I. Dust off your instrument. 2. Watch some YouTube concerts featuring pianists playing the music you love. 3. Find your metronome. 4. Read some inspiration material about folks like yourself who have succeeded. 5. Start noodling on the piano. Review some old favorites. Explore some new music. Dream. 6. Plan practice time in your schedule to succeed. The happiest students know what they want, why they want it. They've made time for it, and stuck with it. Come join us. David.
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Here are some of the things I’m considering in a post-pandemic world. It may be helpful for your situation too.
Best regards, David Revised October 2022
This guy did the work and then fearlessly put himself out there.
David Revised October 2022 "Spending winters in the sunshine, reading, playing golf and socializing seemed a wonderful way to spend retirement. With both of us being music lovers, our sound system is always on all day with great music ranging from Classical, Jazz and some pop. But I felt something was missing and it wasn’t snow. My wife encouraged me for years to take music lessons. I was not too keen because my memory of lessons was the Nuns whacking my fingers with a ruler insisting, I keep my lazy fingers off the keys; that ended in 1958 when I got my Grade 8 piano. But the seed was planted. I decided to look on the net for a music teacher near Burlington and came across David’s website. This really looked interesting. During our cocktail hour that night, I said – when we get back to Burlington, I am going to take Jazz lessons from this David Story guy. On April 23, 2013 my life changed.
Of course, I thought I would be rattling off Jazz tunes within weeks; grief! As time progressed, I realized how complex Jazz really is, especially soloing; how do they do that? Practice, practice, practice every day and soon I started to see the tunnel – no light yet! After a few years of toil and trouble, something that sounded akin to music emerged; I encouraged my cousin to take lessons from David. Then, 4 years ago, David encouraged us to attend the Jamey Aebersold Summer workshop in Louisville. There we were for 6 days: 2 old guys, jamimg in groups, attending classes and intense listening, from 7am to 10 PM. Hardly time for a Scotch closer at night! At last, all those lessons from David were clicking into place like a Rubik’s cube. We went back the next summer and did it again. Then, David encouraged me to try and get a group together to Jam. The pressure was on; my 2 songs would not cut the mustard. More practice. An advert in Kijiji did the trick; we ended up with an exceptional drummer, bass, guitar – and me. We met every week for 3 hours until covid. My lessons continue. The Jam will continue after we all get our shots. I am still amazed at what some practice along with amazing guidance and encouragement from David has done for my life and continues to do so. Not bad for an 80 year old!" Gary.
Revised October 2022 Rankings:
What can I do for you?
In short, I will present the material to you in a logical fashion, according to your specific circumstances, using a variety 21st c. multi-modal techniques and provide you with weekly feedback. Call me. David (Authors note I own more than one hundred drum books, listened to hundreds of hours of drumming podcasts, and subscribed to jazz and drum education subscription services promising great masterclass from my jazz heroes. I live on YouTube. Furthermore, I own too many drum sets, snare drums, cymbals and drumming paraphernalia. So, I understand your plight, frustrations, anxieties, and determination.) Revised October 2022 4 hours of practice: No Grinding. Top 5 tips for practicing any musical instrument
Playing
General and Jazz Specific Theory
If you would like some help, call me. David Who know hundreds of tunes, in the right keys, at the correct tempo? He never complains, is ready day and night? Doesn't drag or get lost? Mr. Sunny Bass Someday I hope to buy him lunch, a small gesture for all the get help he has been to my students. David In 2018 I traveled to Poland to study with American Jazz Masters: Dena DeRose, Miguel Zenon, Aaron Goldberg, Mike Moreno, Ali Jackson, and Luques Curtis. This transformation experience was worth every penny. Aaron Goldberg, pianist, was my ensemble leader for the week.
But first. About seven years ago I first attended the Jamie Aebersold Jazz Workshop in Louisville Kentucky as a drummer. I was green but pumped. I was pulled out of the workshop on day one and sent to a room where two instructors waited. Instructor and bassist Bob Sinicrope started drilling me with questions. Who are you? Why are you here? Very direct. I explained I was a piano teacher and musician from Toronto who now played the drums. I had attended Berklee College of Music back in the day… He cut me off. “Who did you study with?” "Ah, Ray Santisi." “Ray Santisi, I’m his bass player!” We were instant friends. Which brings me back to Poland and Aaron Goldberg. On day one, after hearing us all play, we were put into groups and assigned rooms to report to. A bunch of us showed up, nervously eyeing each other. Language was immediately an issue. There were 5 Poles, 2 Russian teenager wunderkinds, 1 Chinese Rock Star, and 1 Canadian old guy. And we all noticed the room was devoid of music stands. Aaron walks in and introduces himself. Turns out h was a student of Bob Sinicrope! He then calls the first tune Body and Soul. Everyone knew it by memory! So, without music we sing, using solfege, together the bass line of the song after much discussion and negotiation of the chords. Then the singer, in halting English, explains it’s in the wrong key. Aaron gives us a new tonic note and low and behold we sing the bass line in a new key. He counts us in. Away we go. I was glad I was a drummer that day. At the concerts we are the only group playing without music. The lack of music meant we played with an intensity and conviction that the fakebook readers didn't have. I chalk it up to the terror of flying without a net. Our reward? Aaron buys us a bottle of Bison Vodka at weeks end and toasts us all. Thank you, Aaron, for the valuable insights and the vodka. David Revised January 2024
Memorizing simple tunes is the shortest way to get your jazz mojo swinging. The jazz method below is based on the wise words of Louis Armstrong and the teaching experience of Lenny Tristano. I credit the singing of the chord roots to Aaron Goldberg who I spent a week studying with in 2018.
Let us consider the benefit of singing the bass lines in the manner above
If I can help you through these steps, please call me. David Revised June 2023
A good question. If you are in a hurry to be great, it is going to be difficult as greatness takes a long time. Furthermore, today the level and depth of training in all fields of skilled physical activity, like sports, and music, is much greater than the past. Yesterday's heroes wouldn't make the team today. So, what worked 50 years ago, won't work today. However, consider the roles of the following: humility, patience, aural training, tutors, learning to practice, realistic goals.
I'm available to help Just call me. David Revised 2024 1. Immerse yourself in jazz music. The more you listen, the quicker the journey. This is because you need to be able to identify when you’re playing correctly. Adopt the listening habits of a musician. There are numerous resources available online, such as blogs and courses, that can guide you on how to listen effectively. For instance, consider the audio lecture series “Elements of Jazz”. 2. Commit three songs to memory: a blues, a ballad, and a standard. These will serve as the foundation for applying your expanding knowledge. 3. Master the fundamental elements of Jazz. A good start is the major scales for the three songs you’ve memorized, and the jazz chords played in broken inversions. There are additional aspects to learn, but we’ll tackle those later. 4. Experiment with the melody. Pay attention to how the greats have “interpreted” the melodies on the ballad and standard. Try to emulate them. 5. Develop your instrumental skills to match the level of the jazz solos you aim to perform. 6. Identify a brief sequence, perhaps three or four notes, within a jazz solo you admire on YouTube. Listen to it repeatedly until you can sing it, then locate it on your instrument. The “licks” you learn this way will become uniquely yours. I can guide you on how to transpose these licks onto the other chords of your three songs. Here is a demonstration transposing a 3 note lick in “Autumn Leaves.” 7. Analyze the solos of other musicians on YouTube. Search for something like “Autumn Leaves Transcription” and explore the results. Try to find multiple versions of your three songs. 8. Focus on the basics before diving into more complex techniques. Ensure you can play a12 bars blues without losing your place before moving on to complex tunes. 9. Deepen your understanding of music theory. High-level jazz involves applying theory in real-time at a fast pace. 10. Invest time in ear training. It’s challenging to play what you can’t hear. Remember, I’m here to assist you with each of these ten steps. Call me David "A landmark in jazz studies, 'Thinking in Jazz' reveals as never before how musicians, both individually and collectively, learn to improvise. Chronicling leading musicians from their first encounters with jazz to the development of a unique improvisatory voice." Amazon description.
A worthwhile read for every jazz student for the first hand recounting from master jazz musicians on how they learned to improvise. David If you are feeling stale, try the following exercises.
Have Fun, see you in September. David An Ideal Practice Session With Fly Me To The Moon
To get you started, here are several recordings of Fly Me to the Moon. Imitate the melody, phrase by phrase. Have Fun, David Story April 2023
Ear training gives you the ability to conceptualise what you hear, nothing more. There are countless phone apps, YouTube videos, and social media hustlers, and books promising results in short order. Unless you are in possession of perfect pitch and deep prior experiences listening to music, this will take some time. I am 48 years in. I am still working on it.
Ear Training for Jazz Musicians
1. Listen attentively to music. A lot. Ask yourself, "what is going on here?"
2. Listen to a particular solo or piece of a solo until you can sing it. Then find it on your instrument. 3. Sing intervals. 4. Sing broken chords 5. Sing the bass roots of your pieces in time and on pitch. 6. Listen to more music. 7. Record yourself, listen back. 8. Record yourself playing scales with the metronome. Listen back. 9. Record your next band practice, listen back. 10. Sing everything you learn in your theory studies. David This is just a start for pianists. The bass lines created by professional bassists will be more sophisticated that what I've given you here. But this is a start.
These techniques will create a simple left hand walking bass line in Blues. The principals can be used in Jazz standards. To discover how these lines were created, do the following.
Have fun. If I can help you further, please call me. David Here is how it works. Swing jazz at slow and moderate tempi plays 8th pair long short with the accent on the short side or upbeat side. The four videos below can be used various ways. Namely scales and jazz melodic patterns as found in the music of the Bebop era. Swing melodies work well too. Have fun. If you need help, contact me, I consult video Skype or Zoom. David My go to podcasts. I listen in the car on my way to classes. One reason I bounce through the door on arrival.
David Story A list of tunes I've played at public jam sessions in Toronto over the last 2 years that I've been attending as a drummer.
All of me Summertime Now's the time Au privave Scrapple from the apple It don't mean a thing Satin doll Blue bossa C jam blues Another cool one Cherokee Tenor madness Autumn leaves Billie's bounce Black Orpheus Blue monk Oleo Straight, no chaser All the things you are East of the sun If I were a bell My romance There will never be another you What is this thing called love? Footprints Four Have you met miss jones? Just friends Mr PC Recordame Solar Song for my father So what St. Thomas Take the A train All the things you are Scrapple from the apple There is no greater love Watermelon man Alone together Girl from Ipanema Days of wine and roses Doxy Softly as in a morning sunrise Star eyes All blues Freddy freeloader Ornithology Impressions Lester leaps in Fly me to the moon Less common Blues for Alice Donna Lee Beautiful love Wave Work song Georgia My little suede shoes A night in Tunisia Tune up How high the moon Stella by starlight Body and soul both fast and slow Confirmation I hear a rhapsody Up jumped spring There will never be another you I love you Out of nowhere Night and day The link below offers some good advice to read before you attend your first jam, including a short list of essential tunes for beginners. You don't need to learn the entire list before attending. A blues in Bb and F, a common standard or two, one bossa and you are ready to go. http://music.unl.edu/jazzstudies/HaarJamSessions.pdf Cheers, David Story This lick can be found in numerous pieces. Below is a sampling. Sometimes it is played in the minor key. Sometimes it is sung in the chorus, sometimes it is fragmented on the introductions, sometimes it is played during a solo, and sometimes it is played on instrumental breaks. Horace Silver plays the lick thirteen times during his solo. See if you can locate them. Practice suggestions. 1. Listen to each piece and locate the lick. 2. Figure out which key it is played in. 3. Play the lick with the recording, coming in only when the lick is played. David Story
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You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail. AuthorI'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also a devoted percussionist and drum teacher. Categories
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