David Story, Online Piano Lessons from Toronto
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We are who we listen to

12/31/2021

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Dr. Hugo Norden, professor emeritus, coached me in Baroque counterpoint and harmony as a young naïve overconfident private student. He was a wise man; he knew how to handle characters like me. 
Mr. Story we are who we listen to. So, pick carefully" Dr. Hugo Norden 1981 Boston
The law of association restated. I’ve spent forty plus years considering that advice. My conclusions:

Our musical environment habitualizes our expectations of how music should sound and be presented. It will raise our expectations in both ourselves and what we ask and expect of others. It will also support our auxiliary studies such as theory and history. In short, inspire us to do better. 


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
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Three things to focus on for better results in piano study.

12/28/2021

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  1. Theory
  2. History
  3. Ear training

The three most neglected aspects of music study.

Theory: knowing what you are doing makes everything easier. The knowledge and application of theory allows us to discover and understand the notes which leads to insight and artistry.
  • If you don't know what a ii-V is in Jazz or a cadence is in Mozart, artistry will be difficult.
  • Theory knowledge brings new insights into why different artists play the way they do. 
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. Why? The study of the history of your instrument and the history of music in general will answer that question and help your interpretations.

Now the big one.

Ear Training:
  • interval recognition
  • chord recognition
  • melodic playback and jazz licks
  • chord progressions
  • rhythmic clapback
  • Instrument identification
  • counting measures
  • sight singing
  • scoring what we hear

The list goes on.

​Some folks have it easier here than others, but I can confidently say I started with a tin-ear and over time developed it to a remarkably high degree. 

I can help you too. 

Call me. 



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Jazz chops in a hurry

12/16/2021

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Here are my thoughts for acquiring jazz chops.  
1. Learn and memorize tunes by ear. 
2. Join a band and play as much as possible. 
3. Transcribe like crazy. 
4. Record everything you do. 
5. Learn more tunes. 
6. Technique with a metronome. Various tempi. 
7. Play Bach, Debussy and Faure. 
8. Keep up your lessons. 
9. Join a second band that plays only original music. 
10. Write some original music. 

Bonus. Read and explore the history of jazz prior to school. 
 ​
If I can help you call me. 

​David

David
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What should I practice?

12/14/2021

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How to practice the piano. 
  
What do I practice is the perennial question? Here are some of my thoughts gleaned from decades of my personal practice and observing countless numbers of students. 
  1. Know why you are practicing. What goals did the teacher outline in their notes for you? What did they indicate that you were to work on? 
  2. Know how to prepare for practice. Get your materials in order: music, metronome, pencil, audio recorder, professional recordings of your work. 
  3. Know what to practice. 
    Technique is like pushups, once is never enough. 
    Sight reading skills facilitate quicker learning and bringing more fun to just fooling around.  
    Ear training is the ability to play what we hear in our heads. 
    Repertoire is why we signed up in the first place. 
    Theory is understanding what we hear in our heads. And facilitates communication with the teacher. 
    Etudes develop our hands to execute what we hear in our heads.  
  4. Learn how to practice. If there is one overriding rule, it is this: Never play through a mistake. Stop and reason it out. Is the problem the notes, rhythm, fingering, dynamics, articulations, tempo? Consult your professional recording of the piece again for clues. Listen back to your own recording of the passage. What do you hear? 
  5. Learn to thrive on practice. 

If I can help, call me. 
 I've been teaching online for over a decade. 
​

David 
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Jingle Bells Boogie Woogie

12/8/2021

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Picture
Winter is here, let's have some fun. 

​David
jingle bells boogie woogie free sheet music for piano
File Size: 983 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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How to listen like a musician. Listening to Jon Batiste NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

12/2/2021

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Trained musicians ask themselves, when meeting a new piece of music for the first time, "What's going on here?"

Try answering the following questions on the pieces in this short concert video. 


  1. What are the time signatures of each piece?
  2. What is the form? I suggest writing it out. 
    1. Intro
    2. Verse
    3. Chorus
    4. Solo section
    5. Bridge instead of a solo section
    6. Endings
  3. Which instruments are playing?
    1. What kind of keyboard is he playing? 
    2. Percussion instruments. What is she playing?
    3. Drum orchestration. What instruments is she playing?
  4. Bass
    1. Is it free or structured? (A structured part is repetitive.)
  5. Guitar
    1. Rhythm patterns or free?
    2. Use of space in the solo?
    3. Articulations?
    4. Guitar tone? 
  6. Jay Dilla beat, the second piece switches to the Dilla beat: Straight-Strung-Swing https://youtu.be/-DkM0Zlsmmg Watch this video first for clarification. 
  7. Piano solos
    1. Blues? 
    2. Register?
    3. Repetitive? 
    4. Riffs or lines?
    5. Dynamics and its relationship to the direction of the line.
    6. Articulations? Swing, straight, accented, legato?

      Have fun listening. 

      David


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Overcoming timidity at the piano

12/1/2021

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Many students who lack confidence in class would sound move confident by simply playing louder. Try 10% louder to start. Another take on fake it to 'til you make it.

Secondly, crescendo when the melody rises and diminuendo when it falls, unless the composer or arranger says otherwise.

This should help shed some of the timidity in your playing.

Have fun.

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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  • 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
  • Jazz downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute