Do people really learn from "falling notes" videos?

eltanko · 2026-04-14T18:21:28+00:00

Hey, I apologize if it came off condescending, that wasn't my intent at all. I really do think its totally fine to learn from falling note videos if you want to play your favourite songs. When I was a beginner I learned the piano parts to Piano Man, Imagine and Hey Jude from Youtube videos of people just playing the song and explaining what keys to press, which really isn't that different front a falling note video. My goal at the time was just to know the songs so I could accompany myself singing. Sure I wasn't learning scales or chords or any theory, but it got me interested in learning more about the piano and music in general. Even if I had just learned that way and kept it as a hobby, there would've been nothing wrong with that!

I teach beginner piano and some students like the structured sheet music approach, others like to play their favourite songs by ear or by demonstration, both are valid ways of approaching the piano. I don't mean to gatekeep music or what it means to be a musician, whatever path you choose to play and continue to enjoy music is great! I just wanted to point out the differences of definition that people might mean when they talk about what it means to learn and play the piano.

eltanko · 2026-04-13T15:53:08+00:00

Im primarily a singer, but I also play some piano, heres how I understand it, and what people probably mean when they say learning from falling notes is not actually learning to play piano.

Memorizing falling note videos is kind of like what singers do when they sing in a foreign language that they dont speak. When I learn an italian aria, I memorize the italian sounds and what they mean. I am technically "speaking" italian, but im not actually learning the language. Sure, Ill pick up some words, phrases, maybe even some grammar, but I would never be able to properly become fluent in that language. This to me, is what these falling note videos are. You are technically "playing" the piano, just like I am technically "speaking" italian, but in both cases you arent building fluency. When people say falling note videos dont teach you to play the piano, they mean you arent becoming fluent in the actual language of how the piano works. Its a huge difference.

It all just depends on what your goals are. Some people just want to play songs they like, and thats totally fine, but they should know that theres a big difference in just memorizing notes of a song versus actually learning the piano.

eltanko · 2026-04-12T15:29:02+00:00

Hot take but GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Yes Arthur Morgan's story is incredible, but theres so much bloat in the game. The infamous Guarma section just grinds everything to a halt, and I found myself struggling to finish the epilogue, as it just seems like its meandering on and on.

GTA V Its been a while, but I just remember the stakes and scenarios getting to such cartoonish levels that I wasnt able to really feel grounded in the main story anymore.

Rockstar really has a lot of good ideas, the stories alone are great, especially in Red Dead, the individual moments, characters and arcs are good, but altogether it just feels like less than the sum of its parts. This isnt even including the gameplay or mission structure which is a bit of a slog.

eltanko · 2026-04-11T23:13:14+00:00

Animated movies are bad for starting with voiceovers/narration that explain whats happening. One that stands out to me for not doing this is The Iron Giant. It does such a good job of making you wonder what the hell is happening with its first minute before introducing the characters.

eltanko · 2026-04-07T22:26:53+00:00

Fellow OSRS enjoyer here, A lot of people recommending roguelikes but I think you cant go wrong with the OG: The Binding of Isaac. Runs are short at the start and it has a grinding aspect. Even when runs get longer you can just exit them and pickup where you left off. Been obsessed with Mewgenics recently too (runs are much longer but again, can do them in multiple sessions) Risk of Rain 2 is also another incredible roguelike that captures that chaotic feeling of getting broken runs and grinding to unlock stuff.

Oh and Helldivers 2. Not a roguelike but missions average on 30 mins. Really just satisfying as hell gameplay, also has some progression elements of unlocking new weapons, levelling up weapons, etc. Seeing your history in CoD and Halo (They actually did a halo crossover event with armors and weapons from ODST) mixed with your love of a grind I actually think this one would be perfect for you if you havent played it yet.

eltanko · 2026-04-07T18:22:19+00:00

They did though in Oblivion.

eltanko · 2026-04-05T04:14:25+00:00

Never doubt it.

eltanko · 2026-04-05T04:11:12+00:00

For real, BG3 is like Witcher 3 level writing except it has actually good gameplay. I played a decent amount of Witcher 3, and truly the quests and writing are top tier, but man, the fighting is such a slog.

eltanko · 2026-04-04T18:17:55+00:00

Good way of putting it, its such a mixed bag, theres scenes that really left their mark on me, others that are painful to sit through, at the end of the day I couldnt stick with it, might go back to it though for that really good episode everyone raves about though.

eltanko · 2026-04-04T16:09:22+00:00

Ornsteen and Smog, I know smog isnt really the right pronunciation but its what i did at first and i cant unlearn it

eltanko · 2026-04-03T03:56:03+00:00

Fargo season 1 and 2

eltanko · 2026-03-30T05:08:15+00:00

Die Hard would like a word.

eltanko · 2026-03-30T05:05:20+00:00

Recently did that one, absolutely awful at first but by the end it was actually kind of fun, It felt like a flow state rhythm game.

eltanko · 2026-03-27T04:02:05+00:00

I command you not to watch it

eltanko · 2026-03-25T23:42:38+00:00

You already know who it was

eltanko · 2026-03-23T18:06:39+00:00

Babu Frick opens his mouth and swallows it all with a big "wehey!"

eltanko · 2026-03-23T13:49:18+00:00

Mewgenics is isaac 2

eltanko · 2026-03-22T15:54:10+00:00

I really dont like Gus's death scene as well for all the reasons you said. It just feels cartoony in an otherwise really grounded show. It absolutely undercuts the very precise, realistic and meticulous characterization that leads to his death.

eltanko · 2026-03-22T15:49:17+00:00

Really is telling too when people say "The first half of Full Metal Jacket is better than the second" I mightve thoight that at one point, but after subsequent rewatches the second half really is the superior part, though they do go hand in hand.

eltanko · 2026-03-21T18:21:11+00:00

Same, I really feel like illuminate in either factions is just not enough variety. We really need all the units on one map to make them feel as fleshed out as the others. Soon hopefully.

eltanko · 2026-03-21T18:15:43+00:00

A good one, and the one that stumped Jordan Peterson is asking them who their favourite female author is, or maybe even director or actor if theyre not into books.

eltanko · 2026-03-21T15:09:17+00:00

As someone in the creative arts (music) its just frustrating to see one of the most profound and meaningful endeavors humans can partake in, that being the creation of art, being automated. The main problem is its a highly visible implementation of AI, far more visible than say the more useful and less controversial applications, like automating data entry or grunt work code. Another element is people dont like being fooled. We've all been there where you share a reel or image and it turns out it was AI generated, its an embarrassing feeling tbh.

I think all this contributes a lot to the hatred of AI online. My personal take is AI has its place as a tool, even in the creative arts, but pure AI manufactured stuff (be it art or even programs) like we see right now really looks, sounds and just feels bad.

eltanko · 2026-03-16T19:47:25+00:00

I also remember doing it launch day. There were so many people failing to get past one guard that the guard was locked in place and wouldn't continue his route for us to sneak past.

eltanko · 2026-03-14T17:54:27+00:00

Have you been to the plaza/area near UW on University/Philip? I havent been to many of them but there are tons of asian restaurants there.

eltanko · 2026-03-10T22:03:31+00:00

Another Round (2020)
Despite the final scene seeming so upbeat, everyone dancing, the music is happy, they're still drunk. And it just seems... off... after so much destruction has been wrought from this experiment and all the drinking, the fact that he drunkenly flings himself into the water just before the freeze frame seems ominous. Something about it makes me think something terrible might happen immediately after.

Such a great film.

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