Jack vreeland's Profile - Tonebase Piano Community

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Raised on farm in Iowa. Took piano lessons in second grade. Quit in second grade. My dad bought a Hammond organ hoping to learn to play. We did group lessons when I was 12 or so. Learned chords. In my tiny school a 3 piece top 40 band already existed. Joined as organist with a Farfisa mini compact. Doing Beatles when songs were new to the charts. That band evolved over through high school.. Added horn section. Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire. Won Iowa State Fair battle of the bands. Played bars, clubs, proms, fairs. Then did prog rock bands. Yes, Gentle Giant, ELP.

Could not read music but got into the Music Composition Dept at University of Iowa mid 70s. Home of Center for New Music, first electronic music studio in the country. Focus on atonal composition. Dick Hervig, head of composition dept was my teacher. Had piano lessons in college. Grew to love classical piano music. Graduated in 1980.

Played piano steadily since those days. Learning...

Joined Tue Apr 19 21:26:56 UTC 2022

95posts

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Latest Posts

Jack Vreeland compositions to explore

I started this topic to post my compositions to keep things organized. I'd love input on which pieces to develop further and any specific or general suggestions are most welcome.…
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- updated 10 mths ago
- 7replies
- 94
- 1
- Composer's Corner
Re: Dagmar's Compositions
Nicely done. Thanks for posting. Totally agree that composing changes how you sense what you are playing.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 11 mths ago
- 1
- Composer's Corner
- Reported - view
Re: My new piano piece... 40 year resolution
That is very nice. Glad you are coming back to composing! The build is very effective and the melodies work. Look forward to hearing more from you.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 11 mths ago
- Composer's Corner
- Reported - view
Re: A short piece - Still Waters
Lovely piece and well played. A sense a respect and appreciation for Bach here.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 11 mths ago
- Composer's Corner
- Reported - view
Re: Lost Waltz
@Dagmar Thank you so much. Appreciate the feedback.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 11 mths ago
- Composer's Corner
- Reported - view
Lost Waltz

I am so glad to see this new forum. Thank you, Dominic. I was fortunate to attend Tonebase's first piano camp at Adamant, Vermont and meet their excellent teachers and players.…
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- updated 11 mths ago
- 4replies
- 66
- 1
- Composer's Corner
Re: What's the most surprising thing you have learned about the piano?
I have a friend in Paris with a tiny 4' Playel grand from the 1960s. I love this very gentle piano, but It needed some work. Was very surprised that the action is plastic.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- Discussion of the Week
- Reported - view
Re: What's the most surprising thing you have learned about the piano?
The people that restored my grand piano said it would take around 3 years for the instrument to come into its own. It really did. And that even a new piano takes time and effort to tweak into…
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- Discussion of the Week
- Reported - view
Re: Tell us about your favorite memory performing for an audience (of 1 or more people!)
The minister at my brother's church that married us (1985) traded his services for my playing at his church service. I played the Adagio from Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.…
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- Discussion of the Week
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Jack vreeland Thank you so much. Lots of tech behind the scenes.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 1
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Vidhya Bashyam Thank you. It's starting to feel comfortable. This is when the fun really begins!
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Gail Starr Sorry for delay getting back. https://playnpractice.com It don't use all the features, just the time on each work. It's a little old school in the interface but once you get a little used…
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 1
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Juan Carlos Olite That is great. And memorized to boot. Very impressive. Thanks for sharing this.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Priya Viseskul Lovely touch! Well done.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@maijahildur Wow. Impressive all the way.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Alexander Weymann Yes, worth taking to the next level. Great piece and you have a nice feel for it.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Andrea LeVan That piece has so much to explore. Congrats on getting to this point under time constraints.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 1
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Vidhya Bashyam What a lovely selection. Confidently and emotionally done, all the way.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 1
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Miyoung Choi super sensitive. Clam. Well crafted top to bottom.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 1
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Marc M What a lovely selection and really nicely players. The melody!
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 1
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Paul Miller Nicely done. Congrats to you.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
I have greatly enjoyed being part in this engaged, international community. Thank you all. It really pushed me to bring together a number of concepts I have been trying to absorb from online learning.…
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 3
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Jack vreeland Final, final update. Now actually at four weeks? I am still getting comfortable with notes, but did try to focus on voicing and pacing this week.…
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 5
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Heng-Pin Chen The challenge really forced me to push myself on this. I enjoyed it.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 1
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view
Re: Week 4: Final Submissions!
@Judy Kuan That is really sounding incredible. And in just 28 hours! I have to learn this one, but no way under time pressure.
- Retired marketing and design firm owner.
- Jack_vreeland
- 1 yr ago
- 2
- A Fresh Start!
- Reported - view

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