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Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

Beethoven Sonatina in G Major, Anh. 5/1

1/27/2023

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Why be conventional? 
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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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Dance (no.8 from For Children, Vol. 2) by B. Bartók

10/28/2022

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A fine tutorial for students. 
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Clementi Sonatina in C: 4 interpretations

10/20/2022

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First Edition 1798-99

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Tempo:
  1. Lang Lang: Half note =112
  2. Wuja Wang: Half note =100
  3. Cory Hall: Half note =113
  4. Qi Zhang: Half note =110

None of the artists played with a completely steady beat, in other words, the tempo varied both from section to section and within sections. 

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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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Sound more expressive at the piano in one simple step

1/16/2022

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​This is a simple concept that can be difficult to execute. When the melody goes up crescendo. When the melody goes diminuendo. The change will be small unless the composer indicates otherwise. Exceptions are clearly marked in the score. The last note in a melody before a rest, in Classical music, is played gently unless the composer indicates otherwise. The last note in a melody before a rest, in Jazz music, is played strongly unless the composer indicates otherwise. 

Please check out the following recording. 

If I can help you, 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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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.

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My piano lesson bunker is ready for another year of online lessons.
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Can You Teach Yourself Piano From Youtube?

7/1/2021

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It depends.

It depends on your prior musical experiences and expectations. If your desires are modest, YouTube will work. But if you desire to achieve some level of musical competency you will need a teacher. Teachers provide objective and knowledgeable feedback. Teachers guide you through a proven curriculum that has been successfully followed by countless students. And when the going gets tough, and it will, a teacher will support and inspire you to keep going. 

If that sounds like the help you need, call me.   

David
Revised October 2022
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Bach Aria In F Major BWV Anh. 131 Study Score with Edits

5/3/2021

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This is one interpretation among many possibilities.

I have marked the right hand legato and the left-hand quarter notes staccato. These staccato notes would be a 'wet' staccato, or "portato". Slightly detached but marked to give the music some forward momentum. 

James Maddox presents a lovely rendition that closely resembles the edit above. He does place less emphasis on the broken chords of measures 9 and 16 though.  

Enjoy 

​David
Revised October 2022 
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Bach - Five little preludes BWV 939-943

4/28/2021

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These are short, charming, easy pieces for levels 5 and 6.

Q: What can harpsichordists teach pianists?
A: How to pace the music. Listen to the subtle flexibility in the flow of the music. 

In the second video the performer talks about these works. 

Enjoy, 

​David
Revised October 2022
The music. BACH JS 6 préludes (BWV 939-943).MUS (imslp.info)
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Vienna Fugue

4/23/2021

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I'd forgotten how interesting and satisfying writing a fugue can be. (The fugue's subject was inspired by Billy Joel.) This performance is a computer rendition. To be playable with two hands I'd need to transpose the left hand starting at mm. 8.  If you would like some help with music theory call me. 

Best, 

David
Revised October 2022
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Sonatina in B flat Major James Hook Planning an Interpretation

4/19/2021

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Planning an interpretation
  1. Mark the phrases and label the cadences
  2. Mark the form
  3. Explore phrasing options
  4. Select the gestures
  5. Practice the gestures

This helps the student have a clear metal representation of what to consider and then how to execute this "vision" prior to "practicing" the piece. 

Call me. 

​David
​Revised October 2022

This is the book by Anders Ericsson for the layperson on the science of "deliberate practice". This video is a teaser. 
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Mignon By Robert Schumann Study Guide

4/17/2021

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Preplanning shortens the time needed to "learn" a piece of music. I start, if I can, by listening to several professional performances. Some of the marks on the score reflect what I heard in a particular performance and other marks are a result of my own deliberations. As I revise this blog, I regret that I didn't mark down what was what and from whom. 

Planning an interpretation
  1. Mark the phrases and label the cadences
  2. Mark the form
  3. Explore phrasing options
  4. Select the gestures
  5. Practice the gestures
This preparation helps a musician have a clear idea of the result before they commence practicing. 

​David
Revised October 2022
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New Idea: Online Duet Playing

3/31/2021

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Musical Score
YouTube has many piano duets you can enjoy. You play primo. The score for this piece is available, free of charge and registration, through the link above.  Learn your part then put on headphones, or ear buds and play along. Remember YouTube videos can be slowed if required. 

Have fun 

​David
Revised November 2022
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"The answers we seek are in the recordings"

3/17/2021

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So many piano students are seeking the "secret". The secret that sends them to the front of the line. That secret has a name. It is called "musicianship". Musicianship is made up of four principal areas of study: technique, theory, history, and aural skills. I've put forward four ideas or reasons to work in these areas. 

1. Practice piano technique with a metronome. This will help you get your internal musical clock in order. 
2. Master theory/rudiments/harmony that is appropriate to your level. You will learn how music is constructed. This is always a revelation for beginners. 
3. Read music history. Knowing the breadth of repertoire and the historical context of your style of music allows you to play with more insight. Classical students study classical history, jazz students jazz history, etc. 
4. And finally work on your ear training or aural skills. The ability to visualize the sound of music in your head is often overlooked by music students.  

These four areas of study are unfortunately thought of, by some students, as the boring bits. But they are recognized by professional musicians as the exciting bits. 

David

Below is a video of the Duke Ellington student staple, Satin doll. The video is cued for the B section or middle 8. Listen to the trombone "lick" played when the chord progression lands on F. Figure is out. It is in the key of F, starts on A. Now check out the video I've made on what to do with this lick. This is an example of aural skills in action. 

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Piano Dreams For A Post Pandemic World

3/13/2021

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www.finchcocks.com/Finchcock Piano Courses UK

I'm dreaming. of one week of piano with first rate tutors, delicious food, and flowing wine at this adult piano retreat in the UK. ​Click above for more inf. 

David
revised November 2022​
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What My Intermediate Classical Students Are Learning This Week

3/9/2021

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Interpreting Mozart: Things piano teachers read for fun.

3/3/2021

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I'm looking forward to the section on ornamentation in Mozart. Always a tricky proposition. 

​David
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How Do You Practice Classical Piano For Four Hours?

2/11/2021

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My top five tips for practicing any musical instrument:
​

  1. Have everything organized and ready at hand before you begin: music books, teacher’s notes, metronome, audio recorder, YouTube, and a pencil and eraser. 
  2. Warm up your body with gentle stretching followed by playing slow scales before you jump in at full speed because piano injury is a real thing.
  3. Before attempting a new piece I suggest you listen to the music professionally performed and mark up the scores by asking, “What’s going on here?” I mark in the articulations, tempo choices, phrasing and dynamic plans created by professional pianists and compare to the score I have in hand. 
  4. Record yourself practicing helps to check your progress.
  5. The auxiliary studies of ear training, theory, sight-reading, score analysis, history, and harmony, are all important keys to your eventual musical success. 
  6. Bonus tip: Find a supportive group of fellow students to hang out with, either in person or on-line, because being part of a community is helpful for encouragement and commiseration. 
Playing
  • Reviewing a piece(s) from your repertoire list will help with its retention.
  • Now begin your assigned lesson homework.
Listening to Classical Piano 
  • Form analysis: What is the structure of your piece? Is it in a Baroque dance form, sonata form, or rondo. With a little research you can discover the answer. Musical form - Wikipedia
  • Watch YouTube videos of professional performances of your repertoire and related pieces in the same genre or style because deep listening is a form of practicing.
  • Listen to music appreciation lectures. Suggested materials might include something from The Great Courses.
Ear training
  • Learning to play melodies in different keys. Work up to complete pieces in new keys. However, start simply with Jingle Bells or Ode to Joy and work up from there.
  • “What’s going on here?” Mark in the articulations and dynamic plans created by professional pianists and compare. This is so important; I've listed it twice.
  • Suggested materials: Perfect ear App, Music Theory Pro and RCM online ear training. 
Classical Music History
  • Reading about Classical music history, composer biographies, and watching  recordings with scores on YouTube is a fruitful use of your time.  
 

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Theory
  • Key signatures, intervals, transposition, scale/chord construction.
  • Suggested materials: Music Theory Pro, Alfred’s essential music theory and RCM theory books are good. It all depends on where you are starting though, so ask me for a recommendation based on my assessment of your knowledge.
Sight reading
  • This is a key activity for maintaining your joy at the keyboard: Playing for fun. 
  • Clapping rhythms with a metronome.
  • If you play at level 6 (grade 6) sight read at level 4 or lower. Other options include RCM sight reading books or the free 1st page of music from www.musicnotes.com . Again, it all depends on where you are starting. You can ask me for a recommendation.
 Piano Technique
  • Scales, chords, and arpeggios are the basic structural vocabulary of the piano. 
  • The RCM syllabus has good technique lists. Conservatory Canada has even better lists.  

If you would like help, call me. 

​David

Revised March 2023
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How To Play Beautifully continued...

1/14/2021

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Some ideas. 
  1. Knowing what beautiful sounds like is an important step to being able to beautifully play oneself. 
  2. Associating with people who can guide on this journey of discovery is important.

One of my students is working at the early advanced stage of Classical piano. This week Chopin Waltz in b minor and Gnossienne #6 by Satie. Sophisticated music. 

She is a retired executive whose career spanned the globe. She is an avid concert goer. As in, more than a concert a week. 

At the end of class I complemented her on her playing and knowledge of the music, it's context, and style. She was slightly taken back. She quickly explained that she has friends who are so much more sophisticated and nuanced in their appreciation of classical music. (One wrote liner notes for a major classical music label, one was a critic if I recall correctly as well.) 

I pointed out to her that she has learned more than she knew through those friendships. She recalled the after concert socializing where great debates on the merits of the performance. 

Furthermore, decades of concert going at the great halls of the world leaves a mark. A significant mark. 

Cheers, 

​David

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How I Prepare to Learn Or Teach A New Piece of Music: Haydn Sonata in C And Bourrée in F By Telemann

1/8/2021

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When I take on a new piece of music of any complexity I will go through some or all the following steps. My goal is to have a clear artistic impression of the piece before I begin. 

1. Compare the different scores available to me.
2. Seek out professional recordings.
3. Print the music as I will be marking it up. 
4. Study the form and phrasing of the work. Sometimes, as in the Telemann I will mark in the phrasing. 
5. I will consider the era in which it was written for clues on possible interpretations.
6. I translate any unfamiliar terms I find in the score.
7. I might consult other sources to explore the style and era of its creation. For the Sonata in C, I enjoyed re-reading the section on Haydn ornaments in the book below.
8. I will listen to multiple professional performances and mark on the score ideas of interest. I often will slow down a recording to hear how the artist plays their ornaments. 
9. I might consult with a colleague or my piano coach as well. 

In short, I will have a clear set of ideas, those I discovered and my own, to explore as I now start to "learn" the piece. I will share these with my students.

If I can help you discover intriguing world of classical music, please call me. 

David
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View the Score Here
File Size: 1340 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File

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View The Bourree Here
File Size: 881 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File

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What I'm Listening To Today: Bach's Well Tempered Clavier Book 1

12/22/2020

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  1. Scrolling scores
  2. Fugues voices on separate staves
  3. Sublime playing by a former weight-lifter Kimiko Douglass-Ishizaka
  4. Sublime compositions

Bach's WTC would be one of the 2 music books I would take with me if I was to be exiled to an island. 

David
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Part 2: How do I become a great pianist?

11/5/2020

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Listen to great music. A musical truism: "we are who we listen to".

Try this on your next new piece. 

  1. Find a professional recording.
  2. Listen a few times while watching the score.
  3. With pencil in hand work out the fingering for both hands on nearly every note. You can skip repeated notes.
  4. Now back to the recording. Listen to the 1st phrase, typically 2-4 measures. Using the fingering you wrote down. mimic what you heard. Make adjustments to match the expression of the professional. If you are playing jazz, make adjustments of the notation to match the recording. The recording is correct. Fakebooks are approximations. 
  5. Continue to the end of the piece, painstakingly working out one phrase at a time. 
  6. Next day start over. It will go quicker today.
  7. As you go along, record your phrases and listen back. Are you shaping and articulating correctly. Don't worry about the tempo. That will come later. 

Have fun. 

David

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How do I become a great pianist?

10/28/2020

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How do I become a great pianist?

An honest question if a tiny bit naïve. If you are in a great hurry, it is going to be difficult. If you are looking for a “hack” or some shortcut, I don’t know any.

For centuries pianists have followed a standard set of proven practices.

  1. Humility is good. Musical skill is earned through consistent effort and direct coaching.
  2. Patience is required. Learning to play the piano is a physical skill. It takes time. Even though the ten-thousand-hour rule has been debunked, it is a good metaphor.
  3. Listening to piano music. Through listening, aural and theory study, and reflection we raise our level of sophistication which is needed to play well. Student's listening experience is often as a music fan, not as a musician. We musicians listen with intent. Starting with the question, “what is going on here?”
  4. Find a teacher who has travelled the road you aspire to experience.
  5. Learn to practice. Become a student of practice. Read books, watch videos, read blogs, take courses on how to practice. 

I'm available to help and encourage you on your journey. Just call me. 

David

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<<Previous
    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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  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Jazz Workshop #Eleven March 5, 2023
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • Children's Winter Concert 2023
  • My Story
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
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  • Jazz outline for beginners
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