Bojan, our drummer in Roaring Lions, is learning this. He asked me to help him with the left hand. He has a lot of the right hand down already. We do the lesson over Zoom. It’s good to learn ❤️
Videos
Arabesque No.1 for Abi
A while back my student Abi wanted to learn Arabesque No.1 by Debussy. Inwardly I groaned at the thought of the work, but once I started I just loved it.
I’ve been waiting to play it well enough to video. Hey, I’m not a perfectionist – if I waited until it was perfect, this would never happen. I’m about taking the opportunity to do happy things.
I’m playing this at about 80% the speed it’s supposed to be played. It’s still beautiful, and definitely makes me happy.
What’s next? I think it will be anime music. Students are learning ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, and ‘Bluebird’ (Naruto Shippuden) so I’m learning both. ‘Bluebird’ is easier, both are great songs. Elsewhere a couple of kids are learning ‘Megalovania’ which is a crazy piece! My students keep me on my toes for sure. 😊
A Chopin nocturne for a friend
Recently, Roaring Lion’s new drummer Bojan said he loves Chopin nocturnes. So when I was between students, I played Nocturne in E flat for him.
This Guy’s In Love With You piano cover
What The World Needs Now piano cover
Medley: Bachianinha, 2 chord vamp, Arabesque No.1
On the grand piano at The Kooralbyn Valley golf resort.
Piano Man – taking the panel off my Beale
I removed the front panel of my Beale piano! I thought it would be fun to see all those moving hammers. Some of my students don’t know what’s inside an old-fashioned piano, so I played a short version of Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’, the quintessential pub piano bar song, for my kids.
Here are a few posts about my old Beale, which was made in Australia, in 1951.
Monsters of Melodica World Session IV – Watermelon Man
Monsters Of Melodica are – as you would expect – a band of melodica players. They’re based in Los Angeles, California. They invite melodica players from around the world to jam with them.
This is World Session IV, Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man. Their special guest Melodica player is Latin Jazz/Salsa Artist Kiki Sanchez. I made it into the backing band. What an honour!
Kiki Sanchez is a Peruvian jazz pianist. Hear his beautiful rendition of Stella By Starlight on melodica, and here are the Monsters on Facebook. I came across them a few years ago. The internet is wonderful.