After paying for a couple of pianos and no telling how many lessons for my kids over a period of twenty years or so -- and never touching a key -- I finally decided in my early-fifties to take the plunge myelf.
Not for me the 'tried and true' way to Classical Triumph. No. I wanted to make music now. And I did, as I will explain. Ultimately, I did learn to read music. Better in treble cleff than bass, but learn it I did. But in the meantime...
On purpose, I learned the Big Picture...
On purpose, I learned how music worked. Not just to regurgitate the written page, but how it worked and why it worked.
And, on purpose, I learned chords.
My teacher -- who I met at the Interational Association of Jazz Educators in New Orleans as I 'scoped things out' -- insisted I learn the nine different qualities of chords -- in each of the twelve keys. These ranged from major to diminished with all the minors and 5ths, 6ths and 7ths in between. And not only just to memorize them...
But to know them.
As evidenced by being able to play them throughout the twelve keys.
Simultaneously in both hands.
Five-fingered chords...
At a metronome beat set to one per second.
108 Chords. 108 seconds.
Well, all righty then!
...
And now I play the piano.
Not great, you understand...
But respectable.
And it is music.
Music that I enjoy.
Music that I play...
Myself.
Hum something -- best of all, even make up something -- and I will play it for you.
You will hear your own music, and you will delight in it.
As will I.
Then I will play my own music...
And that will make us both happy, too.
Yoda I just read this for the first time. I see a sort of trend in the various stories from your past.
First you are passionate. Very passionate on a number or fronts.
Secondly, you seek the advice of the absolute best, bar none. Be it in finance, music or golf (you sought out Hogan and then found Homer Kelley, the finance guru in New York, the music teacher in New Orleans).
Thirdly you find great joy in the process of learning, discovery and in the art of teaching, explaining. The latter I think is the fuel to the fire that is your passion and it burns very,very brightly.
And now for me and my golf quest, you have in turn, become the absolute best, bar none. A lineage that Im quite proud of.
Thank you. I know it aint easy being green but thank you.
O.B.
. . . you find great joy in the process of learning, discovery and in the art of teaching, explaining. The latter I think is the fuel to the fire that is your passion and it burns very,very brightly.
And now for me and my golf quest, you have in turn, become the absolute best, bar none. A lineage that Im quite proud of.
Thank you. I know it aint easy being green but thank you.
Thank you, James. Teachers tend to be defined by their students (and their success), and I am proud to be defined by you and yours.
From our first lessons at Orlando's Orange County National -- watching you shake off the Canadian 'snowbird' dust in the morning and stripe lasers in the afternoon -- to our subsequent sessons at The Swamp . . . I am proud you have chosen me as your teacher.
__________________
"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you."
I played the piano since the third grade. A very good sight reader which eventually halted my progress. Until my HS music teacher put in front of me this Chopin piece, and I had trouble, real trouble playling this. I had to really practice this piece until I memorized it. I played it at my college recital at 19. Now take a look at this ten year old playing it...........Bastard
__________________
"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you."
I played the piano since the third grade. A very good sight reader which eventually halted my progress. Until my HS music teacher put in front of me this Chopin piece, and I had trouble, real trouble playling this. I had to really practice this piece until I memorized it. I played it at my college recital at 19. Now take a look at this ten year old playing it...........Bastard
Hybrid Mode
