Tag: Chicago piano instructor

  • 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…

  • The anti compass

    This is what is becoming a typical situation: Little Jimmy is doing too much video games. He has been glued to the screen for 6 years now. It is painful to get him away from it, so much so that if he had a beard, it would be velcroed to the TV. And, here we…

  • Controlling violence

    What are the effects of music on a child? How can they benefit him or her?   I think it depends on the child, first of all. I think that every instrument has different qualities appealing to different personalities. A violin player or a piano player will want to lead. A viola player, though, will…

  • Bleeding hands

    These are the hands of a drummer after a concert. Now, before I get some comments saying that not all drummer’s hands are like that. I need to say, yes, I know. This is an extreme case, and that’s why it ends up on this page. But the point that I will still make is…