Preparing to succeed is the first step. Here are some things successful student do to prepare.
1. They understand how to use Zoom. They have set up the camera so that I can see their hands. The screen is set up so that they can see me as well. Some students use more than one camera. (Most students set up the laptop on a table to the side of the piano.) 2. They have created a realistic practice schedule. They understand that learning to play the piano to a level of proficiency takes time. 3. They have created an organized practice space for productive work. 4. They understand the costs involved. 5. They have told their significant others of their plans and their need for emotional support and encouragement. 6. They understand that they need to lean on their strengths when the going gets tough. If I can help you get started, please call me. David Revised August 2022 Brazil is a large, musically rich country. it is home to the Samba, Bossa Nova, Choro, and many other categories and sub-categories of music. The first step to learning how to play Brazilian Jazz is to immerse yourself in the Brazilian Jazz sound by watching YouTube videos and taking every opportunity to hear the music played live. Next step is to pick one recording to explore. I've chosen The Girl from Ipanema. Secure a modern lead sheet of the piece. Musicnotes.com - Search Results for girl from ipanema Now listen to the classic recording below while following along. The first thing you will notice is that João Gilberto, the male singer, sings the melody freely, not as notated. Astrud Gilberto, the female singer, sings the melody closer to the lead sheet only the first time. On the repeat it too is rhythmically freer. Now it is your turn to mimic the melody as close as you can to the recording. This may take two or one hundred tries. I recommend you stick with it. There is an apocryphal story that Herbie Hancock needed to listen to an Oscar Peterson solo one hundred times before he "got" it. Apparently, it took only ninety-nine times on the next solo. You get the picture. Next up I ask students to explore the guitar style featured in the recording. Followed by percussion Ending with the piano Now we are ready to make a go of playing the piece. You will now be able to hear more clearly the rhythmic moves and feel of the music. Start copying what you hear.
If I can help, call me. David Revised August 2022 Steps to successDay One
1. Dust off the metronome. 2. Set it at 60. Also known as 60 BPM (Beats per minute) 3. Practice counting aloud to the metronome: 1-2-3-4, one number per click. 4. Continue counting aloud and clap measures 1 to 9. 5. Continue counting aloud and play the right-hand notes measures 1 to 9. Counting aloud is the imperative step for success. 6. Add the left hand and repeat measures 1 to 9. 7. Move the metronome to 70 BPM and repeat the passage. 8. Call it a day. Day Two 1. Repeat yesterday's steps with the whole notes at 80 BPM. 2. Reset the metronome to 60. 3. Practice counting aloud to the metronome: 1-2-3-4 one number per click. 4. Continue counting aloud and clap measures 10 to 14. 5. Continue counting aloud and play the right-hand notes measures 10 to 14. Counting aloud is imperative for success. 6. Add the left hand and repeat measures 10 to 14. 7. Move the metronome to 70 BPM and repeat the passage. 8. Call it a day. Day Three 1. Repeat yesterday's steps with the half notes at 80 BPM. 2. Reset the metronome to 60. 3. Practice counting aloud to the metronome: 1-2-3-4 one number per click. 4. Continue counting aloud and clap measures 15 through 18. 5. Continue counting aloud and play the right-hand notes measures 15 through 18. Counting aloud is imperative for success. 6. Add the left hand and repeat measures 15 through 18. 7. Move the metronome to 70 BPM and repeat the passage. 8. Stop for the day. Day Four 1. You know what to do. If I can help you learn to count aloud while playing, call me. David Revised August 2022 Why use a metronome?
How to use the metronome.
If I can help you learn to count, call me. David Revised August 2022
David Revised August 2022
If I can help you and your kids, call me. David Revised August 2022 In the 1921 teaching manual “Principles of Pianoforte Practice” by James Friskin, he asserts that most students “simply do not hear all the sounds they produce”. I concur. I'm sure Friskin would be amazed at the ease with which a student can now record their practicing for self-evaluation.
Now the hard part, learning to love how we sound. I'll be honest, in the early days it will take a certain amount of fortitude. But push on in faith. You will be the first to hear the improvement and progress as you accumulate and listen to hundreds, even thousands of practice recordings. (In 13 years of playing drums I’ve 248 Gigs of mp3 recordings. It’s both humbling and gratifying to hear how one sounded a decade earlier, or even last year.) If I can help you learn to practice effectively, call me. David Revised August 2022 What do scales have in common with push-ups?
If I can help you with your scales, call me. David revised August 2022 Theoretically yes. It is possible to teach an old guy a few new tricks. This past week I had an improvisation lesson with my coach Jacqueline Ching-Ling Leung of Toronto. Topic: Modern improvisation. Thinking in post-Jazz, post-Classical idioms. Thank you for listening. David #Pianoimprovisation #Modernistart #postjazz #pianistdavidstory #pianopreludes #pianistJacquelineLeung #Improvisation I'm learning to play the xylophone. What have I learned?
Best, David Revised August 2022 Tiger Rag 1917Musicians have a number of tactics to memorise their music for exams.
If I can help you memorise your music, call me. David. This is a simple concept that can be difficult to execute. When the melody goes up crescendo. When the melody goes diminuendo. The change will be small unless the composer indicates otherwise. Exceptions are clearly marked in the score. The last note in a melody before a rest, in Classical music, is played gently unless the composer indicates otherwise. The last note in a melody before a rest, in Jazz music, is played strongly unless the composer indicates otherwise. Please check out the following recording. If I can help you, call me. David Revised August 2022
The internet is full of hucksters telling you that learning to play the piano is easy. It's not, but it is fun. Every day I watch my students grow; the days turn into years. And, inch by inch, progress is made.
If I can help you on your journey, call me. David Revised August 2022 I found it extremely helpful over the holidays to practice with a video camera recording my progress or lack thereof. I played for 5 minutes and watched for 5 minutes. The camera was positioned so that the keyboard of the xylophone was visible. I was able to see and hear what was working and what was not and then adjust my next repetition accordingly. Video helped me to close the gap between how I thought I sounded and how I actually sounded. If I can help you, call me. David Revised August 2022 The above is the final take in ten takes over 20 minutes.
Sight-readings skills make all aspects of piano study and performance easier.
If I can help you, call me. David Revised August 2022 I've fond memories of listening to New Orleans Jazz as a kid at home. Al Hirt, Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, the lot. Music that gives joy when you play it. and joy when you listen to it. "Sugar" was released in 1926 by Ethel Waters, you can listen below. Over the Christmas break, I've been learning to play jazz on the xylophone. Who knew it was so much fun? This is my version on xylophone with piano accompaniment. If you would like to have as much fun as this on the piano, call me. David Revised August 2022
Everyone understands that the piano is played with the fingers. But not all students understand the role of the wrists, arms, and shoulders in piano playing. These techniques create a kaleidoscope of colour in our playing, and it helps reduce our chances of injury. I wish my early teachers had spent more time on this when I was a kid. My ignorance of these techniques lead to significant arm injury in my late twenties. At age thirty I began relearning the piano with Donald Himes. It took 15 years. Modern piano teaching methods introduce each of these techniques at the appropriate moment. Here is a partial list of techniques. They be observed in the playing of fine pianists. Here is a partial list.
I use some of these techniques in the following video. If you would like help, call me. David Story Donald Himes: Music director/composer for the Mr. Dress-up show CBC. He played from the 1st show to the last. A fine pianist, great teacher and avid Francophile. Revised August 2022 When I was a naïve overconfident young man Dr. Hugo Norden, professor emeritus Boston Conservatory, coached me in Baroque counterpoint and harmony. He was a wise man who knew how to handle characters like me. Mr. Story we are who we listen to. So, pick carefully" Dr. Hugo Norden 1981 Boston A restatement of the "law of association" to which I’ve spent forty plus years considering. I've reached several conclusions starting with who and what we listen to and how that normalizes our expectations of how music should sound and be presented. These associations show us possibilities. But who we “hang with” will be the greatest influence on our musical progress. Jazz musicians hang with Jazz musicians, Classical musicians hang with Classical musicians and so on. To whom are you listening? Do your listening habits support your music studies or distract? Do you associate with other like-minded individuals such as fellow students, or concert goers? If I can help, call me. David revised August 2022
These three are the most neglected aspects of music study. Theory Skilled musicians see harmonic, rythmic, and structural patterns in the music, beginners see a string of notes. The purpose of theory study is to help us to see and understand these patterns and their significance, which over time, leads to artistry. As a former teacher put it, "understanding what you are seeing makes everything easier." How you think about the drum set, what you have heard, and what you understand about the musical past of the instrument determine how you play the instrument musically. Ed Soph, master teacher History
Different eras of music sound different. When you understand the broad outline of music history, you will have informed knowledge on the interpretation of the piece. Ear Training Ear training is a wide set of skills:
Some folks have it easier here than others, but I can confidently say that as a kid I started with a tin-ear, but over time, with practice I developed a high degree of skill. I can help you too. Call me. David Revised August 2022 Here are my thoughts the acquisition of jazz chops.
1. Learn and memorize tunes by ear. Generations of Jazz musicians have taken this route. If playing by ear is difficult, call me for ear training lessons. 2. Join a band and play as much as possible. A young musician asked Art Blakey how he could improve. "Play every night" was his response. 3. Transcribe like crazy. If this is difficult, I teach music theory. 4. Record everything you do. Recording yourself is the best feedback you have between lessons. 5. Learn more tunes. "The musician with the largest repertoire wins". 6. Practice your technique, at various tempos, with a metronome. All great musicians have a deep sense of time. 7. Play Bach, Debussy, and Faure. Jazz piano is notoriously diminishing of our left-hand skills. I practice classical music to maintain my left-hand piano skills. 8. Keep up your lessons. I’ve been taking lessons for over 50 years. 9. Join a second band that plays only original music. Playing original music solidifies the skills and knowledge of composition, theory, history, leadership, notation, and more. 10. Write original music for solo piano. Bonus. Read and explore the history of jazz prior to heading to jazz school. If I can help you call me. David Revised August 2022 |
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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