Jazz Piano Lesson # 1 by Garry Dial

[sotopagla]

Nice job!

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[twangbarfly]

I for one have learned some interesting things from this and other passages by Mr Dial - and I'm a guitarist - so thanks for posting.

As I see it, the teacher has clearly pointed out the need to be aware of randomly introducing accents at musically inappropriate moments and with undue emphasis as a kind of nerveous tic. I am now aware of that temptation and so is his pupil. In any case, the onus is now on the student (and me) to learn, not on the teacher to labour a point, at least in my view.

[ObeeLektro]

@ilmango Thank you!!! Again Have a Happy New Year and Cheers.

[ObeeLektro]

@ilmango Your comment tells me a lot about you, there is no point even starting and intelligent conversation when you elevated discussions comprise of 4 letter words and comparisons of apples and oranges.

Have a Happy New Year

[talarant]

If Garry is right, then Monk sucked.

I like when after he lectures her he stops her again and says twice, "u didn't mean that".

LOL!

I was actually enjoying her playing until he started in with her.

[odysseus96]

Very thoughtful Gary... Very thoughtful! I will use this concept in 'other areas"...! Fred...

[matthyzer]

he's right on the money about the piano being a wind instrument and phrasing.

[joeycalderazzo]

he is absolutely correct..although i think this tends to be a control issue..which is really a technical issue..gary was great..

[EnryOnTheKeys]

Honey run away from this guy. He just killing your creativity. He is trying to promote himself instead of pass passion for the music. Listen as much as you can to the masters of the jazz that you will get the feeling.

[Sbeedbull]

Enry, If you are afraid that your creativity can be "killed" you might be looking at things the wrong way. You can learn something from every situation you are in, whether or not you like the teacher's style. I've studied with Garry Dial and it has raised the bar on the level of my own creative output significantly. Don't be afraid to take a leap!  As for promoting himself, he doesn't need to.

[EnryOnTheKeys]

Are you sure?

[mrpossibilities]

Exactly. This is it. This is the flaw that 99% of piano players make. That's why, as much as I hate having to learn lyrics, it's an important part of interpretation. So that we avoid that "tourette's syndrome" that Garry is talking about.

[lemonbaygrl]

The lesson from which this short piece is an excerpt is excellent.

[tommisopiano]

Will someone remind the teacher that the student is playing a piano and not a saxaphone or violin.There is no way to think in that retrospect in term's of breathing through the instrument.Totally different instrument's.What and IDIOT teacher.Tell Oscar Peterson or Herbie Hancock not to accent note's.Listen to the rubato on Keith Jarret's Koln Concert 1st movement.I just don't understand where this teacher is coming from.All he did was make his student afraid to play.

[jhan303]

No offense, but you REALLY missed the point. He's not telling her to stop accenting altogether. He's telling her to stop being so jerky about it. OP and Herbie's accents are always in just the right spot, because they feel them. She is just spitting out random accents with no feeling.

And as for the sax comparison, he didn't once say "retrospect". He's merely comparing to an instrument that draws feeling out of a player's body, easier than piano does. Thus, pianists have to focus on thatl.

[lemonbaygrl]

First of all, this video sample is only a short section taken out of context from the much longer lesson. I've seen the entire lesson, and it is FANTASTIC. Garry Dial is a legendary teacher and genius musician. His students absolutely adore him, and he has a huge following. So, before you put him down, be open, view a lesson and most of all, BE HUMBLE.

[ObeeLektro]

What is the point of this presentation? Isn't it to show the talent of the teacher. Obviously if thats the case than the material was poorly chosen. Sorry I am not a psychic, my comments are based on whats I see. That has nothing to do with being arrogant it's a recognition of a fact. This presentation does not show the greatness that you speak of. If we are to have and intelligent discussion lets stick to the facts and not derogatory comments. That is a first sign of weakness in argumentation.

[ObeeLektro]

One more important observation. Notice how the student changes her playing. The first time she is playing with enthusiasm and more creative spirit, but after the statements teacher makes that are not constructive at all listen to how she plays the second and third time. There is hesitation, panic not being sure of her self, trying to play the way the teacher is telling her. Plus the problem he claims is bad is really not big issue. Its sad that most people can't tell a good teacher from bad one.

[jhan303]

The first performance does have more energy in it. But it's forced. Apart from the first few chords, everything sounds more like an exercise. There are more dynamics than the third performance, but those dynamics don't feel natural. It's almost as if you can hear the inner monologue in her head, telling her what she should play. In the 3rd performance, she relaxes, waits for each note to present itself, and plays them when she truly feels them, or at least, is trying to do that.

[ObeeLektro]

First time the lady sounds most spontaneous full of energy the struggle comes from her obstacles, the dynamics do not feel right yet all this gentleman is doing is pointing out one aspect of a problem and in a settle way pokes fun at her playing. Where is the nurturing guidance with practical clear pointers for the student to over come the problem?

[jhan303]

What obstacle is causing her struggle in the first perf? She's very good apart from how unnatural her dynamics and jerkiness are, which is why he pointed it out. What other aspects of that problem did he miss?

[ObeeLektro]

Precisely see I took you for a spin like you did your self claiming with pro pastures ideas that her playing improved by the third time by being more thoughtful. Thats the folly with clever rationalizing, with some skill a lot of things can be cleverly explained away. Anybody that listens intuitively will hear that her playing does not sound thoughtful. Is this guy paying you to defend this nonsense :) At lease your argumentations hold stronger grounds than the other persons attacks, Cheers.

[jhan303]

You didn't answer my question. You said he's pointing out ONE aspect of her problem. What other aspects is he missing? She's clearly an average player, and I agree with Gary's assessment that her problem is her "turrets (sp?)". I don't think that I'm making a clever observation, just a simple one. the third perf may be dull, but it's natural. Emotion will come in time, WHILE she's rooted in a more feeling oriented, deliberate and natural approach. And no, Gary's not paying me :)

[ObeeLektro]

The fundamental problem does not lie in pointing the problem? That is not what my criticism was. My criticism comes to the lack of explanation by the teacher, how to over come the problem. Any experienced musician can point out whats wrong, but not necessarily communicate successfully how to overcome the problem. Read my first comments. If you can show me his guidance on this footage, you won. this is why the student is trying to figure out on the spot by her self how to overcome the problem ;)

[JAZZSTARish]

@ObeeLektro great teacher interesting concepts..are there any videos of him or any harmony for piano on voicings and what not..will be apprecitated..

[Sbeedbull]

Garry Dial came up through the ranks of lengendary jazz lineage holders Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan, as the piano player in their band for 13 years. Screw up with those guys, you might get punched in the face. These days we all need "nurturing guidance" when we might benefit more from a kick in the pants.

[ObeeLektro]

Can't support the argument so now we resort to violence. That is why the unaware students who cant distinguish a good teacher from a bad one linger on in their ignorance never able to emerge with their own potentials and talents. This is why your comment is how Gary had emerged as a legendary pianist, but what does that have to do with the art of teaching. Cheers :)

[Sbeedbull]

A good teacher is someone who inspires you to play. A bad teacher makes you stop playing. One person's good teacher is another person's bad teacher. Personally, I don't want to be coddled. I want to be challenged. And that's not violent in my opinion.

[ObeeLektro]

I came across many great performers who were clueless as teachers, thats because they had great talent to start with and did not struggle with their musical attainments, but that is not the case for every one. There is a difference between Great teacher and Great performer.

[ObeeLektro]

Do you notice how the teacher describes what the problem is? Thats great, but thats only the first step. What is missing here is the lack of helping the student how to overcome the problem. He is only describing what other great pianists are doing what she should think. Should can not help the student understand the processes to overcome an issue. This teacher is not showing her how to overcome the problem only talks about it. How can this be fully beneficial to a student?

[Vacher12]

what a tit

[celloguy]

Is there sheet music for this?

[BethyeK]

Excellent! Highly recommended!