O'Dell Music Studio

Let's take a moment to appreciate the significance of musical rests in piano playing. In the table you can see the symbols for the different rests and their lengths.

Just as notes fill the air with melody, rests provide the essential silence that gives music its depth and rhythm. They are the pauses that punctuate each piece, allowing for anticipation, reflection, and the building of tension.

Embrace the power of musical rests as they guide the flow of your performance, creating moments of beauty and intrigue.

There’s this *gorgeous* little misconception that abounds which is to do with learning a musical instrument.

It’s to do with music being an enjoyable thing to do, as if every aspect of it is some form of entertainment.

We take it as read that the ability to play music to a good level is highly enjoyable. And playing in ensemble with other musicians is just a beautiful thing to do! But let’s just put a couple of things straight.

🎹 It’s so much fun to play the piano all the time.

Actually, efficient piano practice is the utter opposite of just playing music through. It’s a highly disciplined, very intellectual activity that focusses on improvement and unpicking problems, strategically getting them better over time. It involves repetition and evaluative skills.

It’s taken me very many years to enjoy the mindfulness of dedicated practice; the practice that ultimately allows you the freedom to let music speak.

Now I can’t get enough, but have such limited time!

🎹 You’re so talented!

Thank you! That’s really kind of you!

But here’s an analogy: when you say to a singer, “you’ve got such a lovely voice”, essentially you’re commenting on their anatomy. The dedication that it takes to develop and hone that voice is to be applauded. After all, you can own a Stradivarius violin, but have no idea how to play it!

So talent is fabulous, and this is undoubtedly a compliment, but I’ve known several talented individuals who are most definitely seriously held back because of their unwillingness to commit to the art.

🎹 I’m sure it’ll be fine if she just has piano lessons and doesn’t do much in between.

Of course - but the progress will be so slow that it will become off-putting. Piano practice is to do with building neural pathways so that fluency is created. This requires “little and often” practice, with a focus on the latter. Similarly, piano practice is about developing the musculature so that the physical body can gain control and facility. This comes from regular practice: at least five times per week.

All the 'feels' on my recent trip to MT

🙏🎶🙏

So very happy to welcome both Las Vegas and Montana students back to fall lessons!

“Heal yourself with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon. With the sound of the river and the waterfall. With the swaying of the sea and the fluttering of birds. Heal yourself with mint, neem, and eucalyptus. Sweeten with lavender, rosemary, and chamomile. Hug yourself with the cocoa bean and a hint of cinnamon. Put love in tea instead of sugar and drink it looking at the stars. Heal yourself with the kisses that the wind gives you and the hugs of the rain. Stand strong with your bare feet on the ground and with everything that comes from it. Be smarter every day by listening to your intuition, looking at the world with your forehead. Jump, dance, sing, so that you live happier. Heal yourself, with beautiful love, and always remember...you are the medicine.”

María Sabina ~ Mexican healer and poet
Ed Binkley ~ Artist

The Most Insane Interstellar Cover On A Public Piano Amazing piano cover of Interstellar theme by Hans Zimmer is played by Ella on Sir Elton John's Piano in St. Pancras International Station. Instagram: Ellastr...