David Story, Online Piano Lessons from Toronto
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Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

How to organise your practice time. Tips for Jane

7/27/2021

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Jane is learning how to play chords to her favourite pieces. Here is how I've recommended she spends her time.

​Practice time breakdown

25% scales and chords with metronome at various tempos
25% review of old work
25% new pieces
25% sight reading tunes off the internet. Notice the search terms in the image below. Click on images and viola things to practice.

David
Picture
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Maintaining enthusiasm for piano study

7/24/2021

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Keeping your positive attitude on your ability to learn the piano
  • Good attitudes are maintained through focused effort and disciplined study in alignment with your goals and values.
  • Good attitude is easier to maintain if you are sharing this journey with other people. Now that concerts are returning, consider meeting other adult piano students at professional piano recitals. Strike up a conversation with the person sitting beside you. Chances are good that only pianists and former pianists attend piano recitals and they'd be happy to chat about it.

David

3 Mini-shorts Breakfast piano minute

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What Students Studied Today

7/19/2021

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  • March by Kabelevsky 
  • Haunted Mouse by Faber
  • You Raise Me Up by Josh Grogin
  • Marines hymn
  • Tea for the tillerman by Cat Stevens
  • Mozart Sonata in F
  • Reverie by Debussy 
  • Drum programming in house music
  • Haydn Divertimento in G 
  • Haydn sonata in G 
  • Bourree in F 
  • Nocturne by Poole
  • Interval training
  • Level 9 harmony
  • 1st Gymnopedie by Satie 

It was an all adult teaching day. It was a great day. If I can help you, please call me.

David

#scirabin #modernism #improvisation Scriabin reimagined by a jazz pianist. Scriabin Prelude op. 16 no.4
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How do I practice?

7/14/2021

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I practice piano and drums daily, except Sundays when I rest. This summer I'm practicing bass. My student Barb asked me, "how do you practice?" This is what I said. 

  1. I prepare to practice. My music and instruments are at hand and ready to go. As is my metronome, recordings, recorder, and pencils.
  2. I listen to the reference recording before commencing if the piece is new.
  3. I plan out how I will play the piece. I consider fingering, dynamics, articulations, and the appropriate motions required to realise this vision.
  4. I warm up and stretch.
  5. I use a metronome most of the time. All the time if I’m on the drum kit.
  6. I record myself section by section. And, then listen back and adjust as required before moving on.
  7. I practice piano technique and drum rudiments.
  8. I listen attentively to music. No distractions. I ask myself, “what’s going on here?” I often write out what I hear. To date of transcribed 100+ drum pieces alone. And, countless piano excerpts. 
  9. I practice slowly with the all the dynamics and articulations in order. I don’t add this later.
  10. I’m patient. That being said, if you follow the 9 steps above, you may not need to test your patience. 

Have Fun. 
​
David Story
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​Finding time to practice, updated 2021

7/10/2021

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The pandemic appears to be waning. We have all enjoyed the extra practice time lockdowns gave us. Extra time was an unexpected consequence during these tragic times.

How will be hold on to this extra time when things move back to more normal times? Good question.

Here is some of the things I’m considering. Perhaps it will be helpful for your situation too.
  1. I’ve rethought my priorities. A lot of activities where not missed during the lockdowns, so I will do my best to avoid restarting them. Draw up your own list perhaps?
  2. I’ve once again put practice time in my daily schedule. Once that is done, I will book my students around these blocks of time.
  3. I will continue my own studies in drums and piano online, saving a few hours a week of travel time.

​Best regards,
 
David
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Can You Teach Yourself Piano From Youtube?

7/1/2021

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Picture
It depends.

It depends on what musical skills and experiences you already have. 

It depends on what expectations you have. If your desires are modest, yes you can likely make some simple music from watching online videos. If some level of musical competency is desired, online videos are a trickier proposition.

Why? No feedback.

Teachers give feedback, sequence learning material, correct technique, inspire when the going gets tough, and make the journey fun through collaborative learning. 

If that sounds like what you need, call me. I can help.  

David
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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.
    Charlie Parker

    Author

    I'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also a devoted percussionist and drum teacher. 

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                         Contact           Home         Mystery Link
  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Jazz Workshop #9 May 7, 2022
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • My Story
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Recommended resources and Free Music
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
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  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute