In praise of teachers and students

Blog, People, Video

On this page a short but pointed tribute from Adam Mannes to what’s below the “tip of iceberg” of what we hear on records and see in live performances and on video.

It’s called “practice” but it really understates what’s involved.

Ongoing training, study, exploration, perfecting. For serious artists, it’s a never ending process and as fans we’re the beneficiaries.

Adam is one of many educators who is making music education available around the globe at a level that was previously unimaginable.

Note BOLD: Online education is a godsend, but for children it is NOT a substitute for a caring, inspiring LIVE teacher.

Some of my favorite resources for piano (a very short list)

Adam Maness and Open Studio

Jon Cleary – New Orleans piano and culture

Dan the Composer – Unique meditations on the art of playing the piano

Rick Beato – Musician, producer, educator

Oliver Prehn – Pianist and educator

Jonny May – Jonny May shows the tricks of the trade behind a number of piano styles

Jamey Aebersold – Not strictly a piano source, but you can’t talk about jazz education without Jamey. (See our podcast interview with him.)

If you have a hankering to learn some piano and are starting from scratch, I particularly recommend Jon Cleary and Oiver Prehn for to help you break the ice. The most important thing – more important than theory, practice, good form etc. – is to put your hands on the keys and discover that when you do, interesting things can and often do happen.

– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube

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