Shows
MusicBasics4KeyboardVolley Ball and Beethoven's Adagio Sonata No. 3Due to my work schedule as a former college student, practice time was limited to a few days a week. Whenever I sat down in a practice room at the college, I became LOST in time for 2-3 hours. While trying to get up from the hard bench after each session, I felt stabbing pain from a hernia after sitting in one position. I told myself I would learn to live with the pain even if it meant walking with a cane. No one in the music department knew why Darlene was in practice rooms for long hours esp...
2023-07-1004 min
MusicBasics4KeyboardAccordion Lessons for BeginnersThis is an introduction to accordion lessons for beginners. Two small accordions are being used, one by Yamaha with 25 keys and 12 bass. The other is by Hohner with 26 Keys 12.5"(32cm) Key to Key 3 Registers Bass: 48 Bass Buttons 0 Registers Weight: 12lbs / 5.5kg Features: Affordable entry level model. The song we're working on is Bella Notte from the Disney movie Lady and The Tramp. It's the song in the spaghetti scene with accordion and mandolin. We're calling these episodes "A Rough Guide to Music & Travels" with Darlene playing accordion and keyboard. Thank you for watching.
2023-01-2705 min
MusicBasics4KeyboardYamaha E463 - Wine TastingThis episode is about sweet wines from California, Germany and Italy. Available at most local wine stores. Want to learn more? Read my books about food and wine. Recommended: Live on Tape about world class winemakers, authors and wine tasting events. Available on Amazon.com. Darlene Dranda is a visual journalist and former wine columnist in northern New Jersey. She studied with the Society of Wine Educators and worked in wine retail until 2008 when she returned to her hometown in SE Ohio. She earned a B.S. degree in education from The King's College in upstate New York now lo...
2022-10-2301 min
MusicBasics4KeyboardNoontime at Nordstrom's for Piano PlayersToday I'm reflecting upon my past public performances as a vocalist and keyboard advisor for Jordan Kitt's in Annapolis after graduating from The King's College in 1992 formerly located in upstate New York (not the UK). Today, The King's College is located in lower Manhattan. Read all about it in my books From Piano to Puccini and Songbird at the Shopping Mall. Find them on Amazon and other online bookstores. Thanks for watching on Spotify and listening on Anchor.
2022-02-2402 minMusicBasics4KeyboardCheddar & Broccoli Quiche SuccessFor a perfectly cooked quiche and a pie crust that won't burn loosely cover the entire glass pie plate with foil during the cooking process. Set the oven at 325 degrees and cook the covered quiche for about 40 minutes. This dish was made with eight whole eggs and about 3/4 cup 2% milk. See You Soon by Otis McDonald from the YouTube Audio Library. Thank you for watching and/or listening.
2022-02-2102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMatzo Ball Soup for PassoverGreetings from my kitchen! Today, it's all about matzo ball soup for Passover and rugelach. Delicious to eat and fun to make, rugelach (pronounced rug-a-lah) are miniature crescent-rolled pastries posing as cookies. They're made by rolling a triangle of dough around a sweet filling of fruit, nuts, chocolate or pretty much anything your heart desires.
Medium-textured matzo meal is about the same texture as cornmeal. It is used for baking, as a coating for fried foods, to thicken, and to make matzo balls from. Some folks refer to matzo as the "bread of affliction" because it represents...
2022-02-1901 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMusic, Mastery & Itzhak PerlmanItzhak Perlman, (born August 31, 1945, Tel Aviv, Palestine [now Tel Aviv–Yafo, Israel]), Israeli-American violinist known for his brilliant virtuoso technique. His refinement of detail led many to regard him as one of the finest performers of the major violin repertoire of his time. Perlman was drawn to the violin after hearing it on the radio when he was three. His musical education was interrupted, however, when he contracted polio a year later (which left his legs with a permanent disability). After recovering, he showed great skill on the violin and later entered the Tel Aviv Academy of Music.
2022-02-1804 minMusicBasics4KeyboardThree Blind Mice for PianoThree Blind Mice is an English-language nursery rhyme written by Thomas Ravenscroft in 1609. The modern version of the song was first included in children’s literature much later, at the beginning of 19th century, and its lyrics are different than the original one. The farmer's wife refers to the queen who with her husband, King Philip of Spain, owned large estates.
QUESTION: Am I playing from memory or reading sheet music? Memory and with both hands. A real milestone this week.
2022-02-1701 minMusicBasics4KeyboardHappy Valentine's Day!Love expresses itself in many different ways. You hear a song. Suddenly a wave of emotion comes over you, remembering days, months (years if you're lucky) of love, desire and intimacy with someone in the past. This is one of those songs by Gordon Lightfoot. If You Could Read My Mind released in 1970. See the videos on YouTube. Source: Lyrics.com.
If you could read my mind love What a tale my thoughts could tell Just like an old time movie About a ghost from a wishing well In a castle dark or a fortress strong With...
2022-02-1401 minMusicBasics4KeyboardRent a Practice RoomRenting a practice room has many benefits. It provides a space to practice without distractions. Weekly rentals mean you may give advanced notice to reschedule without being charged. You will be asked to pay for "no shows". What is the policy about recording equipment? Is there an extra charge to bring a friend? Are the practice rooms sound proof? Thanks for stopping by.
2022-02-1202 minMusicBasics4KeyboardHow to Find a Music TeacherCall a music store for information. Are there teachers for hire and, if so, are they available to schedule new students? If so, make an appointment to meet with the teacher ASAP. Take a songbook(s) you're working in dear friends and be prepared to play one song. Consider this an audition. That's what it is. The teacher will advise you on the spot. Thanks for listening.
2022-02-0704 minMusicBasics4KeyboardFollow Your DreamsHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a 1967 American musical comedy film based on the 1961 stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book. The film was produced by United Artists and directed by David Swift, with original staging by Bob Fosse. Synopsis: J. Pierpont Finch (Robert Morse) is a lowly window cleaner with dreams of making it big in the business world. After finding a copy of the book "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Finch decides to apply the tactics in the book to his own life...
2022-02-0702 minMusicBasics4KeyboardSongbird at the Shopping Mall - that would be meWould you be interested in knowing more about my public performances as a vocalist/musician?? If you are, please check out Songbird at the Shopping Mall and From Piano to Puccini. I am the author of these coffee table books available on Amazon. Who is Bessie Smith? She was an American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues", she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. In this podcast, I reminisce about an evening with Bessie Smith on Broadway. Thank you for listening.
2022-02-0702 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMusic in Your Dreams?Do you dream (literally) about singing in public or playing a musical instrument? Do they motivate you? What do these dreams mean to you? This video contains questions about your dreams. Care to leave a comment? Would love to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by.
2022-02-0302 minMusicBasics4KeyboardThat's Amore Authorized for UseWe are complying with copyright laws and could not be happier. Sheet music for That's Amore was ordered today making me an authorized user. This song is available in 7-8 different keys (for a price). Check it out for yourself. Dean Martin sang this song in B flat major. That's two black keys, i.e. B & E flat keys. Tomorrow, tomorrow! Thanks for listening/watching on Spotify.
2022-02-0203 minMusicBasics4KeyboardDarlene's Playlist for 2022James Kimberley Corden OBE is an English actor, comedian, singer, writer, producer, and television host. In the United States, he is best known as the host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, a late-night talk show that has been on CBS since 2015.
Karaoke is a form of entertainment, offered typically by bars and clubs, in which people take turns to sing popular songs into a microphone over prerecorded backing tracks. Source: Wikipedia. What does karaoke literally mean? The word karaoke is derived from two Japanese words 'kara' comes from the word 'karappo' meaning empty or...
2022-02-0104 minMusicBasics4KeyboardThat's Amore for Piano in D MajorThis is about learning to play That's Amore from the movie soundtrack for MOONSTRUCK which stars Cher and Nicholas Cage. Cher plays a tax consultant who falls in love with a man who bakes bread for a living in NYC's Little Italy. Currently, this movie is FREE to watch on YouTube. Ultimately the lovers attend an opera at Lincoln Center which culminates in a hilarious twist in Cher's love life and her engagement to the brother of Nicholas Cage who's visiting their "dying mother" in Sicily. The name of the opera is La Boheme written by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924...
2022-01-3102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardThat's Amore for Valentine's DayOne of Dean Martin's most famous songs, "That's Amore" describes love the way they do it in the southern Italy town of Napoli ("Amore" is Italian for "Love"). Filled with passion, the singer compares the feeling to his favorite Italian foods: pizza and pasta fagiole. It's a quirky romantic song poking a bit of fun at Italian stereotypes, something Martin - born Dino Crocetti - had every right to do. The lyrics were written by Jack Brooks with music by Harry Warren. The song first appeared in the 1953 movie The Caddy, starring Martin and his comedy partner Jerry Lewis.
2022-01-3102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLove Songs for Valentine's DayLet's get started, music lovers! This is about learning to play That's Amore from the movie soundtrack for MOONSTRUCK which stars Cher and Nicholas Cage. Cher plays a tax consultant who falls in love with a man who bakes bread for a living in NYC's Little Italy. Currently, this movie is FREE to watch on YouTube. Ultimately the lovers attend an opera at Lincoln Center which culminates in a hilarious twist in Cher's love life and her engagement to the brother of Nicholas Cage who's visiting their "dying mother" in Sicily. The name of the opera is La Boheme...
2022-01-3103 minMusicBasics4KeyboardRudyard Kipling's Food 4ThoughtJoseph Rudyard Kipling (December 1865 - January 1936) was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book, Kim, and many short stories, including "The Man Who Would Be King". Kipling was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. Myra recites verses from his most famous poem "IF" and concludes with "The waves keep coming, Darlene." Darlene apologizes for the misspelling the word horizon in Myra's video quotation. Thanks for stopping by. CHEERS!
2022-01-3105 minMusicBasics4KeyboardKicking Back with Cat PawsAll work and no play makes me think about today. Is this about you, too? No time to smell the roses? They're on sale at local supermarkets. One dozen yellow stemmed roses for $12.99 at Kroger. They lasted nearly two weeks. Remember your sweetheart this Valentine's day with flowers and restaurant reservations. It's all about the love, la, la, la.
2022-01-3001 minMusicBasics4KeyboardPiano Music for the WoodchuckThought you might like to know more about the contents in this piano course. Lessons includes phrase and rhythmic development, musical terms, accidentals, bringing out the melody and so much more. It contains major scale patterns, right and left hand exercises, sight reading Brahms' Lullaby and a suggested recital piece. It's just about everything you hope to learn to play piano or electronic keyboard. This is one of many books by John W. Schaum regarding piano, theory and sight reading leading to "Mastery of the Instrument". Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-3004 minMusicBasics4KeyboardBoston Butt Pork Roast with Lager BeerBrown the pork butt in bacon fat. Cover and cook in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for four hours. Add vegetables two hours later. Cook another two hours; test with a meat thermometer for 170 degrees. It's not overdone or well done. The result is very juicy, tender and dark pink in the middle. Serve with potatoes and your favorite vegetables. This is comfort food meant for weekends with friends and family members who can linger and spend time watching sports in front of the TV like the Winter Olympics. Expect them to stay awhile. Stay safe; be well.
2022-01-2903 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMinestrone Soup with RotelleMade from scratch with vegetables on hand that include onions, peppers, celery, carrots, beef broth, minced garlic, salt, pasta and one can of Amy's Hearty Organic Rustic Italian Vegetable soup. Motivated by an interest in Mediterranean style dishes. Serve with garlic bread and/or left-over pot roast or any red meat. Cheers!
2022-01-2500 minMusicBasics4KeyboardStouffer's Signature Lasagna in NYCThis is about lasagna with rich meat sauce made from 100% pure beef, vine-ripened tomatoes, and freshly made pasta topped with real mozzarella cheese with a glass of Chianti. Pure heaven on a cold winter's day in January. Remember the garlic bread to make your kitchen smell like an Italian restaurant or if you're dining out in one. Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-2303 minMusicBasics4KeyboardJulia Child's Boeuf BourguignonLike coq au vin, its sister dish from the Burgundy region of France, beef Bourguignon is a stew of meat slowly simmered in hearty red wine along with pearl onions, mushrooms and crisp, cubed bacon. Use a good wine here, something simple but drinkable. It makes all the difference in the finished dish. As with all beef stews, this one is best made a day or two ahead; don’t sauté the mushrooms and onions until just before serving. This recipe is part of The New Essentials of French Cooking, a guide to definitive dishes every modern cook should mas...
2022-01-2201 minMusicBasics4KeyboardOde to Joy Chord WorkoutIt works! Four chords: C, F, G, and D major. Want to know more? Check the Keyboard Primer for Beginners by Lee Davis. This is another occasion over the years when someone who is a master of guitar helps someone (that would be me) who studies piano. Chord study was part of music theory in college. Ear training was about intervals. Put them all together and that's enough basic training to last a lifetime and make your dreams come true.
"Ode to Joy" is an ode written in the summer of 1785 by German poet...
2022-01-2102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardShould You Study Piano or Guitar?If you love chord progressions and the "sound" of chords without a melody - then learning to play backup guitar should be your instrument. Not talking about LEAD or classical guitar. As always, working with a teacher helps. If you have time to learn more than one instrument or you're a child prodigy, then it may be possible. If, however, your passion for music comes from listening to classical music, showtunes, singing in church or anywhere (watching THE VOICE, MASKED SINGER), keyboard and piano may be the logical choice. Don't own any musical instruments? Never give up! Rent them.
2022-01-2102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardFinal Performance for Lee DavisWhen it comes to learning to play a musical instrument, we should ask ourselves (occasionally) this question. What is holding us back from moving to the next level? Stage fright, really. No more. This is the final episode for music lessons in the Keyboard Primer book by Lee Davis. In the next episode, lessons will begin with John Thompson's Modern Course for Piano - Book No. 2. We'll also take a look at the easy-play songbook with Chopin waltzes. Thanks for stopping by. It's a new day for us, dear students. We're leaving our fears behind.
2022-01-2001 minMusicBasics4KeyboardWednesday Night Music Club SongbookWelcome Friends! What songbooks are you using to play piano/keyboard? How far along are you? Do you have a playlist or thinking about making one? For the past many months, I've recommended the Keyboard Primer by Lee Davis. After completing most every lesson today, the goal for 2022 is to work with new songbooks. Check the next episode for more information. Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-1901 minMusicBasics4KeyboardPiano Lessons Without Owning a PianoYou can learn to play piano even though you don't own one. What is needed is access to a practice room. There are practice rooms in colleges with music programs which may or may not be open to the public. Check it out. Learning to play in public is learned while playing piano in public. It's the best of all worlds as a music student to play (practice) with an audience nearby. One or two people do fine as your confidence builds.
This soundtrack is in the Microsoft Music Library. Composer: Johannes Beethoven, Op. 13, one of 32 sonatas...
2022-01-1804 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLook for Signs of ImprovementDaily practice and digital feedback will motivate you to new heights. What areas should you listen closely to? Melody, harmony, tempo and dynamics. Are you and the music bonding together in body and soul? Listen carefully to your videotaped sessions before posting to social media. Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-1801 minMusicBasics4KeyboardDigital Keyboards Designed for ChildrenThe Yamaha EW-310 76-key digital keyboard is on sale at Sam's Club for $249.00. You be the judge: learn to play on a toy instrument like this model or a keyboard with regular sized keys. Same for piano. Thanks for listening.
2022-01-1501 min2022-01-1503 minMusicBasics4KeyboardQuestions about Your Music TrainingAre you taking piano/keyboard lessons? What song books are you using? Are you happy with your progress? Are these podcasts helpful? Jingle Bells is what you head me play today.? How helpful are these podcasts? Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-1502 minMusicBasics4KeyboardShopping for Logitech MiceYou can never have enough mice! Returned to Staples today to upgrade the mice from M325 to Control Plus M510. What a difference a day makes, la, la, la. Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-1401 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMeat & Potatoes with Yvonne at Sam's ClubAlthough cars and trucks were lined up at the fuel pumps in numbers that seemed normal, there was a noticeable reduction of shoppers inside the store. However, my experience was excellent throughout and especially during checkout. Yvonne is a Rock Star when it comes to connecting with shoppers and doing her job with utmost skill and speed. I'm certain customer service by her and other employees at this local Sam's Club has a big influence on customer loyalty. Thank you for stopping by.
2022-01-1404 minMusicBasics4KeyboardWake up Little Susie; Time to Practice!By the time the Everly Brothers signed with Cadence Records in March 1957 (a deal midwifed by music publisher Wesley Rose of Acuff-Rose), they were singing teenage playlets crafted by songwriters Boudleaux and Felice Bryant overlaid with R&B rhythm patterns. They scored a string of hits, including “Bye, Bye Love,” “Wake Up, Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” “Bird Dog,” and others. They became Grand Ole Opry members on June 1, 1957.
In a sense, though, Don and Phil Everly were more important to Nashville. They were the first consistently successful rock & roll act to come from there. Their ma...
2022-01-1102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMusic for Tenor SaxophoneWhen you hear a song on the radio you'd like to play, what should you do? Play it and record it, yes? If you keep a music journal, make a new entry. Determine the key, i.e. major, minor, flat or sharp. Save your song electronically, with a camera or with pen and paper. When scales begin to sound more like playing "music", it's like a booster shot to your musical training and performance skills. Capeech? I hope so. Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-0905 minMusicBasics4KeyboardTime Out with the BobcatThe snow has stopped falling, blue skies are overhead and lots of sunshine. It's a perfect winter day to spend time with the domestic bobcat in the backyard. Got some great pictures, too. How's your day going? Thanks for stopping by.
2022-01-0801 minMusicBasics4KeyboardBread, Pasta & Arrabbiata sauceArrabbiata sauce, or sugo all'arrabbiata in Italian, is a spicy sauce for pasta made from garlic, tomatoes, and dried red chili peppers cooked in olive oil. The sauce originates from the Lazio region, and particularly from the city of Rome. What's the difference between marinara sauce and arrabiata sauce? While both sauces use tomatoes as a base, arrabiata sauce includes red chile peppers (in this case I'm using red pepper flakes) to make it spicy. Arrabiata is Italian for angry, meaning you're making angry (or spicy) sauce! Web Weaver's Dance by Asher Fulero from the YouTube audio library.
2022-01-0703 minMusicBasics4KeyboardVodka Romance Isle 14“Vodka adds depth to a sauce both by pulling out additional flavor and concentrating others without adding a flavor of its own," says Bart Saracino, co-owner of the Bartolino's Restaurants. It is made from a smooth tomato sauce, vodka, typical Italian herbs, and heavy cream (which gives the sauce its distinctive orange color). Thank you for watching and/or listening.
2022-01-0602 minMusicBasics4KeyboardI'd Rather Be SailingRick Steves is adamant about hiring guides he personally knows and trusts, and who share his love for Europe and passion for teaching. It's the biggest reason why more than one-third of our tour members are repeat customers. Here are some "raves" about just a few of the fine guides who lead our tours. THIS IS ABOUT FILIPPOS, one of the tour guides in Greece.
"As a part-time actor and director, Filippos is a wonderful storyteller. He makes history come to life, and he shares the present realities of Greek life with compassion and enthusiasm. He is...
2022-01-0401 minMusicBasics4KeyboardAngela Hewitt plays Bach's Cantata 147 Jesu, Joy of Man's DesiringBorn in 1958 into a musical family (the daughter of the Cathedral organist and choirmaster in Ottawa, Canada), Angela began her piano studies at age three, performed in public at four and a year later won her first scholarship. In her formative years, she also studied classical ballet, violin, and recorder. From 1963-73 she studied at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music with Earle Moss and Myrtle Guerrero, after which she completed her Bachelor of Music in Performance at the University of Ottawa in the class of French pianist Jean-Paul Sévilla, graduating at the age of 18. She was a pri...
2022-01-0404 minMusicBasics4KeyboardAdrian Brody as Chopin directed by Roman PolanskiDuring the filming of Roman Polanski's 1992 film about Chopin (The Pianist) Adrian Brody lost 30 lbs. If we try hard enough we could play an easy arrangement of this Waltz in A Minor and even lose a few pounds. Early and intermediate players need to play the base and treble clefs separately at the onset. Brody spent time away from the piano throughout the film in other scenes portraying this composer. Just saying.
2022-01-0404 minMusicBasics4KeyboardFine Wine & Stories from NYCThe video opens with a shopping trip in a find-it-yourself wine department. It continues with pictures of Julia Child, California winemakers, a Beard House wine dinner, tasting events in NYC and northern New Jersey where I wrote a monthly full-page wine column for local newspapers. Thanks for watching/listening.
2022-01-0303 minMusicBasics4KeyboardVegetables & Music by Franz Liszt"For, you see, my piano is to me as a ship is to a sailor, [...] my piano is me, it is my speech - my life. It is the intimate repository of all that went on in my mind during the most passionate days of my youth" Franz Liszt ( 1811-1886). (La Gazette musicale, 11 February 1838). Franz Liszt was a Hungarian pianist and composer of enormous influence and originality. He was renowned in Europe during the Romantic movement.
Liszt was born on October 22, 1811, in Raiding, Hungary. His father, Adam, played the cello, as well as several...
2022-01-0303 minMusicBasics4KeyboardInside a Music Store (music video)Music composed by Vivaldi: Concerto No. 3 in F Major, Op. 8, RV 293 - Autumn, allegro. Born on March 4, 1678. Died in Vienna in 1741. Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, impresario, and Roman Catholic priest. Born in Venice, the capital of the Venetian Republic, Vivaldi is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers. SOURCE: Wikipedia. Soundtrack recording by Musici & Felix Ayo (permission granted on my YouTube channel in a different video).
2022-01-0303 min
MusicBasics4KeyboardBase Clef Study/Ode to JoyHappy New Year!! Learning to sight read and play the left hand opens many new doors for students. No need to rush. This is not a speed test. Listen closely to each note as you play and pay close attention to fingering. Get a good night's sleep. Expect miracles the next day during practice and throughout the week. This is a great way for music students to begin 2022.
“Ode to Joy” was written by German poet/playwright Friedrich Schiller in the summer of 1785. The ideal he described, of hope and brotherhood triumphing, was exactly what...
2022-01-0209 minMusicBasics4KeyboardHappy New Year from Times Square, NYCCountdown, seven, six, five, four, three, two. ONE! Happy New Year 2022!!!!!!!
2022-01-0101 minMusicBasics4KeyboardHappy New Year! Baby Face in C MajorLet me know the name of the song you played tonight on your piano or keyboard. Happy New Year!!
2022-01-0101 minMusicBasics4KeyboardHappy New Year with Pam, Joshua & DominicaShelves are fully stocked at Sam's Club for major items. Joshua loaded four 52-lb. bags of cat litter on the cart for me and later walked me to my vehicle where he placed them in the trunk. It was his second day on the job as a new hire. Dominica walked me from the pet food isle back to the bakery for Tiramisu. Pam made my checkout experience one of best ever because of our shared interest in chicken salad sandwiches on croissants from the deli dept. Pam has worked at this Sam's Club for 13 years. Dominica started a...
2021-12-3103 minMusicBasics4KeyboardOur Staring Role for New Year's EveLet's take an inventory of our time spent learning new songs over these past few months. Practice time, sight reading, scales, chord studies and ear training all in preparation for tomorrow night. Today we check our closet for that perfect outfit. Hair, nails and makeup need our attention. Put a star on the practice room door. We are going to SHINE as we play and record one song before celebrating New Year's Eve. How do you plan to celebrate?
2021-12-3101 minMusicBasics4KeyboardBaby Face Chords for Piano“Baby Face,” written by Harry Akst and Benny Davis was first published in 1926 by Warner Bros. and Davis Benny Music. Dating back decades before the pop era, it went on to have a big part to play in the career of Little Richard, among others. Then it became a US chart entry on September 29, 1962, for the one and only Bobby Darin. Who knew?
2021-12-3002 min2021-12-3001 minMusicBasics4KeyboardIntervals and Major 7th ChordsThe triad can be defined as a chord made up of three tones (notes) called chord factors. They make up the diatonic scale. A D-major triad (aka chord) is made up of the notes D, F-sharp, and A. Add a major third above the major triad i.e., the root chord. The new note (the letter C) is the major seventh of the chord. It lies at the interval of a major seventh above the root.
What is an interval in music?
What is an Interval in Music? An interval in music is defined as a...
2021-12-3002 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMinor & Major 7th Chords - CorrectionA major 7th chord starts with the first five notes of the root chord. Thus: D, F#, A plus C. Use a chord guide for all other major and minor 7th chords. Baby Face is arranged in C Major with all major 7th chords and one A minor note near the end. This version contains no base clef. It's up to the player to fill in the base chords. It was a good lesson for us today about major and minor chords. It answers the question for some about which chords sound best for a particular song. Sometimes chords...
2021-12-2902 minMusicBasics4KeyboardFeeling Overwhelmed by ChordsTake a deep breath. Resort to earlier songs with sheet music or not. Do your best. Do not get tangled up in blue. Bob Dylan.
Standard tuning, capo 2nd fret (sounding key A major). Since Larry Campbell joined the band in 1997, Tangled has been played as an acoustic song, with Larry playing the intro below. Larry's guitar is played with a capo on the 2nd fret, Bob's guitar is uncapoed. The chords are more or less those of the Blood on the Tracks version above.
Just because a song happens to be played in the...
2021-12-2901 minMusicBasics4KeyboardRed Onion, Cheese & Broccoli OmeletAdrien Brody lost 30 lbs. during the making of The Pianist, a Roman Polanski film about the life of composer Frederic Chopin. Working long hours at anything may result in weight loss, not just learning to play classical music. Eat something!
2021-12-2801 minMusicBasics4KeyboardClassical Music & Scales ConnectionWhen you look closely at the three different forms for A Minor, one of them stands out. It's the melodic scale exercise. Looks a lot like the sheet music for the Waltz in A Minor by Frederic Chopin. Source: The FJH Classic Scale Book, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Introduction by Edwin McLean: "Why Practice Scales"?
2021-12-2802 minMusicBasics4Keyboard4 Days Until the Curtain Goes UpWe're on a roll dear listeners with just four days remaining before the ball drops on Friday, New Year's Eve in Times Square, NYC. That was the goal, was it not? One song. Music means commitment ... thanks for listening.
2021-12-2802 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMusic Teachers & Sight ReadingThe role of a teacher is to help motivate music students learn how to sight read among other things. Finding the right teacher is a different matter starting with disposition. Check future episodes. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-2802 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMusic Lessons Fashioned More Like RehearsalsA teacher who makes music sessions seem more like rehearsals will increase "public performance" skills more rapidly. At the very least, lessons should boost self-confidence as long as students practice on a regular basis and the money holds out. Music lessons for "one person" or two for at least one hour, once a week will produce faster results. The music teacher formulates the rate, schedule and style best suited for students. Two students attending the same session, pay the hourly rate set for one student. In my case, students paid $20 for a 90-minute or two-hour session. Time flies when...
2021-12-2703 minMusicBasics4KeyboardWill You Be Ready in Five Days?On your mark! Five days left to play one song on New Year's Eve before the ball drops in Times Square, NYC. What is the name of your song? Will you be ready?
2021-12-2703 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLet Passion Be Your GuideLike the main characters in the movie "Call of the Wild", it takes will power and belief you have what it takes to play a musical instrument. Your success depends on your self-confidence, commitment and passion. A dream to play piano and/or compose music requires all these things. Thanks for listening.
CALL OF THE WILD
Buck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life gets turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon in the 1890s. As the newest rookie o...
2021-12-2603 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLearning to Play Chopin Waltzes?How should we go about this? Take it one step at a time starting with the music and learning more about the man. Let's get started with a CD and watching "The Pianist" in 2002 produced by Roman Polanski starring Adrien Brody as Chopin. Soundtrack and sheet music from sheetmusic.plus available from the film. Songbook publisher: Hal Leonard: 9 pieces by Frederic Chopin.
The Story of Chopin in Words and Music - One Hour of Music with Narration - available on Amazon: An Introduction to the Classics priced at $11.83 for the audio CD (plus $4.00 delivery). One review goes...
2021-12-2603 minMusicBasics4KeyboardAre you a composer?Maybe not, but you could be a "struggling" composer of sorts, a place where many musicians find themselves from time to time. What's your story?
2021-12-2504 minMusicBasics4KeyboardChopin Waltz in A Minor for 2022Welcome to the music/media room in my home with a Norway spruce tree, domestic bobcat nearby, music by Chopin and apple pies. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and Happy New Year! Stay safe. Be Well. Thank you for watching/listening.
2021-12-2503 minMusicBasics4KeyboardOh, joy! Kawasaki Keyboard for ChristmasHere we are again playing a carol on a toy keyboard. First, it was Jingle Bell Rock at Sam's Club. Today, it's Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Merry Christmas!
2021-12-2402 minMusicBasics4KeyboardAlmost Merry Christmas in G MajorPlaying from memory, we awoke this morning with "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". The sheet music was nowhere to be found. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-2402 minMusicBasics4KeyboardCosmic Crisp Apple Pies for ChristmasMerry Christmas!! It's about fruit pies this year with Cosmic Crisp apples from Wenatchee, WA in the USA. Music by Kevin MacLeod from the YouTube Audio Library. Song Title: Laid Back Guitars. Thank you for watching on Spotify and listening here.
2021-12-2403 minMusicBasics4KeyboardFake it Til We Make ItTomorrow is the last day to practice five songs from our playlist of carols and hymns we plan to play on Christmas day. Chose 3-4 chords that work well with these songs and hope for the best. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-2302 minMusicBasics4KeyboardWednesday Night Music Club - ScalesPlaying scales will increase sight reading skills over time. Continue to practice without looking at the keyboard. That's it in a nutshell. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-2302 minMusicBasics4KeyboardCatnip Under the Christmas TreeGreetings! This is my first video on Spotify. Music by Aakash Gandhi in D-flat Major from the YouTube Audio Library. Song title: Borderless. The D-flat major scale has 5 flats.
This major scale key is on the Circle of 5ths - Db major on circle of 5ths, which means that it is a commonly used major scale key. This scale sounds the same as the C# major scale, which is also a commonly used scale. The same notes are played in the same order in each scale - they sound identical. Only the names of the individual notes...
2021-12-2202 minMusicBasics4KeyboardKeyboard Playlist for the New Year!So many songs, so little time. Make a list of your favorite song titles, dear friends. Then, find the sheet music. We're going to make this happen. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-2104 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLearning to Play ChordsThe definition of a chord in music is this: three or more single pitches heard simultaneously. Depending on the harmonic style, chords may be consonant, implying repose, or dissonant, implying subsequent resolution to and by another chord. In traditional Western harmony, chords are formed by superimpositions of intervals of a third. There are several different chord types, and each chord type has a particular sound. Chords are built off of one note, called the root note.
2021-12-2101 minMusicBasics4KeyboardThe Cruise Ship of our DreamsShare your love for that special someone today in person or by any other means possible. It's all about the love this holiday. Thank you for your time. Big hugs.
2021-12-1904 minMusicBasics4KeyboardSilent Night: Melody, Harmony & ChordsTune in for the next tutorial where we sight read, play harmonies with both hands and analyze chord progressions C, F, and G. Can't wait! Thank you for listening.
2021-12-1804 minMusicBasics4KeyboardChord Progressions for Silent Night by Franz GruberCan music be taught? According to one critic in an article for the Encyclopedia Britannica it can't. The article was written in response to a quote by Johannes Bach that music can be taught. Who is Franz Gruber?
Franz Xaver Gruber (25 November 1787 – 7 June 1863) was an Austrian primary school teacher, church organist and composer in the village of Arnsdorf, who is best known for composing the music to "Stille Nacht" ("Silent Night").
Rooted in the national folk tradition of Norway, Grieg’s music is noted for a refined lyrical sense. Between 1867 and 1901 he wrote ten collections of L...
2021-12-1804 minMusicBasics4KeyboardWe Three Kings of Orient AreThis song is one of ten songs in the Alfred's Basic Piano song book Level 1A. The title is Merry Christmas! Thanks for listening.
2021-12-1602 minMusicBasics4KeyboardGood King Wenceslas in C Major for BeginnersPatience and repetition are essential for learning to play a musical instrument. This song in C Major is on page 3 of Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Level 1A. Merry Christmas! Thanks for listening.
2021-12-1501 minMusicBasics4KeyboardTest your Playing Level in One Easy Play Song Book with Ten Familiar CarolsSuch a find! We learn treble and base clefs so we know how to read sheet music faster and easier. Locate this book to test your playing level TODAY if you're a beginner. Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Level 1A: Merry Christmas!
A clef is a musical-notation symbol at the beginning of a music staff. It indicates the pitch of the notes on the staff. Clefs were originally letters, identifying letter-named pitches, that were added to one or more of the staff's lines (thus providing a "key" to their identity). The treble clef is a tool musicians use...
2021-12-1502 minMusicBasics4KeyboardTwo Bad Habits Regarding Piano TechniqueThis is great advice from Jazer Lee to improve your piano/keyboard technique. No. 1 is practicing and playing too fast. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-1502 minMusicBasics4KeyboardGreat Advice by Jazer Lee RE: Scales"Every time you practice piano your brain transfers your knowledge and experience into long term memory." Sleep is critical. "Huge achievements are made up of small achievements along the way." Amen
2021-12-1502 minMusicBasics4KeyboardBad Habit No. 5 for Beginning PianoPlaying with both hands. Master each hand well before putting them together says Jazer Lee in today's YouTube video. Thank you for listening.
2021-12-1502 minMusicBasics4KeyboardMy '56 Chevy Gas HogDuring the 1960s, I drove a black, 8 cylinder, 4-door, standard transmission, gas hog with bench seats. Leaded gasoline was 30 cents a gallon at the time in the USA. Even though I lived just ten minutes from the office, I was late every morning. There was free parking on the street next to the building. Each morning I was greeted by the head of the accounting department. Her name was Martha. We worked quietly side by side throughout the day filing, answering phones and taking messages for salesmen. Those were the days. Fond memories.
2021-12-1503 minMusicBasics4KeyboardSight Reading Journal 2021-22Turn the dial up with more practice time on sight reading. Amaze yourself with a journal of your progress. O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam, a French composer of grand opera. Adolphe Charles Adam was a French composer, teacher and music critic. A prolific composer for the theatre, he is best known today for his ballets Giselle and Le corsaire, his operas Le postillon de Lonjumeau and Si j'étais roi and his Christmas carol "Minuit, chrétiens!". Born July 24, 1803, Paris, France—died May 3, 1856, Paris.
Giselle is a romantic ballet ("ballet-pantomime") in two acts with...
2021-12-1202 minMusicBasics4KeyboardChord Progressions 4You & MeUsing Chord I, V, VI and IV (1, 5, 6 and 4), you can create a thousand songs. Learn to play these 4 piano chords, mix them around and create your own piano chord progression. Source: Learn Piano with Jazer Lee. Published on June 16, 2001 - YouTube channel. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-1102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardOne Song to Play for New Year's EveChoose one song from your playlist to work on for New Year's Eve. One song using both hands without looking at the keys. We can do this. You're the best. Believe in yourself. Thank you for listening.
2021-12-1102 minMusicBasics4KeyboardEntertaining Shoppers at Sam's ClubHappy holidays! Time to test your performance skills. Go to any store (big box) that sells keyboards. Walk right up, sit right down and play one E-Z play song from memory for 2-3 minutes. That's it. Do it. Thank you for listening.
2021-12-1100 min2021-12-1004 minMusicBasics4KeyboardListen and Play Broken ChordsWho is Jazer Lee? Learn more as he plays the Bach Prelude in C Major. "I’m here to help you accelerate your piano learning through a fun and practical approach, no fluff. I love creating Youtube videos and writing blogs to help fellow pianists around the world improve their craft. I went to a conservatory to study classical piano and also have my Associate and Licentiate diplomas. I hope I can be helpful to you through my blogs or YT videos."
Are you wanting to play classical pieces but don't know where to st...
2021-12-0904 minMusicBasics4KeyboardWhat is a Broken Chord?A broken chord is a chord broken into a sequence of notes. A broken chord may repeat some of the notes from the chord and span one or more octaves. An arpeggio (Italian: [arˈpeddʒo]) is a type of broken chord, in which the notes that compose a chord are played or sung in a rising or descending order. Source: Wikipedia. Thank you for listening.
2021-12-0902 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLearn to Play Chords & Practice TipsKeep a journal of songs you'd like to learn to play. 1 day ago (edited)
SeaDrive300
Hey Jazer, those are some great tips; thanks! I have to disagree with you on part of your Tip #3. I don't think the money aspect of it is the least bit motivational for me. If I'm not in the mood to practice, the fact that it's costing me money is not going to change my mood, and I see that money as having already been spent (literally, since my school charges my credit card at the beginning of the month...
2021-12-0904 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLearn to Play Chords for E-Z Play Piano by ChristmasIn the back of each Hal Leonard E-Z Play Today song book is a chord speller chart. Refer to this chart for help playing each song. Music arrangements are shown here in their most commonly used chord positions. Thanks for listening.
2021-12-0801 minMusicBasics4KeyboardJingle Bell Rock in D Major"Jingle Bell Rock" is an American popular Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas season since then. "Jingle Bell Rock" was composed by Joseph Carleton Beal (1900–1967) and James Ross Boothe (1917–1976), although both Helms and session guitarist on the song Hank Garland disputed this (see Authorship controversy section below). Beal was a Massachusetts-born public relations professional and longtime resident of South Ocean Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Boothe was an American writer in the advertising business. Source: Wikipedia. Thank you for listening.
2021-12-0801 minMusicBasics4KeyboardTrue Love is a Many Splendid ThingThis is about a class offering for marriage enrichment offered by a local church. It's about true love and finding a spark to light up our lives. Debby Boone. Debby Boone knows she's had a remarkable life being a part of Hollywood royalty. The singer, best known for her hit song “You Light Up My Life,” is the daughter of singer Pat Boone and has been married to Gabriel Ferrer, the son of Rosemary Clooney, since 1979.
You Light Up My Life
Debby Boone
So many nights I'd sit by my wind...
2021-12-0802 minMusicBasics4KeyboardLearning to Play Church MusicThis episode is about learning to play church music and large print sheet music. Thank you for listening.
2021-12-0804 minMusicBasics4KeyboardOmicron Blues in G Major w/VocalsThis is a sing along to America the Beautiful. Melody by Samuel A. Ward. Lyrics by Darlene, podcaster. "Don't Bring Me Down" by the Electric Light Orchestra was already taken. The Omicron variant is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The variant was first reported to the World Health Organization from South Africa on 24 November 2021.
ODE TO OMICRON
Dear Omicron, you make us groan from sea to shining sea.
We know you're there, and yes we care
In each and every way.
2021-12-0201 min
MusicBasics4KeyboardBacon Burgers with MushroomsThis is today's recipe from Darlene looking to kick things up a notch with portabella sliced mushroom caps with your favorite burgers. Thanks for listening.
2021-09-0701 min