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This guy explains how to sit on the piano bench correctly. He includes a discussion and demonstration of the correct distance to sit from the piano and the height of the bench. As he says, sitting correctly will help us play easier and avoid injury. Enjoy. David
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Consider each of the following before beginning.
Good luck.  This African rhythm is found throughout the popular music of the Americas for centuries. Here it is applied in a jazz context. You will hear it in the introduction of "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin, The Charleston by Green Hill, and Chinatown by Teddy Wilson. It is still heard today loudly emanating from the cars of young men. Jelly Roll Morton called it the "Spanish tinge." You can hear it in "The Crave." It is also called the Habanera Rhythm as heard in the introduction of St. Louis Blues. 
Learning the melodies to jazz standards will save you a lot of time and bother. The thesis is this.
David
I'm finishing my first year with the Toronto Concert Band and what a thrill it has been. From drum set to piano, xylophone to tympani it has been a journey of intense rehearsal, thrilling concerts, private practice, and fellowship. At the upcoming concert I will be playing:
Come join us and say hi after the concert. When: June 10, 2023 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Where: Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front Street West Tickets: 2023 Spring Concert - Toronto Concert Band  I suggest you vary the tempi, dynamics, and articulations of the following warmup etude. These passages can also be transposed to other keys, both major and minor. David  Angela Hewitt shares her tactics, strategies, and stories on how she keeps her musical memory strong. It is interesting to note that musical conservatories, like the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, have developed curriculums that prepare the ground for developing and helping to maintain musical memory.
Link to the article: ‘Like sex and religion, we don’t like to talk about memory’: pianist Angela Hewitt on how she keeps hers in shape | Classical music | The Guardian  A student writes, “Hey David, I wanted to check my learning strategy with you. My goal right now is to play better at the jams I attend. Most of them are funky with someone creating a groove, and everyone jumping in. I noticed the keys players are all very good at hearing the bass and figuring out the progression— or finding a groove within a set progression. At my level, I’m usually asking others what key we’re in (although it doesn’t always work since it changes) and then playing the root chord and inversions of it. I’ll sometimes create groove lines from the respective blues scale, but that’s about it for my understanding. Taken together, I’m thinking the number one thing I need to work on is: Ear training. For that, I’m thinking I focus on training my ear to understand:
Thanks! My response. Yes, this is a good start. Here are some more ideas to consider.
David One Chord Songs
I recommend playing these warmups at various tempos with a metronome. Transposing these exercises to different keys is also highly recommended. David Key words:
  Adding a single note, at strategic places, will enhance the fullness of the arrangement. For popular music from the 1950s to today, say Carol King or Beyoncé, this will work. Whenever the melody is at rest, add the 3rd or 5th of the chord below the melody, as illustrated above. This lesson presupposes you understand the meaning of root, third, and fifth of a chord. And, have a basic grasp of intervals. If you struggle with this call me, I can help. David  So many beautiful pieces to learn and so many chords to master. It's a real problem for beginning jazz students. Lester Young, the legendary sax player of the 1940's, is known to have requested or demanded that the pianist play the "vanilla chords." "Forgot the fancy reharmonizations, just give me the vanilla chords; I'll decorate the harmony." Or something to that effect. It was a story told to me many decades ago. So, here are the vanilla chords for hundreds of jazz standards. Let it be your guide to taking the harmony back to a more manageable level.  Me: What was Lester Young referring to when he said play the vanilla chords?
ChatGPT: Lester Young was known for his distinctive and influential saxophone playing style in jazz music. There are a few different stories and interpretations of what he meant when he referred to "vanilla chords." One interpretation is that Young was encouraging his fellow musicians to stick to the basic, fundamental chords in a song, rather than adding too many complicated or unusual harmonies. In this sense, "vanilla chords" could be understood as simple and straightforward chords that provide a solid harmonic foundation for improvisation and soloing. Another interpretation is that Young was referring to the use of the basic major and minor chords in a blues progression. In this context, "vanilla" could be seen as a metaphor for the basic, essential ingredients of a blues song, and Young was emphasizing the importance of staying true to that traditional form. However, it's worth noting that the exact phrase "vanilla chords" does not appear in any known recordings or transcripts of Young's performances or interviews. So the meaning of the phrase remains somewhat elusive and subject to interpretation. Seven steps to learning a new piece of piano music.
If I can help you further, call me. David There are sixty jazz chords that you will need to recognize by ear. The ability to hear them, sing them, and play them will form the cornerstone of your jazz improvisation and aural recognition of jazz chord progressions. They are: 1. Major 7th 2. Dominant 7th 3. Minor 7th 4. Minor 7th b5 5. Diminished 7th Five types, 12 keys = 60 chords. These exercises will help you get there. If I can help you, call me. David  Aural Skills, Musical Rudiments, and Sightreading--The overlooked elements of Musicianship2/27/2023 The elements of musicianship, namely aural skills, musical rudiments (“theory”), and sightreading are often neglected in musical study because students are busy grinding away on their instruments. However, musicianship skills facilitate the learning of new music and instrumental mastering. Aural skills help the students hear internally what they are reading, rudiments help them see the musical patterns within the composition, and sightreading skills make learning a piece of music much quicker. Therefore, when students spend equal time on musicianship studies, they perform with greater insight, security, and finesse in a shorter amount of time.
When musicians perform prepared memorized pieces, they play by ear, even if they learned the piece by reading. The primary elements of aural training are recognizing: intervals, chords, scales, rhythmic and melodic dictation, and playing back short melodies by ear. These aural skills allow the musician to, among other things, connect what they hear with what they are playing, and thus greatly increase the accuracy of their performance. Musicians who understand the structural elements of their pieces and the relationship of these elements to the sound they are making have a firm grasp of musical rudiments because understanding how tonality, rhythm, form, dynamics, and articulations interact in a score will inform the student’s ability to play idiomatically. Furthermore, a student who understands rudiments can make musical sense of the score in a shorter time. Students are always keen on learning a piece quickly and skilled sight readers can do this, whereas unskilled sight readers grind away endlessly to learn their music. Skilled sight readers use their aural skills and strong rudimental knowledge to make sense of the music “on the fly,” allowing them to learn quickly and/or play with others in group settings. Students love to play; they mostly hate to study. They signed up for the fun of making sounds they recognize, so they often must be convinced that the shortest route from A to B is not in grinding, but in mastering these “boring” elements of musicianship: aural skills, musical rudiments, and sightreading. If I can help you on your musical journey, call me. David This blog was written by a human. What should a Royal Conservatory of Music piano student practice each week according to Shakespear?2/20/2023 A Royal Conservatory piano student's goal, Is mastering the art of playing with control. Begin with scales and arpeggios in hand, To warm up fingers and help you understand. Next, pieces chosen with purpose and care, Played often, so the music's easy to bear. Technical studies such as Hanon or Czerny, Can help you play with dexterity so cleanly. Sight-reading and ear training are quite a treat, To build essential skills and make progress sweet. Choose challenging repertoire to extend, Your capabilities, and become a true friend. Lastly, review and refine what you've learned, So your piano skills will be well-earned. A Royal Conservatory piano student's way, Is to practice each week, with dedication and play. William.  Coming up on March 4, 2023, I will be performing with the Toronto Concert Band as a pianist and percussionist. I practice every day in preparation for, and anticipation of, an exciting evening of music making. The piano part of Cait Nishimua's "Pukaskwa" is challenging. The piano part enters after a tricky rest. My confidence needs a boost. So, I've transcribed the melody that plays in the rest, which, I hope, will make my entrance stronger. I'll let you know how it turns out.  Listening (5 minutes) Listen to professional recordings of the piece(s) you will be practicing today and then play your "party piece" or your "goto" piece.
Warm-up (10 minutes) Play your assigned scales, arpeggios, and technical exercises. Multiple repetitions are recommended. Repertoire (20 minutes) Play your piece(s) focusing on sound quality, phrasing, dynamics, and rhythm. I suggest working on small chunks Later, when you are close to the exam, you should run your program, without stopping, to build endurance. Sightreading (5 minutes) Theory (10 minutes) Ear Training (5 minutes) Review the requirements of the grade. Conclusion (5 minutes) Review an old favorite If I can help you, call me. David Question: What are the elements I need to consider, as a musician, to improve my aural skills?
Answer: To improve your aural skills as a musician, you should consider the following elements:
------------------------------------ Sounds like the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum to me. David Piano Practice Guide What should I practice to learn piano? Here are some suggestions to help you learn piano:
Once again good specific advice. David What should a Royal Conservatory of Music piano student practice each week? Please answer in rhyming couplets.A Royal Conservatory student, practicing piano,
Should aim for consistency, not just a one-time show. First, warm up those fingers with scales and arpeggios, Then move on to pieces, to let the music flow. Technical studies like Hanon or Czerny, Can help to build dexterity and avoid any injury. Sight-reading and ear training, don't forget to include, These skills are crucial and can't be misconstrued. Challenging repertoire, should be in the mix, To push your abilities, and you're playing to fix. Lastly, review and refine, what you've learned so far, Take your time, be patient, it will take you far. So Royal Conservatory piano student, keep in mind, Practice regularly, and you'll see yourself shine. I may lose my mind. David How should I practice piano?
To practice piano effectively, here are some steps you can follow:
Have fun: Finally, make sure to enjoy the process! Playing the piano should be a source of joy and fulfillment, not stress and frustration. ---------------------------- Not bad. However, recording yourself is missing. David How should I practice jazz piano?
ChatGPT Jan 30 Version. Free Research Preview. Our goal is to make AI systems more natural and safe to interact with. Your feedback will help us improve. Good advice. David  Jazz students are often looking for new chords for the standards they are playing. This blog offers you some suggestions if you are unable to transcribe. 1. The iReal Pro app is a useful source. It doesn't always have the most exciting chords, but it does help you move on from the fakebook. 2. YouTube transcriptions, though not always reliable, will help you explore new harmonic ideas. 3. The Real jazz Solos Book by Hal Leonard is a reliable book to consult. Have fun. David  
My wife is preparing for your Grade 3 violin exam. She asked ChatGPT about preparing for the big event. Here are the results.
Hi ChatGPT. What are your recommendations about preparing for a practical violin exam? ChatGPT. Here are some general recommendations for preparing for a practical violin exam:
Wow, the advice is solid. However, a few things are missing. 10. Listen to professional recordings of your music. This is a proven method employed in the Suzuki music methods. Students need to be able to recognize an incorrect note(s) in their playing. The advice is all old school except for step five. David BTW, my wife is a professor of education who writes on Ai. |
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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