ALLAN KALCOV
Who are you, and what do you do? What do you
like to do when you don't practice or play the piano?
like to do when you don't practice or play the piano?
I am Allan Kalcov. I'm 42, I grew up in West London in the UK and at the age of around 32 I moved to Gdynia, Poland where I now live. I manage rental properties in London together with my siblings, I also help Polish people to become more confident in speaking english (conversational english teacher).
Besides piano practising some of my other hobbies and interests include tinkering with my ebikes, playing 5 aside football, spending time in my local forest, sound healing therapy, self help and personal development.
The Wim Hof method (breathwork, cold therapy and strength/flexibility exercises) has also impacted my life positively.
Besides piano practising some of my other hobbies and interests include tinkering with my ebikes, playing 5 aside football, spending time in my local forest, sound healing therapy, self help and personal development.
The Wim Hof method (breathwork, cold therapy and strength/flexibility exercises) has also impacted my life positively.
The jazz cat 🐈🎹
Why do you play jazz piano?
I heard a cocktail jazz pianist play solo jazz for the first time whilst on holiday with my parents it was a quiet hotel lobby and it felt as though the pianist was playing just for us. Coming from classical piano lessons, hearing these new harmonies was magical and awe-inspiring.
What I love about jazz piano is the creative and spontaneous aspect of improvisation, reharmonisation and unique interpretation. What is particularly special is that a piano can almost play the role of a bass player and drums as well, it's more difficult to play bass and drums as a solo instrument, thus making the piano an almost ideal instrument for musical expression.
I also got my first jazz compilation CD from my dad one Christmas with almost all the jazz giants featured on it and heard jazz standards played by a trio live at the 606 Club together with my dad, so in a way our shared love for this brand of music has bonded us.
What I love about jazz piano is the creative and spontaneous aspect of improvisation, reharmonisation and unique interpretation. What is particularly special is that a piano can almost play the role of a bass player and drums as well, it's more difficult to play bass and drums as a solo instrument, thus making the piano an almost ideal instrument for musical expression.
I also got my first jazz compilation CD from my dad one Christmas with almost all the jazz giants featured on it and heard jazz standards played by a trio live at the 606 Club together with my dad, so in a way our shared love for this brand of music has bonded us.
What is your current practice setup?
Where do you prefer to practice?
Where do you prefer to practice?
My main piano practice set up is a Yamaha Avantgrand N2 digital hybrid piano and an iPad 7 for watching the lessons and going through the practice sessions. For the most part I practise downstairs in the living room. The main tools I like use that help me to practise better are the PopJazzOnline google spreadsheet for logging hours practiced, a 25 minute pomodoro timer app on my phone, the inbuilt metronome on my digital piano.
Additional Hardware:
1. Sennheiser HD650 open headphones
2. Yamaha MD-BT01 bluetooth midi adaptor
3. MacBook Air 2020
4. Casio Privia S7000 (mustard yellow) - For playing gigs
5. Shure SM58 Microphone
6. A comfortable adjustable piano stool (velour cover)
7. Marshall Stockwell bluetooth speaker (for playing iReal Pro accompaniment audio)
8. Piano de Voyage Model A (74 keys / 3 modules)
Additional Hardware:
1. Sennheiser HD650 open headphones
2. Yamaha MD-BT01 bluetooth midi adaptor
3. MacBook Air 2020
4. Casio Privia S7000 (mustard yellow) - For playing gigs
5. Shure SM58 Microphone
6. A comfortable adjustable piano stool (velour cover)
7. Marshall Stockwell bluetooth speaker (for playing iReal Pro accompaniment audio)
8. Piano de Voyage Model A (74 keys / 3 modules)
Allan even practice in the garage. No excuses allowed.
What tools and resources do you
use that help you practice better?
use that help you practice better?
1. Modart Pianoteq 8 (Standard package with 5 piano sets unlocked - Steinway D, Steinway B, Petrof, Upright U4, Bechstein.
2. Flowkey piano app (for developing sight reading skills)
3. The iReal Pro app (for the experience of playing in a jazz trio - bass and drums.
4. Synthesia
5. Transcribe!
6. The book: 'Effortless Mastery - Liberating the Master Musician Within' by Kenny Werner (a great book on overcoming personal blockages and learning to play from 'the space' aka the flow state)
2. Flowkey piano app (for developing sight reading skills)
3. The iReal Pro app (for the experience of playing in a jazz trio - bass and drums.
4. Synthesia
5. Transcribe!
6. The book: 'Effortless Mastery - Liberating the Master Musician Within' by Kenny Werner (a great book on overcoming personal blockages and learning to play from 'the space' aka the flow state)
What is your current practice routine?
On a weekly basis my initial aim was to practice 5 - 7 hours. In reality it fluctuates between 3 and 9 hours and sometimes I go weeks without touching the piano.
Usually it happens right after someone asks me how the course is going and I say great, I think I'm finding flow in my practice consistency. ;D
When I do sit down and practise the time is very focused and well spent, a fulfilling experience. I find that using the excel sheet and a stopwatch helps, trying to be mindful of the amount of time spent on warm up vs main practice vs free play.
I probably shouldn't admit this but when I practise I like to wear a crystal around my neck like Citrine or Carnelian for its purported benefits of increased motivation, willpower, optimism and focus.
Probably just a kind of placebo effect, but if it works it works! A cup of hot coffee is always nice too!
Usually it happens right after someone asks me how the course is going and I say great, I think I'm finding flow in my practice consistency. ;D
When I do sit down and practise the time is very focused and well spent, a fulfilling experience. I find that using the excel sheet and a stopwatch helps, trying to be mindful of the amount of time spent on warm up vs main practice vs free play.
I probably shouldn't admit this but when I practise I like to wear a crystal around my neck like Citrine or Carnelian for its purported benefits of increased motivation, willpower, optimism and focus.
Probably just a kind of placebo effect, but if it works it works! A cup of hot coffee is always nice too!
Allan is practicing in the bedroom too!
What have been your biggest AHA moments or breakthroughs for your music?
Problem 0: Learning basic piano technique, sightreading, scales arpeggios, theory
Solution: Classical piano lessons up to Grade 5
Problem 1: Learning how to play from fake books like iRealbook ProSolution: Learning all the basic chord inversions from the encyclopedia of jazz chords by Jack Long. Learning about jazz RH chord voicings, the circle of fifths and A and B chord positions from The Jazz piano book (Mark Levine). Also covered even more effectively by The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course.
Problem 2: Learning how to more easily and effectively improvise over common chord changes.
Solution: Finding out from the The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course about diminshed scales and that I can just use the 1 chord scale on a 1-6-2-5 progression instead of the 1, 2 and 5 scales.
Problem 3: Learning how to play in time so that the music flows
Solution: Finding out from The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course about the importance of practising together with the metronome.
Problem 4: Learning to play something from start to finish
Solution: Finding out from The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course about the importance of this.
Problem 5: Overcoming the tendency when performing to stop playing and repeat the passage where I made a mistake.
Solution: Read some advice somewhere to "treat every mistake as the beginning of your next solo". Also playing along to iReal pro and being tasked with keeping up with the backing track (which waits for no man).
Problem 6: Overcoming getting bored with my own playing
Solution: Inspiration from The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course to introduce more variety with different voicings, scales, chord progressions, dynamics, playing outside etc
Problem 7; Aimless 'practicing'
Solution: Structure provided by The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course.
Problem 8: Adding the rich sound of bass tenths in my playing
Solution: sometimes I like to roll the bass tenth (1-5-10) I just play the root and fifth with my left hand and the bass tenth note with my right hand instead
Problem 9: Overcoming stage fright
Solutions: If at all possible I prefer to use my own piano when playing so I don't get thrown by the unfamiliar touch sensitivity and tactile response of a different one.
If possible warm up well beforehand with scales, voicings etc. Feeling free to turn down people's requests to play if you don't feel like it. Avoiding the temptation of alcohol. If possible shaking out nerves beforehand
Using the 4 out for 8 breathing technique while playing (simplified version of 4-7-8 breathing). Breathe in for 4 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat. Also, Phil from Phil Best Music Youtube channel's advice: Start off playing a bit slower than I normally would, (nerves cause me to speed up my playing) and focus on maintaining a steady rhythm (rather than playing rubato style).
Closing my eyes from time to time allows me to really 'be present' with the music and not getting distracted by what's going on outside this way it's easier to get into the flow state as well.
Problem 10: Overcoming the boredom and rigidity of playing to a metronome
Solution: Playing to the metronome off beat instead of on beat as advised in The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course. Playing standards using iReal pro app.
Problem 11: Growing up in a house with an overly loud and bright acoustic piano, which meant being asked most of the time to keep the noise down and caused anxiety (Am I playing too loud? Am I playing badly? Is the piano out of tune? Waiting for the penny to drop)
Solution: I wholeheartedly recommend getting a silent / hybrid or digital piano with good action like the Yamaha Avantgrand series, Casio GP or Privia S line.
Solution: Classical piano lessons up to Grade 5
Problem 1: Learning how to play from fake books like iRealbook ProSolution: Learning all the basic chord inversions from the encyclopedia of jazz chords by Jack Long. Learning about jazz RH chord voicings, the circle of fifths and A and B chord positions from The Jazz piano book (Mark Levine). Also covered even more effectively by The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course.
Problem 2: Learning how to more easily and effectively improvise over common chord changes.
Solution: Finding out from the The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course about diminshed scales and that I can just use the 1 chord scale on a 1-6-2-5 progression instead of the 1, 2 and 5 scales.
Problem 3: Learning how to play in time so that the music flows
Solution: Finding out from The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course about the importance of practising together with the metronome.
Problem 4: Learning to play something from start to finish
Solution: Finding out from The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course about the importance of this.
Problem 5: Overcoming the tendency when performing to stop playing and repeat the passage where I made a mistake.
Solution: Read some advice somewhere to "treat every mistake as the beginning of your next solo". Also playing along to iReal pro and being tasked with keeping up with the backing track (which waits for no man).
Problem 6: Overcoming getting bored with my own playing
Solution: Inspiration from The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course to introduce more variety with different voicings, scales, chord progressions, dynamics, playing outside etc
Problem 7; Aimless 'practicing'
Solution: Structure provided by The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course.
Problem 8: Adding the rich sound of bass tenths in my playing
Solution: sometimes I like to roll the bass tenth (1-5-10) I just play the root and fifth with my left hand and the bass tenth note with my right hand instead
Problem 9: Overcoming stage fright
Solutions: If at all possible I prefer to use my own piano when playing so I don't get thrown by the unfamiliar touch sensitivity and tactile response of a different one.
If possible warm up well beforehand with scales, voicings etc. Feeling free to turn down people's requests to play if you don't feel like it. Avoiding the temptation of alcohol. If possible shaking out nerves beforehand
Using the 4 out for 8 breathing technique while playing (simplified version of 4-7-8 breathing). Breathe in for 4 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat. Also, Phil from Phil Best Music Youtube channel's advice: Start off playing a bit slower than I normally would, (nerves cause me to speed up my playing) and focus on maintaining a steady rhythm (rather than playing rubato style).
Closing my eyes from time to time allows me to really 'be present' with the music and not getting distracted by what's going on outside this way it's easier to get into the flow state as well.
Problem 10: Overcoming the boredom and rigidity of playing to a metronome
Solution: Playing to the metronome off beat instead of on beat as advised in The Jazz Piano Step-by-Step Course. Playing standards using iReal pro app.
Problem 11: Growing up in a house with an overly loud and bright acoustic piano, which meant being asked most of the time to keep the noise down and caused anxiety (Am I playing too loud? Am I playing badly? Is the piano out of tune? Waiting for the penny to drop)
Solution: I wholeheartedly recommend getting a silent / hybrid or digital piano with good action like the Yamaha Avantgrand series, Casio GP or Privia S line.
Allan even practice in nature. Inspiration for Autumn Leaves?
What have been your biggest AHA moments or breakthroughs for your music?
I want to build up a repertoire and confidence for playing lounge piano at local bars and restaurants.
I also would like to experience playing accompaniment for singers (jazz and pop music).
Finally I would like to explore the possibility of piano playing as a form of sound healing modality based on the research and findings of japanese scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto and other websites entertaining this concept e.g. prayerpiano.com and info online about the solfeggio frequencies
I also would like to experience playing accompaniment for singers (jazz and pop music).
Finally I would like to explore the possibility of piano playing as a form of sound healing modality based on the research and findings of japanese scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto and other websites entertaining this concept e.g. prayerpiano.com and info online about the solfeggio frequencies
Enjoy the coffee, Allan, and thank you for participating!
as
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