Tag: Chicago piano instructor

  • The natural

    Some people have it. They come on stage and everybody’s eyes follow them no matter where they go. They don’t do a lot. Some people have it so strong, they just fascinate. It has a name, it’s called the “X” factor. It’s so rare and so important, they made a TV show to look for…

  • Footloose Seattle

    Fascinating! A city became a music capital because of Kevin Bacon! I’m half-joking. Since you know the title of this blog, you know the name of the city, no mystery here: Seattle. I should write: Seattle! With an exclamation point. Because, who knew? Seattle in the 80’s was trying to kick rock music out of…

  • What’s the point?

    I’ve been teaching for a long time now. Since 1989, to be precise. Before the dinosaurs, yes. One of the question that seems to come often is “What is the point of playing music?” Actually, that’s not exactly the question my students ask, more the question I ask them to think about. Now, let’s see…

  • What we wish for.

    Here we are, stepping into a brand new year. 2022 is shining bright and we all have hopes that it will bring better tomorrows. I will not go into “peace on earth”, although it would be nice, instead I will tackle something we sometimes overlook and that is the most important thing. This is the…

  • The new year.

    I am at a crossroad. I used to have a full house with a wife and two children, but that has stopped. The children have moved out of our home. They are doing their own thing now. It is life and I can’t complain, I knew this day would come since they were born. We…

  • What if?…

    “What if a large number of scientific studies had found that there was one activity that could improve our cognitive functions, help our memory system to work, help us to learn language, help us to moderate our emotional stages, help us to solve complex problem AND help our brain to be healthier in later life?” …

  • As Christmas approaches

    We are on the last rush before the holidays. House are decorated, radio plays Christmas music, kids are getting excited and people communicate their wishlist to loved ones.  I’ll chip in  a few ideas for potential letters to Santa Claus. First off, if you happen to be a drummer, you can always use more sticks.…

  • What matters.

    My approach to music has changed over the years. By that, I mean my approach to playing as well as my approach to listening. In my teens and my twenties, speed was the only game in town. Any song was the opportunity to test my speed. I was driven by the need to prove myself,…

  • Different fingers

    Did you know that the ten fingers you have are all different from each other? You discover and struggle with that fact when you play the piano. Normally the thumb and index of the right hand are, by far, the most practical, precise and strongest pair in the hand. Maybe, but is it the fastest?…

  • Band assignment

    When a band decide to play a new song, it can be based on many different factors like people’s tastes, technical skills, arrangements, orchestration, speed, etc. But there is one type of song that is usually deceptively hard: the ballad, the slow song. These are tunes like Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” or “When a…