Tag: Chicago piano instruction

  • Happy New Year!

    Hey! We made it! We are, after all, in 2018. And congratulations! Like every beginning, we need to think of what we will put in that New Year. How, if you will, we shall fill up the vase. Those decisions need careful thinking and consideration. Of course, every one wants to get a more beautiful…

  • Did you know?

    I just learnt that Justin Bieber was a drummer. Actually, he still plays a bit of his show on the drums. So, it would be fair to say that Justin Bieber is a working drummer. I think that’s great. And why not? Justin is someone that a lot of young people look up to. He…

  • The signs, part 2.

    Ok, so, to resume. Oh, you know the story. I’m not going to resume. If you are reading part 2, it’s because you know what part 1 is. Very well. As I was saying: think. Always! But there are many kinds of thinking (Did you know that?) For example, you can think preemptively and prepare.…

  • The signs

    When one tries to make it as a pro, one has to develop a nose, if you will, for people and situations. One has to make decisions upon those intuitions, those signs that things could go south very quickly. Because music life is full of surprises. Good ones and bad ones. The ratio is about…

  • One bad week.

    So, you are doing good. Your life is on this track. The bills are paid, the friends are warm, the car is as reliable as a fridge. Your girlfriend is sweet, your pets are wagging their tails. As I said: you are doing good. You are doing great. And then there is a parking ticket.…

  • The last gig!

    There is a dead season for musicians. It is fast approaching now. We are about 5 days away from it, as a matter of fact. Because right after New Year’s eve, that is it! The gigs will be few and far between. For a month or two, you have to close shop. Or, if you…

  • Professional

    Following on the previous post titled “Advanced”, here is now a description of what a Professional player is. A Professional, or a “pro”, as they are called, must be prepared for anything. Anything! It means that, for reading, he must be able to read the proverbial “fly-s***” on a piece of paper… At any tempo……

  • Advanced level

    People I teach want to know where they stand. They want to know if they would be considered beginners, intermediate, advanced players. That’s for the easy ones to classify. A lot of them have a foot in one area while being more proficient in others. It is usually a mixed bag, specially when you study…

  • The vibe (Part 2)

    Jim Chapin, famous for his wonderful book: “Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer”, had to tour the country to demonstrate that the exercises he had written could be played. People would marvel while he would show how to develop independence of the limbs. Awestruck, mouth open, little drool for some, they would admire Mr Chapin proving…

  • The vibe

    I was reading a comic book called “Y: last man standing” (Here, huge spoiler alert, I’m about to make a big revelation. Do not continue if you intend to read this wonderful series) So, let me start again, since I’ve just been rudely interrupted by myself. I was reading the comic book. The story is…