CHAT

Tuesday, August 30

Grand piano used in stand-up comedy requires piano player to... play standing up!


Stand up Washington comic singer songwriter
Mark Russell in 1976 is still working his club today!


I used to watch Mark Russel whenever I could, on channel 8, PBS, while growing up through the 1970's. I caught him off and on through the 80's and 90's and apparently, according to an acquaintance of his I met at my piano-dinner restaurant, he's still doing his gig! I saw Mark Russel on a TV interview about 5 years ago but never actually used youtube to look him up until today. This is an excellent use of the piano and constitutes the "etc." part of PianoLessonsEtc.com.

Friday, August 19

Scott Houston (Piano Guy) parody of his appearance on American Idol is funny.



If you're a piano student, you'll enjoy the humor in the video. Actually, Scott Houston's program isn't too bad. He doesn't talk about roman numberal chords as the heart of things and he dumbs things down a bit too much for my taste-- but his online free material is worth looking at. I don't think it would be a waste of money to actually buy his course, although I don't personally konw anyone who has. For PIANO LESSONS from me, email me at rick_potvin@yahoo.com. Click on the Piano Lesson link on the header of this page for more on my approach.

[Further discussion of Scott Houston's Online Piano Course]