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Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

Vanilla chords for Jazz students

3/24/2023

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So many beautiful pieces to learn and so many chords to master. It's a real problem for beginning jazz students. Lester Young, the legendary sax player of the 1940's, is known to have requested or demanded that the pianist play the "vanilla chords." "Forgot the fancy reharmonizations, just give me the vanilla chords; I'll decorate the harmony." Or something to that effect. It was a story told to me many decades ago. So, here are the vanilla chords for hundreds of jazz standards. Let it be your guide to taking the harmony back to a more manageable level. ​
vanilla chords
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Me: What was Lester Young referring to when he said play the vanilla chords?

ChatGPT: Lester Young was known for his distinctive and influential saxophone playing style in jazz music. There are a few different stories and interpretations of what he meant when he referred to "vanilla chords."
One interpretation is that Young was encouraging his fellow musicians to stick to the basic, fundamental chords in a song, rather than adding too many complicated or unusual harmonies. In this sense, "vanilla chords" could be understood as simple and straightforward chords that provide a solid harmonic foundation for improvisation and soloing.
Another interpretation is that Young was referring to the use of the basic major and minor chords in a blues progression. In this context, "vanilla" could be seen as a metaphor for the basic, essential ingredients of a blues song, and Young was emphasizing the importance of staying true to that traditional form.
However, it's worth noting that the exact phrase "vanilla chords" does not appear in any known recordings or transcripts of Young's performances or interviews. So the meaning of the phrase remains somewhat elusive and subject to interpretation.
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Seven steps for learning a new piece of piano music.

3/9/2023

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Seven steps to learning a new piece of piano music.
 
  1. Translate all the musical terms and write them in your score. These Italian terms tell you how to play the piece. They indicate tempo, mood, and attitude.
  2. Locate three professional YouTube recordings of your new work. Play them in turn; make notes on how each musician interprets the score and musical terms from step one. If you can see their hands, notice the gestures they use to interpret the score. (I write what I hear and see in my scores.)
  3. Using a slow metronome tempo, clap and count aloud the rhythm of each hand.
  4. What you will do next depends on the complexity of the score and your piano skills. If the music is complex, write in the fingering, measure by measure, hand by hand. Experiment and carefully consider your choices. The editor’s markings are often a good place to start. You just fill in the missing finger numbers. This will accomplish two things. One, you will be practicing slowly and consciously, hand by hand, chunk by chunk. Two, you will have time to play musically from the start because you will have time to consider the dynamics or articulations. Concurrently with the writing in the fingerings, consider the gestures needed to interpret the music. These might include fingers, rotation, drop, two note slurs, and other motions. If you are unclear about which gestures to use, call me. I will show you how, with the proper gestures, the composer's intentions are easier to realize.
  5. After the initial consideration you gave to the fingering, dynamics, and articulations you are now ready to play with steadier time. Continue to count aloud, with a metronome, if you are having trouble with the rhythm. Don’t hesitate to work on your hands separately.
  6. Repeat step two.
  7. You now have a secure foundation to begin practicing in earnest. You have an artistic impression of the work, you’ve worked out the fingering, dynamics, articulations, and necessary hand gestures to interpret the music.

​If I can help you further, call me.
 
David
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Learning to hear the 60 Jazz chords

3/6/2023

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There are sixty jazz chords that you will need to recognize by ear. The ability to hear them, sing them, and play them will form the cornerstone of your jazz improvisation and aural recognition of jazz chord progressions. 

They are:

1. Major 7th
2. Dominant 7th
3. Minor 7th
4. Minor 7th b5
5. Diminished 7th

Five types, 12 keys = 60 chords. 

These exercises will help you get there.  If I can help you, call me. 

David
Free download of the singing exercises
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Aural Skills, Musical Rudiments, and Sightreading--The overlooked elements of Musicianship

2/27/2023

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      The elements of musicianship, namely aural skills, musical rudiments (“theory”), and sightreading are often neglected in musical study because students are busy grinding away on their instruments.  However, musicianship skills facilitate the learning of new music and instrumental mastering. Aural skills help the students hear internally what they are reading, rudiments help them see the musical patterns within the composition, and sightreading skills make learning a piece of music much quicker. Therefore, when students spend equal time on musicianship studies, they perform with greater insight, security, and finesse in a shorter amount of time. 
       When musicians perform prepared memorized pieces, they play by ear, even if they learned the piece by reading. The primary elements of aural training are recognizing: intervals, chords, scales, rhythmic and melodic dictation, and playing back short melodies by ear. These aural skills allow the musician to, among other things, connect what they hear with what they are playing, and thus greatly increase the accuracy of their performance. 
       Musicians who understand the structural elements of their pieces and the relationship of these elements to the sound they are making have a firm grasp of musical rudiments because understanding how tonality, rhythm, form, dynamics, and articulations interact in a score will inform the student’s ability to play idiomatically. Furthermore, a student who understands rudiments can make musical sense of the score in a shorter time. 
      Students are always keen on learning a piece quickly and skilled sight readers can do this, whereas unskilled sight readers grind away endlessly to learn their music. Skilled sight readers use their aural skills and strong rudimental knowledge to make sense of the music “on the fly,” allowing them to learn quickly and/or play with others in group settings. 
      Students love to play; they mostly hate to study. They signed up for the fun of making sounds they recognize, so they often must be convinced that the shortest route from A to B is not in grinding, but in mastering these “boring” elements of musicianship: aural skills, musical rudiments, and sightreading.

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

David
This blog was written by a human. 
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How to recognise jazz chords by ear

2/25/2023

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Sing them!

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FYI: Page two contains the diminished 7th chord.
Free download of the image above
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What should a Royal Conservatory of Music piano student practice each week according to Shakespear?

2/20/2023

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A Royal Conservatory piano student's goal,
Is mastering the art of playing with control.

Begin with scales and arpeggios in hand,
To warm up fingers and help you understand.

Next, pieces chosen with purpose and care,
Played often, so the music's easy to bear.

Technical studies such as Hanon or Czerny,
Can help you play with dexterity so cleanly.

Sight-reading and ear training are quite a treat,
To build essential skills and make progress sweet.

Choose challenging repertoire to extend,
Your capabilities, and become a true friend.

Lastly, review and refine what you've learned,
So your piano skills will be well-earned.

A Royal Conservatory piano student's way,
​Is to practice each week, with dedication and play.


William.
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Listening is pracitcing

2/14/2023

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Coming up on March 4, 2023, I will be performing with the Toronto Concert Band as a pianist and percussionist. I practice every day in preparation for, and anticipation of, an exciting evening of music making.  The piano part of Cait Nishimua's "Pukaskwa" is challenging. The piano part enters after a tricky rest. My confidence needs a boost. So, I've transcribed the melody that plays in the rest, which, I hope, will make my entrance stronger. 

I'll let you know how it turns out.
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How to spend an hour practicing for your Royal Conservatory of Music exam. Part 2

2/7/2023

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Listening (5 minutes) Listen to professional recordings of the piece(s) you will be practicing today and then play your "party piece" or your "goto" piece. 
Warm-up (10 minutes) Play your assigned scales, arpeggios, and technical exercises. Multiple repetitions are recommended. 
Repertoire (20 minutes) Play your piece(s) focusing on sound quality, phrasing, dynamics, and rhythm. I suggest working on small chunks Later, when you are close to the exam, you should run your program, without stopping, to build endurance. 
Sightreading (5 minutes)
Theory (10 minutes)
Ear Training (5 minutes) Review the requirements of the grade.
Conclusion (5 minutes) Review an old favorite

If I can help you, call me. 

David


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Improving Aural Skills in Music according to ChatGPT

2/3/2023

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Question: What are the elements I need to consider, as a musician, to improve my aural skills?

Answer: To improve your aural skills as a musician, you should consider the following elements:
  1. Pitch recognition: the ability to identify and match the correct pitch
  2. Rhythm: the ability to accurately identify and reproduce rhythms, including meter, tempo, and note values
  3. Intervals: the ability to identify and recognize different distances between two pitches
  4. Chords: the ability to identify and recognize different chord progressions and chord qualities
  5. Melody: the ability to recognize and remember melodic lines
  6. Timbre: the ability to identify different instrument sounds and voice qualities
  7. Harmony: the ability to recognize and understand chord progressions and harmonies
  8. Form: the ability to recognize and understand musical structures, such as verse-chorus form and sonata form.
Practicing regularly, engaging in listening exercises, and taking lessons from a qualified teacher can all help to improve your aural skills.

------------------------------------
Sounds like the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum to me. 

​David
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PIano Practice Guide ChatGPT

2/3/2023

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Piano Practice Guide


What should I practice to learn piano?

Here are some suggestions to help you learn piano:
  1. Scales and Chords: Practice playing scales and chords regularly to build finger strength and dexterity.
  2. Sheet Music: Start by learning to read sheet music and playing simple pieces. As you progress, gradually increase the difficulty of the pieces you play.
  3. Theory: Study music theory to understand how different elements of music work together, such as harmony, melody, and rhythm.
  4. Ear Training: Develop your ear by listening to music and trying to play what you hear by ear.
  5. Repetition: Consistent practice is key to mastering any skill. Try to practice every day for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Posture: Make sure to maintain proper posture while playing the piano to avoid strain and injury.
  7. Find a teacher or mentor: Consider finding a local teacher or mentor to guide you and provide feedback on your playing.
  8. Remember, learning an instrument takes time and patience. Stay motivated and enjoy the journey!

Once again good specific advice. 

David

What should a Royal Conservatory of Music piano student practice each week? Please answer in rhyming couplets.

A Royal Conservatory student, practicing piano,
Should aim for consistency, not just a one-time show.

First, warm up those fingers with scales and arpeggios,
Then move on to pieces, to let the music flow.

Technical studies like Hanon or Czerny,
Can help to build dexterity and avoid any injury.

Sight-reading and ear training, don't forget to include,
These skills are crucial and can't be misconstrued.

Challenging repertoire, should be in the mix,
To push your abilities, and you're playing to fix.

Lastly, review and refine, what you've learned so far,
Take your time, be patient, it will take you far.

So Royal Conservatory piano student, keep in mind,
Practice regularly, and you'll see yourself shine.

I may lose my mind. 

David
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How Should I Practice Piano According to ChatGPT?

2/2/2023

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How should I practice piano?

To practice piano effectively, here are some steps you can follow:

  1. Set clear goals: Determine what you want to achieve with your piano practice, whether it's to learn a specific piece, improve your technique, or develop your theory skills.
  2. Warm up: Start with simple exercises to warm up your hands and get in the right mindset for practice.
  3. Practice consistently: Make a schedule and stick to it. Consistency is key to making progress on the piano.
  4. Focus on technique: Pay attention to your hand position, finger placement, and arm movements. Make sure you're using proper technique to prevent injury and improve your sound.
  5. Use different resources: In addition to practicing with sheet music, use educational books, videos, and online resources to supplement your practice.
  6. Pay attention to detail: Slow down and focus on individual phrases and sections, paying attention to details like dynamics and phrasing.
  7. Review and reflect: Regularly review what you've learned and think about what you need to work on next. This will help you stay motivated and make steady progress.

Have fun: Finally, make sure to enjoy the process! Playing the piano should be a source of joy and fulfillment, not stress and frustration.

----------------------------

Not bad. However, recording yourself is missing. 

David
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How to practice jazz piano according to ChatGPT

2/1/2023

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How should I practice jazz piano?
  1. Listen and Study: Start by listening to and studying great jazz pianists and their recordings.
  2. Scales and Chords: Practice scales and chords daily to develop finger dexterity and chord vocabulary.
  3. Improvisation: Practice improvising over jazz standards and progressions.
  4. Transcribing: Transcribe solos from recordings and learn to play them.
  5. Theory: Study jazz theory and harmony.
  6. Jam sessions: Participate in jam sessions to gain real-life experience playing with other musicians.
  7. Repetition: Repeat and practice the basics regularly to solidify your foundation.

ChatGPT Jan 30 Version. Free Research Preview. Our goal is to make AI systems more natural and safe to interact with. Your feedback will help us improve.

Good advice. 

​David
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FInding New Chords for Jazz Standards

1/30/2023

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Jazz students are often looking for new chords for the standards they are playing. This blog offers you some suggestions if you are unable to transcribe.

1. The iReal Pro app is a useful source. It doesn't always have the most exciting chords, but it does help you move on from the fakebook.
2. YouTube transcriptions, though not always reliable, will help you explore new harmonic ideas.
3. The Real jazz Solos Book by Hal Leonard is a reliable book to consult.

Have fun. 

David
 

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My Funny Valentine PDF
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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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Beethoven Sonatina in G Major, Anh. 5/1

1/27/2023

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Why be conventional? 
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Wilbert Harrison's Kansas City Piano Accompaniment

1/16/2023

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This performance of Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison is a fine example of blues boogie woogie accompaniment and soloing. It features a simple rhythmic pattern between the hands and an easy riff-based solo. The one unusual aspect is his choice of key: Db major. (I've provided two written versions for you in Db and C)

Preparations.
  1. Watch the video.
  2. Print out the music or open it on your tablet.
  3. You will be playing along so you will need ear buds or a speaker to amplify the YouTube video. 
  4. Prepare the three chords of this piece: Db, Gb, and Ab major by reviewing the music below. (The left hand plays these chords in root position. The right uses the various inversions)
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Chords in C
Chords in D flat
Next steps. 
​
4. To create a strong mental impression of how the music will be played follow the score while listening to the video. Notice he plays a heavy accent on beats 2 and 4 in the left hand and aggressively accented chords in the right. 
5. Start practicing the score by playing slowly while keeping your attention on the correct fingering of the chords. 
6. To get the swing of the music, play along with the video. If necessary, slow the video down.

7. Have fun.

Harrison plays a remarkably similar piano part in his video of Stagger Lee. Can you hear the similarities? The link is below. 
​
​If you would like some help with this, call me. 


David
Stagger Lee YouTube video
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Free Piano Score D flat
Free Piano Score in C
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How I'm practicing Jazz Vibraphone in 2023

1/14/2023

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​The teacher practices Jazz
 
Last weekend I went to my first jazz jam with my Vibraphone aka my Malletkat GS Grand. We were a quartet of Tenor Sax/Flute, Vibes, Bass, and Drums. I survived with my dignity intact, but I’ve a few discoveries and confessions to share.
  1. My skills on the piano are not necessarily transferable to the vibes.
  2. My four-mallet chord playing will need further work.
  3. I was unable to execute the solo lines I could hear in my head.

On the plus side, I knew all the tunes from years of playing and teaching jazz piano plus my jazz time and feel is strong.

Here is the practice regime I began to follow to improve my jazz experience.

Tune: Satin Doll by Ellington/Strayhorn
  1. I practiced the melody, by ear, with the original recordings on YouTube. I discovered that after 45 years, that I’m dragging some notes. They are now corrected; I’m locked into the sax melody.  
  2. I reviewed the piano licks played on the head by Duke Ellington.
  3. I figured out bits of his piano solo.
  4. I practiced all the broken chords like I instruct my students and I quickly discovered that this took a lot longer than I anticipated.
  5. I practiced what I’ve learned by playing along on YouTube. 
  6. I’m ready for another piece next week.  My goal is to learn a tune a week for 52 weeks. 
  7. I'm continuing with my mallet study books to develop my manual skills. 

If I can help you with your jazz piano journey, call me. 

David

BTW: In the era of Ai content generation, a human wrote this blog. 
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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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New Year, New Goals

1/6/2023

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The real estate coach Tom Ferry, says if you have three or more goals for your business this year, you have no goals. Ditto for piano. ​
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Here are some realistic goals for my students. 
​
  1. Adult starter: Complete the first volume of Piano Adventures for Adults, play in one workshop, and attend one professional piano recital.
  2. Adult Classical piano student Grades A to 8: Complete one grade this year, sit for the exam, play in a recital, and attend one professional piano recital.
  3. Adult Classical piano student Grades 9 or 10: Complete 50% this year, sit for the exam, play in a recital, and attend one professional piano recital.
  4. Adult Jazz student with basic piano skills: Memorize 10 tunes and play three of them, from memory, in a workshop/masterclass, and attend one professional jazz concert or visit a jazz club.
  5. Children: End the year as enthusiastic as the year began, play in three recitals, and move through at least one level of Piano Adventures for kids, or one RCM grade level. 

Call me, I can help.

David
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How to be a jazz musician, a roadmap in five steps

12/26/2022

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There are no secrets to discover as the steps to becoming a jazz musician have already been mapped out by previous 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 little short or rusty, call a music teacher and get to work on your keyboard skills. 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 theory questions without the background knowledge required to understand the answer. This is especially an issue when trying to 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. 

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, I teach piano, and jazz. 

David
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A week in pictures

12/21/2022

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Articulation Etude

12/20/2022

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I wrote this for an adult student preparing for her Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 3 exam. She is working on Clowns by Kabalevsky and needed a short etude to practice her mixed articulations. Passages with mixed articulations are common throughout piano literature. 

To utilize this etude for yourself, start very slowly. Eighth note = 60 BPM and work up from there. The video will help you along. 

Have fun. 

​David
Free Download
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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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December 15th, 2022

12/15/2022

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​Learning Blue Bossa in 6 Keys

Materials required:
  1. Fake book
  2. Recording from YouTube
  3. Piano 😊
Knowledge required:
  1. Strong knowledge of musical rudiments. This lesson was written for a student who has his Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 8 piano and advanced rudiments.
  2. Knowledge of at least one jazz chording system.  Rick used these chords in his left hand.
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Lesson to play in 6 keys:
  1. Learn and memorize the original melody and chords in C minor as written in the fakebook. Being able to play from memory is imperative. Here are some tips to help you.
  • Note the melody is in C natural minor and that the third phrase modulates up ½ step into the major key of Db.
  • Note that the first phrase starts in the fifth note of the minor scale, jumps an octave and walks down. Then the melody jumps up a 7th and down a 2nd to complete the first phrase.
  • The second phrase starts on the last note of the previous phrase and repeats the same shape in this new starting position. This is called a diatonic transposition.
  • The third phrase starts on the last note of the previous phrase and plays down the major scale a half step above the original minor key, in this case C minor. This is called modulation.
  • The last phrase is back on the original key of C minor.
     2. The harmony: The harmony is notated using Roman numerals. This facilitates the transpositions to come. Minor chords are marked lower case and major chords in upper case.
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    3. Play the melody in the following keys: Cm, Am, Em, Dm, and Gm. Follow the instructions in step 1 after you review the natural minor scales and the major scales ½ step above these minor scales. 
    4. Now add the chords. To transpose the chords, you must do the following steps. Write out the c natural minor scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C. Directly below these letters write the scale of the new key, say f minor: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F. Be sure the letters line up. C is directly above F and so on. Then, C minor chord becomes F minor chord, F minor chord becomes Bb minor and so on. Write out the scale of Db: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db and then the scale ½ step above f minor, in this case Gb: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb. The chord qualities, of course, remain the same. 
    5. What do we learn?
  • We reviewed our intervals, key signatures, relative minor, transposition.
  • We are transposing by combining ear, skill, and knowledge.
  • Most importantly, we are learning visual pathways on the keyboard of chords and melodies, which will help us to transpose and visualize our jazz “licks.”
Call me, I can help.
 
David
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Comparative Study of Mozart's Sonata in C K425

12/12/2022

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What to listen for.
  1. Tempo
  2. The constant dynamic shaping of the melody.
  3. The varying articulations of legato, staccato, and detached playing. 
  4. For pauses at the end of sections. 
  5. The starting dynamic level at the beginning of each section.
Questions.
  1. Does the artist return to the original tempo when the music returns to the theme of the first section?
  2. Can you mark in any notes that they accent or linger on?
  3. Can you mark in tempo changes?
  4. Do they pedal?

Activity.
  1. ​Learn the first 8 measures of each section by ear.

Follow-up.

Yesterday my student and I listened to the first two measures of each recording. What a revelation. The differences in the performances became more obvious with each listening and these differences were large. I invite you to try the same. 

Have fun, 

​David
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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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