Ron's blog on piano improv and the role of music in our lives
To learn piano, you need 2 things: 1. An excellent, informed source of instruction (teacher, website, friend, book) and 2. Continual interaction with a fellow musician to keep you excited/motivated/inspired (this can be a teacher, a bandmate, or a friend) Most music students only have one of these. But if you really want to succeed … Read More
There are lots of funny “musician” jokes going around, usually told by one group of instrumentalists or vocalists at the expense of another. (Violinists tell violist jokes, violists tell violinist jokes, etc.) Here’s one I’ve often heard at gigs: Question: “How do you get a guitarist to turn down his amp?” Answer: “Put sheet music … Read More
Is music something you do, or is it part of who you are? I recently heard a teacher ask a group of 11-year old students “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The first few kids answered “doctor,” “teacher,” and the like. Then the teacher asked a girl who I think may … Read More
“When should my child start piano lessons?” For many parents who love music, this is the big question. And it’s different for different families. The recommendations I give depend on a lot of factors, including: The parents’ goals for their child The child’s musical interest The child’s musical talent The child’s personality and learning style … Read More
One of the best things about being a jazz musician is that there is a common core of standard tunes that enable us to get together and jam with each other, with no prior planning. Someone simply calls out a tune and the music starts. So if you’re a beginner, this means you’ll have a … Read More
I went to see the movie Pitch Perfect 2 last night. Without spoiling anything for you, I’ll just say that I thought the first 20 minutes tried too hard but the movie settled down nicely when the “new girl” arrived. All in all it was very entertaining, featured some exciting a cappella vocal arrangements, and … Read More
As America celebrates Memorial Day today, I’m reflecting on how live music has disappeared from most of our social gatherings. Many of my older (70-85 year old) piano students remember a time when someone, an aunt, an uncle, or cousin, invariably brought their guitar or accordion to family gatherings and livened up the event. They … Read More
As a pianist, there a two main ways to improve: by becoming able to play your music with a new level of fluency and by learning more and more complex music. But you can’t practice them both at the same time (at least not very successfully). Here’s what I mean: When you practice for fluency … Read More
I LOVE the fact that The Rolling Stones still play an occasional small venue. I remember years ago they played in New Haven’s Toad’s Place and this time they followed suit in LA’s Fonda Theatre. Even though it’s next-to-impossible to get tickets to these rare performances, I get inspired by the reason they choose to … Read More
Recipe number 1: Take a strong Lutheran hymn-singing tradition, Add the flowering of linear counterpoint. Simmer in a socio-religious environment that demanded new church music composed on a weekly basis and you get J.S. Bach and the high Baroque style. Recipe number 2: Take peoples from an unusually wide variety of cultures living in a city of trade and commerce, … Read More