Category: Breakfast Piano Minute

Why do we learn scales on the piano?

2/18/2022

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What do scales have in common with push-ups?
They are only effective when repeated, once is never enough"

"Scales offer us a chance to practice playing beautifully" Donald Himes. Don told me to vary the tempos, articulations, and dynamics thus training my hands to respond to my artistic commands.
Scales teach us the pathways through different key centres. Not everything is only on the white keys!
Scales when practiced with a metronome improve our ear's ability to play in time.

If I can help you with your scales, call me.

David
revised August 2022

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The worst excuses not to start music lessons

9/21/2021

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Waltz night at Massey College.

I have no talent.
My hands are too small.
I tried teaching myself, that was a bust.
I have no rhythm.
Let me address excuse number 2 first. The doctor’s assistant told me today that her hands were too small. “See she said” as she extended her hand. (It was the same size as mine.) “How do you play with those hands?” “Easy, a teacher showed me.”

Number 3 is the saddest. “I tried teaching myself “. Trying to teach yourself from YouTube or some half-baked app is like trying to teach yourself to drive a car from YouTube. Let that sink in for a moment. A teacher will make you a plan, sequence the material for you, respond to your concerns, and inspire you.

Number 1 and 4? " I have no talent; I have no rhythm." I take ballroom dance classes with my wife. She is a natural and trained dancer. I’ve no talent or rhythm. But I’m having fun every week. Nobody cares, not even my wife. We are having way too much fun dancing to worry about my lack rhythm or talent.

If I can help you overcome the resistance, call me.

David Story
Revised September 2022

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Getting ready for fall piano lessons.

8/6/2021

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I. Dust off your instrument.
2. Watch some YouTube concerts featuring pianists playing the music you love.
3. Find your metronome.
4. Read some inspiration material about folks like yourself who have succeeded.
5. Start noodling on the piano. Review some old favorites. Explore some new music. Dream.
6. Plan practice time in your schedule to succeed.

The happiest students know what they want, why they want it. They've made time for it, and stuck with it. Come join us.

David.

My piano lesson bunker is ready for another year of online lessons.

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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. Recently my student Barb asked me, "how do you practice?" Here is my answer.

I prepare to practice. My music and instruments are at hand and ready to go. As is my metronome, recordings, audio recorder, and pencils.
If the piece is new, I listen to the reference recording before commencing.
I plan out how I will play the piece. I consider fingering, dynamics, articulations, and the appropriate motions required to realize my artistic vision.
I warm up and stretch. (Students should warm up with scales and chords played gently and rhythmically with a metronome.)
I usually work with a metronome when playing jazz, but only occasionally if I'm working on my classical piano skills. However, I use it all the time if I’m on the drum kit.
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.
I practice piano technique and drum rudiments because technique is like muscles; it must be maintained.
When I listen to music, I ask myself, “what’s going on here?” I often write out what I hear going on. To date I have transcribed 100+ drum pieces alone. And over a four decade plus career, I transcribed countless jazz, and pop piano excerpts.
When learning a new piece, I practice slowly with dynamics and articulations in place. I don’t add these later after "I've got the notes".
I’m patient because I trust the process.

Have Fun.

David Story
Revised October 2022

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What is the piano teacher is practicing this summer?

6/19/2021

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With a reduced teaching schedule, it is time to catch up.

The “Breakfast piano minutes” video series has been a revelation. I’ve really enjoyed creating and posting these short 1-minute videos. Over the summer, with more non-teaching time available, I plan to tackle a more challenging repertoire.
Practice the drums like crazy. I will soon be able to play in bands again. Here are some of the areas of focus:
1. Snare drum studies, rudiments, and solos.
2. Mastering the material from 15 months of lockdown drum lessons.
3. Learning some new repertoire.
Update my music playlists on my phone.

David
Revised October 2022

A rudimental etude I've been teaching drum students this year.

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Dealing with error.

6/12/2021

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Breakfast piano minute: An fantasy on an Austrian Folk Song from a slightly disheveled pianist.

Errors give feedback. Some errors are obvious, some are in disguise, and some are hidden from us.

One of the most effective way of dealing with errors of execution is to step back and listen to your practice recording making notes of errors, misinterpretation, and omissions. Then consider the following.

Is it a fingering problem? If so, change it.
Is it a conceptual problem? Then spend time listening to music from the same stylistic period.
Experiment by trying out the ideas you hear from professional recordings. because musicians understand that "we are who we listen to".
Is it a technical problem? Have you mapped out the necessary choreography in the score? If keyboard choreography is unfamiliar call me, I can help.

The picture above is from a book I highly recommend called "The Musician's Way",

Best,

David
Revised October 2022

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Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

Why do we learn scales on the piano?

The worst excuses not to start music lessons

Getting ready for fall piano lessons.

Maintaining enthusiasm for piano study

3 Mini-shorts Breakfast piano minute

What Students Studied Today

How do I practice?

What is the piano teacher is practicing this summer?

Dealing with error.

Breakfast piano minute: An fantasy on an Austrian Folk Song from a slightly disheveled pianist.

Breakfast Piano Minute

Breakfast Piano Minute

Breakfast Piano Minute

Breakfast Piano Minute

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