The one thing all of my students would most likely say about
me is that I am full of…..analogies. Part of my success in teaching is my
ability to explain concepts in many different ways, which includes many
analogies and repeated statements, which have evolved into sayings. Here are a
few to whet your appetite:
Play a brain/instrument duet with yourself in unison.
Air is to sound what water is to the surfboard.
It is never as good as you think and it is never as bad as
you think.
Be a salesman, selling sound. Tell a story. Take a chance.
Listen to yourself with the ears of the audience.
When performing solos with piano…lead, don’t follow.
You must be able to demonstrate that you know the rules
before you are allowed to break them.
All your playing must match your best playing.
The audience hears with its eyes. Stay in character. No
faces. Bow and smile.
Hard work and thought beats talent. The best is to have all
three.
The ruler of the kingdom is King Air. Don’t allow Slide Guy
or Tongue Guy to influence King Air.
Don’t articulate with your air.
Keep energy in the air at all dynamics and ranges. Energy
does not equal speed, but rather torque.
Keep air ample and appropriate.
Develop a “pre-shot ritual.” Don’t start playing before you
are ready.