Practice blog of David Story

Three short piano improvisations

11/26/2020

I'm starting to prepare for a post-Covid world, yes I really believe it will arrive. So, I'm back at the piano exploring new musical sounds getting ready. Enjoy.

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Metronome workout

11/25/2020

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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

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Lockdown 2.0

11/22/2020

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It's arrived. Lockdown 2.0

I'm changing the focus of this blog to a practice blog. I hope this will be helpful for my students. Secondly, it will help me stay focused over the winter as we await a miracle.

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Final Jam Before Lockdown

11/15/2020

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In our safe space in Orangeville we will meet for the final time. See you guys on the other side. Stay safe.

Fade/Dissolve Cinematic Noise Trio completed another mix this week. Video coming soon.

Winter is coming...

David

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Playing Violin/Piano duets with my wife Heather: Screw Covid-19

11/11/2020

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Her retirement project? Violin. Started 2 years ago. Next month she plays her first violin exam. I will be accompanying. Our first world tour can't be far off now.

This being throw-back Wednesday we present from last year: Batman Boogie Woogie

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New Video for Fade/Dissolve

11/5/2020

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Our dystopian tour of 2020 continues...

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In the practice room October 2020

10/23/2020

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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

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Lock down part 2

10/10/2020

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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

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