Ron's blog on piano improv and the role of music in our lives
Yesterday I wrote one of my most-shared blog posts, about the jazz pianist Bill Evans, blissfully unaware that I was posting it just one day before his birthday! Yes, Mr. Evans would have celebrated his birthday today, had he not died so tragically young. He was born on August 16, 1929 and only lived to … Read More
For someone who practically represents mainstream jazz piano, Bill Evans is actually quite individualistic. When we hear local pianists play “generic” jazz piano, they’re usually firmly entrenched in his style, but when we hear the man himself play, what we’re really hearing is a highly personal distillation of his influences. Many musical streams of influence, … Read More
I read a great Paul McCartney quote the other day: “One of the biggest thrills is sitting down with a guitar or piano and just trying to make a song happen.” What I love most about this quote is what he didn’t say. McCartney didn’t say that he loved it when a song comes together. Or … Read More
Are you happy with your left hand while playing jazz piano? Or do you find that your left hand plays the same rhythms over and over, regardless of what your right hand lines sound like? You may or may not have noticed this in your playing, but if you listen for it you’ll hear that … Read More
Let me ask you a question: Would you take a job where you were paid a random salary that varied from day to day without any explanation from your company as to how they arrived at the amount? If you would, then “welcome to the music industry!” Here’s an article by David Byrne (of Talking … Read More
Have you ever been disappointed to hear your favorite pianist rush the tempo during their piano solos? I have. In fact, I’ve done it myself at times. I think there’ something so complex about playing a right hand solo while accompanying yourself with your left that even the most experienced pianists will occasionally rush while … Read More
In this series, I’ve covered a lot of strategies you can use to get work as a professional musician when you move to a new city. It’s not always easy to become established, but reading through these posts will give you some ideas and perspective about how to get started. Here, I’d like to give … Read More
In parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series, I’ve been sharing some ways you can get work as a musician, particularly if you’ve recently relocated to a new city and haven’t established yourself yet. One approach that can work very well is to simply do something that no one else wants to do. (But make sure … Read More
In Parts 1 and 2 of this series I gave you some in-depth ways you can use to establish yourself as a musician in a new city and get professional work. Here’s a slightly “tongue-in-cheek” but nevertheless true angle on the same subject: I remember once when I was the associate music director for the Broadway show Swinging On A Star. I was … Read More
In Part 1, I gave some general advice about establishing yourself as a professional musician when you move to a new city. (It will also help you get work in your present location too!). I also told the story about how I myself got my first musical job in New York City. In this post, … Read More