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

How to organise your practice time. Tips for Jane

7/27/2021

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Jane is learning how to play chords to her favorite pieces. This is how I've recommended she spend her time.

​Practice time breakdown

25% scales and chords with metronome at various tempos
25% review of old work
25% new pieces
25% sight reading tunes off the internet. Notice the search terms in the image below. Click on images and viola things to practice.

David

October 2022 Update: Jane is still in lessons. She is currently learning how to create and play walking bass lines in jazz standards. 
​
Revised October 2022

Picture
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Maintaining enthusiasm for piano study

7/24/2021

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Keeping a positive attitude on the piano bench, when the going gets tough, is a perennial dilemma for us all. I found the following activities helpful on my learning journey as a percussionist. (I took up the study of percussion at age 50 on a dare from a piano student)
  • I maintain a positive attitude with focused effort and disciplined study that aligns with my goals and values. I would summarize my goals and values like this: first, I want to play in community groups that are dedicated to excellence, play a few public concerts each year, and are comprised of musicians that reflect a broad range of ages and backgrounds. Second, I want to play with my retired professional peers as a percussionist where we have fun, share stories, and play the old tunes one more time.
  • I take weekly lessons; I do my homework.
  • Maintaining a positive attitude is easier when I share this journey with other people. So, each summer when I attend an adult music workshop where I meet other adults on the same journey.  We commiserate together! A bonus is learning new teaching techniques from master teachers. Now that piano concerts are returning, it is easier to meet other adult piano students. Strike up a conversation with the person sitting beside you. Chances are good they too play the piano and would be happy to chat about it.

David
Revised October 2022

3 Mini-shorts Breakfast piano minute

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What Students Studied Today

7/19/2021

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  • March by Kabelevsky 
  • Haunted Mouse by Faber
  • You Raise Me Up by Josh Grogin
  • Marines hymn
  • Tea for the tillerman by Cat Stevens
  • Mozart Sonata in F
  • Reverie by Debussy 
  • Drum programming in house music
  • Haydn Divertimento in G 
  • Haydn sonata in G 
  • Bourree in F 
  • Nocturne by Poole
  • Interval training
  • Level 9 harmony
  • 1st Gymnopedie by Satie 

It was an all adult teaching day. It was a great day. If I can help you, please call me.

David

#scirabin #modernism #improvisation Scriabin reimagined by a jazz pianist. Scriabin Prelude op. 16 no.4
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How do I practice?

7/14/2021

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I practice piano and drums daily, except Sundays when I rest. This summer I'm practicing bass. My student Barb asked me, "how do you practice?" This is what I said. 

  1. I prepare to practice. My music and instruments are at hand and ready to go. As is my metronome, recordings, recorder, and pencils.
  2. If the piece is new, I listen to the reference recording before commencing.
  3. I plan out how I will play the piece. I consider fingering, dynamics, articulations, and the appropriate motions required to realize my artistic vision.
  4. I warm up and stretch.
  5. I use a metronome, most of the time. All the time when I’m on the drum kit.
  6. I record myself as I practice. First, it helps keep me honest. Second, it helps me decide what and why I'm repeating the passage in question.
  7. I practice piano technique and drum rudiments. Technique is like muscle; it must be maintained.
  8. When I listen attentively to music, I ask myself, “what’s going on here?” I often write out what I hear. To date I have transcribed 100+ drum pieces alone. And countless jazz and pop piano excerpts. 
  9. When learning a new piece, I practice slowly with dynamics and articulations place. I don’t add these later after "I've got the notes".
  10. I’m patient, I trust the process. 

Have Fun. 
​
David Story
Revised October 2022
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​How to find time to practice piano, updated 2021

7/10/2021

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Here are some of the things I’m considering in a post-pandemic world. It may be helpful for your situation too.
  1. I’ve rethought my priorities as not all activities were missed during the lockdowns. The pandemic gave me an excuse to move on.
  2. As always, when I planned my teaching schedule, I blocked out my practice and study time then I booked my students.
  3. I will continue my own music studies online thus saving a few hours a week of travel time.

​Best regards,
 
David
Revised October 2022
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Can You Teach Yourself Piano From Youtube?

7/1/2021

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It depends.

It depends on your prior musical experiences and expectations. If your desires are modest, YouTube will work. But if you desire to achieve some level of musical competency you will need a teacher. Teachers provide objective and knowledgeable feedback. Teachers guide you through a proven curriculum that has been successfully followed by countless students. And when the going gets tough, and it will, a teacher will support and inspire you to keep going. 

If that sounds like the help you need, call me.   

David
Revised October 2022
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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 #Eleven March 5, 2023
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • Children's Winter 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