Free Piano Tutorials Now Available

I'm so excited about the free tutorials now available on my website!  (Disclaimer:  Not intended to replace a qualified piano teacher!) 

The first offering features a song I started writing when I was a teenager--I call it "C minor Theme and Variations".  It's a powerful song that has become a favorite of my piano students--especially the young men.  Here's a video demo (on YouTube) of my daughter, Stephanie, playing it at 15 years old.

The song has a classical feel to it, and the intensity makes it sound more difficult than it is. I recorded the tutorials to walk intermediate pianists through the music, offering lots of extra tips along the way.

These tutorials are an excellent example of my teaching style, and I hope they will encourage budding musicians to try this newly available song!  The sheet music for "C minor Theme and Variations" is available for purchase on my new eStore.  (The payment info is handled by PayPal, so it's secure!)

My Better Half

I've had clients tell me it was worth hiring me just to get to deal with my wife, Becky.  I know what they mean!  She is consistently sweet, encouraging and cheerful, not just to all of my clients and piano students but to us (her family) as well.  She somehow manages to homeschool our five children (all born the "natural" therefore painful way and without pain meds - wow!), handle my scheduling/bookkeeping, design and maintain my website (which she learned how to do one week before it was up), and through it all somehow increase in beauty (inner and outer) through 19 years of marriage!  Any helpful material on this blog or my website has come through at least her incredible editing, and very possibly was mostly written by her (she often says, "Honey, I've heard you talking about this lately, so I put some of your thoughts down on paper - is this what you'd say?"). 

And on top of all that, she keeps reading/studying so she's growing and interesting to talk to (see, if she was editing this I probably wouldn't have a dangling preposition here :-).  Becky is still my best friend, the one I can't wait to go over new ideas with - I know she'll be encouraging and yet still provoke me to dig deeper and refine my thinking. 

Oh, and because it was hurting my wrists (therefore my livelihood), she mustered the kids and managed to install new flooring (which she got at an INCREDIBLE discount) and repaint most of the house interior.  AND, because she loves the products and helping people and wanted to help with the family budget she's recently become an independent Mary Kay consultant (shameless plug - www.marykay.com/becky.redmond).  Did I mention her smile that lights up the entire room (with or without Mary Kay makeup :-)?? 

WOW!  Can you tell I'm impressed by my wife?!  As always, God says it better in His Word than I ever could:

Proverbs 31:10-12, 26-29 (ESV) -
"An excellent wife who can find?  She is far more precious than jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.  ... She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'" 

And I say YES to all that about Becky!

Happy Mother's Day, sweetie!

SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME TO START PIANO LESSONS!

I generally have a full teaching schedule, so summer is the best time to move off of my waiting list and onto my teaching schedule. If you're interested in piano lessons, now is the time to contact me. Summer is a time for changes...graduations, moves, and extended vacations all present an opportunity for new students to secure a spot in my teaching schedule.

As a professional musician, I teach all year. Summer lessons are a great way to get a strong start in piano. So often, parents start piano lessons for their children in the fall, when they are adjusting to new teachers, new activities, and busy schedules. Starting piano lessons in summer allows the student to accomplish some victories and establish good habits before diving into all the school-related activities as well.

I teach children, adults, beginners and advanced students. My full-time committment to teaching provides opportunities for homeschooled students to take lessons as part of their school day as well. For interested families, I provide a description and grade to include as part of the child's annual evaluation. (My wife and I homeschool our 5 children.)

I happily make house calls for a reasonable travel fee. I have students all over North Central Florida--Gainesville, Ocala, Keystone Heights, Melrose, Newberry, Town of Tioga, and Lake City. I also teach at my home studio. See my website for rates and details!

Great Engagement Party for Trey and Allison

Last night I played piano and sang for Trey and Allison's engagement party in Trey's parents' beautiful home (on their wonderful Yamaha Baby Grand :-).  I got to play/sing for about 4-1/2 hours, so I got to do a LOT of great music!  Along with some wonderful new love songs from different types of music, I got to play/sing a lot of the old "standards"; great love songs that have been done for the past 40-60 years. 

It was a special treat to have the future groom's grandfather (92 years young), Tony, there.  He played trumpet with several top-notch players/singers from yesteryear, and heard live many of the jazz/swing legends at places like the Apollo Theater and The Savoy!  I'd play a song (and sometimes he'd sing along, or sing a cool trumpet part that he used to play) and he'd tell me things like, "I heard Count Basie and his orchestra play that live years ago..." - WOW! 

Thanks to Alan and Lauretta for having me play/sing, and congrats to Trey and Allison!

The Cherished Bride...an Unforgettable Bridal Event!

The Cherished Bride is an elegant event that you won't want to miss if you're planning a wedding in the Central/North Central Florida area!

Please join us for The Cherished Bride on Oct 18th, 2009, from noon to 4pm at the Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, FL.  Meet some of the best wedding professionals in the area, and sample their work.  I'll be playing piano, singing, and meeting potential clients at this beautiful event. 

I'm offering a 10% discount for those who book me for their wedding, reception, and/or rehearsal dinner at this event.  Other vendors will also be offering discounts, and door prizes will be awarded.

Enjoy the wedding fashion show, the gorgeous Black Diamond Ranch, and the wonderful vendors.  You can find more information at the website!

Lock In Current Tuition for Piano Lessons!

If you've been considering piano lessons, now is a great time to sign up!  Lesson tuition will be going up in January, but I'm keeping tuition the same for my current students, and those who sign up before January. 

I've been reluctant to raise my rates, because I'd love for lessons to be affordable for all families of all sizes, but I've fallen behind the market price at just $60/month, and I've got children of my own to support.  So in Jan, I'll be closing that tuition gap for new students. 

I teach beginners all the way through advanced students.  I can help you learn to play by ear, to compose your own music, to arrange other's songs, and read chords.  I've been teaching for more than 2 decades now, and have seen incredible results, especially for motivated students! 

I teach during the school day, as well as during "prime-time" after school hours, so homeschool students can have lessons as part of their school day.  I make house calls for a reasonable travel fee.  Most of my students prefer to have me teach in their homes. 

My route includes Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Keystone Heights and Melrose, Town of Tioga and Newberry, with other stops along the way. 

Music is such an amazing gift!  I love to play piano, and I love to teach others to play.  As a professional musician, I make my full-time living teaching piano and playing for events.  You can find more information on my website, and find samples of my playing on the Wedding Ceremony Music page. 

Jeannie and Mike - May 23, 2009

Jeannie and Mike had a very special, God-honoring wedding at their church.

Because of the setting, I played only classical and Christian songs during the Prelude (as the guests were seated).

The families were seated as I played Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, then the wedding party entered to Pachelbel's Canon in D. Jeannie entered to the traditional Bridal Chorus by Wagner.

From the piano, I led the guests in singing As the Deer. A bit later in the ceremony, I sang and played The Lord's Prayer.

We closed the ceremony in a unique way - all the guests gathered in a large circle, joining hands. From the piano, I led them in singing the hymn Blest Be the Tie That Binds. Then while I continued the song, the wedding party exited, followed by the guests. It turned out beautifully!