Business and Music - Paul Tobey

Arizona State Music Teachers Association Please mark your calendars and plan to come and enjoy the 2008 ASMTA Conference to be held May 29-31, 2008 at the Grace Inn in Ahwatukee Arizona.

MTNA 2009 Conference
For more information visit the www.mtna.org/Programs/Conferences/2009Conference/tabid/473/Default.aspx

There will be classes and seminars on a wide range of topics and we hope that there will prove to be something interesting for everyone. We are pleased to welcome back concert pianist, and certified trainer Paul Tobey, who gave an excellent presentation at last year’s conference. Paul will be training on “student motivation, and introductory to improvisation”.

Dr. Martha Baker-Jordan (who taught a seminar at the national conference) is coming to share her pedagogy expertise. We are looking forward to enjoying a Vocal Master Class taught by Dr. Cathy Hauan.

For full list of conference details visit the Arizona State Music Teachers Association

www.asmta.org/index.php

There are likely hundreds of books, videos and audio tapes that try to teach you how to play popular piano in 10 easy lessons. But, do they work?While I can’t be sure that they do because I’ve never tried any of them, I’m pretty positive that the information contained within each course is valuable. The question is; how do you know which one to choose?

I personally offer (coming soon) a series of 10 online piano lessons but, these are not for beginners. They are for people with experience who want to get a whole lot better real fast.

I’ve not tried putting together a series of 10 piano lessons to help beginners play popular piano but if I did, here’s how I’d do it.

Lesson 1: Learn the 12 notes on the piano and how to finger a simple major scale
Lesson 2: The basics of chord harmony and how the chords are derived from the scale
Lesson 3: How to play major and minor chords in the left hand
Lesson 4: How to construct melody using your ear and basic harmony
Lesson 5: How to rhythmically put melody and chords together using right and left hand
Lesson 6: Add a seventh to the dominant chord
Lesson 7: Perfect cadences and how to voice them
Lesson 8: In a minor mood
Lesson 9: An intro on arpeggiating chords
Lesson 10: How to practice to get the most out of the first 9 lessons.

I’m curious to get some feedback from those who might have some insight into this. My intention is to eventually put together a 10 lesson video course for beginners and I’d like to know if you have any suggestions.

There are literally a million different scenarios that I could use to teach beginners. However, I believe the most effective results will be had using accelerated learning techniques. Because, it’s not what you learn but how you learn it that will determine how far you get.

All comments are welcome and I look forward to hearing from you.

Paul

PS: If you have any comments of which “How to Play Popular Piano in 10 Easy Lessons” course that you’ve already taken and would like to share your thoughts on it I’d apprecicate that too! Thanks.

There are many people that search on Google or Yahoo for “how to play the piano despite years of lessons.” The fact is, many people simply don’t understand the relationship between taking lessons and actually being able to sit at the piano and play.

The biggest stumbling block to being able to just sit down and play is the way they were taught. Learning notes on a page and memorizing those notes is a highly ineffective way of learning. Do you remember high school? When you had to study for an exam, it’s likely that you crammed as much information as you could, into your head at one time, then wrote the exam. But, if you had to write that same exam 2 weeks or 2 months later, how well would you do? Probably not very well.

You see, the old way of cramming information does not work favorably for long term retention. What does? Only by learning why something is and comprehending it thoroughly through doing or practicing, can you hope to achieve lasting retention.

Therefore, when you were taught to play the piano you liekly had to cram a few thousand notes into you head over a few months period. Then, you played it at your recital, then a few months after that you completely forgot the whole thing. Right?

What’s a better way of learning? By understanding the relationship between how music is built and how you ear hears it. By learning the fundamental building blocks of harmony and hearing the difference between the chords you will begin to learn how to make music up based on the way it should sound.

It’s called improvisation. It is a skill which few people posses and even fewer can execute. But, by improvisation I mean; being able to pick up a tune just by listening to it. Then, using the rules of harmony and your ear, you will be able to sit down and play it.

Can this be learned? Yes! But it is a commitment which few people will ever undertake. But, I still encourage you to find out more about it. Download one of my free online piano lessons and you will quickly understand what it means to truly play the piano despite years of lessons.

A seminar on Piano Music & Improvisation by Paul Tobey.  To book Paul as your Keynote or to book your next Seminar contact info (at) paultobey.com

Comments & Testimonials from Paul Tobey’s Seminar at ASMTA 2007
 

I truly enjoyed this session. Besides being very entertaining Paul Tobey opened new horizons for me.  Thank You, Natalya Thran, NCTM, Piano Instructor

Paul, you really inspired me, overcoming your tinnitus and seeing your energy for life & inspiring me to not listen to the “little voice”, but know what I want and going for it! Thanks! Celeste Innes, Piano Teacher, EAMTA

Wanted — Pianists Who Want to Succeed — Download Your Free Online Piano Lesson Today

You don’t realize it yet, but in the next 2 minutes you’re going to learn the secrets of playing great piano. Not average piano, great piano.

Click here for your free online piano lesson.

OK, just take a moment picture yourself five short years from now on a grand stage in front of 1,000 people while effortlessly performing your favorite piano music. The audience is glued to your every moment and transfixed on your every note. Your music is filling the concert hall with countless new sounds and boundless musical energy like no one has ever heard before. Then, as you finish each piece, the audience breaks into uncontrollable and outrageous applause.

You’re a hit! But, you remain perfectly calm and with assured and purposeful intention you continue the concert as if you’re part of the listening audience and not the performer. You enjoy every moment of the concert without worrying about anything, least of all what notes you should be playing. You’re actually just listening to your own music, as if someone else was playing it, without judgment or fear, and all the while knowing that every note you play is a resounding soulful source of entertainment and beauty for all who hear it.

Does this sound like you? Maybe not right now, but did you know the distance between where you are with your playing right now and this scenario I’ve just described is a lot shorter than you think. The distance between where you are right now and where you want to be is called the “gap”. And, the only way to shorten the gap is to believe with 100% certainty that you can attain whatever your heart desires. Then learning everything you can that supports that belief system such as; downloading your free online piano lesson. If your heart truly desires being a concert pianist then there’s nothing that can stop you if you pay attention to what I’m about to share with you.

The only thing that can stop you is if you do nothing to acheive what you want. If you do nothing then, quite frankly, you are doomed to a life of constant unhappiness. You see, the only way to be truly happy in this lifetime is to go after what it is you truly want. Anything less, is less than good enough. So, if you desire to be a performing artist then you will get there. Do you have to work for it? Yes. But, it won’t seem like work if you love it. And, nothing can stand in your way if this is your true heart’s desire. (Free online piano lesson)

Think about it for a moment. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could just perform music without having to worry about anything? Without having to worry about where your money comes from or where your next concert is going to be? Without any prior evidence to the contrary?

Think back a moment to what I said in the beginning, “In the next 2 minutes you’re going to learn the secrets of playing great piano.” Well, you just did. In fact that’s the only secret there is. It’s not about struggle, working hard, practicing your butt off, competing with others, competing against yourself, learning reams and reams of music, getting into Julliard School of Music or any other excuse your mind has cooked up to tell you it’s not possible.

The only secret to being a great artist is to believe you are one. That means; accepting unconditionally where you are with your playing right now, learning new habits and behaviors that support your new beliefs and be willing to eagerly accept more of every perfect circumstance you desire as each one rapidly comes into your life.

The secret is to focus on what you desire. Let’s be clear though, what you desire are not ordinary things. You desire greatness - in whatever form that takes. Desires are not wishes, whims, or things you think you might want. Neither are they new year’s resolutions made up with little commitment to achieving them. Desires are what you truly deep down in side want with all your heart. Then, once you know what you truly desire all you have to do is focus on it and it will expand. If you focus on failure you’ll get more failure. If you focus on success and success alone, you will get more of that.

How do I know what is say is true? Because, just 3 years ago I was a struggling jazz musician and my nightly wage was between $75 and $200. Now, the concerts are coming to me quickly and easily and my salary is no less than 5 times and sometimes up to 50 times what it was. The best part is; I don’t play clubs anymore, just concert halls. And, I’m finally getting the life I always wanted. What’s the difference in my playing between now and 3 years ago? Not much. In fact, I don’t think currently I’m as technically proficient as I once was. But, that doesn’t matter. It’s good enough for most people and quite frankly a lot less complicated.

The only difference between now and then is my belief that anything is possible. And, that’s the secret to being a great pianist. Perfect belief.

What you will learn in my first free online piano lesson is how to tap into this mysterious force of energy know as “the law of attraction”. Then, as you download each video piano lesson you will not only learn the secrets to understanding and performing great music, but every piano lesson contains new strategies, beliefs and information that will help you realize your musical dreams.

Now, let me ask you this, “does all this seem too childish?” “Does it seem too simple and not logical enough to have any real impact in your life?” If you said yes, then I can assure you that not only are you dead wrong, but you’d be making a big mistake. Sign-up today for your free online piano lesson and learn just exactly what it takes to get whatever you desire, not only with your piano playing, but with your life.

For your free online piano lesson click here now. http://www.paultobey.com/piano-lesson.html

Piano Lesson Update: A few months ago I decided to start teaching online piano lessons. The reason I did this is because I simply started getting too many requests from people looking to take piano lessons. I felt guilty by saying I didn’t have the time and therefore I had to come up with a solution. 

Most online piano lessons are for beginners. In fact you’ll have to search seriously on the internet to find online courses for intermediate to advanced. That’s the group of performers I’m aiming at. Why? Well, first of all this is the group that sometimes finds it hard to find a competent piano teacher in their area. There are lots of pianists who would like to extend their abilities but just cannot find a good teacher anywhere near them. Also, this market as I mentioned is highly under serviced on the internet.

The piano lessons that I’ll be providing are 45mins to an hour of video instruction per piano lesson. This is not something that I can just throw together. Each piano lesson is a carefully prepared tutorial on how to master a specific skill. And, the filming of the lessons has to be professional. That is what’s taking the time. We have to have 3 video camers per shoot, lighting and sound. Then post production takes a lot of time to cut the film and compress it for digital delivery over the internet.

Where are we with this process? Well, I wish I could give an exact delivery date but I’m pushing for the end of May. We’ve had some problems getting a crew together at the same time and there has also been some cost overruns that need to be addressed.

Anyway, rest assured we will get the piano lessons ready and I’m sure that you’ll be very pleased with the end result.

Musicially yours,

Paul Tobey

PS: For more information about my upcoming online piano lessons please visit the piano lesson page.