since I was 2 and I still haven't had lessons yet. Although, I have a great ear. And I've been trying to learn this myself by ear but I just can't. And this is a great tutorial but I was wondering if you had an AIM account so we could do a video session one on one and you could teach me! That would be great!

Thanks!

Molly

[Pianomam]

Hi Molly!

Thank you for your comment! I'm afraid I don't have an AIM account, sorry! I do hope this video will help you learn this piece, though! Good luck!

Debbie :)

[jjo5]

GREATS!!

[Pianomam]

Thank you!

Debbie :)

[Britnayy328]

thanks(:

[Pianomam]

You're welcome, hope it helps! Just curious, are you left-handed by chance?

Debbie :)

[TheAsharedhett]

AH-MAZE-ING Song...

[NettieMarieB]

you helped so much i have trying to learn it by ear and this really made it easier thank you !

[Pianomam]

I'm so glad! Let me know if you record it too!

Debbie :)

[eddygorro]

would you be able to list the chords/notes under the information section of this video? at times it's hard to see exactly what keys you're hitting. other than that though, great video, you're very talented.

[Pianomam]

Hi! I'm having a hard time picturing what you're asking for. Have you seen something like this on other tutorials?

[mmkaybs]

Thank you so much!! This is such a great help! I've been trying to learn this by ear for so long but parts of it are just too fast, I could never get it:P Also, I didn't want to buy the whole song book for just this one song so thanks again:)

-Bobby

[Pianomam]

Hi Bobby!

I'm thrilled that this is such a help to you! Let me know if you record yourself playing this piece.

All the best,

Debbie

[douglassmcann]

have you figured out his version of 'joy'?

i have the sheet to his version of canon in d...

thank you for your instruction here,,,

hugs

douglas

[Pianomam]

Hi Douglas,

Yep, I play those pieces as well, and have sent countless brides down the aisle to those great arrangements!

Thanks for commenting!

[calligrapen09]

i love this piece :)

[lalalrandomelyhere]

hello, great tutorial!

do u think i will be able to play this by november as a brand new beginner thats not a piano genious? i just started my 1st lesson and i adore this song and look forward to playing it soon...

Is this the same exact as the winston arrangement?

[Pianomam]

Hi! This is extremely close to the Winston arrangement, but I'm sure it's not exact. It is a very difficult piece, I'm sorry to say, so unless you progress at lightning speed, November is a pretty ambitious goal. Let me know how you do!

[yygott]

Debbie this is so incredibly helpful. Thanks so much for posting this tutorial. I find that your arrangement is more accurate than the sheet music! (the sheet music I have has an F# in the 18th measure instead of an E natural and it always sounded wrong to me) Thanks again!

[paramorehjdz]

i love you debbie

[jenabobena48]

Debbie! thank you sooo much for this video. i really liked this song by george winston and wanted to learn how to play it on the piano. You did a great job explaining how to play it. you are amazing! Much thanks! :-D

~~jena

[Pianomam]

Hey Jena! Thanks so much for the nice comment! I'm so glad it helped! Let me know if you record yourself playing it!

All the best,

Debbie :)

[crazypickachu678]

thank you so much i really want to learn carol of the bells

[Pianomam]

Hello, and you're welcome! I'm so glad it's helping you!

All the best,

Debbie :)

[karllamen]

thanks for posting. I now have part 1 down, just have to work on the speed, looking forward to part 2.

[Pianomam]

Hi there! Thanks for commenting! I'm so glad it helped you!

All the best,

Debbie :)

[ButterFlykisses1794]

Thank you soo much Debbie! IF i can call you that because i'm only 14 so I shouldn't adress you by your first name. Anyway, I am about up to 5:57. I just got done figuring that part out. I have it all down up to that point! Thank you soooo much for all you are doing! Your teaching is great!

[stickperson54321]

Thank you so much i wanted to learn this song and i just bought George Winstons book and i can't wait to learn this song. I have been trying to learn this song. And i got the first 2minutes or around 1:50 mastered. When i learn this i am going to play it for my family Hopefully around next christmas. Thank you so much for the tutorial it was alot of help. =]

===Ashley===

[Pianomam]

Hi Ashley!

Thanks for the nice comment! And thank you, too, for the friend add! Let me know when you have this figured out and recorded!

Debbie :)

[shadowstyle25]

Debbie, this is an awesome song and one of my favorites of George Winston. I will try my best to master piece haha. Thank you!!

[Pianomam]

Hi there! Thank you for the nice comment, and I wish you the best in learning this pretty arrangement!

Happy Holidays!

Debbie :)

[l21logan99]

This is a lovely song, and you play and teach it wonderfully but George Winston should have come up with his own name for this just because it is so unique and awesome!

[Pianomam]

Hi there!

Yes, you're right, his arrangement is wonderful, isn't it? He really makes the piece his own!

Thanks for watching and commenting!

Debbie :)

[cruizelinecuzz]

can you please attach the notes to this song starting at 3:47 because from then on i couldnt really see your fingers and was a little but lost :) thanks! you play beautifully!

[Pianomam]

Hi there!

Not sure how I would do that, as I learned this by ear so it doesn't perfectly match the written notes now available by George Winston. Those weren't around way back when I learned it from listening to the CD. Sorry, and thanks so much for the compliment!

Debbie :)

[dsoto3705]

Thanks for the tutorial. Now i can play for my family! : )

[Pianomam]

Hi there!

Thanks for the comment! Let me know if you end up doing your own recording!

Debbie :)

[070114004]

Excellent tutorial!! very very good job. Now I can play. yay!

[lolgirl125]

woow thank you soo much for this i was having a hard time figuring out the sheet music!!:]

[Pianomam]

Hi! I sure hope it helps! Keep me posted!

All the best,

Debbie  :)

[julie14401]

Thank you so much for posting such a great tutorial. I printed out sheet music for this version of this song but the part(at 4:05 on your tutorial)is really hard for me (the way it was written in the sheet music) because I have small hands. I have been trying to figure out another way to play that part so it would be easier. Then, I found this video and I noticed that you nailed the part at 4:05 without stretching your fingers. So thank you!

[Pianomam]

Hi! I'm so glad it works for you! It's not quite as what I've seen in books at that part, which is a much bigger stretch. Still sounds about the same without wrecking your hands! I have a couple young piano students working on this, too, and there's no way they could stretch to play what's actually written for that part! And I don't do it either, why ruin your hands over it?

Let me know how it goes learning it!

All the best,

Debbie :)

[RonBurgundyChannel4]

luckly i have very big hands :D

YAY!

[Pianomam]

Not me! Mine are small, and I have even had old hand injuries before studying the Taubman method to learn to play injury free!

Good luck!

Debbie :)

[agee08]

OMG thank you sooo much for doing this. I started today to learn this one by ear myself, and I realized it was going to take a really long time. This tutorial is such a fantastic find, THANK YOU! My goal is to have it all by Christmas. Thanks again!!!

[Pianomam]

You have no idea how much it means to me to see comments like yours, thanking me for doing this! It just feels so good to know I'm helping others learn this beautiful piece!

All the best to you,

Debbie :)

[magoo777]

I am in love with this arrangement, and I am so happy someone has put up a tutorial, I am going to work on it tonight, thank you so very much, you have done it beautifully.

[Pianomam]

Hi there! I love it too, so pretty! Best of luck learning it, and feel free to email me with any questions that I can help with!

In harmony,

Debbie :)

[ZzSilentLegendzZ]

Thank you so much! This helped me a lot. On to part 2!

[Pianomam]

You're so welcome! Thank you so much for leaving the nice comment! It makes me so happy to know it's helping people! Guess it's the teacher in me!

All the best,

Debbie :)

[DarkTiger8123]

I never did fully learn this last year... I think I'll start working on it again. Great job on the tutorial.

[Pianomam]

Hey thanks, Michael!

Sounds good, let's work on it tomorrow night at your lesson!

Debbie :)

[hipmama1970]

Beautiful! Yay!!!!!!

[Pianomam]

Thanks, Jen!!

Hugs to the kids,

Teacher Debbie :)

[Pianomam]

You're so welcome!! Gotta thank SharpieSniffer92 for the idea! I never would have thought of it without her!

Now go practice! :)

[resakg]

thank you thank you thank you! i have been WAITING for a tutorial to this beautiful arrangement!

[Pianomam]

Hi!

I'm so glad you like it! Let me know if it helps you out! Part 2 is loaded now too!

All the best,

Debbie :)

[cschnell11]

this is a great video ! thank you so much!

[Pianomam]

Thank YOU! Upload a video when you get it down! Feel free to email with any questions!

Debbie :)

[futurearmysniper94]

thank you so much!

its kinda weird that i just started looking for vids on how to play this and this vid was uploaded today :D

[Pianomam]

Hi!

You're so welcome, I sure hope you'll find it helpful! Let me know, okay?

Debbie :)

[SharpieSniffer92]

AWESOME tutorial!!!!!!!

Thanks so much!!!

Keep playing beautifully! :)

[Pianomam]

Hi Emma!

Thanks for the fun idea! I sure hope it helps! I want to hear you when you have it down! Part 2 is up now too!

Debbie :)