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May 2020 Member Spotlight - David Moody


Chris W

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Hi everyone,

Hope you have all had a great week! So we have come to the Member Spotlight for May - and this one goes to......

David Moody!

David has made loads of progress with his piano playing, regularly posts videos on the Facebook page and takes part in the Member Challenges.  He offers loads of encouragement to other piano players and has inspired many members with his piano playing.  

So please do congratulate David in the comments section below, on this well deserved member spotlight!

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1.    Where are you from?

•    I live in Phuket, Thailand, but I am originally from the Hunter Valley region of N.S.W, Australia. I’ve been living in Phuket for almost 14 years. My wife is Thai, and she is the pastor of the Thai congregation in our church.

2.    When did you start playing piano?

•    I started learning piano perhaps a few months before my 8th birthday. I’m almost 47 now…

3.    What got you interested in learning music?

•    I grew up listening to records being played by my parents, Elvis, Bing Crosby, and a variety of other artists, but we had an old Mendelssohn upright piano (similar to this one https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7baLLlTfwCY/SxB2F6QV_ZI/AAAAAAAAAKM/sEiOsmq3_8E/s1600/800px-Klavier_nah_offen.jpg though not quite as ornate and with only two pedals). Grandpa wanted Mum to learn when she was young, but she hated learning, but still had the piano. I used to bang away on the keyboard making loads of noise. My parents got fed up with the noise so sent me off for lessons!

4.    What is your favourite style of piano music? 

•    That’s very hard to answer. I love a variety of styles, though Ragtime is great fun for sure, and I love Jazz, including swing. If I sit and play anything more often though it would be modern praise and worship music from Hillsong, Bethel (Redding), Chris Tomlin, that kind of thing.

5.    Do you have any favourite pieces to play?

•    ‘Our Father’ and ‘No Longer Slaves’ from Bethel, and the rework of ‘God Is So Good’. Apart from the Christian music I am really enjoying trying to learn the Int/Adv arrangements by Jonny of Fly Me To The Moon, Hallelujah, and Let It Go.

6.    What has most helped you most in improving as a pianist?

•    I was stagnant for many years, I’d hit a wall that I just couldn’t break through, until I found PWJ. I bought one course, Contemporary Improvisation, which was a revelation. Then since it was close to Christmas I bought O Christmas Tree swing jazz course, which was incredible to do. After that I decided I just had to get full membership, I’m in my second year now. 

7.    Do you have any tips for other PWJ members?

•    Keep practicing, don’t give up. You might hit a wall for a while, but at some point you will break through. It’s just like being an athlete. It’s not just about knowing where the keys are, you’ve got to build up flexibility, strength, resilience, in your fingers and hands, and this can take time. “Never give up! Never surrender!” (https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b5/78/f4/b578f4df2af017c8cc41a547bc8176fb.jpg)

8.    What is your favourite part of the PWJ Membership?

•    Variety of choices of things to learn, and the superb support from the Facebook Group & the community forum.

9.    What are your future music goals?

•    Just to keep improving my skills. I just enjoy playing. My wife sings too, we often lead praise and worship in our church, so it would be great to be able to do more together, perhaps doing stuff on YouTube.

10.    Do you have any words you try to live by or a favourite quote?

•    I live by the Bible, but as far as quotes are concerned, I really like this one: "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain. It sums up the Bible quite well I think.


 

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David, congratulations on getting the Student Spotlight!! I could not pick a student more deserving of this recognition than you. Thank you for your constant encouragement and support in the PWJ community. 

I really enjoyed reading your responses, and I especially like the tips you give to our PWJ students about building flexibility, strength, and resilience. And the quote at the end from Mark Twain is so true! Keep up the amazing work David!

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Hey David, lovely to get to know you better 😀 Thailand must be an amazing place to live. I didn't realise you were in that part of the world! Your quote is definitely true! And once you figure out what you were born to do, you'd better get out there and do it!! (....I'm off to practice... 😆)

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Thank you

21 hours ago, Jonny May said:

David, congratulations on getting the Student Spotlight!! I could not pick a student more deserving of this recognition than you. Thank you for your constant encouragement and support in the PWJ community. 

I really enjoyed reading your responses, and I especially like the tips you give to our PWJ students about building flexibility, strength, and resilience. And the quote at the end from Mark Twain is so true! Keep up the amazing work David!

Thanks heaps 🙂

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21 hours ago, Emma Collingwood said:

Hey David, lovely to get to know you better 😀 Thailand must be an amazing place to live. I didn't realise you were in that part of the world! Your quote is definitely true! And once you figure out what you were born to do, you'd better get out there and do it!! (....I'm off to practice... 😆)

Thanks so much 🙂

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Hey David!

Congrats on the much deserved member spotlight!  I always enjoy watching your videos and you are a source of inspiration in the community!  I look forward to enjoying many more of your videos and to sharing in our musical journey!

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On 5/4/2020 at 2:30 PM, Ido B said:

Hey David!

Congrats on the much deserved member spotlight!  I always enjoy watching your videos and you are a source of inspiration in the community!  I look forward to enjoying many more of your videos and to sharing in our musical journey!

Thanks so much Ido 🙂

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