Blaxland Piano Pathways

Love a bit of score reading

Drum Transcription: Mr. Bean's "Invisible Drum Kit" Here's a note-for-note transcription from the famous "Invisible Drum Kit" sketch by Rowan Atkinson, the actor who created the character Mr. Bean.·Do you thin...

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Keith Emerson & Oscar Peterson - H***y Tonk Train Blues simple fantastic

What's so great about Alexander? I began teaching piano in 1969. I have taught lots of lovely students in Belmont, Charlestown, Kenmore, Katoomba, Blaxland, Bathurst and Orange. During the thirteen years I taught in Bathurst and Orange, I noticed that I had more students called Alexandra and Alexander than any other names. And I’...

An Aussie with a delightful Scots accent explains time signatures, using Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky

What is a time signature? Russell Torrance takes a look inside the wonderful world of time signatures.

I am grateful for the fifty years I have spent as a piano teacher. It’s the best job I have had. It is a privilege to help people turn something black and white into beautiful colours.
I am enjoying teaching the students I have currently, but I’m not seeking new students.

I'm pleased to announce I am now a NSW Creative Kids Provider

I always enjoy playing this song. I like the bass line and chord progression. We used to have a nice King’s Singers recording. Clever lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, now in their 90s and still going strong, and wonderful music by Michel Legrand.

Sweet Gingerbread Man Piano Music by Michel Legrand Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman

It’s no wonder this song endures.

I Only Want To Be With You Piano by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde

Why do we have to play scales?
Here are a few thoughts from British teacher Melanie Spanswick:
Now we will test your scales, C major hands together please’, the examiner smiles glancing at the student who is waiting with baited breath……

This is the usual scenario when pupils are faced with scales. Most pianists don’t like scales or scale practice. Some ask if they are really necessary. For me, they are the most important part of exam practice. Not only do they teach piano students everything they need to know about fast playing (or fast passagework) but they also build up finger technique, tone production and provide the opportunity to learn every key. They should be approached as something to enjoy rather than dread.

I love scales. I always have and particularly relish watching my hands running up and down the keyboard, but I realize that I am in the minority. Scales are very useful and if you can play them well you will be on the way to developing a secure technique. Technique is essential for good playing and it really means the ability to get around the notes accurately.

Scales and arpeggios are important for all of the following reasons:

1. Scales develop hand co-ordination. Absolute co-ordination is paramount between both hands as they run up and down the keyboard.

2. Scales help develop the ability to play accurate fi*****ng as in order to play them rapidly, you need to be very precise with your fingers. The fi*****ngs need to be adhered to rigidly so they become a habit which will be repeated every octave as you move up and down the keyboard.

3. Scales help develop finger strength; every finger is utilized when playing scales, forcing the pianist to make every finger work properly.

4. Scales help to improve a pupil’s keyboard geography; to play them up to speed, large amounts of keyboard need to be covered quickly so the pupil will build up a sense of keyboard awareness which is necessary for good playing.

5. Scales help the student learn all 24 keys – which is no mean feat. This is an extremely useful and important feature in itself.

6. Scales help students develop a strong sense of rhythm, articulation and speed, which are all important for playing the piano. They also encourage good tone production.

Here are just a few reasons why scales are probably the most important test in any piano exam. So when you next sit down to do some practice, why not start with scales? This way you will not only get them over and done with, but you will also practice them when you are fresh and receptive. You never know, you may end up enjoying them.

Five years ago today, I taught my first piano student here in my Blaxland studio.

An interesting exercise. From a primary school child to dialoguing with Herbie Hancock. About 16 mins long.

Musician Explains One Concept in 5 Levels of Difficulty ft. Jacob Collier & Herbie Hancock | WIRED 23-year-old musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier explains the concept of harmony to 5 different people; a child, a teen, a college stud...