Have you ever reflected
back to what and who made you…YOU? Of course, your parents and their influence,
however, what are the moments that you’ll never forget that helped sculpt your
soul, your purpose? Your gift from God that you must share with everyone? Yes,
they are all locked up in the fabric of your being.
For me it was music ever
since I can remember. And I was blessed that my mom’s side were musicians and
my dad (a sports buff) still supported the effort. I remember mom standing up for
us when the police came by because the music at rehearsal was too loud. Or my
dad who said after coming to a concert with my band Spartacus; ‘if he had to do
his life over again he’d be a musician’ (I thought wow) then he said ‘because
of all the girls’. Or my wife Bebe a pro singer herself heard my Piano Concerto
‘The Battle of Armageddon’ and said that’s amazing (I thought wow) and then she
said who would listen to that. So even though these were back handed
compliments, they elevated me but kept my feet on the ground as well. It meant
a lot because I knew I had their support.
I have to thank my piano
teachers over the years. They were all different but all amazing. Andy Wietz, a
Julliard School of Music graduate taught me how to really use my left hand and
speed. Julliard also had a recommended teacher's list and I found John
Corrigan, a personal friend of Aaron Copeland who taught me a wide range of
classical composers and music. Then Don Felice Alfino who attended Milan School
of Music in Italy He taught me everything else. He was such a dedicated teacher
that he had a full library of music and psychology books so he could pick and
choose what combination of books were right for the student. He could tell if I
was not myself the minute I walked in the door and would take time to have a
discussion about it. He would come to every lesson in a suit and tie out of
respect to the art and the student (I thought wow).
Then I learned how to
utilize my parent mind (sub-conscious) for my piano playing. That came somewhat
from 3 sources but especially from the one on one teaching of the late Richie
Barathy from American Combat Academy, a martial arts master. He was so
accomplished that he was on the Johnny Carson and Mike Douglas TV shows. Yes, a
martial artist master teaching me how to improve my piano playing (I thought
wow). Developing the parent mind helped me with increased speed and accuracy.
So happy I took Richie up on his offer to teach me these techniques.
Teachers, not just talent,
but talent in teaching can help someone skyrocket. Teachers eliminate you learning
bad technique; they bring out your strengths while using them to help your
weaknesses. They make you feel like part of the process and their encouragement
in priceless. So, find that good teacher or mentor. Needless to say, without
their musical upbringing and the DNA from my mom’s side of the
family…grandfather, godfather and cousins I could have never made The
Tribulation Rock "Operalet"
Desi
www.desbeemusic.com
