Piano

Duke Ellington:

Here’s the pianist who I most credit, through his writing and playing (and the brilliant writing and arranging of Billy Strayhorn) with really putting “jazz” music on the harmonic footing it’s been on ever since.  A lot of what Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn did utilized tools that had been used before, some all the way back to Bach (a II-V progression, for example), but in their hands it reached its ultimate expression as a very particular sound, an instantly recognizable jazz sound.

And to hear Duke play piano is a true study in orchestration. 

Read More

I started taking piano lessons from an in-person piano teacher when I was in late elementary with my younger sister. After about two years of in-person lessons, my parents seriously considered having us stop. We loved our teacher, but the expense of the lessons became a bit costly. Also, considering that someday my other younger siblings would want learn piano, my parents knew we couldn't possibly afford to continue in-person lessons for all of us children.

Around the time when my parents were deciding whether or not to pull us from our lessons, we heard from a friend about the Online Classical Piano School with Christie Peery. Their daughter was taking piano lessons online using the unique Video Exchange Learning® system and really enjoying them. My sister and I joined ArtistWorks six months later. My parents are very pleased with their decision, and it's been over four years now. 

I started taking piano lessons from an in-person piano teacher when I was in late elementary with my younger sister. After about two years of in-person lessons, my parents seriously considered having us stop. We loved our teacher, but the expense of the lessons became a bit costly. Also, considering that someday my other younger siblings would want learn piano, my parents knew we couldn't possibly afford to continue in-person lessons for all of us children.

Around the time when my parents were deciding whether or not to pull us from our lessons, we heard from a friend about the Online Classical Piano School with Christie Peery. Their daughter was taking piano lessons online using the unique Video Exchange Learning® system and really enjoying them. My sister and I joined ArtistWorks six months later. My parents are very pleased with their decision, and it's been over four years now. 

Read More

Herbie Hancock 

Here we have somebody who I would say is probably the most influential pianist of the last 50 years, and one of our all-time most extraordinary musicians.

Everything that came before him, from the jazz world to the classical world, all came together and then got kicked up several quantum leaps in Herbie’s hands. He was a child prodigy, playing with the Chicago Symphony at the age of 11, and didn’t get into jazz until early in high school, but ouch, the way he took to it from there.

Playing with people like Donald Byrd and Oliver Nelson shortly after turning 20, he joined Miles Davis’s quintet at the age of 23. Which is pretty ridiculous considering the wealth of piano talent that was out there. But right from the very start you hear that this is something incredibly special.  

I’ve often thought that Herbie is the ultimate expression of the human potential:

I was recently presented with a list of “12 Influential Jazz Piano Players” and asked to write some thoughts on each of them. This is by no means any sort of “comprehensive list of the 12 most important people…” or any such thing, but it’s a good topic for a blog post, so here we go.  I HEARTILY ENCOURAGE YOU to grab some music by these pianists (there’s a recommended CD or two next to each of them) and immerse yourself in the genius of the history of our fine art!

Read More

Before you buy a car, what do you do? Hopefully, you check with some resources to compare prices, features, quality, and repair history to make the most informed purchase decision. What if you could do the same kind of research when buying a piano or digital keyboard? Well, the good news is, you can! Back in 1987, Larry Fine authored "The Piano Book", which has been a staple for piano buyers (and piano dealers) in the ensuing years. This wonderful resource is now supplemented with a website, PianoBuyer.com, designed to help folks make informed choices when investing in a new piano or digital keyboard. In this video, we interview pianist Dr. Owen Lovell, Piano Review Editor for PianoBuyer.com, at the 2015 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA. Be sure to check out this great website and book before deciding to buy your next piano or keyboard! Read More

We've all heard of Steinway and Yamaha pianos, but have you ever heard of a Grotrian? It so happens that this piano was favored by Clara Schumann and highly regarded by the likes of Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms! The Grotrian-Steinweg, or "Grotrian" for short, is well known in German and European circles, but still something of a "secret gem" in America. In this video, we interview Grotrian-Steinweg director Burkhardt Stein to discover what unique qualities this gorgeous piano brings to the discerning pianist. Read More

One of my online students asked me how to practice the piano when she's traveling away from her instrument. Since I'm stuck in my hotel room in Miami, I came up with some great exercises for keeping your fingers in shape without a piano. I think you'll find these exercises challenging and fun! Read More