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Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

Bach - Five little preludes BWV 939-943

4/28/2021

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These are short, charming, easy pieces for levels 5 and 6.

Q: What can harpsichordists teach pianists?
A: How to pace the music. Listen to the subtle flexibility in the flow of the music. 

In the second video the performer talks about these works. 

Enjoy, 

​David
Revised October 2022
The music. BACH JS 6 préludes (BWV 939-943).MUS (imslp.info)
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Four ways to learn jazz piano

4/27/2021

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Mr. Earl
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Mr. Santisi
I have personal experience with these four approaches as a teacher, pianist, or drummer. Each approach works, to various degrees, but each approach has important presuppositions about the student's skills and musical backgrounds. In short, one of these approaches may be more applicable to you than others. If you are a beginning pianist who loves jazz, we will have to take a fifth path.
​
The Traditional Berklee College of Music Approach of the 1970s, an apprenticeship method

Ray Santisi and Dean Earl were my main piano teachers, I loved those guys; they believed in me, and they encouraged and mentored me. I owe them everything. The traditional Berklee jazz piano method emphasized jazz theory, jazz mechanics, pep talks and sharing musical war stories. It was an old-fashioned approach to learning old-fashioned music, but their ideas and techniques worked, and I quickly became a much more valuable member of the jazz community. It is important to note that my theory knowledge was already high thanks to my Royal Conservatory of Music studies in high school, as was my experience on the professional band stand. I must also point out that not once in four years was my piano technique or lack thereof discussed. The method has been codified and is available in the "Berklee Jazz Piano Book". 

The Lenny Tristano Approach of the 1950s, a practical aural method

Lenny Tristano was a pioneer jazz educator. He emphasized copying seminal jazz solos, transposition, and basic jazz mechanics. (Students with weak aural skills will need to address their shortcomings to succeed.) Does this approach work? Yes, it is easily the quickest way to get from A to B and has been followed by earlier generations in musical genres like jazz, rock, and country. Duke Ellington, Elvis, The Beatles, and Merle Haggard learned to play their instruments while simultaneously learning the music through social and cultural immersion, the copying and mimicking of recordings, attending performances, and jamming with others. EDM artists continue this tradition today on YouTube. When this method runs parallel with studies in theory, piano technique, sight reading, jazz history, and repertoire memorization, jazz piano success will follow. 

Tristano lesson plan:
  1. Singing solos by ear before working them out on your instrument
  2. Comping approaches and left-hand mechanics
  3. Repertoire, repertoire, repertoire
  4. Transposition of licks into twelve keys

The Jamey Aebersold Approach of the 1970s, an intellectual method

I have attended his camp as a drummer and jazz educator. Jamie is a genuine jazz character, successful businessman, and significant educator. But there is a paradox in Jamie's approach, it really doesn't work very well. His emphasis on chord scale relationships and melodic patterning requires too much cognitive processing to work in real time. I've seen smoke coming out of the ears of red-faced students trying to construct a solo using memorized licks and preselected scales on the bandstand. His method and products do appeal to book learners, but alas reading a cookbook doesn’t make you a chef. You must get in there and can "muck" around with the recordings, block out time for practice, theory, sightreading, history, and aural skills. These activities require time, resources, and patience. In Jamie's defense, and I love the guy, each year he would tell the students, “The answers you seek are in the recordings,” and then watch them all run downstairs to the bookstore and buy another book. 

The Wynton Marsalis Approach, an authoritarian, historical, and sociological approach

His uncompromising demand for deep knowledge of both your instrument and the jazz field is tough for casual players. And, as well, his appeal to male authority is a turn off in 2022. But I support his dictums to know and respect “the tradition,” the necessity of instrumental mastery and primacy of swing and the blues as valid. Somebody needs to say, preach, preserve, and advocate for those ideas. But the problem with this conservative viewpoint, for music that was originally “the music of surprise", is that it cuts off its growth, development, and social relevancy. In short, it becomes museum music and everything in museum is dead and on display. (I recently had the opportunity to study with Ali Jackson, Wyton’s former drummer and a man who epitomizes this impossibly high bar. Ali raised my standards as a teacher and my self-concept as a drummer.)
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Revised October 2022
Rankings:

  1. Wynton, despite his blind spots. If you are planning to attend an elite jazz academy, start here. 
  2. Lenny is a close second because he offers specific ideas that will help everyone progress, jazz hobbyists might start here.
  3. Ray and Dino. The Berklee book gives a general outline of mid-century jazz piano techniques but requires additional material from a teacher as it is out of date. 
  4. Jamey. There was too much theory too soon, students were overwhelmed.

What can I do for you?

  1. Work on your piano skills. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to execute what you hear in your head. 
  2. Work on your aural skills.
  3. Appropriately sequence the skills of jazz piano: repertoire, ear training, history, listening and analysis, theory, soloing, jamming, comping and more.
  4. Teach you how to practice.

In short, I will present the material to you in a logical fashion, according to your specific circumstances, using a variety 21st c. multi-modal techniques and provide you with weekly feedback. 

Call me.
 
David

(Authors note I own more than one hundred drum books, listened to hundreds of hours of drumming podcasts, and subscribed to jazz and drum education subscription services promising great masterclass from my jazz heroes. I live on YouTube. Furthermore, I own too many drum sets, snare drums, cymbals and drumming paraphernalia. So, I understand your plight, frustrations, anxieties, and determination.)
Revised October 2022
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What students played this week.

4/24/2021

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A partial list:
  1. Sonatina in A mi by Biehl
  2. St. James Infirmary Blues
  3. Sonata in G Beethoven 
  4. Invention No. 14 Bach
  5. Sonatina in F op. 168 Diabelli
  6. Swiss Variations Beethoven 
  7. Bouree in F by Telemann
  8. Fur Elise by you know who
  9. Take me to church Hozier
  10. Row Row Row Your Boat
  11. Saving the best for last
  12. Jerusalem Israli folk song
  13. The Cat by Jimmy Smith...
  14. Musette in D Bach
  15. Dance of the marionettes Tarenghi
  16. In the evening Hofmann
  17. Take the A train Strayhorn
  18. I got it bad and that ain't good Ellington
  19. Summertime Gershwin
  20. Sonatina in C Czerny op. 36 no. 1
  21. Etude in D minor Czerny op 261 no. 52
  22. 2-3 Montuno in C
  23. Sonata in D Galuppi
  24. We are the champions Queen
  25. Shooting stars in Summer Ikeda

​Adult Exam preparations for May and June 2021
​

1 RCM Prep A
1 RCM 1
1 RCM 3
1 RCM5
2 RCM 7
3 RCM 8
1 RCM 10


Revised October 2022
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Vienna Fugue

4/23/2021

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I'd forgotten how interesting and satisfying writing a fugue can be. (The fugue's subject was inspired by Billy Joel.) This performance is a computer rendition. To be playable with two hands I'd need to transpose the left hand starting at mm. 8.  If you would like some help with music theory call me. 

Best, 

David
Revised October 2022
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Getting Started Making Electronic Music in 2021

4/22/2021

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Synthesizer 1972 The ARP2600
Setting out to create your own music has many satisfactions.

​But first a story. 

I'm 13 years old, and an overly confident self-taught guitarist. I head off to music camp in Kirkland Lake Ontario in the summer of 1972. Harry Forbes, the guitar instructor, was kind and tolerant. Good thing because I sucked.

One day I spotted a strange looking keyboard in the corner of the room.
Q: "What is that, Harry?"
A: "It's an ARP2600 synthesizer".
Q: "What does it do?"
A: "It does this"
Me: "Holy *D*D(#KD+!"

I was hooked. I've never looked back. 

So why create your own music?
​
1. Personal expression
2. Participate in the sound of our time
3. Keep the "play" in playing music alive
4. Creative exploration and discovery
5. Learn new instruments
6. Join an online community of music makers
7. Become a rich and famous DJ
8. Collect gear

Electronic music has its own terms. 

Now...................................Before

Producer                           Composer
DJ                                    Musician
DAW                                 Score paper

How to get started.

The cheapest way is to explore phone apps. This can be expanded with the addition of a specialized keyboard that attaches to your phone. $100+
​Next up, purchasing a USB keyboard and a Digital Audio Workstation and pair of audio speakers. $500+
​When you want to go all in you will need a USB interface to plug in mics and instruments, USB keyboard and a Digital Audio Workstation, microphones, yards of audio cables, a pair of specialized audio speakers, a specialized desk, and a room to put it all in. 

I can help you get started, call me. 

​David
Revised October 2022
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Synthesizer 2013. Not it's not mine.
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Can You Juggle 4 Balls Before You Have Mastered 3

4/21/2021

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Q: How does an impatient student find patience?
Q: How does the piano teacher maintain the student's enthusiasm while working with an impatient student?

Good questions. 

A: There are no short cuts. Playing piano is a manual as well as intellectual skill that just takes time. If we neglect the development of your core piano skills, you will grow bored, discouraged, and quit. In the end, it's faster to learn the skills, embrace the discomfort of challenging work than to search all over the internet looking for a short cut. A good analogy is martial arts, yellow belts don't graduate to black belts by skipping the intermediate belts. There is a progression of skills, steps, and experiences required to move from belt to belt. 

Core music skills: 

  1. Technique
  2. Aural Skills
  3. Sight-reading
  4. Theory
  5. History
  6. Repertoire
  7. Etudes
  8. Improvisation
  9. Group music making 
  10. Music appreciation

Here is a short story taken from my parallel passion of drumming. I devote a large chunk of my practice time to the core skills and fundamentals of drumming, namely time, tone, and patterning. Left, right, left, right or LLRR or RLRR and LRLL. I listen intently to the results. I analysis my movements. And on and on it goes. I've learned to be patient and I've made some real progress in my studies.  I'm confident I will continue to make progress. 

Let me help you. 

Call me. Let's get started.

David
Revised October 2022
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Sonatina in B flat Major James Hook Planning an Interpretation

4/19/2021

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Planning an interpretation
  1. Mark the phrases and label the cadences
  2. Mark the form
  3. Explore phrasing options
  4. Select the gestures
  5. Practice the gestures

This helps the student have a clear metal representation of what to consider and then how to execute this "vision" prior to "practicing" the piece. 

Call me. 

​David
​Revised October 2022

This is the book by Anders Ericsson for the layperson on the science of "deliberate practice". This video is a teaser. 
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Mignon By Robert Schumann Study Guide

4/17/2021

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Preplanning shortens the time needed to "learn" a piece of music. I start, if I can, by listening to several professional performances. Some of the marks on the score reflect what I heard in a particular performance and other marks are a result of my own deliberations. As I revise this blog, I regret that I didn't mark down what was what and from whom. 

Planning an interpretation
  1. Mark the phrases and label the cadences
  2. Mark the form
  3. Explore phrasing options
  4. Select the gestures
  5. Practice the gestures
This preparation helps a musician have a clear idea of the result before they commence practicing. 

​David
Revised October 2022
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Top Five Jazz Piano Albums 1950-1970

4/15/2021

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Bonus
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Playing music by ear

4/12/2021

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 Playing well ultimately means playing by ear.

Adult piano students tend to rely on their visual and analytical strengths. The parts that lead to professional success. Their tactile and auditory sides are often weak.

“Tactile, what’s that?”
“Playing by ear? I’m no good. Or really?” They either have little confidence, or they are unaware of how to use this skill already in their possession.  

Piano studies are traditionally a visual study based around the authority of the text. Obedience and deference are the watchwords.

But to realize your musical dreams and reach your aspirations this side will have to be developed and refined until you can confidently rely on it. 

A classical pianist executes a game plan. Every note has been planned and rehearsed. They have tried different approaches and made their decisions. They have learned every note by heart to a point where they can play with the music. What they hear they can execute. What they hear is based on years of study, practice, transcription, coaching feedback, concert attendance, theory and history studies and lots more. 

A jazz pianist plays what they hear in their head. They never execute an idea and say, "dang, where did that come from?' No way, their minds are singing just slightly ahead of their hands. What they hear they can execute. What they hear is based on years of study, practice, transcription, coaching feedback, concert attendance, theory and history studies and lots more. 

Playing imaginatively by ear requires a rich reservoir of musical ideas and experiences.

I can get you started by helping you play by ear. 

Call me, 

David


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Jamming with friends on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. 2019
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What Students Are Learning This Week

4/8/2021

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A sample of what is on for this week.
​
  • Sonatina in A mi by Biehl
  • St. James Infirmary Blues
  • Mussette Bach
  • Sonatina in C Clementi
  • Sonata in C Hadyn
  • Sonata in G Beethoven 
  • Invention No. 14 Bach
  • Sonatina in F op. 168 Diabelli
  • There Will Never Be Another You Jazz Standard
  • All Right Ok, You Win Blues Standard
  • Swiss Variations Beethoven 
  • Autumn Leaves Jazz Standard
  • The Entertainer Joplin
  • Go Down Moses
  • Bouree in F by Telemann
  • Fur Elise by you know who
  • Row Row Row Your Boat
  • Saving the best for last Venessa Williams
  • Jerusalem Israeli folk song
  • The Cat by Jimmy Smith

Nine brave and committed adult students are preparing to sit for their classical piano exams this spring and summer. 

1 RCM Prep A
1 RCM 1
1 RCM5
2 RCM 7
3 RCM 8
1 RCM 10

If you would like to join us. Call me. 

David
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You've booked your child's first lesson, what comes next?

4/5/2021

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I'll send you a Zoom link, a list of learning materials required for the first lessons, and suggestions from colleagues on setting up Zoom audio and a picture on where to set up your camera. 
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See you in class. 

​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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                                                ©2022 David Story
  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Jazz Workshop #12 June 4, 2023
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • Children's Spring Concert 2023
  • My Story
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
  • Jazz downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute
  • Books, Apps, Websites, Music
  • Ear Training and Sight Singing Resources