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

Do I need to practice piano technique?

5/9/2025

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        One of my adult students recently entered art school. Today we were discussing what he learned this past year. He told me that he entered art school thinking he had a good grasp of painting. Afterall, he had been painting for years. What more would he learn? The foundation classes answered that question. I was pleased to learn that his experience with reality brought some humility and dogged determination to his project. With the 1st year now behind him, and his enthusiasm intact, he has organized summer projects to help sleigh the technical dragons standing in his way. (BTW, he is currently working on his Grade 9 RCM piano exam. He started many years ago from scratch and has stuck with it. I predict that he will succeed at art school too.)

       Learning a musical instrument is similar. It’s all about mastering technique, proper to your level, so that you play with confidence, skill, and panache. For example, back when I was a piano examiner for Conservatory Canada, I remember hearing a young child give a breath-taking performance of a Mozart minuet. This child had complete control of the instrument, herself, and the piece. And she knew it. I’ve never forgotten it.

If you would like me to help you refine your technique, call me. I’m booking spots for the fall now.
​
David
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Practice notes for an intermediate jazz piano student

1/22/2025

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This is the homework assignment for a current student. She plays regularly with a bassist in the Toronto area. She is aiming to build her jazz chops and sophistication at the piano. I'm encouraging her to abandon the books and embrace the ear. 

Play list: 

Sweet Georgia Brown
Satin Doll
Mac the Knife
Rhythm Changes
All of Me
A Train

Ways to practice. Make a playlist of 3 to 5 versions of each song on YouTube. Then...
 
1. Play the melody with the track. Adjust the lead sheet to fit what is going on. 
2. Comp the chords along with the recording. 
3. Solo overtop of the recording. Copy short licks you hear. What you hear will grow with repeated listening. Famed jazz educator, Ed Soph recommended listening 100 times. A little excessive, but he did turn out a legendary list of great drummers from his Texan studio. 
4. Consider making roadmaps. See the roadmap lesson refresher here. How to create a roadmap - David Story, Online Piano Lessons from Toronto
5. Compare the chord progressions found on YouTube transcriptions. For example. Sweet Georgia Brown

​https://youtu.be/NFzHvuaAw8M?si=XEVCkZHksIsJeqZp 
https://youtu.be/rtol5kOngMI?si=dhvTfqPFWn3-sCwt 
https://youtu.be/R7cWDRrEgw0?si=K-qV36XRZ2LUk73A

 

book a class
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Four reasons you might consider studying with me this year.

8/20/2024

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I use proven teaching methods, curricula, and UpToDate instruction materials.  
  • For beginners I primarily use Faber and Faber Adult piano adventures. This series teaches music that is attractive to adults, it covers all the important aspects of playing beautifully, and it progresses in a logical way. The Fabers also have a wide range of leveled supplementary repertoire books from classical to jazz and more.  
  • For classical music students I primarily draw from the teaching materials of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. (I graduated from this institution at age 47.)  The curriculum is organized, progresses logically, and when taken seriously, produces musicians who play beautifully from Grade One onwards.   
  • For jazz music students I draw primarily from my own experience performing on stage and my Berklee College of Music background that has been updated with 15 years of tutoring in jazz education from some of the most experienced and renowned jazz educators in the USA and Canada.  

    Proven experience.  
  • Many former students have gone on to careers in music as songwriters, performers, studio engineers, and educators. I’m proud I got them started on a solid footing which, of course, others finished at the college level.  
  • Each year I have several adult students complete piano exams, learn to play in jazz bands, and in general, have a great time playing a wide variety of music from Bach, through Gershwin, to video game music and more.  

    Cheerful service.  
  • I work hard to help students find joy on their piano journey. Learning to play the piano well is not easy, but a cheerful, well organized, and empathic piano teacher is a big help.  

    I have first hand experience in adult learning.  
  • Adult learning is an exciting journey which I understand because I’m on my third voyage. My first voyage, in my forties, was achieving my ARCT pedagogy degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music with multiple scholarships . My second voyage was taking up the drums at age 50. I now play in groups, like the Metropolitain Silver Band (an English brass band in Toronto) and various jazz big bands. And I still take lessons. My third voyage is ongoing. I study daily online at Athabasca University where I am chipping away on a humanities degree with an emphasis on philosophy.  
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​The six skills of pianists

2/5/2024

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Playing jazz in the 1990s at C'est What? in Toronto.
​The six skills of pianists

I don’t believe in talent. In my experience, all the so-called talented people turned out to be the hardest working, patient, and focused people of any cohort. However, they also had access to resources, like time and money to support their journey. Fortunately, there is a consensus around the core curriculum and its proper sequencing in formal piano studies. 

  1. Technique is the foundational set of skills required to play competently without injury.
  2. Musically satisfying music which systematically builds musical skill in a logical and sequential manner while maintaining the student’s enthusiasm and satisfying their musical interests. 
  3. Theory helps to decode and understand the patterns within the music, memorize music easier, and knowledgably communicate with the teacher.
  4. Aural skills encompass guided listening, sight singing, pitch recognition, and transcription to connect the ears with the hands. Aural skills are tightly bound with music theory skills.
  5. Sightreading skills work with theory knowledge to make music reading easier, quicker, and effective. Skilled sight readers can play a wide variety of music for fun without teacher input. Therefore, for recreational pianists, becoming a great sight reader should be the number one goal.
  6. Reviewing old repertoire builds a student's confidence that all their hard work is paying off.

​If I can help you on your journey, call me.
 
David 
Revised 2024
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How do I learn a dozen pieces in one week?

1/25/2024

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I take lessons and play in several musical groups. Only one group needs serious practice of specific pieces outside of rehearsals. However, all the groups are populated with active and retired professional musicians, like me, who expect that I will show up ready to play. Furthermore, the teacher I work with expects me to show up prepared. 

Some weeks I'm given a dozen pieces to learn. This is how I manage.
​
I divide the pieces into two piles. The first pile consists of the pieces I can sightread. I never practice these. The second pile is divided into two further piles: the easy pile which consists of pieces that have passages that need the once over and the difficult pile that causes panic. I quickly dispatch the easy pile. In preparation for tackling the difficult pieces I repeatably listen to professional recordings of the pieces to have a clear aural understanding of the part. 

I then tackle the difficult stuff as follows. 

  1. I work out the physical moves (fingerings) needed.
  2. I practice so slowly that mistakes are rare.
  3. I use a metronome.
  4. I practice in small chunks.
  5. I let the tempo on the metronome creep up slowly as I get more secure with the passage. 
  6. I record the chunks and listen back. 
  7. I never repeat a chunk without knowing why I'm repeating it. 
  8. From the first reading I honour the dynamics. 
  9. If necessary, I count aloud with the metronome keeping time. 
  10. I'm patient. 

Because I've prepared properly my heart is not conflicted. I'm at peace with whatever happens because I have done all that is humanly possible. However, sometimes, life gets in the way, and I will show up less than prepared. Then the banked musical skills of half a century kick in. You may not have half a century of experience to lean into, but as time goes by you will.

If I can help you learn to practice, call me. 

​David
Revised 2024
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Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve

11/20/2023

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1. This chart illustrates the significance of note-taking during lessons because relying solely on the teacher's notes is not enough. Taking your own notes can enhance your memory of the class content.
2. This chart highlights the optimal time for practice, which is right after the lesson.
3. This chart underscores the importance of spaced repetition. Ignoring the science of forgetting leads to losing most of the learned information.
4. This chart shows that we tend to forget two-thirds of the material we practiced just the day before.
5. This chart should reassure you that your learning pattern is normal.
6. The Harvard paper mentioned provides valuable insights into memorization techniques.

If I can help you, call me. 

​David
Revised 2024

References: 

Replication and Analysis of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve | PLOS ONE

How Memory Works | Derek Bok Center, Harvard University
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How to successfully learn to play the piano in retirement

11/5/2023

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I teach many retired professionals, including former musicians and beginners, all of whom show great enthusiasm. I've identified key traits of my most successful students to guide you in your considerations.

The most dedicated students often start their lessons before retirement. Here’s a brief personel story: As I approach retirement, I too have many dreams for this next chapter. A wise mentor once suggested I test these dreams before retiring, as some might not live up to my expectations. They were right; I discovered that certain dreams were unfulfilling or impractical. Consequently, I’ve narrowed my focus to two main aspirations: mastering the drums and completing my humanities degree. I plan to spend my remaining time exercising, enjoying quality moments with my spouse, teaching part-time, and socializing with friends. 

Successful students prioritize practice. If your first year of retirement will be filled with travel, it might not be the best time to start piano lessons; the second year tends to be more favorable.

Additionally, successful students manage their expectations. With consistent practice, beautiful playing can be achieved relatively quickly, while more complex pieces require years of dedication. It’s similar to martial arts—earning a black belt takes time.

These students trust the process, knowing there are no hidden tricks to mastering the piano; the curriculum has been well-established. Another short story, in my forties, I dedicated myself to classical piano, achieving my Grade 10 and ARCT diplomas by following my teachers’ guidance meticulously. The results were remarkable, and they can be for you as well.

Engaging with music beyond the classroom is another hallmark of successful students. They often sight-read pieces that resonate with them. They also attend concerts featuring the musical genre(s) they wish to learn. For instance, my wife and I will be attending a performance by Sir András Schiff today. The audience will be filled with pianists and learners of all ages, who will surely leave inspired to rush home and practice.

If I can assist you in your dream of playing the piano, please call me.

David  
Revised 2024
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New jazz Student's First Lesson

7/12/2023

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A New Student's Profile
 
The new student is a young professional with a keen interest in learning to play jazz piano. They took piano and trumpet lessons in high school. They have a basic understanding of music theory. Aural skills are excellent.

Their program will include the following components:
  1. Learning several simple jazz melodies by ear. This will give them something to work with as they learn to improvise. And they won’t be simultaneously working on a tune and trying to improvise at the same time. Using their ears to learn the melodies from YouTube recordings will teach them to articulate the melodies in an idiomatic way because reading melodies from the fakebook never does. Jazz is an aural art form not a visual one. Come to think of it, so is Classical piano.
  2. They have started learning, by rote, the sixty jazz chords: Major 7th, Dominant 7th, minor 7th, minor 7b5, and diminished 7th chords. These are the basis of jazz harmony and jazz improvisation.
  3. I recommended that they revisit written piano music to keep their piano skills sharp because jazz piano is notorious for “killing” the left hand of pianists.
  4. First tune up is C jam Blues. (You can view this part of the lesson for free. No strings attached.) They began learning the different interpretations of that famous melody. Along the way they heard simple licks the pianists put in the music. These licks, learned by ear, are the beginning of their library of idiomatic phrases for later use.
If I can help you, call me.
 
David 
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Ten Things Music Students Can Do Over Their Summer Break

6/22/2023

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  1. Take a short break from piano to refresh and recommit to the project. 
  2. Go to a piano concert. 
  3. Practice more. 
  4. Review your favorite pieces from the past. (You will quickly notice how you have improved.)
  5. Teach yourself, using YouTube, how to make dance music tracks on Garage band.
  6. Try learning a new genre of music. If you play jazz, pick a classical piece and vice versa. 
  7. On your walks listen to the best pianists play the style of music you like. 
  8. Catch up on your theory.
  9. Find some new friends to make music with. 
  10. Go to music camp. 

Have a great summer. 
​
If you would like to meet in the summer, call me. I have some limited availability. 

Cheers, 

david
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Is it easy to learn to play the piano?

6/6/2023

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Years ago, while adjudicating piano exams in Aurora Ontario, I heard a young child came in to sit for her grade 2 piano exam. The performance was so beautiful, it took my breath away. Could you learn to play as well as her? Yes, with patient work. Thankfully to play the piano competently only requires you to follow a well-worn path. A path that has evolved over the last two hundred years beginning with CPE Bach's 1787 "Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments," to today's Adult Piano Adventures by Nancy and Randell Faber. I invite you to follow the links for more information. 

However, you will need to plan to succeed; so please consider the following conditions that you will need to meet: 
  1. Time to practice. 
  2. Resources to pay for lessons.
  3. Realistic expectations.
  4. Patience.
  5. Trusting the process. 

If I can help you, please call me. 

David
text: 905-330-1349
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Tips from Angela Hewitt on keeping one's musical memory intact

4/25/2023

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Angela Hewitt shares her tactics, strategies, and stories on how she keeps her musical memory strong. It is interesting to note that musical conservatories, like the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, have developed curriculums that prepare the ground for developing and maintaining musical memory. 
  1. Logical sequencing of material.
  2. Repertoire that must be memorized.
  3. Theoretical knowledge and application.
  4. Foundational skills of techniques and etudes.
  5. Historical knowledge
  6. Aural skills.
  7. Sightreading
  8. Score study
  9. Assessment

Link to the article: ‘Like sex and religion, we don’t like to talk about memory’: pianist Angela Hewitt on how she keeps hers in shape | Classical music | The Guardian
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How to prepare for a music exam according to ChatGPT

1/28/2023

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My wife is preparing for your Grade 3 violin exam. She asked ChatGPT about preparing for the big event. Here are the results. 

Hi ChatGPT. What are your recommendations about preparing for a practical violin exam?

ChatGPT. Here are some general recommendations for preparing for a practical violin exam:
  1. Practice regularly: Set aside dedicated time each day to practice the pieces you will be performing in the exam.
  2. Work on technique: Make sure you are comfortable with the technical aspects of playing the violin, such as proper posture, bowing, and finger placement.
  3. Learn the pieces thoroughly: Make sure you have a good understanding of the music, including the melody, harmony, and rhythm.
  4. Practice with a metronome: Use a metronome to help you keep time and improve your sense of rhythm.
  5. Record yourself: Recording yourself while you practice can help you identify and correct any mistakes or areas that need improvement.
  6. Get feedback: Seek feedback from a teacher or a more experienced player to help identify areas of improvement and to gain confidence
  7. Get enough rest, eat well and stay healthy: Playing a musical instrument requires a lot of focus and energy, so make sure you're well-rested and healthy on the day of the exam.
  8. Practice performing: As the exam is a performance, practice performing your pieces to get comfortable with the stage and audience.
  9. Remember that exam is not the only measure of your skill, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just enjoy the process of playing.

Wow, the advice is solid. However, a few things are missing. 

10. Listen to professional recordings of your music. This is a proven method employed in the Suzuki music methods. Students need to be able to recognize an incorrect note(s) in their playing. 

​The advice is all old school except for step five. 

David
BTW, my wife is a professor of education who writes on Ai. 
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The Elements of Musicianship Revisisted

1/11/2023

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Without desire you have nothing" Madame Boulanger
It is a good day to revisit the elements of musicianship. These are the areas of practice and/or reflection that successful musicians and earnest students consider, do, and follow. 

1. They listen to professional recordings and mark up their scores in response to what they hear. This is the shortest way to develop stylistic awareness in your playing. 

2. Theory helps musicians understand what they are listening to, communicate with their colleagues and teachers, and see the structural patterns within the music.

3. A fine sight reader takes less time to learn a new piece. Furthermore, a fine sight reader can play music for fun, without preparation. 

4. Technique is the pillar of success; nothing is worse than hearing music in your head that you cannot execute. 

5. Aural skills are ear skills connected with theory skills.
  • As a professional musician I have a challenging time playing well without a clear aural impression before I start.
  • Without strong aural skills it is difficult to memorize music.
  • Ultimately, all musicians play by ear.  

6.  Historical awareness is the depth of knowledge and experience a musician/student brings to a project. If you want to play country music you have to know the players, repertoire, and historical styles of the genre, or your performances will always lack insight and finesse. Ditto for jazz and classical music. 

​7. However, your emotional commitment to the project is the most crucial element of musicianship. You must have faith that, with time, your goals are reachable. Students who follow the curriculum, practice correctly, attend concerts, listen to music, hang with other adults on the same path, seek additional information to support what they learn in lessons, ask questions, and persevere will win.

​If I can help, call me. 

David
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How to be a jazz musician, a five step roadmap

12/26/2022

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There are no secrets to becoming a jazz musician because the steps have already been mapped out by generations of musicians and educators. My first suggestion? Don't waste your time online looking for "the secret."

Here are my top five non-secrets to learning to play jazz. 
​
  1. Learn to play your instrument. A few students have tried to skip this step. You might ask, "how good do I have to be to play jazz?" Depends on who you want to play with. Therefore, if your skills are a weak or rusty, call a music teacher and get to work. I have several students learning to play piano and jazz simultaneously. They don't sound like Oscar Peterson, but they are having fun while learning to navigate the piano keyboard. 
  2. Learn theory. Students frequently ask me to answer theory questions. However, they don't havet the required background knowledge to understand my answer. This is especially an issue when trying they are trying make sense of YouTube music education videos. 
  3. Find someone to play with and learn together. Jazz is a contact sport; a partner makes it more fun. You will learn to listen to each other, which is a prime prerequisite to playing jazz. 
  4. Learn how to practice. I've written many blogs on this topic, but I would encourage you to seek out many different views on this important subject. 
  5. The number one step to becoming a jazz musician is to learn as many tunes as you can, as fast as you can, because the musician who knows the most tunes wins. Get a list of the most important jazz tunes and get to work. Learn the melodies by ear. Learning chords by ear can come later. If this is difficult, call me and we will work on your aural skills. And you will be on your way. 

Here is a project suggestion. Investigate the jazz curriculum outlines of jazz colleges and compare. Here is a start. 
​
Jazz in America Lesson Plans through the National Jazz Curriculum - Hancock Institute of Jazz 
TRADITIONAL JAZZ CURRICULUM - Jazz Education Network (jazzednet.org)
Yearly Program Study Plan; B.Mus. Jazz | Music - McGill University
Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies - Education - Capilano University
Jazz Studies (BJazz) | Explore UM | University of Manitoba (umanitoba.ca)

You will note the following areas are common: lessons, theory, ear training, ensemble playing, history, and improvisation. 
​
If I can help you call me because I teach piano, and jazz. 

David
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Less stress in piano lessons

12/18/2022

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This week an adult student came to class in a state of agitation. They were frustrated that they didn't have time this week to practice, and they felt embarrassed.

Five things to consider.
  1. You do this for fun.
  2. Sometimes the only practice that week will be at lessons.
  3. This is not a race.
  4. You are not a child.
  5. I gave guilt free piano lessons. 

I said, "John, think of this hour as an oasis without responsibilities". That worked, he had a fun lesson. He even sent a thank you email after class. 

David
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Eight pillars of piano accomplishment 2022 version

7/11/2022

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Piano students often ask me, “what should I focus on in my practice sessions?” Here is my reply.

Pieces, etudes, theory, sightreading, ear training, history, technique, ensemble skills

  • Pieces includes the music assigned in class and a review of your favorite works.
  • Etudes will address specific aspects of your playing like dynamics, articulations, and balance.
  • Theory skills include the study of key signatures, time signatures, terms, and rhythm. This helps you see and understand the patterns in musical scores. This is a real aid in sightreading. Furthermore, theoretical knowledge allows you to communicate effectively, using the proper vocabulary, with other musicians. 
  • Sightreading skills so that you can quickly learn new music. 
  • Ear Training so that your ability to make sense of what you hear advances.  
  • History includes knowing the broad historical, theoretical, and stylistic outlines of the music you are studying and your instrument's place in it. 
  • Playing music with others is a wonderful way to practice.  And it is fun too.
  • Scales, chords, and arpeggios train our fingers to execute, from memory the building blocks of music, and also give us a chance to practice playing beautifully. 
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​Do you have enough time to take piano lessons?

5/28/2022

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​Do you have enough time to take piano lessons?

Given the demands of overscheduled lives, most adults will have to give up some activity to make room for a new one.  Google "how many hours does the average adult spend surfing on their phones?" Cutting that in half will free up enough time to learn piano.

Call me when you are ready.
​
David
Revised August 2022
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Rick's Study Plan May 2022

5/14/2022

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This is what Rick is working on.

Rick’s memorized list of tunes with study links.
  1. Autumn leaves
  2. Saints https://youtu.be/L8ydGKtLRJw in F https://youtu.be/wyLjbMBpGDA In G 
  3. C jam blues https://youtu.be/16UIKglJ56w in C try 1st 12 measures
  4. Blue bossa https://youtu.be/EUxv3AAaK_Y 

Steps to soloing fluency.
  1. Memorize the left-hand chords for each piece above.
  2. Play the melodies by ear with the recordings.
  3. Learn a 3-5 note lick by ear from one of the recordings and then transpose it into 12 keys.  
  4. Sing the roots of the chord progressions in time and in pitch. First at the piano, then with the recordings. (This will help Rick to stay in place and not get lost when playing with others. And importantly it will help him to memorize the music.)

Revised August 2022
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​Succeeding with online music lessons: Learning from a distance

3/22/2022

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Preparing to succeed is the first step. Here are some things successful student do to prepare.

​1. They understand how to use Zoom. They have set up the camera so that I can see their hands. The screen is set up so that they can see me as well. Some students use more than one camera. (Most students set up the laptop on a table to the side of the piano.)
2. They have created a realistic practice schedule. They understand that learning to play the piano to a level of proficiency takes time.
3. They have created an organized practice space for productive work.
4. They understand the costs involved.
5. They have told their significant others of their plans and their need for emotional support and encouragement.
6. They understand that they need to lean on their strengths when the going gets tough.  
 
If I can help you get started, please call me. 
 
David
Revised August 2022
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Five tips on preparing for your Grade 2 piano exam as an adult

2/26/2022

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  1. Listening every day to the recordings, supplied with your books, prepares your ears for the task ahead. (Students often play a wrong note for an entire week, because they don't fully know how the music sounds.) As the Bugs Bunny Theme song “This is it” says, “We know every part by heart.”
  2. Record yourself playing. Video is best. Play, watch, make notes on what did and didn't work. This helps you avoid mindless repetition, also known as grinding. 
  3. Play your scales, chords, and arpeggios with a metronome. In modern music performance and production, the ability to play with a metronome is imperative. Try these suggestions if you are having difficulty: Use a comfortable tempo. Count aloud, starting with one note per click. Later, when you are comfortable, try two notes per click. Make a note of the tempo played by date. Incrementally increase the tempo.
  4. Memorise your pieces and technique at your earliest convenience. In the theater, rehearsals get serious when the actors are “off the book.” 
  5. Spend one-third of your time on theory, ear training, and sight reading. These are the pillars of musical understanding, interpretation, and memorization.
If I can help you, call me.
 
David 
Revised August 2022
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Can everyone learn to play a musical instrument?

2/13/2022

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Theoretically yes.

​Success means different things to different people. When the student is clear on their goals and can communicate these goals, lessons will get off to a great start.

Success requires a time commitment that aligns with reality. A wise teacher once asked a keen adult student what she was willing to give up to make room for lessons.

Successfully learning to play an instrument requires patience and faith in the process. At this point in time the process of learning to play is well understood by professional teachers. There are many successful approaches created by conservatories around the world that turn out competent Classical, Jazz, and Pop musicians. This curriculum covers progressive study in repertoire, etudes, theory, ear training, and history. And the opportunity of assessment and performances. All requirements for success.

Successful students do the work. In a world looking for shortcuts, this traditional course of action can be a difficult sell. The seduction of internet hustlers on YouTube selling the miracle of achievement without effort can be a self-limiting constraint on achievement.

If I can help you reach your goals, call me.

David

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Learning to play the piano: like a Jedi Master

1/15/2022

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The internet is full of hucksters telling you that learning to play the piano is easy. It's not, but it is fun. Every day I watch my students grow; the days turn into years. And, inch by inch, progress is made. 

If I can help you on your journey, call me. 

David
Revised August 2022
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Piano playing is more than fingers

1/12/2022

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Everyone understands that the piano is played with the fingers. But not all students understand the role of the wrists, arms, and shoulders in piano playing. These techniques create a kaleidoscope of colour in our playing, and it helps reduce our chances of injury.

I wish my early teachers had spent more time on this when I was a kid. My ignorance of these techniques lead to significant arm injury in my late twenties. At age thirty I began relearning the piano with Donald Himes.  It took 15 years. Modern piano teaching methods introduce each of these techniques at the appropriate moment. 


Here is a partial list of techniques. They be observed in the playing of fine pianists. Here is a partial list.  
  1. Fingers
  2. Rotation
  3. Forearm roll
  4. Drop
  5. Arm weight

I use some of these techniques in the following video. If you would like help, call me. 

David Story

Donald Himes: Music director/composer for the Mr. Dress-up show CBC. He played from the 1st show to the last. A fine pianist, great teacher and avid Francophile. 

Revised August 2022
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Three activities for better results in piano study.

12/28/2021

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  1. Theory
  2. History
  3. Ear training

These three are the most neglected aspects of music study.

Theory
Skilled musicians see harmonic, rythmic, and structural patterns in the music, beginners see a string of notes. The purpose of theory study is to help us to see and understand these patterns and their significance, which over time, leads to artistry. As a former teacher put it, "understanding what you are seeing makes everything easier."  
How you think about the drum set, what you have heard, and what you understand about the musical past of the instrument determine how you play the instrument musically. Ed Soph, master teacher
​History
Different eras of music sound different. When you understand the broad outline of music history, you will have informed knowledge on the interpretation of the piece. 

Ear Training
Ear training is a wide set of skills:
  • interval recognition
  • chord recognition
  • melodic playback and jazz licks
  • chord progressions
  • rhythmic clapback
  • Instrument identification
  • counting measures
  • sight singing
  • scoring what we hear

​Some folks have it easier here than others, but I can confidently say that as a kid I started with a tin-ear, but over time, with practice I developed a high degree of skill. 

I can help you too. 

Call me. 


David
Revised August 2022
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Preparing to play jazz piano in public

11/28/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Yesterday fourteen piano students got together in a jazz club and jammed with a bassist and drummer. What a blast!

Here is some feedback from students:
  1. You cannot over prepare.
  2. Bring legible charts, on brilliant white paper, because lighting and/or print size is always an issue in a jazz club.
  3. iPads have a nasty way of going dark at the worst possible moment.
  4. Playing at workshops, in front of fellow students, is a safe place for dealing with your nerves.
  5. No fancy arrangements or complicated charts; keep it simple until you gain experience.   
  6. Playing from memory leads to more security on stage because you can look up for visual cues from the other musicians. Readers often have their heads down and are subsequently unaware of the clues and musical cues from the other musicians.
  7. It was fun!
 
Next up February, Covid willing.
If you'd like to join us, call me. 
​ 
David
Revised September 2022

1 Comment
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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

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    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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