Practice blog of David Story - David Story Toronto Musician

David Story Toronto Musician

Old Dog, New Tricks

1/14/2021

I've enrolled in the Royal Conservatory of Music's "How To Teach Music Online" course. This should be interesting. It's important to expose ourselves to new ideas in areas we believe we are competent in with an open mind. Stay tuned for a review.

How to Teach Music Online | The Royal Conservatory of Music (rcmusic.com)

David

Going Forward in 2021

1/2/2021

Living by design in 2021. Shit happens: Covid. But, we can still make plans and head out with some confidence in a direction of our own choosing. We will get there? Who knows. If we have the privilege to consider this idea though, I say go for it.

0:00- Introduction
0:33- Evaluate your progress
1:20- Recognize your setbacks
1:57- Adapt to your current reality
2:45- Make sure your goals are SMART
3:30- Write down your goals

Sales tune-up. Why?

No sales= no business.
No business= no opportunities, no freedom, no fun.

Links to each point

Have a clear vision of why you are practicing 00:15
Create a practice schedule 01:17
Don't over practice 03:11
Isolate the problem 03:51
Incorporate practicality 04:45
Attack concepts from different angles 05:32
Practice slow and gradually speed up 05:57

A New Year, Another Chance To Get It Right

1/1/2021

I am a slow walker, but I never walk back. --Abraham Lincoln

Piano: practice my students' pieces to perfection. Jazz Trio with Rory and Tim.
Synthesizer: fun with my friends at Fade/Dissolve, Jacqueline Leung, Toronto Improvisors Orchestra, and the Array Crowd.
Drumming: Jazz Trio with Rory and Jim, Roland and Ed. Geez that's a lot of trios. Pursue a seat in a big band. Rock on with my mates in Burlington in our classic rock group, "The Vintage People". Plus jamming in the community as that opens up again.
Composing for the Jazz and Synthesizer bunch.

Those are all good reasons to practice, study, and dream.

David

Holiday Practicing Christmas 2020

12/20/2020

Daily Classical Piano

Play piano/violin duets with my wife Heather.
A Beethoven sonata would be a good paired with a Bach prelude and fugue. My piano coach will be impressed.
Some deep listening time
Technique

Daily Drumming

Solidify my Latin drumming basics: Songo and Mambo
Bebop language
Homework from my coach
Reviewing repertoire: Jamming will be starting up in the spring and early summer, I will be ready.

Synthesizers

Play, have fun, make a noise

David

Metronome workout

11/25/2020

I want to change my time sense. I play on top of the beat. Drums and piano ride front and centre. I want to learn to control my placement, consciously and deliberately. At age 61, why not? If not now, when?

Metronome exercises

Drumming ideas from Lowell Whitty

On the beat
On beats 2 and 4
On beat 4, 2, or 3
One an “and” of any beat

Classical Piano From Jacqueline Ching-Ling Leung

One beat per measure in Chopin Mazurka in A minor
Then slightly ahead of beat one
Then slightly behind beat one
1. Each phrase may have a different approach. The metronome stays steady. The score gives clues which approach to take.

This should keep me busy.

David

In the practice room October 2020

10/23/2020

Piano:
1. Developing exercises both tactical and auditory for my jazz students
2. Music history group forming: level 9
3. Bach, Beethoven, Brahms this week
4. Lesson next week

Drums:
1. Paradiddle applications
2. Working on a more open and robust sound when playing in 2
3. Solid funk articulations in shuffle grooves
4. Composing a piano/snare drum duet of 16 measures for a student
5. Weekly lessons

Synthesizers:
1. Mixing for Fade/Dissolve cinematic noise trio
2. Some new patches for my Arturia Microfreak. Micro be damned, this things a monster

Lock down part 2

10/10/2020

What we knew was coming has arrived.

We knew the beast was coming, coming down the tracks
But still we hoped for better but now its' really back...

Sung to Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues.

Time for me to hunker down for the duration. Online music making only. Lots of practice, exercise, sleep, Netflix, and work. I'm grateful I've a loving wife, my health, a home, and a job I can do online.

What will I be practicing?

1. Classical piano, digging down with my piano coach on the pieces my students are preparing for exams. This extra time has delivered me an opportunity not to be missed.

2. Drum technique with my drum coach. Lowell has improved all aspects of my time and touch. With his guidance I will be ready to move up a notch or two when this pandemic is over.

3. Listening to new music in as many creative genres that I can.

4. Working with my students transcribing jazz classics.

With whom will I be playing music with?

1. My wife. She has her first violin exam in December. What fun.

2. Fade/Dissolve Cinematic Noise Trio. We are mixing tracks now.

3. Piano/Drum duo, more news on that upcoming.

Stay safe, follow health directions, see you on the other side.

David

What did I learn this week?

9/29/2020

Teaching kids is fun.

David

Fall 2020

8/29/2020

Despite the ongoing pandemic we are finding safe ways to play together. When the weather gets cold it will be a challenge, but we are staying on top of developments. If we must take the winter off, so be it.

In the belief that this will pass, I’ve signed up for another year of classical piano classes and drum lessons. I’m currently completing a course on online piano teaching. I’ve made room in the fall schedule for practice, exercise, and socialising within a busy work life.

This past week I’ve played safely 4 times with musicians of my vintage. All of them are fine musicians. It was very satisfying.

The pandemic has reminded musicians that music making is primarily a team sport.

David