Welcome to the Shed!
THE PIANO SHED is a teaching studio and blog dedicated to jazz, pop, and blues piano.
Check out the BLOG for free lessons, video tutorials, transcriptions, and sheet music. Head on over to LESSONS if you are interested in personalized one-on-one music lessons, available online via Skype or in-person in the Newton-Wellesley, MA area. While you're here, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get the latest updates and blog posts.
My name is Jeff D'Antona, the man behind The Piano Shed.
I've been teaching piano for over 10 years in my private studio, high schools, and community colleges. I have Master's degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College in NYC and a Bachelor's degree in Jazz and African-American Music from UMass Amherst. I believe there's music inside everyone and that we'd all be better off if we let it out a bit more than we do.
The three foundations to my teaching approach are 1) Listening to a students wants and needs 2) Learning fundamentals and skills by learning SONGS rather than boring exercises 3) Exploring creativity. If you want to read a lengthier explanation of my teaching philosophy, check THIS out. It's pretty wordy and academic but, hey, maybe you're into that sort of thing.
In addition to teaching, I also perform with some mighty fine jazz and R&B musicians and as well as my trio. For more info about my CDs and upcoming performances, you can visit MY WEBSITE.
Check out the BLOG for free lessons, video tutorials, transcriptions, and sheet music. Head on over to LESSONS if you are interested in personalized one-on-one music lessons, available online via Skype or in-person in the Newton-Wellesley, MA area. While you're here, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get the latest updates and blog posts.
My name is Jeff D'Antona, the man behind The Piano Shed.
I've been teaching piano for over 10 years in my private studio, high schools, and community colleges. I have Master's degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College in NYC and a Bachelor's degree in Jazz and African-American Music from UMass Amherst. I believe there's music inside everyone and that we'd all be better off if we let it out a bit more than we do.
The three foundations to my teaching approach are 1) Listening to a students wants and needs 2) Learning fundamentals and skills by learning SONGS rather than boring exercises 3) Exploring creativity. If you want to read a lengthier explanation of my teaching philosophy, check THIS out. It's pretty wordy and academic but, hey, maybe you're into that sort of thing.
In addition to teaching, I also perform with some mighty fine jazz and R&B musicians and as well as my trio. For more info about my CDs and upcoming performances, you can visit MY WEBSITE.
What's in a name?
A lot of people ask me: Why the Piano Shed ? Do you have a shed where you teach lessons and have a studio?
The unfortunate answer is that I don't get to teach in a shed, although that would be awesome.
The real reason for the name comes from jazz musician slang: "shed" means to practice. It's really a shortened version of "woodshed" which means to go out back and lock yourself in the woodshed until you can play your instrument or a particular song right. Your instrument, as some of you may know, is sometimes called your axe, so where would you go to sharpen your axe (i.e. practice your instrument)? You guessed it: the (wood)shed.
So there you have it: Shedding is practicing, which, believe it or not, is one of my favorite things in the world to do. When I am alone at the piano (well not SO alone, I'm often accompanied by a caffeinated beverage), I am in heaven. When I practice, I of course have goals, but it becomes about something more than that: I get so into the present moment that it's like a meditation for me. It's pure bliss. I want all of my students to experience the same joy that I do when I sit down to play and practice the piano. And that's what The Piano Shed is all about.
Happy Shedding!
The unfortunate answer is that I don't get to teach in a shed, although that would be awesome.
The real reason for the name comes from jazz musician slang: "shed" means to practice. It's really a shortened version of "woodshed" which means to go out back and lock yourself in the woodshed until you can play your instrument or a particular song right. Your instrument, as some of you may know, is sometimes called your axe, so where would you go to sharpen your axe (i.e. practice your instrument)? You guessed it: the (wood)shed.
So there you have it: Shedding is practicing, which, believe it or not, is one of my favorite things in the world to do. When I am alone at the piano (well not SO alone, I'm often accompanied by a caffeinated beverage), I am in heaven. When I practice, I of course have goals, but it becomes about something more than that: I get so into the present moment that it's like a meditation for me. It's pure bliss. I want all of my students to experience the same joy that I do when I sit down to play and practice the piano. And that's what The Piano Shed is all about.
Happy Shedding!
