classicalsqueak

[classicalsqueak]

Level 6 Ear Training - Chord Identification (Played on Piano) Quick Set Set 1

Options: Triads - Major, Minor; Seventh chords - Dominant seventh, diminished seventh

This is also *not* the way that the exams are presented. These were made for some of my students who were bored with the regular format and wanted something more fun/challenging.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 8 Ear Training - Interval Identification (Played on Piano) Practice with C Set 1

Intervals: -2, +2, -3, +3, p4, tritone, p5, -6, +6, -7, +7, p8 For examinations, intervals may begin on any pitch, ascending or descending, but this video is practice specifically beginning on C and descending only.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Beginner Sight Reading Exercises (Piano - One hand at a time) Level 2.5 Exercise 36-40

To purchase sheet music for this video: https://ko-fi.com/s/1e9dee6002

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For more sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 8 Ear Training - Interval Identification (Played on Piano) Practice with C Set 2

Intervals: -2, +2, -3, +3, p4, tritone, p5, -6, +6, -7, +7, p8 For examinations, intervals may begin on any pitch, ascending or descending, but this video is practice specifically beginning on C and ascending only.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 8 Ear Training - Interval Identification (Played on Piano) Practice with C Set 1

Intervals: -2, +2, -3, +3, p4, tritone, p5, -6, +6, -7, +7, p8 For examinations, intervals may begin on any pitch, ascending or descending, but this video is practice specifically beginning on C and ascending only.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Beginner Sight Reading Exercises (Piano - One hand at a time) Level 2.5 Exercise 31-35

To purchase sheet music for this video: https://ko-fi.com/s/1e9dee6002

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For more sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 7 and Level 8 Ear Training - Chord Identification (Played on Piano) Speed Rounds Set 2

Options: Triads - Major, Minor, Augmented; Seventh chords - Dominant seventh, diminished seventh

Three speed rounds:

Round 1 (1 chord, you answer, I answer)

Round 2 (2 chords in a row, identify, answers)

Round 3 (4 chords in a row, identify, answers)

This is also *not* the way that the exams are presented. These were made for some of my students who were bored with the regular format and wanted something more fun/challenging.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

yung kai - blue

(This video was a request.) This is my arrangement of blue by yung kai (Max Zhang) for intermediate piano. The written finger suggestions were for my students, but use what works best for you (you will probably notice that I am sometimes using different choices than is written since this was (1) more comfortable for my hands and (2) what I defaulted to when reading through at different tempi).

There is a full play through at the correct tempo and a slower practice tempo (eighth = 72).

*Note: There are two versions of LH accompaniment (mm. 27-40 vs. mm. 75-88). Since they are varying degrees of difficulty, but outline the same chord progressions, please substitute the version that works best for your hands (if needed) or play as written. 

Sheet Music:

Sheet Music Direct: https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/en-US/se/ID_No/1753536/Product.aspx

Sheet Music Plus: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/blue-23063899.html

— For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 5 Ear Training (Voice) - Interval Identification and Singing (Played on Piano) Set 5

Interval options: -3, +3, p4, p5, -6, +6, p8

Procedure:

[Interval is played]

Identify/name the interval

[The first note of the interval is played]

Sing the interval (that was previously played)

[Answer revealed]

If you are using this for examination preparation, please check the requirements in your respective instrument/voice syllabus.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Beginner Sight Reading Exercises (Piano - One hand at a time) Level 2.5 Exercise 26-30

To purchase sheet music for this video: https://ko-fi.com/s/1e9dee6002

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For more sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 7 and Level 8 Ear Training - Chord Identification (Played on Piano) Speed Rounds Set 1

Options: Triads - Major, Minor, Augmented; Seventh chords - Dominant seventh, diminished seventh

Three speed rounds:

Round 1 (1 chord, you answer, I answer)

Round 2 (2 chords in a row, identify, answers)

Round 3 (4 chords in a row, identify, answers)

This is also *not* the way that the exams are presented. These were made for some of my students who were bored with the regular format and wanted something more fun/challenging.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Giselle

by Mina Chacko (Calarts 2025) "In this adaptation of the ballet Giselle, our titular character wakes up dead, with no memories of her life or death."

Instagram: kanicomics

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@minac949

Website: https://minachacko.myportfolio.com

The film is out now on YouTube (along with her other films). If you have a moment to watch it, please go congratulate Mina!

I had the absolute best time playing piano for this recording of "Un sospiro" from Trois études de concert, S. 144 by Franz Liszt. Felt like a lovely Fantasia moment :) Hope you enjoy!

-

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 5 Ear Training (Voice) - Interval Identification and Singing (Played on Piano) Set 4

Interval options: -3, +3, p4, p5, -6, +6, p8

Procedure:

[Interval is played]

Identify/name the interval

[The first note of the interval is played]

Sing the interval (that was previously played)

[Answer revealed]

If you are using this for examination preparation, please check the requirements in your respective instrument/voice syllabus.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Beginner Sight Reading Exercises (Piano - One hand at a time) Level 2.5 Exercise 21-25

To purchase sheet music for this video: https://ko-fi.com/s/1e9dee6002

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For more sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

Level 5 Ear Training (Voice) - Interval Identification and Singing (Played on Piano) Set 3

Interval options: -3, +3, p4, p5, -6, +6, p8

Procedure:

[Interval is played]

Identify/name the interval

[The first note of the interval is played]

Sing the interval (that was previously played)

[Answer revealed]

If you are using this for examination preparation, please check the requirements in your respective instrument/voice syllabus.

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

How Perfect Pitch Works in my Brain

(Visual overlay/mental dashboard) | Classical Pianist

Since I am often asked about how my absolute pitch works, here is a video that hopefully presents some answers. I am not an animator, so this is the best I could do to try to show how it works for me and what I see.

Having perfect pitch does not mean that you see things - mine just happens to coincide with visuals. (I don’t think this counts as synesthesia since the specific colours attached to notes have always been inconsistent?)

And yes, despite having it, I still very diligently did ear training exercises every day (from cassette tapes to CDs to online listening) from childhood through to university courses.

I know that someday I will likely lose this ability or it will change, so I am enjoying it while it is still here, and this is one way to archive and share my experience. 

Sources and write-up on my website:

https://www.ylanchu.com/news/2025/4/17/perfectpitch

There is also a FAQ in the comments of the video

Media:

TV shows (1:35): Sesame Street, Mr. Dressup, Polka Dot Shorts, Téléfrançais, Art Attack

Music: Opening - Waltz (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7UhYLvqd1A) and Ending - Une barque sur l’océan from Miroirs by Maurice Ravel (old recording from one of my recitals)

Score (1:06): Piano Sonata, op. 1 by Alban Berg (Muzyka Edition)

Timestamps:

(0:00) Visual: Keyboard / Hand(s) playing (Upper left)

(0:10) Visual: Score / Musical Notation (Centre)

(0:32) Visual: Letter names

(1:10) Auditory

(1:19) Learning from childhood?

(1:36) Brief language/music training history

(2:00) Losing absolute pitch as we age…

(2:05) Full overlay

(2:13) Intro/outro

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)

[classicalsqueak]

i-iv-i or i-iv-V (Played on Piano) Chord Progressions Ear Training Set 2

Chord progression options: i-iv-i or i-iv-V (harmonic minor keys only)

For more videos: YouTube (classicalsqueak) / Video Index

For sheet music: Ko-fi (classicalsqueak) or SMP* (search - published by Ylan Chu)