{"id":8680,"date":"2022-08-24T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=8680"},"modified":"2023-03-01T10:17:57","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T18:17:57","slug":"sangah-noona-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/sangah-noona-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"Play Outside the Box! &#8211; feat. Sangah Noona (Pianote Podcast #25)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Dynamic pianist Sangah Noona has built an audience (affectionately named Sangah Force) through livestreams, lounge gigs, and YouTube covers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She&#8217;s also a style guru. Sangah&#8217;s course on Pianote, Expanding Your Musical Style, encourages students to go beyond their comfort zone. She covers classical, jazz, pop, funk, and more. And she can transform a piece like &#8220;F\u00fcr Elise&#8221; into a kaleidoscope of styles, moods, and eras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we can summarize Sangah&#8217;s music philosophy, it&#8217;s to &#8220;play outside the box.&#8221; Listen to Lisa and Sangah discuss the difference between practice and play, lounge pianists and jazz pianists in Episode #25 of the <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/3A8KKvYYhanvHIVLxcycMf?si=9330cb7bc2694afc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pianote Podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/show\/3A8KKvYYhanvHIVLxcycMf?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>Never Miss an Interview<\/strong> \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f<\/h2><p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Get exclusive access to world-class pianists and what makes them tick. Subscribe to <em>The Note<\/em> today.<\/p><\/center><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>How Sangah Fell in Love With Piano<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sangah started playing piano at the age of five and quickly &#8220;fell in love&#8221; with it. Since then, &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t stop, still cannot stop,&#8221; she says. Her first paid gig was at a relative&#8217;s wedding when she was 12 years old, and she&#8217;s been involved with music ministry since age 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p>After graduating from Dongduk Women&#8217;s University with a major in jazz piano, Sangah enjoyed a successful music career in South Korea. She performed for concert bands, broadcast bands, hotel lounges, and even a live morning show. She has since relocated to the United States and has been performing as a guest pianist at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons, Virginia since 2014.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Sangah%20Noona%20Podcast\/sangah%20noona%201.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Practice vs. Play<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, Sangah Noona admits that she doesn&#8217;t practice all that much. But that doesn&#8217;t mean she doesn&#8217;t play\u2014she plays a lot! &#8220;I&#8217;m just lazy,&#8221; Sangah says, &#8220;but I still love playing piano!&#8221; So what&#8217;s the difference between practicing and playing? For Sangah, practicing is more intentional. It&#8217;s about pausing at weak spots, investigating problems, polishing them, and then repeating the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Expand Your Musical Style<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Expanding Your Musical Style, Sangah will show you how to transform a piece into funk, tango, bossa nova, and more. Increase your versatility and push your creativity with this course available with your Pianote Membership. Not a Member yet? Test out the platform with a week-long free trial. Or check out Sangah&#8217;s fun teaching style in lessons like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/sound-jazzy-on-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3 Ways to Sound Jazzy on the Piano<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Sangah%20Noona%20Podcast\/lisa%20and%20sangah%20landscape.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing piano, on the other hand, is more of an in-the-moment thing for Sangah. &#8220;Music is time art, so it&#8217;s only about that moment,&#8221; she says. &#8220;Yesterday was different, today&#8217;s different, and tomorrow will be different. So I try to live the moment and feel the moment.&#8221; This applies to all types of music, even classical music where the notes on sheet music don&#8217;t change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Sangah%20Noona%20Podcast\/sangah%20noona%202.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>A Palette of Styles<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sangah&#8217;s philosophy of playing music in the moment translates well to her particular area of expertise: knowing how to play in many different styles. In fact, Sangah doesn&#8217;t even know what style she&#8217;ll play in until she sits down at the piano bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way Sangah maintains variety is by listening to a wide range of music. She doesn&#8217;t listen to just piano music\u2014she&#8217;s a fan of rock and heavy metal as well. On YouTube, she plays <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLbwUoBeqEqhzCiHZLMRWDRnoyhdxs32aN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jazz standards<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLbwUoBeqEqhyesrO8Al4hoq4r-qEc3_nt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bossa nova<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLbwUoBeqEqhyHcb4dYqUIFBK-vWAKlz-N\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Beatles<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLbwUoBeqEqhwuGZm6mpqiAcjQPDmatLD2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">worship songs<\/a>, and even re-imaginings of <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/xX3I03mIYF0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">classical pieces<\/a>. For her college audition, Sangah arranged and performed a piano cover of Metallica&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/NXkY6EN92NE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Master of Puppets.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>Music is time art, so it\u2019s only about that moment. Yesterday was different, today\u2019s different, and tomorrow will be different. So I try to live the moment and feel the moment.<\/p><cite>Sangah Noona<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Lounge Pianist vs. Jazz Pianist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sangah Noona states in many of her videos that she&#8217;s not a jazz pianist. She identifies as a lounge pianist instead. Yet many of her performances sound &#8220;jazzy.&#8221; So what&#8217;s the difference between lounge and jazz piano?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The difference lies in the nature of the job. In a lounge, there is no audience, only guests who are there to eat and drink; their main purpose isn&#8217;t to attend a concert. But in a jazz gig, audience members intentionally buy a ticket to watch someone play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-large-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Get out of the box. Open your mind.<\/p>\n<cite>Sangah Noona<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Sangah%20Noona%20Podcast\/sangah%20noona%203.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some advantages to being a lounge pianist with &#8220;no audience.&#8221; You have more freedom to experiment, says Sangah. So in a way, you can be more musically daring and take more risks. When asked whether she gets nervous, Sangah answers, &#8220;Absolutely not!&#8221; After all, lounge guests aren&#8217;t there to watch piano, so she feels very little anxiety playing background music in this environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Sangah Force!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, Sangah&#8217;s lounge extends to the internet. She regularly uploads YouTube videos and livestream concerts to her fans, a group that calls themselves &#8220;Sangah Force.&#8221; Sangah started YouTubing in 2011. She began posting seriously on the platform around 2017\/18 and quickly discovered that this was a space where she could play piano until it was no longer possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Other Stuff<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\">On Piano Sound<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Sangah&#8217;s piano sound often gets compliments. But the sound of a recorded acoustic piano has more to do with the equalizer and the listener&#8217;s speakers than the piano itself. You can&#8217;t hear how an acoustic piano really sounds unless you&#8217;re in the room. More than sound, Sangah looks for instruments that speak to her. &#8220;It [my piano] tells a lot and [is] very supportive,&#8221; she says. &#8220;This piano talks and sings as I want to sing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Por Una Cabeza (Carlos Gardel) Tango Piano by Sangah Noona w\/ Sheet Music\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G6X_UD9Kkk0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Watch Sangah&#8217;s fiery cover of &#8220;Por Una Cabeza,&#8221; one of her top videos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Advice for Beginners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Sangah warns against binge-watching too many video tutorials. Free tutorials on the internet are an awesome resource, but if you spend all your time watching videos instead of playing, you won&#8217;t improve. Sangah&#8217;s advice is to stick with one resource (like Pianote!) and spend more time playing, less time watching. Hours of video watched don&#8217;t make a pianist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Autumn Leaves &amp; Misty Solo Piano | Live Lounge Piano Improvisation\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1qmed-OtTws?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sangah frequently lets viewers get a glimpse of what a cocktail lounge performance is like.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\">On Aviation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Completely unrelated to music, but Sangah is also a licensed pilot! After completing E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) courses when she first came to the U.S., Sangah wanted to learn something new. She browsed the catalogue and &#8220;aviation&#8221; was the first thing that caught her eye, alphabetically. Today, she is certified by the FAA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How I Use Lead Sheets for Playing Piano\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mesxDxb3_Wo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sangah Noona shares how she uses lead sheets. This video helped my own playing a lot!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For more music with Sangah Noona, check out her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/SangahNoona\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube channel<\/a>. Better yet, get yourself a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\">free Pianote trial<\/a> and learn how to play in different styles with Sangah&#8217;s course!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Lessons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/sound-jazzy-on-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3 Ways to Sound Jazzy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/walking-bass-line\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Play a Walking Bass Line<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/cocktail-piano-101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cocktail Piano 101<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>Master the Piano YOUR Way \ud83d\udd25<\/b><\/h3><p>As a Pianote Member, you\u2019ll get access to our 10-step Method, song library, and growing community of piano players just like you. Plus: get coached by world-class pianists and learn whenever you want, wherever you want, and whatever you want.<\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><br><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lisa Witt and Sangah Noona discuss practicing vs. playing, lounge vs. jazz piano, and &#8220;time art&#8221; on the Pianote Podcast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1132,1108],"tags":[1069],"class_list":["post-8680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-musicianship","tag-gsotp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8680"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10452,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8680\/revisions\/10452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}