David
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I'm 15 or so, I've been playing a year or two. I "practice" in quotes all the time. She is cute, she sings, she needs an accompanist for the church strawberry social. I step up. I'm waaaaaay over my head. But keen to impress.
We practice, I survive. But I am about to learn the difference between the practice room and the stage. In hindsight I imagine it is like the difference between basic training and real combat. It's a beautiful day, they haul a small piano outside on the grass. The back of the piano faces the singer and the audience. We step up. I am soooo nervous, so underprepared that my right leg starts to bounce uncontrollably, audibly, banging the underside of the piano. People are looking around for the source of the noise. I'm deadpan behind the piano. It mercifully ends. Lessons? 1. "Superbia et ante ruinam" Pride goes before the fall. But the show must go on. 2. Never underestimate the power of shameless audacity in a show biz career. 3. It's harder than it looks. The magic of the performing arts is the illusion it is easy. David Bach - The Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Arthur Grumiaux Classical students 1. Phrasing: Notice how the performer tapers each 2 note slur 2. Chords: Notice how the performer "strums" the chord from the bottom to top note 3. Dynamics: When the music goes up in pitch so does the intensity and vice versa. This is a very common effect in classical music performance. 4. Dynamics part 2: Phrases which rise start softer and crescendo. Jazz Students 1. Broken chords that ascend on a 7th chord and resolve in the opposite direction. Measure 4, beat 3 2. Enclosures in measure 2, beat 1 around the note C. Measure 5, beat 3. 3. The use of chromatic approach notes to chord tones in a broken chord in measure 3. Mozart likes these types of figures as well. See Fantasia in D minor measure 10. Have fun. David Bach - The Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Arthur Grumiaux Lockdown 2.0 Oh boy!
The article above supplies some great ideas to keep us practicing. I invite you to click the photo to read the article. David Poland is a long way to travel to learn with American Jazz Masters Dena DeRose, Miguel Zenon, Aaron Goldberg, Mike Moreno, Ali Jackson, and Luques Curtis.
It was worth every penny for such a transformational experience. Bonus, a beautiful country and people too. Aaron Goldberg, pianist, was our ensemble leader for the week. But first. About seven years ago I first attended the Jamie Aebersold Jazz Workshop in Louisville Kentucky as a drummer. I was green but pumped. I was pulled out of the workshop on day one and sent to a room where two instructors waited. Bassist Bob Sinicrope started drilling me with questions. Who are you? Why are you here? Very direct. I explained I was a piano teacher and musician from Toronto who now played the drums. I had attended Berklee College of Music back in the day… He cut me off. “Who did you study with?” Ah, Ray Santisi. “Ray Santisi, I’m his bass player!” We were instant friends. Which brings me back to Poland and Aaron Goldberg. After hearing us all play we were put into groups and assigned rooms to report to. A bunch of us showed up, nervously eying each other. Language was an issue. There were 5 Poles, 2 Russian teenager wunderkinds, 1 Chinese Rock Star, and 1 Canadian old guy. We all noticed the room was devoid of music stands. Aaron walks in. He was a student of Bob Sinicrope! He calls the first tune: Body and Soul. No music. We sing as a group the bass line of the song after much discussion and negotiation. We get it. Then the singer, in halting English, explains it’s in the wrong key. Aaron gives us a new tonic note and low and behold we sing the bass line in a new key. He counts us in. Away we go. I’m glad I’m a drummer that day. At the concerts during the week, we are the only group playing without music. We play with intensity and conviction born from pure terror. We nail it. Aaron buys us a bottle of Bison Vodka at weeks end and salutes us all. Thank you Aaron for valuable insights and the vodka. David ![]() Memorize these tunes as your first priority using the method below. This method is based on the wise words of Louis Armstrong and experience of Lenny Tristano. I credit the singing of the chord roots to my week of study with Aaron Goldberg of Yes Trio. What a great insight Aaron presented. Autumn Leaves https://youtu.be/tguu4m38U78 Key of Gm Take the A train https://youtu.be/D6mFGy4g_n8 Key of C Blue Monk https://youtu.be/_40V2lcxM7k Key of Bb Satin Doll https://youtu.be/Gj42JotNUko Key of C Blue Bossa https://youtu.be/U7eOs5lERww Key of C minor C jam Blues https://youtu.be/16UIKglJ56w Key of C
Benefits?
David It is two months before the big date. What do you do? How do you practice?
Some thoughts:
David Listen to great music. A musical truism: "we are who we listen to".
Try this on your next new piece.
Have fun. David |
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. AuthorI'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also a devoted percussionist and drum teacher. Categories
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