Allow me to introduce you to the talented Mark Shilansky - pianist, composer, songwriter, singer, raconteur (in the true definition of the word ... not some Jack White side-project kind o' way).
What can I say about a man who shares most (if not all) of my outspoken opinions about music and songwriting?
"Hallelujah!" is what I can say! "Finally!" is another word that comes to mind ...
Mark is a prof at Berklee and at the University of New Hampshire. He's got many irons in the fire. Two of my favorites are his Talking Music Podcast and his new album project called Run to Me (asking one of the most intriguing musical questions to date: What if Steely Dan and Elvis Costello came to a party at Billy Joel's house?).
You can hear Mark's playing on my No Love Lost album. He's ALL about the tasteful, beautiful melodic line or chordal phrase that just kills you.
Mark is a musician's musician. I am proud to know him and I sincerely hope that one day he and I write the duet to end all duets!
Here are his answers to the Tenacity questions:
"Kate:
1) I'd have to say the main thing was to play SIMPLE (3-4 note) patterns or chord voicings in ALL 12 KEYS! This way I'd learn a new sound very thoroughly, regardless of how it felt under my hands. Also, playing melodic lines I was learning in BOTH HANDS really helped me digest and hear the melodies. We have so much stuff to learn, that breaking it down into components and focusing on one or two each week is really the best, least intimidating way to go about it. I got into this approach mid-way thru grad school at NEC, and it really super-charged my playing.
2) I'd like to ask this of Bill Frisell (gtr) or Brad Mehldau (pno) or Elvis Costello in the music world. Also, in other worlds: Christian Bale, Helen Mirren, Woody Allen, Martin Scorcese, Milan Kundera, Nick Hornby."
What is Tenacity?
The quality or fact of being very determined; determination
Tenacity is also a series of short blog posts about my favorite players, musicians, athletes, artists, songwriters, entrepreneurs, writers, excellent people, etc. The (short, sweet and practical) posts will explore how they got to be so damn good at what they do and what made a difference for them along the way.
