The most read posts of 2023
The most rewarding thing about creating No Dead Guys has been how much richer my life has become through the music and words of musicians and music lovers I’ve met around the world. The original mission of the blog was to bring attention to the piano music of living composers. Today that focus has expanded beyond my words and performance videos to include the voices of multiple composers and other pianists. Piano playing and career advice articles have become a significant part of the blog. With these expansions, my original vision evolved from being an individual response to the pieces and composers I love to being a space where the living tradition of writing and playing music is celebrated by many voices, not just my own.
I’ve broken down the most-read posts into three categories: articles, guest articles, and interviews. Thank you for being part of the No Dead Guys adventure. Thank you for subscribing to the blog, sharing posts on social media, and adding comments to articles that speak to you. I wish each of you a most joyous holiday season and look forward to continuing the music journey with you in January. Happy holidays, and happy reading!
Articles
The big list of practice tips for adult pianists.
13 articles in one place that cover everything from practicing mistakes to sight reading tips. Bonus: includes links to two guest articles, one by Howard Smith and one by Doug Hanvey.
Written specifically for classically-trained pianists, this article offers the ins and outs and ups and downs of how to be comfortable playing in a band.
18 performance prep tips for pianists
Preparing for a recital or concert can be unnerving. This article offers step-by-step tips on how to bring your best to each performance.
Guest articles
Jazz Piano Basics: playing by ear.
This guest post by composer and jazz pianist David von Kampen challenges classically trained pianists to free themselves from the fear of improvising and offers concrete steps on how to successfully train oneself to play by ear.
Reimagining the salon concert: intimate live music settings for the twenty-first century. This guest post by composer and pianist Simeon Walker explores the history of salon concerts and celebrates the joy of listening to live music in relaxed settings.
Conversations: a guest post by composer and pianist Garreth Brooke.
This guest post looks to expand our definition of duet playing to include collaborations with AI and a house plant, reminding us that creative music can be found in unlikely places.
Interviews
Union Square: an interview with composer and pianist Jakub Polaczyk
In his music and in the words of this interview, composer and pianist Jakub Polaczyk brings together the cultures of Poland and the United States, his passion for chess and modern art, and his abiding belief in the spiritual aspect of music.
Memento: in interview with composer and pianist Bruce Wolosoff
Composer and pianist Bruce Wolosoff claims that he’s lived long enough to not be ashamed to open his heart and unleash “a beautiful, simply stated tune.” The same can be said of his lyrical words in this interview.
As the Wind Changes: an interview with pianist and composer Elliott Jack Sansom
Composer and pianist Elliott Jack Sansom once wrote, “Music was about feeling free. When I’m playing now, I don’t need to think about anything, it is just bliss.” In his interview he writes of finding his way to the piano, to jazz, and eventually to the Peaceful Piano music that brought him creative fulfillment and outside success.
Photo by Niklas Ohlrogge, courtesy of UpSplash