Route 66 American history embedded in this tune.

[My version played at Golden Buddha, April 2012] No vocals on this one. Includes bass on left hand and original instrumental solo part.

Piano lessons is a bit of strange idea when teaching piano since we're not really involved in the piano as much as, in this case, American history. The story of the highway that stretched from New York to LA is forever preserved in the song made famous by Nat King Cole, Route 66. [Wikipedia article] Here's Nat King Cole's 1946 version with pictures of the old route today.



I find that singing along helps learn to play it on the piano-- that multi sensory exercise obviously has an impact on memory and enjoyment. That's why I encourage students of all ages to sing the song to learn it. Play it again and sing along as follows. You'll notice the chords are embedded below. We'll consider that next, in the discussion.


Intro: F-F-F-F...etc



F A# F
If you ever plan to motor west
A# F
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66

F A# F
It winds from Chicago to L.A.
A# F
More than 2000 miles all the way
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66



BRIDGE:
G (then no chord)
Now you go through St. Louie
A# (n.A#.)
Joplin, Missori
F
Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty
A#
You'll see Amarillo
F
Gallop, New Mexico
C A#
Flagstaff, Arizona (Don't forget Winona)
F C
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino


F A# F
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
A# F
When you take that California trip
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66.


Solo-

Just solo on the Blues and Pentatonic scales in the Key of G.
(I may tab it out later)

BRIDGE:
G (then no chord)
Now you go through St. Louie
A# (n.A#.)
Joplin, Missori
F
Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty
A#
You'll see Amarillo
F
Gallop, New Mexico
C A#
Flagstaff, Arizona (Don't forget Winona)
F C
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino


F A# F
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
A# F
When you take that California trip
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66.
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66.
C A# F
Get your kicks on Route 66.

Continue with a solo on the high notes in the key of G. then end on a G5 chord.

Enjoy ^_^
Can't play "Route 66"? Improve your playing via easy step-by-step video lessons!

[Discussion and updates] We'll look at the roman numeral chords and various piano versions.

Piano sound track for cartoon is delightful.

As I widen out what we do here for online piano lessons under the "etcetera" portion of the program, I'll likely include "name that tune" excercises as well as ideas about how to apply your piano lesson knowledge to the real world. In this following video, we see a demonstration of both. The piano track is a suitable and delightful background for a cartoon. I would ask you the student to name the tune that the backtrack is based on. I'll answer my own question in a week and prove it. Enjoy today's "lesson"!

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head played by Oliver Lallement.

There is some garden party noise in the background on this next track but it's not too bad and Oliver's playing of this tune is better than most uploads. I wish he would have played through it a few more times as well. You can use the lyrics below this video to sing along. Then I'll look at the actual harmonic progression which I view as the really interesting part of any music and is the basis for how I like to teach piano lessons-- by harmonic progression.





Intro: F-C-Bb-C

F Fmaj7
Raindrops keep falling on my head
F7 Bb Am
and just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed,
D7 Am D7 Gm7
nothing seems to fit, Those raindrops are fallin' on my head they keep fallin'

C7 F Fmaj7
So I just did me some talkin' to the sun,
F7 Bb Am
and I said I didn't like the way he got things done
D7 Am D7 Gm7
Sleepin' on the job, Those raindrops are fallin' on my head they keep fallin'

C7 F Fmaj7
But there's one thing I know,
Bb C Am
the blues they send to meet me, won't defeat me
D7 Gm7 Bb C Bb C
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

F Fmaj7
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head,
F7 Bb Am
but that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red,
D7 Am D7 Gm7
Cryin's not for me, cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
C7 F C7
because I'm free, nothings worryin' me

(instrumental) F-Fmaj7-Bb-C-Am

D7 Gm7 Bb C Bb C
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

(Repeat last verse)

Harmonic progression

I - IM7 - I7
IV- iii - VI - iii
VI- ii -V

I - IM7 -IV -V -iii
VI 7 - ii7 - IV - V - IV - V

If you learn how this harmonic progression sounds and feels in several keys, you'll go very long way to understanding this song and how it was designed. To get a look at how others are doing harmonic progression lessons on the internet, take a look at the following.

[R. Scott]

[Google search]

My final comment for now: You do not have to play well to appreciate what I mean by harmonic progression. It's simply a matter of starting with the chords and chord changes FIRST rather than simply the notes. Most piano lessons, to my way of thinking, are backwards. By listening to complete song FIRST and playing ONLY the chords, you can then lay that foundation of "hearing" what's going on so that by the time you learn the notes, you already understand what you're trying to achieve.

[Further discussion]

Rick Potvin plays piano at Golden Buddha restaurant.

Visit Golden Buddha Restaurant in Phoenix 5-9 pm nightly on 44th St. S. of 202 for great food and piano entertainment by Rick Potvin and Dorothy Motto.

Don't Get Around Much Anymore played by PMat1000

One is the Lonliest Number

discussion]

Harmonic analysis of the C Major scale.

Alan Dale

[Alan Dale

Five Foot Two played by Alan Dale

Tea for Two played by Art Tatum

Fly me to the Moon

Moondance (VanMorrison) played by WillMason

New York, New York

Send "New York, New York" Ringtone to your Cell

New york, new york

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it - new york, new york
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it - new york,
new york

I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleep
And find I’m king of the hill - top of the heap

These little town blues, are melting away
I’ll make a brand new start of it - in old new
york
If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere
It’s up to you - new york, new york

New york, new york
I want to wake up in a city, that never sleeps
And find I’m a number one top of the list, king
of the hill
A number one

These little town blues, are melting away
I’m gonna make a brand new start of it - in old
new york
And if I can make it there, I’m gonna make it
anywhere

It up to you - new york new york

New york

Rhapsody in Blue

As Time Goes By

[This day and age we're living in
Gives cause for apprehension
With speed and new invention
And things like fourth dimension.
Yet we get a trifle weary
With Mr. Einstein's theory.
So we must get down to earth at times
Relax relieve the tension

And no matter what the progress
Or what may yet be proved
The simple facts of life are such
They cannot be removed.]

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date.
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.

Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

[Discussion]

Moon River

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.

My One and Only Love

The Summer Knows

Bumble Boogie piano solo

Maple Leaf Rag

Tears in Heaven

Hotel California.

Send "Hotel California" Ringtone to your Cell

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself,
�this could be heaven or this could be hell�
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say...

Welcome to the hotel california
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the hotel california
Any time of year, you can find it here

Her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget

So I called up the captain,
�please bring me my wine�
He said, �we haven�t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine�
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say...

Welcome to the hotel california
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
They livin� it up at the hotel california
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis

Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice
And she said �we are all just prisoners here, of our own device�
And in the master�s chambers,
They gathered for the feast
The stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can�t kill the beast

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
�relax,� said the night man,
We are programmed to receive.
You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!

David Osborne's official channel

[Homepage]

Looks like Osborne has covered a lot of ground. He works at the Bellagio in Vegas. [+]

[Petrossian Lounge at Bellagio]

[+] Live youtube clip at Bellagio with David Osborne playing.

[Autumn Leaves] Note the descending chromatic run in single notes while the left hand plays the melody.

Apologize-- played by David Osborne

[Lesson Notes]

Imagine, by John Lennon

Colour My World by Chicago, 1970s

Here's David Osborne again in a really good rendition for piano solo.

Can't take My Eyes Off of You

What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? - played by Jflore

Wind Beneath My Wings - played by Jflore

Up Where We Belong - played by Jflore

Beauty and the Beast - played by JFlore

Memories - made famous by Streisand - played by JFlore

Phantom of the Opera - Music of the Night

Your Song - composed by Elton John 1970s - played by JFlore

Cry Me a River - played by JFlore

I Dreamed a Dream - from Les Miserables. - played by JFlore

Time After Time - Cindy Lauper - 2000s?

An Affair to Remember - composed by Harry Warren - 1930s

When You Say Nothing At All

After the Lovin - Englebert

St. Elmo's Fire Theme - from the movie St. Elmo's Fire

The Moon Represents My Heart - made famous by Theresa Tang

I Left My Heart in San Franscisto - Played by Allan Dale

Saturday's Alright for Fighting - Elton John

Spyrogyra piano sheet music on my radar screen-- follow me out on this.

The original Spyrogyra tunes were never meant for the piano and their richly textured sounds and complex harmony are probably impossible to replicate on piano-- however they can be played in outline form. That's what I'll explore in this thread.

Spyrogyra sheet music google search [+]

Here's a piano ensemble rendition-- not exactly piano but it shows the player's hands moving on the straight forward chords... -- which proves it's definitely playalble.

Evergreen, made famous by Barbara Streisand.

Beatles "In My Life"

Fire and Rain (James Taylor)

Skating from George Winston used by Guaraldi-- piano only

PianoDJ Use - applause at the end ruins this recording so I'll be looking for a clean copy.

Linus and Lucy piano cover for restaurants.

I'm thinking about a service that can be provided to restaurants like the one I play at that allows the manager to simply create a playlist of tunes by various piano players of various songs that they can then simply choose. It's all piano with no other instruments. First on the list is Linus and Lucy.

Our House, by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

PIano stand up comedy.

Not a bad schtick but I think there is a lot better. Still, start somewhere. Interesting.

PIano Tech/tuner sells a piano... $1300 Spinet.. on Youtube.

The sound that comes across on this youtube video is actually really good. The technician/tuner selling it plays good too. This is a good sales method that I had never really thought of. Many piano stores put up websites but have never featured the tech/tuner who worked on it not to mention demonstrated it... along with a firm price. This is great.



Learning how to buy a piano and what is involved in maintenance should be part of a series of piano lessons... as I'm now including.

Linus and Lucy *Charlie Brown theme-- most popular thing I play.

Every nite at Golden Buddah, I have to play Linus and Lucy because it's the most requested song of all time that I've had. Everyone seems to know it. How is that possible? I'm not sure. Here it is...

Heartaches by the Number played by Allan Dale.

I first found Allan Dale piano playing videos almost 10 years ago but my internet speed wasn't really good enough to enjoy them until recently. He's got a traditional old fashioned style and it's really worthwhile to watch how he does it. Here's Heartaches by the Number.



[Discussion]

Voicings- an elementary explanation.

II-V-I in several keys-- pretty good explanation.

There is an incredible amount of youtube video online on how to think about playing piano. I'm going to take the approach in this blog of just sampling the material I think has merit and value and post it here. Later I'll assemble it in logical order for an actual student. This will comprise the free part of my lessons of course since it's online, free and I don't have a way to charge for it. I will charge for my one on one time however currently at 25 an hour at my place or 35 an hour in Phoenix and greater Phoenix if that can be set up. Otherwise, my advice and online consulation here are free. With that said, try this video on II V I. Even if you're not sure how to do it or what the author talking about it, survey it anyway.

Today, let's look at McArthur Park.

Piano sol [+]

This is almost 8 minutes long. There are various sections to it. It starts out in a minor chord and has unique chords. Then it changes to a major mode. "Someone left the cake out in the rain" comes fairly soon in the song. Sit back and listen to it first. This is a PIANO LESSON-- believe it or not. I don't see any point in playing pieces on the piano that you have never heard.... not with the EDUCATIONAL internet the way it is evolving now. That is (Etc.) if the world doesn't go in to World War III mode.



[DISCUSSION] Learn about the chord changes and how to put this together on piano the way I'm doing it.

Midnight Sun

Blue Bossa best known as a Joe Pass song I think

Hornsby, The Way It Is

Mozart's 12 variations on Twinkle Little Star.

Here's a great way for eight year olds to "survey" piano music: Youtube audio with music you can follow-- or least have fun trying to follow-- as you're listening. There is a great deal of value in "watching" the notes on the page even if you don't quite understand exactly where you are at any one point. Training the mind to see what the music "looks like" while hearing it must accelerate the learning process... so without further explanation... enjoy!



Email me at rick_potvin@yahoo.com with comments or questions.

There is a lot a child interested in playing piano can do before finding a piano teacher. There is so much to listen to BEFORE playing. I think the key is careful selection of particular piano pieces or piano interpretation of particular songs. Maybe a site like this could be created for a child's guidance in pre-selected assigned listening and watching via youtube. I'll have more ideas on this in the morning. --rick

Next: Oh Suzanna (American folk music) [+]


My Latest Thoughts on Children Piano Lessons at a distance

I spent some time this morning surfing the net looking for ideas on what it means to "take piano lessons" in this new Age of the Internet. I began by looking at piano teachers in L.A.

"los angeles" "piano lessons" - Google Search
+

Piano lessons in Los Angeles with Bruce Siegel
+

Norman Henry Mamey | Los Angeles Conductor, Composer, Los Angeles Piano Instructor
+

You'll notice that the randomly selected links of the two teachers above have nice web sites but for me, these types of piano studios don't "work" in the sense they don't "grab me" and "draw me in". The second teacher, Mamey, uses a Youtube introduction-- which is good, but the song is unrecognizable. This is a big mistake. I think even children should consider tunes that are already in the American music literature-- right off the bat.

If you looked at Mamey's website, he plays a piano piece that sounds a bit to me like the Pink Panther theme. Now there's something an 8 year old could have fun with. I think a "piano lesson" should always start with a "piano performance" or at least a music presentation... which Youtube make possible locally or at a distance. I don't think that there is any subsitute anymore for listening and watching a piece of music performed on youtube, for any piano student. I think that's the crux of my conclusion this morning.

I'm going to go further than that, however, in building my latest idea on piano lessons for children, locally or at a distance, whether the child is in LA in school or at home or at the South Pole. The "big idea" that I would pass on to you this morning is this: (I get my big ideas in the morning now): A PIANO TEACHER MUST USE YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS and FAMOUS SONGS.

That's it in a nutshell. I'll explain this further later, but right now, I'm going to compile a Youtube playlist suitable for an 8 year old child piano student in L.A., from Phoenix based on Pink Panther Theme. It will be educational for the child than anything a local in person piano teacher can possibly deliver even for a lot of money. My method-- involves psychological aspects of "group identity" (of children and piano), of "monkey see monkey do" imitation (proven) and of "aspiration" (professionals are seen performing).

I'll try to get this done by around 9 am Tues... today. Thank you for your attention-- it brought some focus to my piano website again which I've been pretty neglectful of-- not having inspiration as to how to proceed. It's difficult to create a good piano lesson online experience but I'm confident that there is a way that can revolutionize all teaching. It's a matter of directing and steering attention.

8:45--- and here it is~ a youtube playlist probably about 1/2 hr. in length-- featuring various ways to consider the Pink Panther Theme. It's suitable for listening to in the background or for focused attention. And its fun. It imprints the student, no matter what age, and even the professional player like me, with elements of the song needed for playing it on piano. Orchestral versions are useful that way too.

[+]

After you've listened to the playlist of about 10 videos of 3 minutes each, you can download sheet music from many sites. [+] Easier more elementary versions exist online but I'll leave todays' session for now. See you around! --Rick

Chico Marx stylings on Youtube Playlist-- Assignment!!!

I've been meaning to solidify my ability to teach piano lessons on the web but it's a big row to hoe. Too many problems both in terms of business enterprise and customer psychology, not to mention technical problems, prevent this from becoming a reality. Rather than shelve the idea, however, I'll "stumble forward" with whatever occurs to me from one week to the next and I'll try to get a grip on it. For today, for example, I direct piano students to this rather excellent Youtube playlist of the piano styling of Chico Marx of the Marx Brothers comedy troupe in early American film. This entry will be found at my PianoLessonsEtc.com as well.



[Tutorial]

Electric piano at Angel's in Santa Monica.

Here's a live scene on youtube video clip - just 5 minutes - demonstrating a soft electric piano sound in the background that has a nice peculiar sound. I found Angles on a search on Twitter under keyword piano. [+] Teachers, piano retailers and bands are using twitter to update their customers and fans. I only signed onto twitter today so I'm behind the curve on this. It's actually potentially useful.

Blue Bossa

I'll be working on this song for the next few days. There was a request for it at Golden Buddha last nite and I didn't know it-- looked it up and realized I had heard it many times but didn't know its name.

We'll take a look at the chords on this over coming days.

Visual patterns with Claire de Lune are cool.

Wow, check this out.

Playlist possibility is new for me.

[Start playlist of 8 songs required for piano lessons]
Here's a short playlist of 3 songs related to the program we teach. It's the first time I've posted a playlist to a blogger blog. I'll post this to see if it works.

Online free piano course.

[Online free course]

Melancholy Baby is a piano standard a club/restaurant player should know.

Listen to this version of Melancholy Baby by Streisand in 1963. I'm not totally happy with it but it's a start.

By the way, I'm thinking of including lessons for club players in this blog.

Wikifonia best source for lead sheet music.

Source [+] Fantastic!

Good morning piano students. This morning I found a great source of lead sheet music. The site operates the same way as Wikipedia with contributions and edits from users. Let me tell you how i found it.

I have been looking for the introduction for "Luck be a Lady", from the broadway play "Guys and Dolls". All the regular sheet music and lead sheets leave out the introduction. I don't understand why they do that. It ruins the piece, in my opinion. The introduction lyrics set the song up and it's always essential to play it. Anyway, it was hard to find.

I googled around and around and finally found this site... [Wikifonia]. What I was looking for was free and available here... take a look at how nicely it displays... [+] I took one look at that and knew I had to have it so hit their print button--- when they asked me register-- but no credit card needed! So register I did and a minute later I had that complete intro with correct chords and lyrics that were too labour intense for me to sit and listen and figure out myself. Beautiful!

So as my online piano student, I highly recommend this site. It works. And the price is right. There are more elements to the site but basically I've explained the fundamental reason you would use it. I'm sure you can do more with it than I have.

[Discussion]

Famous Taiwan song "Bottles for Sale" has historical importance.

[Lesson notes, discussion, questions etc. ]

Table of Contents

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Interested in Playing the Piano?

Beginners approach

Children
Young People
Working Adults
Retired People and Seniors


My Favorite Tunes

My Philosophy of Instruction

Bill Evans plays My Foolish Heart

[Lesson discussion]

Required watching: Bumble Boogie

[Discussion, lesson instructions, questions, tutorial, sheet music availability etc. ]

Weekend lessons coming up and more Golden Buddha evening meal piano for Phoenix

Dorothy and me will be playing GB all week 5-9 pm and doing lessons on Fri and Sat. If you're a student, be sure to show us something you've mastered during your week. As well, we'll do a couple of new tunes for you. Parents, if you have requests for your child, let us know.

[Questions, inquiries, discussion etc. ]

Intro

Welcome to PianoLessonsEtc.com. This is a strictly experiment site at this time since it's very difficult to teach piano lessons on the internet. Still, the prospect is full of promise and I try to do some teaching here, free of charge. If you're in Phoenix however, you may call me and arrange lessons with me or Dorothy at (602) 371-0094. We're in the north central area and are always happy to consider a new student as long as we have an available time slot. Email me at rick_potvin@yahoo.com if you have a question. In the meantime, enjoy this website

PianoLessonsEtc. is a year old!!

Bruce Hornsby - Just the way it is

[Chords with lyrics]

[Sheet music]

[PDF]

cool Midi graphic

To do real instruction on a blog/forum like this is very tricky-- but it should be possible.

My original aim was with this site was to be able to do instruction online for piano playing. I've gone through several thinking phases on this issue in 2011 and have recently updated this site to comply with what I think will work best. I continue to try to come up with an analog 'online piano lesson" that outclasses anything else you find on the google searches.

Jimmy Webb doesn't sing good but he plays great... Witchita Lineman.

I added Witchita Lineman to my list of songs. I saw the songwriter Jimmy Web do it on Jerry Lewis Telethon this year... and was amazed Webb's performance... terrible singing with great piano playing but Webb has been prolific as a songwriter... [Watch him perform it here]

Chords [Print these out for your piano music rack or binder]

I'll look at chords soon.

Cliff's pontifications and "little known facts"-- the song includes a diminished chord.

Everyone knew Cliff's name at Cheers

Cliff's theory on how to keep warm in winter.


"Wouldn't you like to get away" has very song-unique chords that need analysis... listen.


Did you hear the 3 chords to "wouldn't you like to get away"? Listen again. I've looked for the correct chords online here but nobody has them. There is a m7 b5 in there somewhere. Here's a piano version. It's not my upload. Listen for the part that matches "wouldn't you like to get away". You can hear the player flub it but it's more correct that the chords given online on various sites.



The history of the song is quite interesting. See the wiki article here. [+]

Here's the sheet music and on the first page, which is free, you can see the chords as they were written by the song writer Gary Portney! [+]

So what are those chords (for "wouldn't you like to get away?") You can see we're in Bb so the chord immediatly predecing the "wouldn't" is Ab which in this key is your bVII. Then "like" is a G7 with a #5. I thought there was a m7 with a b5 so I was wrong. G is vi normally in Bb. Here it's alterned to a regular 7th chord with an augmented 5th. So you have VI7#5. That's a nice alteration of vi that I don't recall seeing anywhere, ever. That's why songwriters are songwriters and it's what made the theme become popular and get awards. It resolves to a ii with a 9 for ii9. That's altered but more common. The surprise is that VI7#5 which is like a "new invention" that even Bach and Beethoven would have found profound. It's as if Portney discovered a new element in chemistry or a new species of animal in zoology. He discovered a new chord in music! All other chords in the song are more common, but still interesting.

This is something that Cliff would have told you about if you had visited Cheers yourself. I'm pretty sure.

[Discussion]

Elton John singer songwriter performs "I guess that's why the call it the blues"

Watch Elton John do it, first

Now watch a YOutube poster play straight piano


Here's a player/vocalist in a bar performing it.


Now check this version out.


Here's a completely different sounding female voice. She's chord playing only which is fine

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.

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]

Introduction 1

n my years of teaching, playing and selling pianos, it's become obvious to me that piano "lessons" don't work well enough. More people drop out of making music on piano than not. I think I know why. This site will make an effort to fix that problem.

This site is still under heavy construction as of June 2011 so there's not a lot here yet but you can begin to get an idea of the direction we're going to go by clicking on the following start button.

[START BUTTON]

Introduction 2
PianoLessonsEtc.com attempts to create a basis for piano lessons that involves simply watching and listening to the original musicians performing a piece, then watching and listening to a piano or piano/vocal version of it by an amateur. Links to free sheet music and an explanation of the chord changes and other features will be added. There is no other piano lesson website like it that I have yet discovered, yet it is based on a powerful monkey-see monkey-do behavioral science confirmed phenomenon in humans.

[+] Discussion Forum for latest topics to which many of the above indexed items are linked.

[+] Earlier forum... "Piano Lesson Party"

Online no-play piano lessons require beginner index & custom lesson index.

I'm going to be recalibrating my effort to create online no-play piano lessons so that I have an actual course for beginners established in one blog and then a custom lesson index for those who have been through the course, just as I have in my real live studio.

[||||COMMENTS, discussion outline and more||||]

Newboys-- The Breakfast Song

Here's a song a student of mine is switch on by... so I guess we'll take a look at it.



[+] Start by printing out these chords with lyrics and sing along.

[+] Further work with discussion in outline format here. We'll look at the song structure, how to play it on the piano, what you need for the vocals etc.

Autumn Leaves became a piano hit and has been used in jazz.

Part of your active listening no-play piano lessons must include tunes that became piano hits but started out as regular songs. Like this one... Autumn Leaves... sung by a lady named Edith Piaff in the 1930's.



It became a standard that everyone plays in some form. Here's a jazz band playing a version of it.



And here's an amateur pianist playing it on just one piano... using some very nice chords.



And finally a comedic version by Victor Borge...



Now that you've listened to Autumn Leaves in various ways, let's look more closely at it from the chord point of view.... enter the discussion outline for that here.

The Bass Clef

Normally, you would play the notes on the bass clef with the left hand. Take a look at this 60 s. video first.




Here are further webpages to look at to learn about the bass clef that I've selected for you.

Discussion outline [+]

Online piano lessons with a webcam at Pianobug.com

This is interesting but probably ineffective. [Outline for Pianobug.com]

Pianobug.com [+]

The problem as I see it is that the ability to play piano doesn't come fundamentally from learning how to play the piano, but rather from listening to and enjoying the right music. No piano lesson sites I've seen take that approach other than mine.

Keep a list of songs that interest you during the week.

If you're taking a weekly piano lesson, keep a list of songs that you find interesting during the week and report them to your piano teacher.

Stickles loaner book includes these songs-- listen to them!

YouTube - Mills Brothers - Glow Worm (live, 1957)
[Glow Work]

YouTube - The Tudors: Greensleeves (Henry/Anne)
[Lady Greensleeves]

YouTube - Pomp and Circumstance
[Pomp and Circumstance]

YouTube - Paul Robeson: Mighty Lak A Rose
[Mighty Lak' a Rose]

YouTube - Percy Grainger - Country Gardens
[Country Gardens]

YouTube - Country Gardens
[Country Gardens with vocals]

YouTube - Chauncey Olcott - My Wild Irish Rose (1913)
[My Wild Irish Rose]

YouTube - Oh Susanna!
[Oh Suzanna]

YouTube - Johnny Cash & James Taylor - Oh Susanna
[Oh Susanna]

YouTube - The Oak Ridge Boys - Oh Susanna!
[Oh Susanna]

YouTube - Oh, Susannah!
[Oh Susanna]


YouTube - Oh Susanna
[Oh Susanna]


YouTube - Muppets sing Clark Sisters - Little Brown Jug
[+]


YouTube - U S A MILITARY MARCH STAR AND STRIPES FOREVER
[+]

YouTube - U S A MILITARY MARCH STAR AND STRIPES FOREVER
[+]

YouTube - Woody Guthrie - "Red River Valley"
[+]

YouTube - On Top Of Old Smokie Wilf Carter
{+]




YouTube - United States of America Anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner)
{+]


YouTube - Andy Griffith - Down In The Valley
[+]


YouTube - Johann Strauss II - The Blue Danube Waltz
[+]

YouTube - Oh My Darling Clementine
[+]

YouTube - Skip To My Lou - Pete Seeger [1/24] [1963]
[+]


YouTube - happy birthday fWenD! (song traditional)
[+]


YouTube - Londonderry Air (Danny Boy) - Reading Uni Flute Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uG0j8xJaJQ



YouTube - Beethoven- Minuet in G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSXRJwspGU0

YouTube - Joshi - TA-RA-RA-BOOM-DE-AY
[+]





YouTube - The Shannon Quartet -The Sidewalks of New York
[+]



YouTube - The Alley Cat Song
[+]

"Autumn Leaves" to be studied this weekend.

FAMOUS SONGS

Autumn Leaves

Made famous by pianist
Roger Williams in 1959.

[ENTER discussion classroom on this topic]

Children's songs are excellent starter songs for piano lessons.

I'll be creating links for the following songs... then creating a youtube playlist and CD-- AND... a book of piano music based on the exact same songs. That way, if you study with me in Phoenix, you'll have access to that music-- otherwise you'll simply have to assemble it yourself.

A Hunging We Will Go
Alphabet Song
Are You Sleeping?
BaBa Black Sheep

to be continued. (This site is under heavy construction as of May 2011.)

Oh Susanna! - assigned listening.

Enjoy this first....



Now print out the lyrics... [here] or here...

...and play the video again while singing along. When you're finished that, watch this piano player Allan Dale.



Pretty good "set of chops" there, Allan! Allan has created an amazing number of really high quality old style piano vidoes. Here's a piano student whose elementary version of the song is probably more like how you will sound for now.



I personally like playing and singing this song at the same time-- it's a perfect singalong. I like my students to do the same. Now here's a funny video of an adult who begins to sing but all we hear is "Oh Susanna"....



And that's IT!!! I guess I'll have to be the guy to upload the singing and playing at the same time... unless I get one of my students to do it... or if you the reader want to do it. I would use the first video as the guide...

Email me at rick_potvin@yahoo.com for lessons-- only after you've been through the online course.

Song Survey Assignment #1

Before playing the piano, you have to have something to play. And to choose what to play, you should have songs that you're familiar with in your mind already. It's much easier and more fun to play songs on the piano that you've heard before. Many of my piano students have never heard the songs I'm familiar with and I'm not familiar with the songs my students know.

To survey songs means to listen to them. Today, I'm going to assign these songs for you to listen to and familiarize yourself with. You may find them on mp3 file and download them to your ipod if you can or you may find them on Youtube or just midi files. I'll make a series of links for the youtube files once I find them but in the meantime, you may post links to the comments section here in this blog as suggested listening. Here are the titles.

The Glow Worm
Greensleeves
Pomp and Circumstance

YouTube - Mills Brothers - Glow Worm (live, 1957)
[Glow Work]

YouTube - The Tudors: Greensleeves (Henry/Anne)
[Lady Greensleeves]

YouTube - Pomp and Circumstance
[Pomp and Circumstance]

YouTube - Paul Robeson: Mighty Lak A Rose
[Mighty Lak' a Rose]

YouTube - Percy Grainger - Country Gardens
[Country Gardens]

YouTube - Country Gardens
[Country Gardens with vocals]

YouTube - Chauncey Olcott - My Wild Irish Rose (1913)
[My Wild Irish Rose]

YouTube - Oh Susanna!
[Oh Suzanna]

Watch Hot Cross Buns being played.

First, print out this sheet.

[PRINT OUT]


Now watch this...

May 2011 Sequence

1. Listen and follow the music of Czerny excercises. [+]

Listen and read the music to Czerny's exercises on this Youtube playlist.

[Listen and read]

Begin piano lessons without playing the piano!

Welcome to your first piano lesson without playing the piano. Simply direct your attention to each of the following exercises. When one is complete, go to the next one.

1. [Hot Cross Buns.]

2. [Elementary fingering]

3, [Oh Suzanna!]

Walk in Black Forest.

`````This entire song uses Perfect 4ths, major 3rds, and minor 6ths which is the point of interest that I'd like you listen for.

Watching and listening to Hanon and Czercy exercises can be mood-creating and interesting.

Hanon and Czerny wrote a series of exercises that piano players in general would not likely consider worth simply listening to. I would say they are worth listening to. There could be a beneficial cognitive effect in terms of brainwave moderation and modulation. I'll explore that here.. and post some useful links.

Beginnger's Sequence will be posted here.

This is under construction as of May 2011... I plan to have a series of links here for beginners... and will continue the series so that there are logical upgrades of knowledge as we move along. I've only recently reconnected with this site and generated some better ideas. In the meantime, email me at rick_potvin@yahoo.com for Phoenix AZ based piano lessons in our regular studio.

Welcome to my piano lesson website where you will observe.

The primary aim of this website is to have you observe others playing piano. The theoretical basis for my approach is a scientifically validated monkey-see monkey-do approach. I believe students learn better when they attempt to duplicate what has already been done. Imitation is the first step in any kind of skilled learning, from tying a shoelace to playing piano and building a nuclear power plant.

Theme from Jeopardy.

Good piano version of Jeopardy theme... note the first key and then the trasnsposition. Note the stacatto in the left hand... Very nicely done....

YouTube - Jeopardy Theme (Level 3B Piano Solo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy89c7UGWRs&feature=related

Here's the original version from the TV show... note the sound of the ticking clock in the background. 

YouTube - Jeopardy! Think Music, 1960s 1984-1997

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXGhvoekY44

You can request I play this at Golden Buddha Restaurant.... at the Chinese Cultural Center on 44th St. south of the 202... from 5:30 each evening. C'mon Down! This song is now on my teaching list so if you want to learn to play it, email me at rick_potvin@yahoo.com. 

It's a jungle out there-- Monk theme

It’s A Jungle Out There (Theme from “Monk”) - Randy Newman
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tabbed by: Robb Anagnostis
Email: robba@mail.com

Tuning: standard

Cm G7/D Cm/Eb G7/D

It's a


Cm

jun- gle out there Dis- ord -er and con-



D7

fu-sion eve- ry-where


Fm/Ab G7 G/B

No one seems to care Well I do Hey,


Cm Dm7 D#dim C7/E

who's in charge here? It's a



Fm Gm

jun- gle out there


G7 G7b9/B G5

Poi-son in the ve-ry air we breathe D'ya



F#7/C# Gdim C7 A#dim

know what's in the wa- ter that you drink? Well I do, and



Fm Gm7 G#dim F7/A

it's a- ma- zing



Bbm Edim

Peo-ple think I'm cra- zy, 'cause I wor-ry all the time If you



Fm Gm

paid at-ten-tion, you'd be wor-ried to You



G Gmaj7/D G7 G7

bet- ter pay at-ten- tion or this world we love so much



C Bb/D Ab/Eb C7/E

Might just kill you I could be



C7/5+ C9-

wrong now, but I don't think so! 'Cause there's a




Fm C#7M C
jun- gle out there. It's a jun- gle out



Fm Gm Ab Gm Fm there

YouTube - Monk Theme 'It's a Jungle Out there' On Piano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_lGwZGS8q4

YouTube - Mr.Monk tv show with theme song and lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YkyH2rN0tA&feature=related

Randy Newman - It's a Jungle Out There Sheet Music (Digital Download)http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0052459&mnuid=5XULV7J0LHSW40QL26H39BGFMSUM8VD70J2TC6U7

"monk theme" chords - Google Search

http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&q=%22monk+theme%22+chords&aq=f&aqi=g1g-v3g-j1g-b2&aql=&oq=

Its A Jungle Out There Theme From Monk Tab by Randy Newman @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/r/randy_newman/its_a_jungle_out_there_theme_from_monk_tab.htm

Its A Jungle Out There Tab - Randy Newman - Guitar Chords

http://www.yourchords.com/204357/Randy-Newman/Its-A-Jungle-Out-There-Tab/

Wed. Apriil 13, 2011 (54)

Original Monk theme.

Good original version of the orgianl theme....

YouTube - Monk Theme (Extended Version)

...but do this next... fro now do the Jungle out there song....

Good but low quality and too short...

YouTube - Monk theme on Piano

Randy Newman - It's A Jungle Out There Lyrics

...Just lyrics...

Randy Newman tabs and chords - more than 46 Randy Newman tabs online!

Good version with no instrument delaying I don't think so... too short though.. needs to be played through twice... 

YouTube - Monk Theme Song - It's A Jungle Out There

this version leaves out I could be wrong now... 

YouTube - It's a jungle out there - Monk Opening (Subtitulado / Subtitled)

Star Wars Theme

[Original]

[piano version, advanced]

Flintstones theme

[Good original piano version]

[Original cartoon intro]

[Swing orchestra... with improv]

[Smaller jazz band]

[midi version]

America the Beautiful

[Ray Charles version]

[Piano music reading online, easy version]