Super Mario theme played "blind" by Tom Brier

I discussed this idea with Tom, that as an interesting companion to Martin Leung playing this tune blindfolded, we could make a video of Tom playing this "blind" -- i.e., without ever having seen the music before (nor heard it, for Tom isn't into video games, but is liking the videogame tunes that I've been presenting to him).

It almost gets to the point where I'm going to stop the video and declare it a bust, but then he slows it down and plays it like the real tango that it is, and we discover what a beautiful piece of music it truly is when played "right" (i.e., as Tom says, not at videogame speed, but at tango speed).

The sheet music that Tom is reading is Martin's arrangement, but I re-scored it with correct time signature and correct notation of the syncopation and accidentals, so as to be more readable to Tom, who is familiar with reading tango scores. You can download it here: http://www.keeper1st.com/music/smbtitle.pdf

I've actually made a couple further corrections to the score since making this video. I had a natural accidental where it wasn't needed, and should have scored a D-sharp where there is an E-flat. These are throwing off Tom in this video. I had made this score at the last minute before going to the ragtime festival, so didn't proofread it well enough, apparently.

Of course, Tom is embellishing upon it and filling it out -- particularly in the left hand.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• super
• mario
• piano
• sightread
• video
• game
• music
• nintendo

[edwarddflint]

tiny hands

[Keeper1st]

@edwarddflint Eh? He can hold those tenths without rolling them. Those are not tiny hands. They're not Max Keenlyside hands (seen him stretch and octave and a half), but they're certainly well equipped for the piano.

[Harmonyww]

I guess the next step for Tom would be to sight read it while blindfolded. Then he'll really be the king of the piano.

[Keeper1st]

@Harmonyww Heh! Well, I wouldn't be surprised if he were blindfolded and you hummed a melody that he could take it and flesh it out.

[MysticDragons]

I cannot understand how some1 has never heared this tune before. It's so famous.

[roxorsoxor]

bandaid pinkie :3

[Zizzlop]

@Keeper1st Wow, a door-to-door salesman? You never see those anymore. That's so cool!

[mugford9]

I've still never gotten sick of this song.

[WhoaBroLowBlow]

When did David Cross learn to play the piano?

[iProficient]

this goes to show how good he is at getting a feel for music and the art behind it. the second playthrough was magnificent

[vanillabitty]

I love you Tom. You're my new hero :-)

[Ilir7777]

when you read a book, there is the narators voice which comes on your head. When you read a music script there is awesome sound that comes from the piano...It's amazing when you think it like this lol

[TheLastTogepi]

Why are asians so good at piano?

Wait...what...?

He isn't asian?

...oh...my...gawsh...

We have a god amoung men.

[Keeper1st]

@Zizzlop Yep, and if I remember right, it was actually sold to us by a door-to-door salesman! I may be mistaken in that (long time ago, you know!), but certainly door-to-door sales were common in those days. I definitely remember somebody demonstrating an upholstery cleaner on one of our couch cushions.