MusicBasics4Keyboard
544 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago -Greetings from North America. In 1990 I graduated from a small college in New Jersey with a music program where I majored in piano, attended concerts in NYC, and watched my first opera with Luciano Pavarotti. As a keyboard instructor today and big fan of popular music including light opera, I encourage you to watch We Are Family Wednesday nights to hear the exquisite harmonies coming from the stage. Two episodes brought me back to my roots growing up in the 1960s singing along to girl groups like The Supremes. The beat goes on. I love Cher's music. Read my book "Songbird at the Shopping Mall".
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Episodes
The Difference between Passion and Success
August 23, 2021 19:38 - 2 minutes - 2.63 MBWho is best known for saying "I AM THE GREATEST"? He was an American athlete and sports celebrity. Not gonna help you out. Google the expression. When you are taught by other people to be aim at being second best, ask yourself this question. Why do I believe this? Think about the game of bows and arrows. The target is clearly marked. The goal is to hit the bull's eye in order to win. Ignore everything ever written about being No. One (beating competitors) and all psychological studies ever w...
The Power to be a Good Writer
August 23, 2021 19:26 - 1 minute - 1.67 MBWhat does it take to be a good writer? This episode is about the tools needed to be one. Thank you for listening.
Your Rules, Your Life, Your Way
August 22, 2021 16:38 - 1 minute - 1.16 MBThis is the best way to ghost write a coffee table book. Consider the rules for doing business in the film Transporter staring Jason Statham as Frank Martin. He tries to live out his retirement years in the south of France without getting killed by clients who hire him to deliver packages like UPS. Frank believes in three rules. His new girlfriend plays the package, a cook and master of seduction. Together they give new meaning to finding escape routes under fire. Consider this analogy about...
Keeping Your Memories Alive in Books
August 22, 2021 15:53 - 2 minutes - 2.71 MBThis follow-up episode is about ghost writing a coffee table book for family members. This book project took one year to complete. It began with an ancestry report and ended with retirement, going down memory lane, pizza and learning how to play pool. Thank you for listening.
Learning to Cook Pasta Dishes
August 21, 2021 17:11 - 2 minutes - 2.34 MBThis episode is about a pasta cooking course I taught for adults while living and working in Annapolis, Maryland. It was an eight week course sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks beginning October 5, 1995. The first class was held four weeks after approval, not two. Students brought homemade dishes to share and sample penne pasta that was catered. Chef Lila Robinson-Berry, the speaker, prepared hot dishes for a local food market and talked about chicken fettuccini primavera. A...
Italian Music, Comments & Pizza
August 21, 2021 15:51 - 3 minutes - 2.91 MB"Just like a great art piece captures the energy of the moment. This music definitely captures the energy of Italy. Absolutely beautiful work of art. Thank you." Comment by Ascending Earth. More comments in this episode are from Buddha's Lounge on YouTube. Visit my YouTube channel for all kinds of music with short stories about food and wine. Thank you for listening.
Celebrate Life with Great Memories
August 20, 2021 19:27 - 1 minute - 1.82 MBToday's podcast was inspired by a young software developer from Texas visiting a next door neighbor. After we talked, I remembered my job for a tech company in New Jersey with software developers. Every Friday after work during the summer, we gathered together on the balcony for beer and pizza to welcome the weekend. We were close to prepared food for breakfast and lunch at a cafeteria nearby and even closer to beer and wine in the office refrigerator. Software developers are well paid, love...
The Secret Life of a Wine Drinker
August 19, 2021 14:56 - 2 minutes - 2.65 MBWelcome! Future food and wine episodes will be published on Sangria with Me. Today's podcast is about wine terms and my book Live on Tape about interviews with people who work in the wine industry. Thank you for listening.
Ever been to Tuscany?
August 18, 2021 19:37 - 1 minute - 1.74 MBI'd like to know and would welcome your comments. Thank you for listening.
Life on the Front Lawn
August 18, 2021 16:16 - 3 minutes - 3.23 MBThere is more to this story. What measures can homeowners take to protect their precious flowers and fruit trees from deer that come to visit each year looking for food? See the video on my YouTube channel showing these plants protected from deer that cross the front yard at night and during the day in SE Ohio. Guard dogs? Motion detectors? What about smoke trees? Yes! My tree is 100 feet tall and about 60 feet wide providing a natural fence line. Thank you for listening.
Duck L'Orange and the Outdoor Cat
August 18, 2021 15:32 - 2 minutes - 2.17 MBToday's episode is about greeting each new day with morning coffee on the front lawn. Weather permitting. Stay safe, be well. Thank you for listening.
Who's to Blame for these Fleas and Allergies?
August 17, 2021 18:59 - 3 minutes - 3.4 MB"Put the Blame on Mame" is a song by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher, originally written for the classic film noir Gilda in 1946, in which it was sung by the title character, played by Rita Hayworth with the singing voice of Anita Kert Ellis dubbed in. That's one possibility but highly unlikely as a non- member in Actor's Equity. I assume all responsibility and hope Dr. Mercola's herbal repellent flea collars to do their job. I bank on OXYMED's soothing all-purpose wipes to relieve itching fr...
Freschetta Kitchen Fresh Pizza
August 17, 2021 15:03 - 2 minutes - 2.08 MBHighly recommended! If you bake pizza at home and prefer a light and airy dough (without making it yourself), this is the way to go. Can't say enough good things about this "naturally rising crust" for my first time homemade pizza with all the fixings aka toppings. Visit my YouTube channel for the first disco week video. That's me dancing in the kitchen. Let's dance! Thank you for listening.
Monday Night Homemade Pizza - Beginner's Luck
August 16, 2021 18:20 - 1 minute - 1.09 MBSometimes I'm happy, sometimes I blue. My disposition depends on Freschetta when it comes to pizza dough. Today I used the Freschetta brand to make a pizza with all the fixings in my own kitchen. See pictures of this amazing looking pizza with garlic chicken and pepperoni on my YouTube channel with the same name: Pizza4Dad. Opps. I mean Music4Dad. Thanks for listening.
Where do we go from here?
August 16, 2021 14:34 - 2 minutes - 2.62 MBBased on the latest CDC guidelines about the new variant, the message is loud and clear. Vaccines and surgical masks are the best defense. Are there enough surgical masks for every human being in the world to slow down the spread of this virus? If you plan to be with other people it may be the wise thing to do to visit the pharmacy ASAP for masks while supplies last. Thank you for listening.
B is for Biker Bear
August 14, 2021 16:03 - 2 minutes - 2.04 MBIf you grew up in the 1950's, like most children you probably learned your ABC's in public or private schools. If you were lucky, there may also have been children's books to read at home with words and pictures. If you liked to write about your life, you may have kept diaries for many years under lock and key. I was one of those children. I also liked to read everything put in front of me from food labels and instructions to newspapers and textbooks. In the workplace as an adult, I found my...
What's the Secret to Happiness?
August 13, 2021 19:03 - 45 seconds - 720 KBBacon! Wright's Thick Cut Real Wood Hickory Smoked bacon!! It just became apparent there's a link to monetize these podcasts using product names. Next episode will be about Boar's Head pepperoni and my first homemade pizza. This should be interesting. Visit my YouTube channel with the same name to see the results. From cabbage to cupcakes, there are books on Amazon by me with short stories about food and wine and hundreds of pictures. Today, there are red tomatoes on my tomato plants. There ...
Can you Play a Song from Memory?
August 13, 2021 18:01 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MBIn an Britannica article refuting Bach's belief that music can be taught, there is little to no justification for these critical skills: memory, repetition, practice and fingering. Where and how are these skills activated? My theory is that they come from listening followed by action taken and then stored somewhere in the brain. This is about brain fitness if you will. Next, practice. Everyday requires motivation, warmups, determination and a set time for practice. Practice makes permanent....
Birthdays are Good for You!
August 13, 2021 15:21 - 3 minutes - 2.87 MBAfter extensive studies, doctors have reached this conclusion. People who have the most birthdays live the longest. Here's to many more! Source: Hallmark greeting cards because "Hallmark cares". Says so on the back of the card. How about that? This is Irene's favorite question whenever we talk and get together. She's 90 years old and still plays a mean game of pool. Thank you for listening.
Happiness is Fresh Baked Apple Pie
August 12, 2021 15:19 - 3 minutes - 3.03 MBSomeone somewhere once said a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe more, maybe less. But the smell of apple pie with cinnamon coming from the oven evokes an even greater response without uttering a single word. Like chess, this is checkmate for bakers and anyone else willing to learn how to make apple pies. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Thank you for listening.
Sixteen Pears, What Do You Get?
August 11, 2021 16:39 - 54 seconds - 868 KB"Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go! I owe my soul to the company store." If you recognize these lyrics [edited] and melody, you probably grew up watching black and white TV with Ernest Jennings “Tennessee Ernie” Ford, a resonant-voiced baritone and master of good-natured corn during the 1950s and 1960s. Ford's first spiritual album, Hymns, was certified gold in 1959; by 1963 it was the biggest-selling album in Capitol's catalogue. What was Fo...
The Sound of Music from Sweet to Bittersweet
August 10, 2021 17:11 - 2 minutes - 2.18 MBHow would you define your taste in music? Rules-based or beautifully chaotic? Mathematics, chemistry, languages and culinary education are rules-based. When it comes to music, there are probably more musicians who are self-taught than there are stars in the sky. Without knowing the fundamentals of music notation, writing down your own songs (to remember) poses many challenges. One option is to make a recording. Your compositions need to be nurtured by a witness. With great music in his head ...
Growing up on a Farm
August 09, 2021 15:33 - 1 minute - 1.54 MBMy father grew up on a farm in SE Ohio during the great Depression. He was one of seven siblings who learned about growing things at a very early age. During one visit to the farmhouse where they lived, I fed the chickens. Within minutes there was a blister on my right thumb from the corn cob I was given to feed them. What I remember is that it was yellow corn, not white. Seemed wonderful at the time. Knowing about chicken feed in farm supply stores across the land makes it seem primitive un...
Is Music Learnable and Teachable?
August 08, 2021 14:25 - 2 minutes - 2.68 MBJohannes S. Bach believed music is learnable and teachable. However, an author for Encyclopedia Britannica refuted this notion. Northeastern Bible College is where I was trained in theory, advanced conducting and classical piano. It was formerly located in the small community of Essex Fells, New Jersey. Click on the YouTube video title Warming up with Cat Paws where I attempt to play harmony to a pre-recorded demo on my Yamaha portable electronic grand piano DGX-640. Thanks for listening.
Masters of Encouragement
August 07, 2021 18:12 - 2 minutes - 2.14 MBWhen you need help growing things, who do you call? Ghostbusters! Nope. When it's about trees, contact other people who grow things, garden centers, certified arborists and friends who are masters of encouragement. See pictures from this episode on my YouTube channel with the same name Music4Dad. Click on the video with the episode title: Masters of Encouragement. Please leave comments there. People is Barbra Streisand's signature song from the film Funny Girl released in 1965. Thank you for...
About Trees & Being a Happy Homeowner
August 07, 2021 03:45 - 2 minutes - 1.94 MBThank you for listening to this episode about birds, hawks, caring for trees and home ownership. Remember to visit my YouTube channel with the same name as this podcast Music4Dad. See the pictures behind the stories in each episode.
Thursday Night's Pasta & Pizza Dinner
August 05, 2021 17:31 - 2 minutes - 2.68 MBWhat could possibly go wrong? Remember to watch the video on my YouTube channel with the same episode title. This is where pictures with the audio bring this episode to life in real or virtual time however you want to look at it. The channel name is Music4Dad. Comments by viewers are allowed in most cases. Thank you for listening.
Spicy Vegetable Couscous for Mediterranean Night
August 04, 2021 16:18 - 3 minutes - 3.05 MBHere's the recipe from my cookbook for couscous to serve with marinated shish kabobs. It is easier than making it by hand in a two-tiered steamer. Step 1: bring chicken broth to a boil. Stir in couscous and remove from heat. Let stand, covered for five minutes. Step 2: Place zucchini, red onion, grated carrots and one minced garlic clove into a large skillet with 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil. Cook and stir five minutes or until tender. Step 3: Add beans, seasonings and couscous. Cook and ...
Menu Planning for Mediterranean Night
August 03, 2021 23:25 - 2 minutes - 2.01 MBThank you for tuning into today's podcast. Please visit my YouTube channel for pictures of actual dishes for tomorrow night's Mediterranean night under the kiwi fruit tree. You may be inspired to create your own dinner menu wherever you are in a backyard, patio, deck or in your kitchen. Thank you for listening.
A Feel Good Day
August 02, 2021 19:02 - 52 seconds - 826 KBToday's episode is about having a feel good day. What does this mean? It means writing a to-do list starting with morning coffee. That's what I do everyday that I can remember looking back. Running to catch the subway when I worked in New York City meant stopping by the food truck near the station for coffee and a toasted English muffin. It meant having another cup at my desk from the coffee room in the office where I worked as a legal secretary or administrative assistant. Seems coffee was ...
Listening to the Sound of Silence
August 01, 2021 17:10 - 2 minutes - 2.66 MBThank you for listening to today's podcast about growing fruit in my backyard. It's about the sound of silence in SE Ohio without earbuds attached to a smartphone on a quiet Sunday morning. It could change at any moment by the sound of lawn tractors or trumpet practice by the boy next door. Reminds me of the movie City Slickers. Things changed from a quiet breakfast in New Mexico to a cattle stampede when Billy Crystal turned on his coffee bean grinder. Afterwards, Jack Palance, the cattle b...
Bach Prelude in C Major
July 30, 2021 23:35 - 2 minutes - 2.1 MBWhat do we know about Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). He was born in Eisenach, Germany, composer of the Baroque era, and the most celebrated member of a large family of north German musicians. In 1695, when he was just nine years old, his parents died. He was sent to live with his brother, Johann Christoph, an organist. Johann Sebastian Bach had a prestigious musical lineage and took on various organist positions during the early 18th century, creating famous compositions like "Toccata an...
Today's Heat Wave, Gas Prices & Learning to Listen while Playing Piano
July 28, 2021 21:45 - 3 minutes - 3.1 MBLearning to listen goes back to early childhood. Think about it for a moment. When it comes to playing piano, finding the right key and reading sheet music is as much about listening as it is about playing. Tune in to the next episode when I will demonstrate the importance of listening while playing each note on the keyboard. Meanwhile, this episode also covers the heat wave moving across the United States. During today's trip to Sam's Club, there were noticeably fewer shoppers indoors and m...
Music Means Commitment
July 27, 2021 22:35 - 4 minutes - 3.81 MBIncrease your practice time enjoyment by playing piano along with recorded music. Play songs you know with or without sheet music at every level. Remember to quit while you're ahead. Don't worry about making fingering mistakes and keeping up with the indicated tempo. It's normal to lose your place while sight reading and playing. Believe ear training is important in the learning process and there is magic in your fingers and hands. Start by finding middle C. With regular practice music can b...
Piano Lesson No. 2 - Recording Your Practice Sessions
July 27, 2021 15:14 - 31 seconds - 492 KBSome digital keyboards come with more sounds than piano. On my Yamaha Portable Grand DGX-640 they are called voices. In this episode you will hear a brief presentation using drum kits no. 143. If there are children or grandchildren in your family or neighborhood with an interest in music and little fingers, this is a good introduction to the keyboard. Digital pianos, after all, are about having fun while learning to master the instrument. For classical piano students, continue working on sca...
Piano to Puccini Group Lesson No. 1
July 27, 2021 00:27 - 4 minutes - 4.62 MBToday we get down to business about ear training and playing piano. Consider reading my coffee table book "From Piano to Puccini" about music education, music programs and my performance singing opera at the Colony Square Shopping Mall. Think of it as a plan for success. In this episode I explain how to record and share a practice session that can be heard by me. Publish them as a podcast or make them private or public on your YouTube channel. It's up to you. Join the music group on my Faceb...
Bach Prelude and Morning Quiche
July 24, 2021 19:16 - 3 minutes - 3.41 MBWhat is the secret to a happy life? Music by Bach and bacon. Not just any bacon, mind you. It must be real wood smoked and thick cut like the Wright brand. Their thickest cut. Use this bacon with burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and Quiche Lorraine. What is music4Dad all about? Music and entertainment with a food and wine theme. Today's podcast was published on an empty stomach. Good thing there is plenty of bacon on hand preventing me from food shopping. It doesn't take much for this food...
Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
July 23, 2021 20:31 - 3 minutes - 2.84 MBWhat does it take to become a musician? Johannes Sebastian Bach believed anyone could learn to play a musical instrument if they were teachable and worked hard. The Encyclopedia Britannica published an review by an author with an opposing viewpoint including six skills needed to play a musical instrument. They are raw talent, imagination, psychological disposition, judgment, skill and experience. The author concluded that music is unteachable and unlearnable. What do you think? On a scale of...
Married to a Musician
July 22, 2021 18:15 - 3 minutes - 2.87 MBMeet the author. Thank you for tuning in to today's podcast about my life as a musician. What is that? The Internet defines it as a person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented. Example: "Your father was a fine musician." Perhaps this describes you, a member of your family, a teacher or orchestra leader. I've known two orchestra leaders in my lifetime, one from New Jersey and the other from New York who was Greek. After several private bouzouki ...
Married to a Witness
July 22, 2021 15:40 - 2 minutes - 2.37 MBWelcome to today's podcast about the role of witnessing in relationships. Everywhere we turn today there are cameras pointed at us recording our behavior. Too much or too little? Today's technology makes being unobserved nearly impossible. Watching movies is a form of witnessing. Writers, artists and musicians who live alone may want to give this matter some serious thought before partnering up with another person. It may take longer to adjust after spending most days and nights being in th...
Finding Love on the Internet
July 21, 2021 22:18 - 3 minutes - 3.59 MBToday's podcast is about romantic movies and finding love on the Internet. Here is one summary from Sleepless in Seattle with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan from Imdb - International Movie Database. Summary (edited): It was Christmas eve when Sam (Tom Hanks) pours out his heart on a national radio talk show about his magical and perfect marriage to Maggie. Sam is an architect. Eighteen months after her untimely death, he still misses her. Annie (Meg Ryan), who is already engaged to be married to W...
Change Things Up to Play Piano
June 06, 2021 17:51 - 4 minutes - 4.14 MBThere are three ways to learn to play piano. First, practice in a quiet room without distractions – real or imagined. Second, stay hydrated. Take breaks with your favorite beverage. Learning to play piano is hard work for most students of any age. Third, change things up regarding a practice schedule. Suggested ways to do this are described here and on video at my YouTube channel with the same name: Music4dad. Your playing will improve over time when you give it your all. You’ll be happy eve...
The Language of Music: Lyricism
June 02, 2021 21:47 - 3 minutes - 2.98 MBIt may be difficult for some listeners to adequately define lyric and dramatic musical expression. Drama is often associated with theatrical excitement. Consider moments of great tension in movies and operas that are accompanied by music that is tense and exciting. The fire and spirit of a fuoco (Italian - a burning passion in a figurative sense. Source: Daily Italian Words) and the grandeur and majesty of a grandioso are just two ways to express drama in the language of music. In short, the...
Music for a Sunday afternoon
May 30, 2021 21:41 - 2 minutes - 1.93 MBThis episode is also available as a blog post: https://music4dadcom.wordpress.com/2021/05/30/music-for-a-sunday-afternoon/