PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham

18Jun 2018 by Shelly Davis

PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham

Piano teacher, Wade Cottingham, owner of Lakewood Piano Lab near Dallas, Texas. According to his website, he uses his lab as “a place of discovery and growth”. He is more than the typical piano teacher who interacts with their students in the traditional sense, Wade creates jam sessions where each student learns to use their musical voice.

Listen to the full episode here

Wade's personal piano story...

While there was a baby grand piano in Wade’s childhood home, his mother was reluctant to enroll him in lessons because of the negative experience she had in lessons. He convinced his mom to sign him up for piano lessons but they only lasted three years because he quit to run a paper route. In high school his father arranged lessons with a jazz teacher but that didn’t last very long either.

He was able to study in short spurts with a teacher in London while he was there for a travel study program and a professional pianist in Los Angeles (more on that later).

I played piano growing up and majored in music and English, but became a computer programmer and part time piano player. I got sick of computer programming after 14 years of it, and began teaching part time. I moved to full time teaching in 2002. My teaching experience changed around 2008 or so when I changed my name to “Lakewood Piano Lab”.

Wade remembers his mom’s one piano piece that she enjoyed playing, “My Blue Heaven.”

Were you a good student?

I was a good piano student as a kid until I quit in order to use my afternoons to do a newspaper route. During my one year in high school with a great jazz teacher I was very absorbent and influenced and learned stuff, but he did have to yell at me a little for not practicing. I was a good piano student in college. I argued about having to do technical exercises though.

Wade's teaching style...

What is one thing you often say to your piano students?

Did you go to school today?

Even though I was surprised by Wade’s answer, he explained the practical aspect of this question. If the student didn’t go to school because they were sick then he knows to keep his distance. He still teaches them if they’re sick (within reason)….with caution.

Is there a common struggle your piano parents deal with? How do you help them through it?

No. I look at the process as joy and progress and expression and try to convey that more than how to deal with struggles.

In the audio file, Wade mentions a book he found years ago, “How to get your child to practice (without having to resort to violence).” That book helped him establish his own practice guidelines for parents. He teaches the parents in his studio to follow the assignments he gives their children. Even if parents don’t know music, they can remind their child to follow the assignment.

At one time, years ago, Wade didn’t view parents as the team players he does now. He was frustrated with interruptions from parents during the lesson. This caused confusion for students who didn’t know who they should listen to, parent or teacher.

This is a topic covered in Episode 002: The Parent – Teacher Relationship.

The best scenario for children is when their parents and their teacher are working together with the student to achieve their common goals.

How do you teach new students to play jazz?

For new students, Wade uses the Suzuki method to develop the child’s ear. For music reading, he uses Piano Pronto materials.

At the beginning of a lesson, he will play a short musical phrase and have the student copy what they hear. He trains his students to listen and to be able to reproduce what they hear.

He enjoys teaching students the “Pepperoni Pizza” variation of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in the Suzuki Book 1. He also loves teaching them to play Happy Birthday and the 12-Bar Blues. Often he will play a chord progression and have his student improvise on the black keys.

Here is a video of an improv jam session with Wade and his students.

If you could visit with any composer or musician who would you choose and why?

Wade said he first considered Keith Jarrett, or Bach, or maybe Bob Dylan but ultimately he decided he would like to check in with Tamir Hendelman.

Listen to the podcast episode to hear how he came to have lessons with the man he saw on television playing for Barbra Streisand.

Teacher video recommendation - Tamir Hendelman

What parting words do you have for parents of new students?

True to his surprising form, Wade didn’t give me a conventional answer.

Please read and initial these forms.

His reasoning is if parents read his policy statement and the information he gives them at the beginning of lessons with him, that will save a lot of confusion.

Parents, read the materials your teacher gives you. Make sure you are on board with the practices of their studio. Be a team player with your teacher.