August 19th, 2010 by DanStarr
“High-Tech” Keyboards Help Make More Music Musicians
The piano is a wonderful tool. A big reason is that pianists can make full and complete music without other musicians. Band and orchestra instruments require other people. Thus, after school is over many musicians find it hard to be satisfied playing their trumpets, violas, or french horns alone. The piano has also allowed the geniuses of music it to write our classics – music which is known and loved the world over. For these, and many other reasons, the piano has come to be our society’s instrument of class and choice.
Unfortunately, too many pianists seem to have “copped an attitude” about any technological change in pianos – even though such changes are improving the world of piano instruction. This essay explores this topic. Read the rest of this entry »
August 6th, 2010 by DanStarr
For a few, actually playing keyboard and piano beats simply listening
I have been thinking a lot lately about the differences between two types of musical joy- the joy of consuming music as a listener and the joy of making music as a piano or keyboard student.
As our technology improves, it becomes easier and easier to simply be a consumer of music rather than a producer. Now we all love to listen to music, and where would any producer be without a consumer? However, some few folks want to take things further and actually make the music themselves. Naturally, I believe playing keyboard or piano beats other instruments but that’s my bias. Read the rest of this entry »
July 21st, 2010 by DanStarr
Some of my piano arrangement to a treasure of classical music
This is not the entire piece but should serve piano students and pianists with some easy to learn piano music in the classical genre. I recorded the full version on my CD “Passage to Home” available here (at cdbaby.com.) For download of only this music at itunes.com, go here.
“Finlandia” Sibelius/Starr
July 9th, 2010 by Dan Starr
In this episode of the Planet Piano podcast, Dan and Jay pick up from where they left off in Show 11 talking about songwriting, it’s structure and format plus the finer points …and whatever else crosses their minds.
Show 12 - Songwriting pt 2 [24:56m]:
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July 7th, 2010 by DanStarr
Why you might consider a keyboard instead of a piano
I’ve written extensively (see the other essays in this category: Keyboards) about why electronic instruments may provide the amateur pianist or piano student with an better instrument for learning. Of course, I am fully aware of the current resistance to this idea. I reject it, for reasons I will present in this essay. Read the rest of this entry »
July 1st, 2010 by Dan Starr
Featured on the Planet Piano podcast, Part 1 of a 2 part series were Dan and Jay discuss songwriting; it’s structure and format plus the finer points. And, as usual, wander off onto different topics entirely.
Show 11 - Songwriting pt 1 [48:29m]:
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July 1st, 2010 by DanStarr
Music study helps people of all ages
By Nancee Marin
Extensive research has shown that music study helps people of all ages gain overall life skills and promotes increased well-being (visit http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/benefits.html for further details).
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June 28th, 2010 by DanStarr
These famous piano exercises can improve your playing – or not!
Charles Louis Hanon wrote the world’s most famous piano exercises. Unfortunately, his directions are, I believe, mostly intended to sell those exercises to a public obsessed with technique instead of good piano playing. I searched for and found ways the piano student can avoid the pitfalls and get as much improvement as possible. Here is what I discovered. Read the rest of this entry »
June 24th, 2010 by Dan Starr
Jay and Dan discuss the finer points of teaching kids vs. teaching adult piano students, Jay introduces his new blog, www.potbellystudios.com, and an update on recent efforts to clean up the subscriber list.
Show Notes:
PotbellyStudios.com The Home Recording Blog
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Show 10 - Kids vs. Adults [34:33m]:
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June 24th, 2010 by Dan Starr
I just wanted to let everyone know that we’ve been making some changes to our podcast settings. It seems that there were problems with the previous settings and folks were having trouble getting older shows.
That being said, I think we’ve fixed the problem. But, in order to fix it we had to create a new feed to send our podcasts to iTunes.
If you’re not receiving the latest podcasts or iTunes is showing you a broken link, you may still be on the old podcast link. Please subscribe to the new link below… Thanks!
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