Music Theory and Piano
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Robert Estrin's latest Music Theory videos 
In this video, Robert talks about Virtual Sheet Music and why he uses it daily for his music endeavors! NOTE: This video is not sponsored. Robert made and shared it completely on his own! Released on June 18, 2025 
In this video, Robert talks about sleeping and how important it is for your musical learning. This applies to all instrumentalists! Released on June 11, 2025 
Variable Practice: Why Exact Repetitions May Not Be the Best Goal
An important practice concept for all musicians In this video, Robert gives you an important tip to improve your practice for all instruments. Released on June 4, 2025 Robert Estrin's latest piano videos 
In this video, Robert tells you what are the most important pieces a pianist should learn. You can find these pieces and many more from the classical piano dedicated page. Released on June 25, 2025 
5 Piano Practice Mistakes Nearly Everyone Makes
Learn how to fix these mistakes to elevate your piano practice In this video, Robert lists five piano mistakes that you should tackle right away. Released on June 18, 2025 
In this video, Robert tells you the three basic techniques to improve your piano playing. Released on June 11, 2025 About Robert Estrin
 Robert Estrin is a pianist who truly lives his instrument. Not only does he play and teach with proficiency and passion, but he also knows just about everything there is to know about pianos - from their construction to their history. Music is "all in the family" for Robert, with his father, Morton, a concert pianist; his sister, Coren, a pianist as well; his wife, Florence, an accomplished flutist; and his daughter, Jennifer, a violinist of great acclaim.Robert studied piano and French horn at New York City's Manhattan School of Music, and he also received a degree in piano performance from Indiana University. He performs with symphony orchestras, at arts festivals, for music teachers' associations, at museums, and on college campuses. His most unique performance experience, however, is his Living Piano: Journey Through Time. In this creative endeavor, Robert dresses in period costumes and plays historic instruments, from his own collection, to tell the story of the piano over time to a wide variety of audiences - not just piano enthusiasts. Robert maintains a vibrant online presence, with countless videos on YouTube and through Virtual Sheet Music. His videos, which have been viewed by millions, are engaging, entertaining, informative, and sure to enhance the knowledge, skills, and overall playing experience of pianists from beginners to the most advanced. Do you have a question for Robert? DISCLAIMER: The views and the opinions expressed in this video are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Virtual Sheet Music and its employees.
Questions, Comments, Requests: Mackenzie Rancourt on February 16, 2025 @6:09 pm PST
How do I know the different enharmonic notes on the black and white keys
Sharon Gilbert * VSM MEMBER * on June 26, 2024 @10:26 am PST
We're preparing a celebration of our 60th wedding anniversary and would like a few hits from each decade. Do you have suggestions and would Virtual Sheet Music have them available to me?
 Fabrizio Ferrari - moderator, on June 27, 2024 @1:02 am PST
Hello Sharon and thank you for your inquiry.
First of all, congratulations on your 60th wedding anniversary! That's just fantastic news. As for suggesting some of the most popular songs of the last decades, I can suggest the following titles starting from the 40s --- not sure you need from that far though --- (please note that the links below are search results so you can pick the version you like the most): 40s: In the Mood https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/In+the+Mood Paper Doll https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Paper+Doll 50s: Rock Around the Clock https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Rock+Around+the+Clock Jailhouse Rock https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Jailhouse+Rock 60s: I Want to Hold Your Hand https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/I+Want+to+Hold+Your+Hand Can’t Help Falling in Love https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Can%E2%80%99t+Help+Falling+in+Love My Girl https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/My+Girl 70s: Stairway to Heaven https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Stairway+to+Heaven Dancing Queen https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Dancing+Queen Stayin’ Alive https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Stayin%E2%80%99+Alive 80s: Billie Jean https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Billie+Jean Endless Love https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Endless+Love Time After Time https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/time+After+Time 90s: Smells Like Teen Spirit https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Smells+Like+Teen+Spirit I Will Always Love You https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/I+Will+Always+Love+You My Heart Will Go On https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/My+Heart+Will+Go+On 2000s: A Thousand Miles https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/A+Thousand+Miles You’re Beautiful https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/You%E2%80%99re+Beautiful 2010s: Rolling in the Deep https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Rolling+in+the+Deep Shape of You https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Shape+of+You All of Me https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/All+of+Me 2020s: Blinding Lights https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Blinding+Lights Watermelon Sugar https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/se/Watermelon+Sugar Please keep in mind those titles are available for a price despite being discounted for you as a Member. Of course, we also have a ton of classical and traditional music that may be used for your celebration as well (i.e. "Ave Maria", etc.) that are available to you for free. If you'd like some suggestions on that repertoire as well, please let me know. And if you need more ideas, just use our new Virtual Music Assistant to which you can ask questions like "Give me a list of the top songs of the past 60 years organized by decades," and you might have more suggestions: https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/assistant/ My best wishes for your upcoming anniversary! All the best, Sharon Gilbert * VSM MEMBER * on June 27, 2024 @8:59 am PST
Thank you so much. I'd love some classical, but we're in N. Idaho where country music reigns supreme.
Judy Grimes * VSM MEMBER * on April 19, 2024 @6:10 am PST
Hello Robert,
I'm wondering if you could give any advice for the "aging" pianist? I have the good fortune to play well, both the piano and the organ, but I'm wondering if there is some special advice to give someone in their seventies? Robert - host, on April 19, 2024 @8:07 am PST
That's an excellent question. I will see what video I can make on this subject for you!
Judy Grimes * VSM MEMBER * on April 20, 2024 @8:34 am PST
Thanks so much! I'm still a working professional!
Elisabeth * VSM MEMBER * on February 14, 2024 @6:16 pm PST
Hello Robert. I wish to purchase a clip on type piano lamp from Amazon.Could you give me the brand name and price of the one demonstrated. Thank you Elisabeth Cotter.
Robert - host, on February 15, 2024 @9:46 am PST
This link should work even though it says the promotion has ended. https://www.amazon.com/promocode/A205S23DE0DT27
Fabrizio Ferrari - moderator, on February 15, 2024 @9:09 pm PST
Thanks for the link, Robert, but from that page, I can't understand which one of the listed is the lamp you talked about. Do you have a link that takes you to the same lamp in your video?
Domanic VanGieson on February 6, 2024 @6:58 am PST
I have a question for Robert
Question: If I were to get my hand stuck in a piano and someone were to play it how bad would the injuries be, and would they vary on the type of piano, material in the piano, ETC. If you could answer this question that would be nice. Robert - host, on February 6, 2024 @7:53 am PST
I'm not sure how you could get your hand stuck in a piano. But presumably it would have something to do with the fallboard (the key cover). Playing the piano would be difficult and shouldn't effect things much. You'd have to really try to get your hand stuck in a piano. That action could cause some injury depending on how forceful you tried to wedge your hand in there! Extremely rigorous, wild playing could also result in the fallboard coming down on your hands while you're playing. That's why they have slow-close fallboards on some pianos. But this sort of thing is quite rare.
Megan * VSM MEMBER * on December 7, 2023 @8:11 am PST
Hello! This question is mostly for a pianist.
I am a beginner-intermediate keyboard player who plays just for herself as a hobby. I have a question that I have been wanting the answer to for many years and was wondering if someone would be willing to answer it for me. I provide an example but I am not just interested in this particular song, but to ANY song. Question: If I do not have the sheet music for ANY song, how can I tell if a vocalist/instrument player is changing key or changing octave? Below is a link to Jim Nabors singing the Impossible Dream and there are many other songs in which I can hear changes but cannot tell if these changes are key changes or octave changes. Can you suggest how I can learn to make this distinction if all I have is an audio rendition? Because I can read music, I would be able to answer this question for myself if I had the sheet music. My guess is Jim is making key changes. If so, kindly name those particular key changes for me as an example. Jim starts singing the song at 4:03. I hear a change at 6:24, at 6:44 and 7:04; perhaps there are more that I am missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJlgio-UOng Thank you. Megan * VSM MEMBER * on September 24, 2023 @11:10 am PST
Hi! I am a beginning-to- easy-play older adult student. 1. Do you have an index of your piano videos or must I scroll through every page to see what is available? 2. I can read sheet music but find it takes me a long time to learn "easy" pieces. I would like to learn to play by ear; do you have a video on learning to play by ear?. Thank you.
Robert - host, on September 24, 2023 @1:22 pm PST
There are over 1,500 videos with accompanying articles. You can search with keywords here: https://livingpianos.com/blog/ It looks like I don't have a video specifically about how to play by ear. I will make one for you!
Fabrizio Ferrari - moderator, on September 24, 2023 @4:48 pm PST
Robert, actually you made this video about that subject:
https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/playing-music-by-ear/ Fabrizio Ferrari - moderator, on September 24, 2023 @5:04 pm PST
That's wonderful! Welcome to the family!
Please always feel free to contact us ( and me) with any questions or ideas you may have; we will always be glad to hear from you. I really hope you'll enjoy your time here on VSM  Keep playing great music! All the best, Kenneth A. Spencer on July 17, 2023 @3:06 am PST
I have often wondered about the correct way(s) of "spelling" accidental musical notes in various keys.
A video on this topic would be quite helpful in understanding exactly how it should be done. Thanks! Kenneth Spencer Robert - host, on July 17, 2023 @9:30 am PST
Here is a video that relates to your question: https://livingpianos.com/why-do-they-write-e-sharps-and-c-flats/ Please let me know if this clarifies things or if you would like a video on this subject.
Kenneth A. Spencer on July 18, 2023 @2:42 am PST
Thank you for that Robert.
I have viewed that video as you suggested. In fact I recognised it and realised that I have already seen it, probably when it first came out (I have been watching your videos for many years now.). And, yes, that video does help of course, but my question was subtly different, and I hope I won't waste your time if I explain a little more clearly. I play piano, organ (including in a local church for services, just twice per month), and guitar. Although I have quite a reasonable grasp of musical theory, and have written some music for those instruments, I am actually a very poor reader, when it comes to transferring the music from page to eyes to brain to fingers/feet. But sometimes (OK, rarely!) I come across a short musical phrase where accidentals occur and of course have to be fitted into the score taking account of the scale of the piece. This can result in the Cb, B#, Fb and E# which you mentioned in your previous video. But of course if the note is already sharpened or flattened in the scale, there are added issues of double sharps or flats etc etc. Which note name to you sharpen or flatten; when might you write F## rather than G (if that is a sensible question!)? Is there a rationale to all this? I certainly recall a friend of mine, who is an organist, looking at a page and saying to me: "Is that little phrase not mispelled?" Are there rules (I am sure that there are!) that can easily be explained? If I have said enough to make myself clear, and if you have time, a video discussing this topic would be much appreciated (though I doubt that it would improve my playing!). Many thanks for producing those helpful and interesting videos! Kenneth A. Spencer jjjude1 * VSM MEMBER * on March 26, 2023 @5:00 pm PST
Robert, can you direct me to your video that had the piano with the bite marks from Beethoven. Did I misremember this?
Thank you for your musical instruction, insights and inspiration! Judy Jollett Yarmouthport, Ma. Robert - host, on March 27, 2023 @8:57 am PST
You are close. The bite marks were from Thomas Edison who had lost most of his hearing. https://livingpianos.com/thomas-edisons-piano/ Maybe Beethoven also bit his piano!
Paul M Boos on February 24, 2023 @8:38 am PST
I have a few questions from your counterpoint video. Could the 2 melody lines run at a different tempos? And if that is true, then perhaps even start at the same time? And if one is at a different tempo, could it also then just run for only part of the length of the other? I just wasn't sure if that is considered counterpoint if you do that... Thanks in advance!
Robert - host, on February 24, 2023 @9:55 am PST
While having different tempi within a given section of a piece isn't possible, this affect can be achieved by notating longer note values in one line compared to another. This is called augmentation. Diminution is the opposite: having a line faster than the other line. So yes, this is the way this is achieved.
In this case, if it is the same subject that is being played at different speeds, one would end earlier than the other. The intertwining of voices within complex counterpoint found in fugues can involve many types of interesting interactions! Display more comments... (311 more)
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