Blog Archives

Christopher Lochhead and "*uck the hustle" podcast

2/24/2019

He rightfully calls out so much of the BS pedaled to the young and/or naive. It takes way more than hustle to get things happening. Hamsters hustle, stock boys hustle. You actually have to be able to do something and produce results that matter in the market place to really succeed. Time to give up our societies attention of what he calls, "Entrepreneurial porn stars" is refreshing.

Find the post by Lochhead here: https://lochhead.com/blog/fuck-hustle-7-reasons-hustle-is-bad-advice/
Rant over

Last week's highlight? Jazz piano trio with Jim and Rory. A heap of fun with the standards. We are sounding more settled each week. Terry Clarke thinks that Rory and I sound great together. Let's hear it for bass players.

Due to illness the presentation with Terry Clarke is being rescheduled.

This week is a busy one. Latin percussion lesson Wednesday, Jamming Wednesday synthesizer in some new music/improv wonderfulness, and drumming at an original jazz jam on Thursday.

Preparing for a workshop in New Orleans later in the year is keeping the snare drum busy. I made my 10 hours of drum practice last week, this week will be more challenging due to work commitments and piano practice which has be a little neglected lately.

Thinking about some new music projects I might pursue later this year.

trad jazz
big band
new music/improv
avant postjazz
concert band

0 Comments

Jamming with Rory Slater and Terry Clarke

2/18/2019

0 Comments

On Saturday February 23 I will be playing a set for my students with two hearos of mine. This will be fun.
Thinking about the next 10 years of my life. Over the last ten years I got divorced, remarried, moved to Toronto, started a teaching business and learned to play the drums. Now what?
Drum practice came up 90 minutes short last week. This week I missed a day already to holidays out of town. With the piano gig this weekend, it will take some effort to meet the practice goals.
A weekend of rich food in Niagara Falls leaves one a little sluggish. Back to routine tomorrow: sleep, exercise, good food, adequate hydration, piano, drums, and students.
Best piano practice strategies for Trad pianists getting ready to jam with the pros? Playing along with recordings, no fake books, or phones allowed.

Cheers,

David

0 Comments

How to find piano students

2/16/2019

0 Comments

Earn an excellent piano education before you start. It’s competitive out there.
Locate yourself to an area that has lots of prospective students.
Then prepare yourself for starting a retail business:
1. Study sales, marketing, web site development
2. Change your friends, if they aren’t trying something similar, they are not going to encourage you
3. Improve your attitude towards money
4. Consider your competitive advantage that you bring to the marketplace. If you don’t have one, get one or forget it.
5. BTW, successful teachers are devoted to their students
6. Students in 2019 want an experience, not information that’s free on YouTube
7. Be sure your success habits are professional, namely reliability, professional demeanor, grooming, fitness level, organizational skills.
8. Start listening to podcasts on marketing, sales, retailing, and more
9. Enquire about free business classes with your local chamber of commerce, city hall, or regional government.
10. Find a business coach.
Get out there and start failing. The obstacles and disappointments you are about to meet are the way to what you want. Learning to navigate through the problems and overcome the setbacks ahead are the way to success. No shortcuts in business. Working for yourself is rewarding and profitable. But it is hard work, don’t let any internet guru tell you otherwise. Guys like Gary V and Grant Cardone are full of you know what. They are just hustle and young and naïve. You need to learn from adults.

Rant over.

David

0 Comments

February 8 2019 Practice, practice, practice

2/8/2019

0 Comments

I'm making my 10 hours a week of focused drum practice, up from 7 hours in 2018. Those 3 extra hours have really making a difference. Everyone could hear it at band practice this week.
I went for my class with drummer Terry Clarke this week. A true master of the drum kit. He is working intensely on my big band playing in anticipation of attending a big band workshop this summer. His advice: start a big band and get some experience before attending. Not an easy thing given my work schedule. See Terry below.

Three students asked me this week how do you find gigs? Here are some thoughts on booking your act.

Play for the women, if men had their way they'd be home watching the game. Good advice from an early mentor.
Find out who buys your type of music. Call up the establishment and ask directly, "may I speak with the person in charge of hiring entertainment in your club?" Write down their name to make the call back.
Get your YouTube videos up.
How is your website? You have a website right?
How deep is your set list?
Do you sound better than the places you want to play require? This helps.
Seek out a business coach. No kidding. It's called the music business for a reason. You need to understand the basics. Starting with the ability to communicate to an employer the following: hiring me will help you pay your mortgage.

If you are a musician looking for work I suggest the following.

Present yourself professionally. Know the music, have the gear, have a ride, look right, be sober, be nice, shut your mouth, be helpful, and be on time.
Master your damn instrument.
Get some experience. In the beginning play with everyone, in any situation, at anytime. If you've got your shit together word gets out fast.
Continue to take lessons with a master musicians.
Hang out on the scene. No scene in your locale? Move.
Get your videos up on YouTube.

For everyone.

What is your USP (unique selling proposition)? If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete.
Be proactive, don't wait for permission.

Rant over.

David

0 Comments

Music in the 5th Decade

Christopher Lochhead and "*uck the hustle" podcast

Jamming with Rory Slater and Terry Clarke

How to find piano students

February 8 2019 Practice, practice, practice

What I'm up to behind the scenes.

I teach Adults to play the piano.

Archives

Categories