Friday, June 12, 2009

Session One for Chris

Chris,
This is where we will share ideas on your DP training. Also...videos and links I think might be helpful to you.

Feel free to ask any questions or make any comments regarding our DP sessions.

Thanks! :)
Cindy Chen
PBT Sessions
cjc188@gmail.com
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19 comments:

  1. Chris KeenanJune 13, 2009 at 2:17 PM

    Thanks Cindy...Just so you know as well...A lot of my friends from college and before call me Miller (bad nick name based upon a really bad basketball player from the '90's) so some people call me Miller but my real name is Chris Keenan...just so you know...Thanks...

    Thoughts for tomorrow...

    1) Groove fix (this is good)
    2) Setting songs to the right goove.

    I will think of others and get the notes down.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. PianoCCJune 15, 2009 at 11:51 PM

    Ok, cool...Miller! :)

    Here is a partial list of songs that can be added to...but quite enough to work on for now.
    Can't remember all the artist names...but you will figure it out.We will work on these tunes as we go along and I will show you the most effective way to play them. They are obviously randomly thought out!

    - I Will Walk 500 Miles - Proclaimers
    - If I Had a Million Dollars
    - Wonderwall
    - Honky Tonk Woman
    - Lola
    - Don't Stop Believing
    - Livin on a Prayer
    - Friends in Low Places
    - Sex on Fire - King of Leons
    - Sweet Home Alabama
    - Jack & Diana
    - That's What I Like About You
    - Drift Away
    - Life is a Highway
    More soon!

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  3. chenasaurusJune 16, 2009 at 8:10 PM

    I am waiting for the video to process...sorry my playing is not more conscise in the video cus I was standing up and dealing with the computer and the cam! :)
    Coming soon!

    ReplyDelete
  4. chenasaurusJune 16, 2009 at 8:26 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcORW3iVn8g

    Miller! Tell me if you can get this ok??
    THANKS!
    cjc188@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. PianoCCJune 17, 2009 at 3:29 AM

    That list of songs is obviously incomplete.
    Good idea to go to Billboard and find the lates topten songs and learn any of those that could possibly be a singalong. Also if you tune into pop radio and there is a song getting huge airplay, learn it immediately.
    Also on DP board there is a list of "college songs" that are frequently requested.

    ReplyDelete
  6. PianoCCJune 24, 2009 at 4:56 AM

    OK, Miller!
    Here is what we went over on Session #2!

    1) We went over the first two songs on the list.
    500 Miles and Million Dollars.

    Remember that is it starts sounding corny, do octaves intermittenly on the bass for 500 Miles.

    Million dollars is like country without the " oom chaka." Play it very smmothly and not too jumpy.

    We went over Sweet Caroline...remember the added chords to make it sound fuller...D minor and F.
    Remember! MUSCLE MEMORY will help you remember how to play this song.
    Remember the 2-3-5 fingerings.

    Rock n Roll licks in C. Practice your R&R boogie woogie in C. Think Johnny B Goode.
    Practice the r7r licks I showed you and feel free to make up your own...but only in the style of 50s and 60s rock piano. ( Little Richard, Jerry Lee )

    Keep playing muscle memory exercise ( Hammond-like exercise )

    New Orlean huey Piano Smith lick.
    1) G- 35-6

    2) C minor inversion lick downward in time. ( quick arpeggio )
    3) 2-3-5 fingering ( f-c)( eflat-c)(e-c)

    We worked on Wonderwall.
    Remember that your hand only needs to stay in ONE place where all the main shords are located and the lower octave makes it sound more like a guitar. On the chorus...bass= C - E - G.
    Cmaj.- Eminor - G ALL with your right thumb and pinky emphasizing G.

    When you get conmfortable with the tune, Wonderwall, double up the bass in the chorus ( C-E- G ) It is very predominant on teh recording.

    OK! I think that was it!
    If I left anything out, just add it here on the blog, ok?

    Video soon! :) Thanks, Miller!

    ReplyDelete
  7. PianoCCJune 24, 2009 at 5:01 AM

    We also will add "Dirty Water" and Charlie and the MTA to the song list! :) Oh joy, right?
    Good job, Miller!! Talk to you soon! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Chris KeenanJune 24, 2009 at 8:10 AM

    Cindy,

    Thanks a lot. It was good I spent some good time practicing after the lesson and I think it went great. I think some of these things are finally sinking in my thick skull...:)

    I think we covered everything in that document...I will look for the video....

    Thanks so much!
    Chris/Miller!

    ReplyDelete
  9. PianoCCJune 24, 2009 at 6:46 PM

    The blurry issue is solved! I had the cam on "auto focus." I switched it to manual and I should be able to fix it manually next time! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. chenasaurusJune 24, 2009 at 7:54 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBgtUyv-pWw

    Miller! Here is Session #2 Video for you!

    I will make a SEPARATE video for the R&R licks,ok?
    I want to spend a little more time explaining the R&R licks on another video ok?
    Give me till tomorrow ok?
    Meanwhile you can work on these things.

    You are doing a great job!! :)
    Best,
    Cindy Chenasaurus

    ReplyDelete
  11. Chris KeenanJune 25, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    Cindy,

    Loved the post you had on there last night....well said to Kidx...I think that needed to be said. There should be a lot of respect to the people who started this gig. Again I am with you about the original concept and love the idea that this show is for EVERYONE. At 33 (and my wife at 39) there are very few places that I feel I can go to with my wife and have a good time for a night on the town...if Boston actually still had a club, I would be going there, but alas they do not, so I am at a loss of where to go sometimes. I love places where college kids and adults can have a good time, and that is what DP provides (if done right...like you said see Pat O's) something for everyone...

    Thanks again Cindy for teaching me the RIGHT way to do this...I think my list is too much old stuff, so working on this new stuff is great!

    In other news....I am going down to the CT club on July 11 and July 25...I will have an opportunity to play down there those nights (a few songs) to continue to get my feet wet...any advice or comments you can give to help would be enormous.

    Thanks!
    Chris

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  12. Chris KeenanJune 25, 2009 at 8:39 AM

    Cindy,

    Thanks for the video...huge help! The one thing I do want to look at a bit is the R&R licks and things to do with my right hand when I am laying down grooves in the left. I can do the usual things in unison with it, so I need to learn some right hand stuff and work with getting it with the left. Hand independence stuff. :) So I am looking forward to that in the video and working on it, and going over it a bit in the next lesson...

    If you have 2 hours in the next lesson, lets do that so I can work on that with you as well and learn/work on/think about some other songs from the list...I think a huge thing for me is to be working on the groove and building the song list...

    Any advice on remembering lyrics? :)

    Thanks!
    Miller

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  13. Chris KeenanJuly 16, 2009 at 3:12 PM

    Cindy...

    Thanks for all the time you spent last night on this. I really do appreciate it. I am working on Summer of '69, DOn't Stop, and Your Love, and I am having a tough time of it. I am looking forward to the video so I can work on it. I am just feeling like I need the reenforcement to sink in.

    I am really tired and cranky today anyway, so I am really frustrated with myself on this, so I walked away from the piano so I would not get really upset. :)

    I am sure I will get it. I just feel like I am out matched on some of these. I know I can do it, I just have to puch through it.

    Thanks a lot!

    Any suggestions on how to practice?

    Thanks,
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  14. PianoCCJuly 18, 2009 at 8:05 PM

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

    Chris...here is the video FINALLY!!!!

    Sorry for the delay...I will include ANOTHER video after I learn the other tunes...which shouldn't take very long.

    I have figured out that after I make the video and upload it to youtube, I do not have to keep it on my computer anymore, so that is great...and my quickcam software has a feature
    where interface comes up and uploads it right to your personal youtube in three minutes and sets it on private for you!! I love it...it was worth spending more money on it!
    Now that I finally figured out how to get you on my youtube friends list, it is all really easy to post.
    Technology! Don't you love it?? :)

    OK...this video covers HOW TO MAKE THE SONG SOUND BIGGER!
    There is only a coule of ways to make the songs bigger.
    PRACTICE USING LOW BASSLINES AND OCTAVES, and 1-5-1 basically.

    This technique will come in handy.
    It is also so very much more impressive when your audience hears you play like that.

    Also...will cover Runaround Sue with you again
    on the next video along with Jesse's Girl and Jenny and Faith and Your Love (which is played just like the rock anthems in this video.)

    1--5--1 and a low bass will take your playing
    into a totally different place....you will feel the power of the song once you master it!!

    OK...thanks for your patience, and other video soon ...I have the next couple of days off and the flies are gone except for a couple of stragglers whose days are numbered! lol :)

    Please do not get discouraged...this does not happen overnight!!! You must have faith in yourself....this is a GRADUAL process...your brain has to get rid of all the other processes
    that it has been taught.

    My way is not necessarily "better" but it is on of the most effective ways of playing the songs that IMO I have seen.

    You want to be a better player than most DPers...
    there are a lot of hacks in the music biz.

    Have patience and work on it SLOWLY step by step and teach your hands MUSCLE MEMORY.

    Like I said, your thought process on stage might be confused, but if you have strong MUSCLE MEMORY
    in your hands and brain, you will always play the right chord progression from FEEL.

    ok...if you have any questions, post them here or in email.
    I will be glad to help you between lessons via this blog!! :)

    More soon! :)

    CC

    ReplyDelete
  15. PianoCCJuly 18, 2009 at 8:11 PM

    Remember the turning off the volume technique!
    When you are having groove or rhytm problems...turn the volume off and LISTEN to the sound of the keys hitting the board and get back in sinc and then turn teh volume up again and you will most times be THERE!

    Also, you may want to record yourself on a short video and see what you think.
    If what you are playing in the video is not up to par, or a little lame...(lol) TRY IT AGAIN...
    only CHANGE what you were doing and RELAX.
    :)
    CC

    ReplyDelete
  16. PianoCCJuly 19, 2009 at 1:40 AM

    As for memorizing lyrics:
    WRITE THE LYRICS DOWN IN YOUR OWN HANDWRITING.
    For some reason, when you write the lyrics down by hand, your brain registers it a little better.

    Another method is to play the song back in sections and memorize it section by section
    and piece it together later.

    Hope that helps! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. PianoCCJuly 24, 2009 at 11:41 PM

    Hi Chris,
    Hope you got my messages about going out of town tomorrow at the last minute for a four day gig.
    Please check your youtube account for three videos ( I think 3 is enough for now ).
    Jenny, jesse's Girl and Brick.
    Jesse's Girl will be the most difficult...remember to use 5ths like a guitar.
    I want you to try to learn these tunes without me showing you the chords so you will feelmore comfortable. Then when we have the lesson, I can help you with whatever probs you think you might be having.
    You are way a good enough piano player to try to learn these songs on your won, and I don't really want to get in the habit of showing you exactly how to play the songs because you might not be comfortable with the way I teach you the songs.
    So there will be no instructional video this week for thoseparticular songs, but I will try to put together a "R&R feel" video before I leave for you to work on and play with.

    Feel free to call me on my cell if you have any probs. (415)412-6860

    You are doing great!! Let me know how the weekend goes ok?

    Best to You,
    CC

    ReplyDelete
  18. chenasaurusJuly 29, 2009 at 3:37 AM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzqBt03f5b8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fmy%5Fvideos%5Fedit&feature=player_embedded

    Chris..R&R feel/groove video!!
    I made this before I left for Florida...
    I have been swamped.
    Talk to you on Thursday, and I hope this helps!
    You're doing GREAT!
    Cindy :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. PianoCCSeptember 5, 2009 at 8:07 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmTgh_XgTD0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fmy%5Fvideos%5Fedit&feature=player_embedded
    Here is the American Pie etc. video!
    Sorry it is so short..I was having trouble uploadin to youtube longer.
    Let me know if you have any questions ok?
    Have a great Labor Day weekend!
    CC

    ReplyDelete

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