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

Piano warmups for intermediate students

3/30/2023

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I recommend playing these warmups at various tempos with a metronome. Transposing these exercises to different keys is also highly recommended. 

David

Key words:
  • Scales
  • Scales in contrary motion
  • Diatonic chords
  • Broken chords
  • Arpeggios
  • Piano warmups
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Free Download
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Harmonising Pop Melodies: Lead Sheet Strategies

3/29/2023

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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
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Vanilla chords for Jazz students

3/24/2023

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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. ​
vanilla chords
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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.
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Seven steps for learning a new piece of piano music.

3/9/2023

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Seven steps to learning a new piece of piano music.

  1. Translate all the musical terms and write them in your score. These Italian terms tell you how to play the piece because they indicate tempo, mood, and attitude.
  2. Locate three professional YouTube recordings of your new work. Play them in turn; make notes on how each musician interprets the score and musical terms from step one. If you can see their hands, note the gestures they use to interpret the score. (I write down what I hear and see directly in my scores.)
  3. Using a slow metronome tempo, clap and count aloud any tricky rhythms you find.
  4. If the music is complex, write in the fingering, measure by measure, hand by hand. The editor’s markings are often a good place to start. You just fill in the missing finger numbers. Experiment and carefully consider your choices. This will accomplish two things. One, you will be practicing slowly and consciously, hand by hand, chunk by chunk. Two, you will have time to play musically from the start because you will have time to consider the dynamics or articulations. Concurrently with the writing in the fingerings, consider the gestures needed to interpret the music. These might include fingers, rotation, drop, two note slurs, and other motions. If you are unclear about which gestures to use, call me. I will show you how, with the proper gestures, the composer's intentions are easier to realize.
  5. After the initial consideration you gave to the fingering, dynamics, and articulations you are now ready to play with steadier time. Continue to count aloud, with a metronome, if you are having trouble with the rhythm. Don’t hesitate to work on your hands separately.
  6. You now have a secure foundation to begin practicing in earnest. You have an artistic impression of the work, you’ve worked out the fingering, dynamics, articulations, and necessary hand gestures to interpret the music.

​If I can help you further, call me.
 
David
Revised 2024
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Learning to hear the 60 Jazz chords

3/6/2023

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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
Free download of the singing exercises
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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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                                                ©2025 David Story
  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Adult Lessons
  • About Me
  • Children Lessons
  • Jazz and Blues Workshops 2024 2025
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
  • Jazz and Blues Downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Children's Piano Recital
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute
  • Books, Apps, Websites, Music
  • Ear Training and Sight Singing Resources
  • My YouTube channel
  • Chord Voicings for Jazz Standards
  • Long and McQuade Teacher Workshop 2024