Mimic the melody, as interpreted by each recording below. Chords will come later. 

To freshen up your technique and reengage your attention, try the following articulation and dynamic patterns. Remember technique is how musicians learn to control their instrument, build their interpretations, and execute beautifully. 

1, Legato
2. Staccato
3. Legato in the right hand and staccato in the left.
4. Legato in the left hand and staccato in the right.
5. Crescendo to the middle and then diminuendo to the top. 
6. Play one octave in quarter notes, then two octaves in 8ths, then three octaves in triplets, finally four octaves in 16th notes.
7. In contrary motion. This can be challenging when playing broken chords or arpeggios.
8. Scales played in formula patterns
9. Use a metronome, vary the tempo.
10. Play with your eyes closed!
11. Play with emotion. Check out last week's blog with Hilary Hahn for ideas.

​

Jazz has been around for 120+ years. It has gone through many different periods: early jazz, swing, bebop, model, free and more. Now it is 2022, what now? The hoary old standards are wearing a bit thin, but just in time, and to the rescue, the next generation of meta-modern musicians has arrived. I'm in awe. 

Here is a small sample of performances that got "2 thumbs up" from my young teen jazz students this week. 

I've used a simplified "lick" from a Wynton Kelly recording of Autumn Leaves. You may recognize it. Here is a method to integrate this, or any other "jazz lick" into your playing.  First, play the lick as written, then write out the lick in the keys of C, Eb, F, G, Gb using the following steps.

Materials needed:

1. manuscript paper
2. sharp pencil
3. big eraser

Prerequisite knowledge required:

1. key signatures
2. major scales
3. ii-7-V7 chord progressions in major keys

Steps:

1. draw the treble clef
2. add the correct key signature for the ii-7 V7 chord progression
3. add 2 bar lines
4. mark in ii-7 V7 beneath the measures as shown
5. add the chord symbols above the staff
6. add quarter rest in measure 1
7. starting on the 5th of the ii-7 chord, draw three quarter notes ascending in steps or 2nds.
8. measure 2 starts with a quarter note, with a 1/2 step grace note, on the root of the V7 chord and descends a step to the 7th of the chord. This 7th will require an accidental (natural or flat sign) to lower it because of the grace note, which was raised.
9. Bada boom, you're done.

​Have fun. 

The fun starts at 2.27. 

Playing your technique (scales, chords, and arpeggios) with emotion is an important part of learning to play well. These guys, with Hilary Hahn, will give you some fun pointers. 

• Joy
• Anger
• Sadness
• Love
• Calmness
• Fear

This exercise will work on any instrument. You should vary the tempo of the metronome as your skills increase. Counting aloud is imperative. No counting in your head or mumbling. Speak boldly and clearly as you play. The first two measures are counted only. You begin playing in measure three. 

Good luck

Learning tunes from a fake book is the hard way to go about things. Here is the Bill McBernie method of jazz practice in which you play by ear to multiple recordings. 

I could recall the basic outline of the tune "A foggy day" from playing it years ago. That helped. (If you don't know the tune, you must listen until you can sing along.) Below are the recordings and the order in which I played them. Some were played numerous times as I recalled more of the melody and figured out the key. The song was played in the keys of F, C, Eb, and Bb. I played along on vibes, not piano. I focused only on the melody . As the practicing progressed, I began to recall and understand the chords.

Today I was playing it on the piano, from memory, with the chords. 

David

I started part-time teaching in 1982 and in 2007 I went full-time. That is a few generations of students that have passed through my studio. What have I learned?

1. Young children are capable of artistry.
2. Not everyone is teachable.
3. Talent is overrated. Most students don't work hard enough to discover if they have "talent". 
4. I don't believe in talent.
5. Preparing and taking piano exams is an efficient way to learn quickly and thoroughly to play the piano. 
6. You can start music at any age and succeed with the right attitude and realistic goals.
7. Successful students know what they want and why they want it. They've then put aside time and resources to get it.
8. Impatience is a music lesson killer.
9. A young adult trying to catch up to peers with a 10–15-year head start doesn’t understand how it works. That being said, I started piano in high school, and I’ve been a professional musician for 45 years. I didn’t catch up, but I did find my own way. 
10. There is a direct relationship between parental involvement and a child's success.
11. The Dunning Kruger effect is real. Successful students trust their teachers.

If I can help you get started, call me.

​David

Successful practice will mean different things on different days.

1. Having fun messing around
2. Fixing a passage
3. Mastering a scale
4. Preparing the lesson from the teacher’s notes
5. Maintaining your repertoire
6. Improvising
7. Sight reading
8. Singing intervals
9. Transcribing a passage of jazz
10. Exploring new music

The first step is being clear on what you will practice. Then comes the how. No one can do everything in one practice session, so priorities must be set.

If I can help you prioritize your practice; please call me.
David

​Here is one profile of a successful student who thrives on boundaries, discipline, and competition.

Mei diligently practices the following activities:

• She listens daily to professional recordings of her pieces. She knows every part by heart!
• She diligently prioritizes her time so that she can practice her etudes, repertoire, theory, sight-reading, ear training, and technique.
• She uses the metronome when sight-reading and practicing her technique. She has learned to count aloud and play at the same time.
• She records herself regularly for quick feedback.
• She participates in recitals, competitions, and piano exams. Her friends do the same. In fact, she has made many of those friends at the competitions.
• She explores topics related to her studies on YouTube searching for alternative perspectives.
• She attends piano concerts.
• She has a favorite YouTube piano influencer.

​If I can help your Mei; please give me a call.

​David