Tag Archives: piano

Video – Arlo Guthrie Plays Piano and Sings – City of New Orleans

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A great video of Arlo Guthrie playing piano on his famous track “City of New Orleans”, showcasing Arlo’s voice and piano playing. “City of New Orleans” was written by Steve Goodman. It’s about a train trip from Chicago to New Orleans. Arlo recorded the song in 1972 and it has become one of his biggest hits. Arlo took that train ride for the first time in December of 2005, traveling with other musicians to New Orleans to raise money for local musicians needing help after the devastating Hurricane Katrina.

Arlo Davy Guthrie was born in 1947, in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of the famous singer Woodie Guthrie. Like his father, Arlo is known for singing songs about social injustice. One of his best known songs is “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”, a 18 minute satirical blues song. Arlo Guthrie is best known as a singer, songwriter, and musician. He also has done some acting in films and television. His most noted role was in “Alice’s Restaurant”, an adaptation of his song in which he play’s himself. He has recorded numerous albums and made a huge contribution to American Folk music.

While taking piano lessons and keyboard lessons, some of my students express interest in being able to accompany themselves on piano. There are some basic technique that we work on to make the switch from solo piano to accompaniment. This video is a great example of how to play piano while singing.

Some Songs by Arlo Guthrie
Alice’s Restaurant (1967)
Arlo (1968)
Running Down the Road (1969)
Washington County (1970)
Hobo’s Lullaby (1972)
Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys (1973)

more about Arlo Guthrie

Video – Beginner Classical Piano – Minuet in G – Johann Sebastian Bach

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This video is of the Minuet in G by Johann Sebastian Bach. It comes from a songbook called the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, that Bach had written for his wife.

Beginner piano lessons start off with learning to read music. Once students have achieved some basic skill, we begin looking at the wide variety of styles and pieces that they might like to try. Classical music is a great introduction and Bach is a good choice in learning to play piano and keyboards. The Minuet in G is often the first true classical piece that my students play. It’s a great place to begin.

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer of the Baroque period, and played organ, harpsichord, violin, and viola. He wrote sacred and secular pieces for orchestra, choirs, and solo instruments. He is well known for his unparalleled mastery of contrapuntal technique and his complex use of rhythms and textures in his music. His music was heavily influenced by composers from France and Italy. Some of his well known works include; Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, St John Passion, the Cello Suites, and Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Bach was highly regarded as an organist all throughout Europe. Bach was a prodigious composer. He wrote and arranged hundreds of pieces. His notoriety as a composer was later acknowledged in the beginning of the 19th century and he is now considered one of the most accomplished composers of all time.

more about Johann Sebastian Bach

Video – Mary Lou Williams – Fabulous Solo Blues Piano – 1980

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Here is a wonderful video of Mary Lou Williams playing a great solo blues piece in 1980 at the age of 70. Her playing exhibits strongly developed blues melodies coupled with a beautiful stride left hand.

Piano legend Mary Lou Williams (May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American Jazz piano player, composer, and arranger. She composed hundreds of pieces and arrangements and recorded more than 100 records. She composed music and did arrangements for the bands of Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman. Among her acquaintances were Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and numerous other artists.

Williams was born in Atlanta Georgia. She never took piano lessons, but taught herself how to play. By the age of six, she was already helping to support her family by playing piano at parties. Remarkably, by seven, she has already begun her professional career. By her teens, she was already well known as a performer. At the age of 15, she began playing concerts with Duke Ellington. She impressed everyone around her with her mastery of the keyboard. Famous for her stride piano, Mary Lou Williams’s superb agility on the keyboard brought her great recognition with her peers and fans alike. Her career spanned over 70 years. She recorded with many famous artists, and performed at countless concerts and jazz festivals. Other famous stride piano artists are James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Art Tatum and Willie “The Lion” Smith.

Some Mary Lou Williams Recordings
The Circle Recordings
1944-1945
Solo Recital (Montreux Jazz Festival 1978 – Live)
My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me
Free Spirits
Zoning

more about Mary Lou Williams

norah Jones playing sunrise live in amsterdam

Video – Norah Jones on Piano Playing Sunrise – Live from Amsterdam

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A great video of Norah Jones and her band playing “Sunrise” live from Amsterdam in 2007. Norah plays piano and sings.

Norah Jones is one of the most celebrated and accomplished artists of the day. Famous for her lovely voice and wonderful piano playing, her recordings have made her and overnight sensation. Billboard magazine named her the top Jazz artist for the 2000-2009 decade.

Jones started her professional singing career in 2002, and immediately she was recognized as an extremely talented singer and performer. She started singing in church and taking piano lessons as a child. Norah Jones sang in the High School choir and joined a band. At the University of North Texas, she studied jazz piano and sang with the UNT Jazz Singers group. She then returned to New York City and started a band with Jesse Harris, whom she had begun collaborating with. Her music has been greatly influenced by Billie Holiday and Bill Evans. Norah Jones also writes songs, plays guitar, and has acted in several movies.

Some of most popular songs are:
The Nearness of You
Don’t Know Why
Don’t Miss You at All
I Think It’s Going to Rain Today
Sinkin’ Soon
Cry Me a River

more about Norah Jones

Video Damaso Perez Prado Piano Solo – The King Of Mambo With His Band 1950’s

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A rare video from the early 50’s. The King of Mambo, Dámaso Pérez Prado, playing with his band, and showing his flair in a piano solo.

Dámaso Pérez Prado was born december 11, 1916. He was a cuban bandleader, pianist, singer, organist and composer. He was born in Matanzas, Cuba and is known as the ‘King of the Mambo’. His mother was a school teacher and his father worked at a newspaper. He took classical piano lessons as a child, and later played organ in local clubs. He his career progressed, he played music all over Cuba, Mexico, and the U.S. He made a number of very popular recordings. His playing was known for its fire and expression and was backed up by his brass band. He is most known for his recording of “Mambo Jambo”, a very big hit in the U.S.