Piano Ninja Tricks

Send a text https://LisaSpector.com/Groundhog Register for the Masterclass. Free through Feb. 7. ⬆️ Welcome to the last episode of Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎧✨ In this special episode, I’m taking you inside a YouTube Live Masterclass where we tackled one of the biggest struggles pianists face—feeling stuck in slow progress. If you've ever repeated the same passages over an...

Send a text https://lisaspector.com/groundhog Is your piano practice is stuck on repeat—practicing the same sections over and over with little to no progress? 🔁 You're not alone! In this episode, I bring you into my live, sold-out performance of Chopin’s Revolutionary Étude and share the smart practice tricks I used to prepare for it. 🎹 Featured in This Episode: 🎶 Live performance of Chopi...

Send a text Free Masterclass on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2nd From Practice Frustration to Major Progress Register here ⬇️ https://LisaSpector.com/groundhog Mastering the art of slow practice is the key to unlocking precision, speed and musical expression in your playing. In this episode, I discuss why slowing down is essential for learning challenging pieces, how to incorporate under tempo and under dy...

Send a text Welcome to another episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! I’m Lisa Spector, here to make your piano practice easier and more effective so you can play and feel like a true piano ninja. In this episode: 🐾 Meet Sundance, my new 1.5-year-old yellow lab who’s bringing joy to my life and recordings! 🔥 Learn about my initiative to support musicians affected by the Los Angeles fires thr...

Send a text Discover why some score markings—like editor's fingering and pedal markings—are better ignored!  Join Lisa Spector, your Piano Ninja, as she shares her top tips for choosing efficient, personalized fingering and using the pedal as a "dimmer switch" rather than an on/off button.  Learn how to make piano playing easier and more natural, whether you're tackling Beethov...

Send a text 🎹 Welcome to 2025 with the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎉 In this special 51st episode, Lisa Spector introduces her new four-legged companion, Sundance, a 17-month-old career-change dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Sundance is already learning the art of settling during piano practice! 🐾 Lisa dives into essential strategies for setting achievable, measurable, and specific goals for...

Send a text In this milestone 50th episode, I share practical Piano Ninja tips to help you make major progress with minimal practice during the holiday season. 🎹 We’re halfway through the free Holiday Harmony Challenge, but there’s still time to join! These quick, 2-minute daily audio prompts will guide you through stress-free and efficient practice habits. Plus, I celebrate Beethoven’s 254th bir...

Send a text Join Lisa Spector, the Piano Ninja, as she explores how focused micro-practice sessions can lead to faster progress at the piano. Inspired by her upcoming 12 Days of Holiday Harmony Challenge (Dec. 12–23), Lisa explains why short, intentional practice is scientifically proven to be more effective—and shares actionable tips for making the most of your time at the keys. Discover: 🎵 The...

Send a text 🎹 Celebrate International Ninja Day with a Special Episode! 🎹 Feeling the holiday rush? Discover how to create harmony—both at the piano and in your life—through focused, efficient practice sessions.  In this YouTube Live episode, Lisa Spector, your Piano Ninja, shares tips to help you maximize your practice time during the busiest season of the year. Learn how shorter, intentional p...

Send a text The holiday season is here, and your piano practice time might feel squeezed. But don’t worry! In this episode, Lisa Spector shares actionable tips to help you accomplish more in less time . ✔ Discover how short, focused sessions can transform your playing ✔ Avoid brain fatigue and eliminate poor practice habits ✔ Master essential techniques like cyclical rhythm , fingering, and pedali...

Send a text https://LisaSpector.com/BlackFridayWaitlist This Black (& White) Friday week, discover the ultimate piano productivity boost. Learn twice as much at half the price!  Discover how recognizing patterns in your music can accelerate your learning process exponentially. In this episode, Lisa Spector, Your Piano Ninja, breaks down the importance of pattern recognition and demonstrates it...

Send a text https://LisaSpector/BlackFridayWaitlist Welcome to a special and deeply personal episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast. This week, I’m stepping away from the usual format to remember my beloved black Lab, Gina, who passed away this week at 15 and a half years old. Gina was my agility champion partner, my devoted companion and a familiar presence during my YouTube sessions.  In her...

Send a text Grab my focused practice checklist ⬇️ https://lisaspector.com/practice In this special election-eve episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast , host Lisa Spector demonstrates the subtle but vital differences that set professional pianists apart from amateurs: inner pulse and touch. Amid the uncertainty and stress of the moment, Lisa shares music that calms and centers, sharing the impo...

Send a text Happy Halloween from me and my bumblebee sidekick, Gina! 🐝 🐶 Today’s Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast episode features a quick dive into fast, efficient fingerwork and musical expression. Playing in my bumblebee costume, I perform Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee and share tricks to tackle challenging, quick passages. From keeping fingers close to the keys for light, efficien...

Send a text 🎉 Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast is here! I’m Lisa Spector, your Juilliard Alum Piano Ninja, helping adult classical pianists play with more joy and ease. This season, in addition to Piano Ninja Tricks that help your technique and musicianship, we’re also focusing on mindset mastery , because every great performance starts in the mind. In the 1st episode of Season 2, I’m s...

Send a text In this closing episode of Season 1 of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, join your host Lisa Spector, The Piano Ninja, as she shares Piano Ninja Tricks from her recent all-Chopin YouTube Live concert. Lisa shares Chopin's Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1 as performed in her recent All Chopin program on YouTube Live.  WATCH THE FULL CHOPIN PROGRAM ON YOUTUBE HERE ⬇️ https://www.yout...

Send a text Quick bonus episode to invite you to My Favorite Chopin Sunday night on YouTube Live in memory of my mom. https://www.youtube.com/live/E92z-cyEgWM Add to your calendar of choice here. 👍 Sunday, August 4 TIME 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET My mother and I shared a deep love for the music of Chopin. In Trudy's memory, you're invited to "MY FAVORITE CHOPIN: A Night of Romantic Elegance...

Send a text Welcome to the 40th episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! This episode is all about the tricks of touch.  Play into the keys? Pull up the keys? When? Why? How? Learn the art of touch and knowing when, why and how to apply specific touches can make you sound like a Piano Ninja! Join me as I prepare to perform My Favorite Chopin in a YouTube Live concert in memory of my mom, a passi...

Send a text This week, I’m sharing my preparations for an upcoming all-Chopin concert on YouTube Live, happening Sunday night, July 28th. Etudes, nocturnes, scherzi and mazurkas... oh my! https://www.youtube.com/live/E92z-cyEgWM I’ll also demonstrate the more subtle use of my Quick Reflex Motion Trick with Chopin’s Ocean Etude, showing you how to practice smart and effeciently. Tune in to get insp...

Send a text In this episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector shares her latest adventures in the world of piano. Lisa talks about her recent YouTube Live performances, including a special American music concert featuring works by Gershwin, Earl Wilde, Zach Gulaboff Davis and Amy Beach.  She introduces her new YouTube Live series, "Piano Practice in PJs," and demonstrates h...

Send a text   Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com As we celebrate the July 4th holiday week, I invite you to join me for a special YouTube Live event, "Red, White, and Rhapsody in Blue," on Sunday night. I'll be playing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, the enchanting Dreaming of Amy Beach, and virtuoso etudes by my Juilliard professor Earl Wild, including a left-hand...

Send a text   Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In this heartfelt episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector reflects on the significance of June 27th, 2017 in her life — both the worst and best day. She shares her journey of overcoming a severe hand injury, her transformative experience with recovery, and how it led to the creation of the Piano Ninja Tricks. Lisa als...

Send a text   Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://ChopinDemo. LisaSpector.com This week has been exhilarating as I hosted a Chopin Ninja Tricks masterclass for the Piano Ninja Tricksters club and invited guests. If you missed it, don't worry! You can still access the replay for a limited time by registering for free. https://ChopinDemo. LisaSpector.com In this episode, I'm sharing a six-m...

Send a text   Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://chopindemo.lisaspector.com/ Welcome to another episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast! I'm Lisa Spector, Your Piano Ninja, here to make everything easier for you at the piano. This episode is all about Chopin, and I'm eager to share some of my special "Chopin Ninja Tricks" with you. Whether you're a member of my Piano Nin...

Send a text   Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast In this special episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector dons her "dog clothes" to celebrate a milestone birthday for her beloved Labrador, Gina, who's celebrating her 15th birthday today! Also known as the Pet Calming Maestro, Lisa shares her unique journey of recording music for canine anxiety alongside her piano ninja advent...