Blog

Let’s suppose you are about to take some piano lessons. You have made your decision, you have chosen a teacher (me!), you have figured out your budget. In one word: you have all your ducks in a row. But, as you were about to dial the number to make your first appointment,Read More

I think that learning piano is not necessarily a difficult instrument, because difficulty is a changing concept. How? In an amusement park, is going down a scary slide difficult or fun? And why it is that they create more and more white knuckle rides? Because we love them. Piano,Read More

You take an exercise. So simple you can barely call it that. It’s almost just a reflex. Let’s say you have a pair of stick and you strike a surface. Once on the right, once on the left. You got a piano, you put your hands over the keys, you move one finger. Bing! YouRead More

With my gigging students we sometimes talk about performing. Of course, it is always a difficult subject. I am very aware of the shortcomings of our discussions. After all, we are in my studio, there is no audience, no prepared songs, no promotion for the concert. It is almostRead More

When I talk to a parent who’s about to sign up her daughter for class, I ask how old her child is. If she’s less than 10 years old, I explain that I will require a few things from the parent in order to accept the student. Don’t worry, I don’t ask a lot.Read More

We all know the feeling. We’re going towards a place where there is loud music and, as we approach it, our body start to feel the vibrations of the bass. The deep “Thumps” intensify as we get closer. Our whole being resonate with the music before we have enteredRead More

I think human beings are not the weakest ones of the animal kingdom. It is not an obvious statement when you look at the formidable tigers, panthers and other cats that are loaded with weapons. Or the way a butterfly can camouflage and protect itself from predators, notRead More

When you start taking lessons on drums or piano, first you are excited about discovering new territories. If you are truly motivated, you might keep that flame going strong for quite a while. But, eventually, as with everything, it gets old, as the saying goes. So, what to do?Read More

We do not live in a vacuum. In general, we need others. As a self employed musician, that part of ourselves can be the difference between making it or not. Being on your own imposes a lot of stress from the decisions you make and the consequences that ensues.  Although it isRead More