Practicing away from the instrument

    Last week we were staging our home for sale. (Yes, we are moving to new area of Toronto and while the house was staged and sold, we stayed with my folks in Bracebridge.)

    I was able to practice the piano in Bracebridge, but I was unable to practice the drums, my primary hobby instrument. What did I do? I transcribed drum parts, starting with “Thumbs” by Sabrina Carpenter. The results are below. What fun that was. What did I learn? I was reminded that modern popular music has a very simple drum parts. And that the part was played or created by someone skilled in creating beats through the clever use of dynamics, articulations, and phrasing.  

     What could you the piano student do away from the instrument?

​    Transcribe the dynamics, tempo changes, and articulations from a professional recording. If you are a classical student, mark up your score. If you are a jazz student mark up your fakebook. This is the "secret sauce" that makes musical magic. Listen to Valentina Lisitsa perform the Moonlight Sonata. I've marked up a 1st edition copy. The melody at B is marked pianissimo, she plays forte. Her use of ritardando is not marked either, nor is her addition of the occasional accent in the bass. 

Have fun.
David

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