Memorising Blues Tunes In A Hurry

The Blues Are Calling

Audition Prep for a Blues Band
I've been invited to audition for a blues band that’s looking for a keyboard player and an occasional sub on drums. It sounds like a blast—and I’m diving in headfirst.
Here’s how I’m preparing, and the thought process behind it:

1. Motivation & Connection I’m driven to succeed and confident in my skills. What sparked this? The drummer—who played in my first professional band 48 years ago—mentioned over lunch that his current band might need a new keyboardist. They’ve got gigs lined up. I said I was available, and he sent me the set list.
   
2. Charting the Tunes I’ve created roadmaps for each song, outlining form, chords, and riffs. Just three tunes left to chart!
   
3. Gear Upgrade Sold some old equipment and picked up a keyboard that’s perfect for the gig.
   
4. Daily Practice & Score Corrections Each evening, I play along with the recordings and refine the scores. My Berklee buddy Kai spotted a wrong note in one of my charts. Later, I found even more passages that needed tweaking.
   
5. Leaning on Theory & History Blues isn’t foreign territory—I know the style well and can anticipate musical turns thanks to my background in theory and history.
   
6. Immersive Listening I made a playlist of the set on my phone and have already listened to it twice in the past 24 hours.
   
7. Scoring by Ear Transcribing by ear has been a game-changer. Writing it out helps me internalize and memorize the tunes faster.
   
8. Embracing the Adventure I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone, make some noise, and relive the smoky bar days with fellow musicians.
   
9. Targeted Practice I focus only on the tricky sections—no time wasted on what I can already play or fake convincingly.
   
10. Rest & Recovery Upped my sleep schedule. This is intense work, and I want to stay sharp.
    
11. Self-Recording Starts Tonight I’ll begin recording myself playing along with the tracks to fine-tune my performance.
    

How could you use these steps in your own musical journey?

Ten Tips for Meaningful Piano Progress

Whether you're just starting out or deepening your craft, here are some guiding principles to help you stay motivated and make real progress at the piano:

1. Find Your “Why” Have a compelling reason to succeed—something strong enough to carry you through the ups and downs of the journey.
   
2. Listen Deeply Study professional recordings of your repertoire. Pay attention to the nuances: phrasing, dynamics, tempo choices, and emotional delivery.
   
3. Respect Your Instrument Play on a well-maintained piano. An instrument in poor condition can be discouraging and hinder your growth.
   
4. Record & Reflect Record yourself regularly. Compare your performance to the score, and later, to professional interpretations. It’s a powerful tool for self-awareness and improvement.
   
5. Study Theory & History Understanding the structure and historical context of the music makes it easier to memorize and interpret with depth.
   
6. Curate Your Repertoire Keep a playlist on your phone of current, past, and future pieces. Listening often helps internalize the music and keeps you inspired.
   
7. Train Your Ears Ear training is essential. The better your aural skills, the more intuitive your playing becomes. The Royal Conservatory of Music has a terrific program at each level of skill.
   
8. Stretch Comfort Zones New material will always present challenges. To stay encouraged, begin and end practice sessions with pieces you love and know well.
   
9. Practice Smart Focus only on the tricky sections. Don’t waste time on what you can already play confidently or fake convincingly.
   
10. Be Kind to Yourself Progress takes time. Rest well, stay patient, and trust the process. If you are not sure on what the process consists of borrow some books from the library on teaching piano. You'll aquire insight there. 
    

If I can support you on your musical journey, feel free to reach out.
Warmly,