David Story West End Toronto Piano Teacher
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What do I do with the blues scales?

11/12/2013

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Many Students learn to play blues scales in the normal course of learning an instrument. The question often arises: What do I do with them?

Nothing, unless you want to learn to play the blues. To use the blues scales a student needs to listen to and enjoy blues music! Otherwise they have just learned some interesting sounds from an unknown language! Similar to learning a few words in a language you have never heard or will ever experience. A wasted exercise.

On the other hand let's explore some options on learning a new type of music.

  1. Head for YouTube and search "Blues Piano"
  2. Explore this list: In a bluemood: A personal listing of great blues pianists.
  3. Watch "The Blues" By Martin Scorsese. A great place to get an overview on the subject.
  4. Go to a blues club.
  5. Sightread some music from a blues piano book.
Cheers,

David Story

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Dundas Blues

7/22/2013

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Here is a modest short piece of boogie woogie fun. 

Performance notes:
  1. Play very steady, steady enough to dance to.
  2. Both hands should be of equal loudness.
  3. Accent the black keys in the left hand.
  4. The 5th finger of the right hand plays the top note of each chord.
Have fun,

David

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How to play in a band

5/26/2013

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Niagara Falls Workshop

What a fun day for 12 young musicians, ages 7 to 13, in Niagara Falls Ontario. At the studio of  Alessandra Dicienzo we learned how to play in a band. Using iPhones, iPads, Keyboards, Pianos, Cajon, Alesis Drum Pad, Drum set, and shakers we rocked up a storm. 

We started by learning a Rock-a-billy version of Abigail’s Boogie for multiple keyboards and finished up with a rousing reading of Katy Perry’s Part of Me. Then we performed the 2 pieces for family, all in three short hours.

  • They learned that playing in a band is difficult, fun, and awesome.
  • They learned why teachers recommend using a metronome in practice.
  • They learned to listen to each other and play together.
  • They have a better understanding of use of dynamics and articulations.
  • They want to do it again.

I was really impressed at the intensity of the effort and the wonderful music that resulted.

Thank you kids.

David

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    I'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also an enthusiastic student of drums. 

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