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Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

A week in pictures

12/21/2022

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This week's artwork

12/4/2022

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From whiteboard notes and exercises I sent to students this week. 

​David
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Another Typical Thursday of Studio Activity

9/22/2022

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  1. Pumpkin boogie by Faber
  2. Canoeing in the moonlight by Faber
  3. How to composing a synthwave baseline
  4. Dvorak New World Symphony Theme
  5. Blues jam in E
  6. Anglaise in B minor by JS Bach
  7. Prelude in Db Reinhold Gliere
  8. Autumn Leaves Jazz Standard
  9. How to transpose a jazz lick
  10. C jam blues, four ways: Ellington, Peterson, Bechet, and McKenna
  11. Greensleeves
  12. Theory lesson on transposition and minor keys
  13. Arabesque by Burgmuller
  14. Etude in C by Czerny
  15. ​So What by Miles Davis
  16. Witches and Wizards by Donkin
  17. C jam blues by Ellington, Peterson, McKenna and Vic Dickenson
  18. Souvenir by Karganov
  19. Tom Cat Howl by Faber
  20. A chat about Schonberg, Webern, and Berg
  21. "Them Changes" by Thundercat
  22. Space Shuttle Blues, Alfred
  23. The 60 Jazz chords
  24. A kiss to build a dream on, Louis Armstrong
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Jazz Music for Teens

9/17/2022

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Jazz has been around for 120+ years. It has gone through many different periods: early jazz, swing, bebop, model, free and more. Now it is 2022, what now? The hoary old standards are wearing a bit thin, but just in time, and to the rescue, the next generation of meta-modern musicians has arrived. I'm in awe. 

Here is a small sample of performances that got "2 thumbs up" from my young teen jazz students this week. 
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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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Wednesday, another day, another diverse set of pieces.

4/13/2022

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​Another day in the teaching studio and another diverse set of pieces. Someone stated that an average piano teacher teaches 600+ titles a year. I believe it. 
​
  1. Big My Secret from "The Piano" by Nyman. This was a dark moody start on a grey day. 
  2. Glasgow Love theme by Armstrong
  3. Sonata in G K283 by Mozart
  4. October by Tchaikovsky
  5. Sonata in A Major K 209 by Scarlatti 
  6. Decadent Sentimental Song by Manzano

​Up next: Music rehearsal with my friends, the pianist Jim Finlayson and bassist Rory Slater. I'll be drumming. We've been meeting every 2 weeks for years. It is always a highlight of my week playing tunes from the "Great American Songbook". Lots of Porter, Corea, Hancock, and Ellington.

​Back to class


      7. Prelude in Db by Glière 
      8. Fantasia in D minor K397 by Mozart
      9. Pumpkin boogie by Faber
      10. Sonatina in C by Faber
       11. Drum rudimental warmups
       12. Never Going To Give You Up by Rick Ashley
       13. Theory class RCM 8 and Band Lab DAW

Now to the drummers

      14. Video game music
      15. 3/4 Scottish snare drum solo
      16. Free Fallin' by Tom Petty
      17. Rollin' in the deep by Adele
      18. Superstition by Stevie Wonder

Revised August 2022
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A typical Tuesday in my studio

4/12/2022

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Another day of teaching piano and drum set comes to an end. Here is today’s student repertoire.
​
Marching by Kabalevsky
Skating Waltz by Berlin
Love Me Tender by Elvis
Claire de Lune by Debussy
Les Baricades Misterieuses by Couperin
Chitlin’s Con Carne by Burrell
Etudes by Scriabin
Prelude and Fugue in Bb by Bach
Clementi Etude in E by Clementi
Serenade by Haberbier
Cancion by Mompou
Cottontail by Ellington
Kamado Tanjiro no Uta by Shiina and Ufotable
Watermelon Man by Hancock
Haunted mouse by Faber and Faber
Forest Drums by Faber and Faber
Dinah by Fats Waller
Never Going to Give you up by Ashley
Street of Dreams by Ella
Scottish ¾ March
It’s Only A Paper Moon by Nat King Cole
Meditation by Jobim
Night train by Forrest

​
Time for a beer. 

Revised August 2022

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What Students Are Learning This Week

9/29/2021

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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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Eric Liang, jazz student.

6/28/2021

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This guy did the work and then fearlessly put himself out there.

David
Revised October 2022
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Student Favorite: Charlotte's Dream

6/17/2021

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A new student favorite that debuted at our zoom recital yesterday. 
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What Students Are Playing This Week

5/5/2021

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This is a sample from Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. Title, composer, level. 

Hey Jude                   Beatles
Prelude in C JS          Bach RCM 5
Sonata in C 1767       Haydn RCM 5
Atacama                    Wynn-Anne Rossi RCM 2
Take the A Train         Strayhorn
Sonatina in G             Clementi RCM 4
Quiet Lagoon             Jon George RCM 2 
Chopsticks
Mexican Jumping Beans
Serenade                   Franz Schubert
Saving the best for last          Air Supply
Sonata in F                Mozart RCM 9
March Dmitry            Kabalevsky RCM A
1st Gymnopedie        Eric Satie RCM 8
We Are The Champions Freddie Mercury and Queen
Dundas Blues Boogie Woogie David Story
Menuet en Rondeau  Rameau RCM 2
Sneaky Sam              Melody Bobar RCM B
Sonatina in G           Thomas Attwood RCM 3
Charlotte's Daydream    Pieter de Graaf
Intermezzo in A minor       Brahms RCM 9
Cathryn goes to Hollywood   David Story
Bouree in F                 Telemann RCM 7
Etude in D minor         Czerny RCM 3
St. James Infirmary      Trad Jazz
Sonatina in A minor       Bender RCM 3
Study in D major          Swinstead RCM 8

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What students played this week.

4/24/2021

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A partial list:
  1. Sonatina in A mi by Biehl
  2. St. James Infirmary Blues
  3. Sonata in G Beethoven 
  4. Invention No. 14 Bach
  5. Sonatina in F op. 168 Diabelli
  6. Swiss Variations Beethoven 
  7. Bouree in F by Telemann
  8. Fur Elise by you know who
  9. Take me to church Hozier
  10. Row Row Row Your Boat
  11. Saving the best for last
  12. Jerusalem Israli folk song
  13. The Cat by Jimmy Smith...
  14. Musette in D Bach
  15. Dance of the marionettes Tarenghi
  16. In the evening Hofmann
  17. Take the A train Strayhorn
  18. I got it bad and that ain't good Ellington
  19. Summertime Gershwin
  20. Sonatina in C Czerny op. 36 no. 1
  21. Etude in D minor Czerny op 261 no. 52
  22. 2-3 Montuno in C
  23. Sonata in D Galuppi
  24. We are the champions Queen
  25. Shooting stars in Summer Ikeda

​Adult Exam preparations for May and June 2021
​

1 RCM Prep A
1 RCM 1
1 RCM 3
1 RCM5
2 RCM 7
3 RCM 8
1 RCM 10


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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What Students Are Learning This Week

4/8/2021

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A sample of what is on for this week.
​
  • Sonatina in A mi by Biehl
  • St. James Infirmary Blues
  • Mussette Bach
  • Sonatina in C Clementi
  • Sonata in C Hadyn
  • Sonata in G Beethoven 
  • Invention No. 14 Bach
  • Sonatina in F op. 168 Diabelli
  • There Will Never Be Another You Jazz Standard
  • All Right Ok, You Win Blues Standard
  • Swiss Variations Beethoven 
  • Autumn Leaves Jazz Standard
  • The Entertainer Joplin
  • Go Down Moses
  • Bouree in F by Telemann
  • Fur Elise by you know who
  • Row Row Row Your Boat
  • Saving the best for last Venessa Williams
  • Jerusalem Israeli folk song
  • The Cat by Jimmy Smith

Nine brave and committed adult students are preparing to sit for their classical piano exams this spring and summer. 

1 RCM Prep A
1 RCM 1
1 RCM5
2 RCM 7
3 RCM 8
1 RCM 10

If you would like to join us. Call me. 

David
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What My Intermediate Classical Students Are Learning This Week

3/9/2021

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What Students Are Learning This Week

2/27/2021

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What Students Are Learning This Week

2/19/2021

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My students have eclectic tastes. I love it. If you would like join us, call me. 

David
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What Students Are Playing This Week

1/29/2021

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Most Popular Jazz Jam Tunes in Toronto

8/17/2017

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A list of tunes I've played at public jam sessions in Toronto over the last 2 years that I've been attending as a drummer. 

All of me
Summertime
Now's the time
Au privave
Scrapple from the apple
It don't mean a thing
Satin doll
Blue bossa
C jam blues
Another cool one
Cherokee
Tenor madness
Autumn leaves
Billie's bounce
Black Orpheus
Blue monk
Oleo
Straight, no chaser
All the things you are
East of the sun
If I were a bell
My romance
There will never be another you
What is this thing called love?
Footprints
Four
Have you met miss jones?
Just friends
Mr PC
Recordame
Solar
Song for my father
So what
St. Thomas
Take the A train
All the things you are
Scrapple from the apple
There is no greater love
Watermelon man
Alone together
Girl from Ipanema
Days of wine and roses
Doxy
Softly as in a morning sunrise
Star eyes
All blues
Freddy freeloader
Ornithology
Impressions
Lester leaps in
Fly me to the moon

Less common
Blues for Alice
Donna Lee
Beautiful love
Wave
Work song
Georgia
My little suede shoes
A night in Tunisia
Tune up
How high the moon
Stella by starlight
Body and soul both fast and slow
Confirmation
I hear a rhapsody
Up jumped spring
There will never be another you
I love you
Out of nowhere
Night and day

The link below offers some good advice to read before you attend your first jam, including a short list of essential tunes for beginners. You don't need to learn the entire list before attending. A blues in Bb and F, a common standard or two, one bossa and you are ready to go.

http://music.unl.edu/jazzstudies/HaarJamSessions.pdf 

Cheers,

​David Story
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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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  • 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
  • Jazz downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute
  • Books, Apps, Websites, Music
  • Ear Training and Sight Singing Resources