Life is Grand, Baby!: Notes on Performing

“Paul Toshner is a pianist who mastered his instrument and performance with great skill, and with what seems like endless creativity. I recommend reading his book whether if you are a musician or not! Paul’s book "Life is grand baby" is not only a great practical guide for performers, but it holistically covers many aspects of performance and life altogether. It teaches you how to set up your gear, but also how to handle different situations in life, onstage and off. How to deal with people, how to deal with stress, how to be present – in the moment, how to open yourself to what life has to give, and much more. It could be read as a practical guide for performance but also as a parable, a guide for dealing with life. It is practical, spiritual, poetic, addresses the human psyche, written with wit and humor, easy to connect to and creative. It is well rounded – it exposes you to little details you wouldn't necessarily think of on your own as a beginning performer!”
Rivka Macales,
composer, pianist and music theory teacher.

"I cant believe the level of artistry you're bringing to the people in these residential homes. I bet they'd never seen anything like it before".
Joe Tepperman
Author, theater writer, speech engineer

This book is for the frontman, bandleader, or soloist. Someone who takes responsibility for the flow, pace, structure, material selection, engagement, and many dynamics relating to audience relationship. It addresses the need to be concerned with the way something is delivered as much as what and where it is being delivered.

Paul shares modes of understanding, both technically and spiritually in his book, along with memoirs and insights on the intimate performance of song from a real-life Piano Man.

Playing a song is like in playing golf or shooting pool, if you take a somewhat “distance attachment” approach, you pot more frequently. All the better when combined with “a dose of judgement”, and is best if you can simultaneously apply “care”.

An artist in the room is responding to, and/or intertwined with, what’s happening with the people in the room, there is an exchange taking place. Don’t be put off because music was highjacked by the DJs, so of course, there is a greater need than ever for live music and musicians. I have seen all ages responding in the most loving ways as to suggest that people crave live music and musicians. The DJ is to the musician, like the photographer to the painter; limited and compromised as an artist.

Being an artist is being true to yourself in your performance, however it suits you at the time. Entertaining is paying attention to people; giving to them, and caring about them.

I hope my range of experience can be useful to ease a path for performers to deliver meaningful material. To help people put their mind to what they really want to do. To marry the logistical side of performance with the art. If you want to exercise any authority, then natural talent only gets you so far; it doesn’t take you all the way. You also won’t get all things right all in one gig, but enclosed are helpful ideas to review from time to time.

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