The Baker's Dozen

Dear Reader –

I met another Dad at my son’s football training last weekend. His son comes to me for lessons, and he asked me if, for example, I wrote a hit song that set me up financially for life, would I still teach piano? So I decided today’s letter would be about life as a piano teacher.

*All hyperlinks will be in bold.

The Big Thing

The big thing in this regard is that since last month, we are able to teach in-person again. Which if I’m honest, is amazing. It’s so nice to see everyone. Some are at the stage of life where they have shot up since I last saw them before Christmas, others have long stopped growing but possibly need music in their lives more than ever.

And they are keen! A mother of one of my students told me that her daughter recently told her with pride that she was now an ear player, not a sheet music player. And while of course it’s possible to be both, I loved how playing the piano was now becoming part of this girl’s identity.

Then last weekend, another lady who learns online with me posted a video on our community page. She was playing the accompaniment part to Lady Gaga’s Always Remember Us This Way while her 10 yr-old daughter sang it. Introducing music to the home – just brilliant.

I’ll be opening some slots to new students in the month of June. More in the What’s New section below.

Where else but Sligo?

It’s always magic to gig with a former student. This was after a famous session in Furey’s in 2015 and it was great to share it with Jos.

Sligo is full of talented pianists. And while I can’t claim credit for the capabilities of many of the below musicians, it’s always nice to see some former students maintain an interest in music as they get older.

Everyone in the baker’s dozen listed below is working professionally, semi-professionally or currently studying at third level to do so. Check out each person’s playing by clicking on their name. I’m sure it’s not an exhaustive list either so please let me know of any other names that should be here…

Conor Bastible, Graeme Bourke, Niamh Crowley (also featured in vid below), Sarah Crummy, Leonard Dorrian, Rhona Grimes, Annette Hayden, Darragh Houston, Nils Kavanagh, Jos Kelly, Claire Loftus, Gavan Muldoon, Charles O’Connor.

And if you’re in a position to do so, why not book one of them for an outdoor gig this summer? I’m sure we will remember how to play after all these months.

Won’t we?

What’s New?

1. The last featured song on pianowithkieran.com this season is Elton John’s I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues. Learn the melody here, or test your musical ear here.

2. I have some space to teach new students in the month of June. Send an email to kieran@kieranquinn.ie if you or someone you know is interested. Or if you would like to join our adult learning community, have a look at pianowithkieran.com - there’s a special welcome offer here.

3. Finally, in non piano-related news, I’d like to wish my In The Lamplight colleague and friend Rory Maitland all the best with the launch of his new venture TemperHound Productions. Visual storytellers like no other.

Speaking of learning piano, here’s one I’ve been working on…

Brad Mehldau (piano) and Chris Thile (mandolin and vocals) covering Bob Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice.

So, to bring it all back - would if I still teach piano if I wrote that hit song?

I wouldn’t think twice.

Till next time everyone - Kieran.

Sent from Sligo.

God's Favourite Chord?

Dear Readers –

So I have a big question for you all to start today’s letter....

What is God’s favourite chord??

I’ll tell you the answer later, but for now come with me through the letter’s more regular features.

The Big Thing

So some weeks there is no big thing to talk about. Some weeks you’re in the kitchen cooking things up. Preparing, organising, recording, planning. And last week was one of those weeks. And while I’m really looking forward to serving up these meals in the next while, this week you’ll be going hungry I’m afraid.

Well…apart from this new theme tune. Luke Devaney and I put it together for our In The Lamplight Podcast, and we think it’s THE one. Well it will be when Luke adds a few more instruments to it.

For a bit of context, we did like our first attempt at a theme tune for the show, but we figured after a while that we needed something snappier and more fun.

Myself, Rory and Luke (left to right) outside the Hawk’s Well Theatre after recording Season 2 of In The Lamplight there last month.

Where else but Sligo?

Speaking of theme tunes, the first band I was in when I moved to Sligo in 2007 was called The Odd Couple. A classic jazz trio (piano/bass/drums), playing theme tunes was our gig. Hill St. Blues, Match Of The Day, The Flintstones, we even threw in the iconic Sunday Game theme tune. Nothing was safe.

Francie Lenehan came in to see our gig one night. Francie is now nearer the end of his career than the beginning, and has been an inspiration to countless Sligo musicians over the years. But he is a country and rock ‘n’ roll guitar player, and so to see him at our gig was a bit of a surprise.

But he sat there for the night, and came up to me afterwards and complimented me on my playing and on the set. “No-one is doing what ye are doing”, he said.

And while the fact that we were the only jazz trio playing slightly obscure theme tunes in Sligo was no surprise, I took two things from Francie that night that have stayed with me.

Firstly, it’s never any harm to do what no-one else is doing.

And secondly, that a community is enhanced with cross-pollination. When a local legend of a rock ‘n’ roll musician comes to see a jazz gig, it sends the message that in this town we all support each other, no matter what type of music each of us plays. And that is something this town does very well.

I recently came across the below video of us playing our mash-up of the themes from The Simpsons and Sex And The City. From 2012. Thanks to Kris Manulak for this footage!

What’s New This Week?

1. For 2021, each quarter I will be releasing 3 new compositions/arrangements. Work is underway on the current batch, but here is a playlist of the first 3.

2. Season 2 of In The Lamplight is up and running. You can now listen to our two most recent episodes, featuring Marie O’Byrne and Those Nervous Animals.

3. And thanks to everyone who submitted responses to my request for a title for this tune. I have received some great ones, including “Dancing in the Drizzle”, “Soldiering On”, “Whiling Away” and “Swans Sliding (down the Garavogue)”. If anyone has any more suggestions please email them on to kieran@kieranquinn.ie

Finally, since we’re on the topic of jazz trios…

…here is my favourite of the genre – Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen. If you don’t want to watch the whole vid, just listen for a minute or so from 2:01 on. Musical heaven.

Oh and speaking of heaven - that reminds me…

God’s favourite chord? Well it has to be Gsus doesn’t it?

Till next time everyone - Kieran.

Sent from Sligo.