Monk’s Wrong Notes #26
This is one of my favourites. From Everything Happens to Me:
Download the Mp3 here: Everything Happens to Me #5
Listen to it here:
Monk’s Wrong Notes #25
The notes here aren’t wrong, but the phrasing is!
From Everything Happens to Me:
Download the Mp3 here: Everything Happens to Me #4
Listen to it here:
Monk’s Wrong Notes #24
The notes here aren’t wrong, but the phrasing is!
From Everything Happens to Me:
Download the Mp3 here: Everything Happens to Me #3
Listen to it here:
Two Pieces of Music I WON’T Learn
Usually, when a piece of music moves me, I’m inclined to study it to death.
Occasionally though, I come across some amazing pieces of music that I deliberately won’t study. I’m afraid that doing so would upset the novelty; familiarizing myself with its intricacies would take away some of the magic.
Can you relate? How so?
For me, two pieces of music come to mind:
First, Bach’s Fugue in C# minor from Well-Tempered Clavier Volume 1. This piece makes my blood boil (in a good way!). Here’s Glenn Gould playing both the prelude and fugue – the fugue starts at 2:40:
(Can’t see the video? Click here)
Second is John Adam’s Phrygian Gates. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I know; I’ve never heard anything quite like it. It’s also a monster; pianists beware!
Monk’s Wrong Notes #23
From Everything Happens to Me:
Download the Mp3 here: Everything Happens to Me #2
Listen to it here:
Monk’s Wrong Notes #22
From Everything Happens to Me:
Download the Mp3 here: Everything Happens to Me #1
Listen to it here:
Monk’s Wrong Notes #21
From Blue Monk:
Download the Mp3 here: Blue Monk
Listen to it here:
Monk’s Wrong Notes #20
From Monk’s Point:
Download the Mp3 here: Monk’s Point #1
Listen to it here:
Monk’s Wrong Notes #19
From North of the Sunset:
ownload the Mp3 here: North of the Sunset #2
Listen to it here:
Achieving Hand Independence – More Patterns (Part 4/4)
In the previous posts, I laid a foundation for practicing hand independence. The exercises I gave were fairly basic, though they’re crucial to understanding the learning process. Each new, consecutive pattern is derived in some way from a previous pattern, but made slightly more difficult. This way, I’m always maintaining an optimal level of difficulty.
The exercises thus far used only a basic Charleston figure in the left-hand. Depending on your skill level, you may have thought the initial exercises were too easy. However, if you were practicing a different, more difficult left-hand pattern, those initial exercises would be very helpful!
Here are a few examples of left-hand patterns that demonstrate different styles and concepts. With all the exercises mentioned in previous posts, learning and mastering these patterns should be just a matter of time and practice!
Scott Joplin, Maple Leaf Rag:
Keith Jarrett, What is This Thing Called Love?
Keith Jarrett, Improvisation:
(Can’t see the video? Click here)
Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Point:
Egberto Gismonti, Palhaço:
Egberto Gismonti, Loro:
Bud Powell, Un Poco Loco:
Oscar Peterson, Boogie Blues Etude:
Doug Riley, Peace Dance:
Doug Riley, Jump for Joy:
Dave McKenna, Yardbird Suite:
John Taylor, Clapperclowe:
Fred Hersch, Songs Without Words: Aria
You can put almost anything in your left-hand, as long as you practice!
Here’s one more idea: swap hands! Play the Charleston figure, or some other pattern with your right hand, and work towards improvising with your left. The same principles apply; have fun!
- General Advice (Part 1/4)
- The Foundation (Part 2/4)
- Increasing Complexity (Part 3/4)
- More Patterns (Part 4/4)
