Today's Date: Sunday, September 07, 2008
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Artist History ==> Web Page 20 of 26
During the first half of 1998, Dombrovski continued studying music and practicing keyboards. Dombrovski became proficient enough on keyboards to send THE KEYBOARD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (KIT) in Hollywood, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., an audition tape in May 1998. Dombrovski was accepted, although Dombrovski chose not to enroll. Also, in the first half of 1998, Dombrovski traveled again to Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., with singer/songwriter Mario Padovani to attend the PHILADELPHIA SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION (PSA). Through the PSA, Dombrovski and Padovani would meet and hear the president of the independent A&R company TAXI speak, Michael Laskow being the president of TAXI.
DOMBROVSKI: I'm not an accomplished keyboardist by any means; however, since the keyboard was the only instrument at my disposal in DELAWARE, U.S.A., circa 1998, I played enough to improve my dexterity. KIT is in Hollywood, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., and for a time, I thought it would be cool living and studying music in Hollywood/Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA. I requested an application from KIT, and they sent me some stuff to play to see what skills I had on the keyboard. Like I said, I developed enough dexterity to play and record what KIT needed to hear. They wanted an audition tape, I sent them a tape, and they replied. I was accepted. I couldn't do KIT, though. I had other projects I needed to finish, so I couldn't commit to attending a music school. I discovered I was already too obligated.
DOMBROVSKI: Some of the things KIT wanted to hear included: a chord drill--playing Amaj7, Dmaj7, Am7, Dm7, A6, D6, A7, D7, Am7b5, and Dm7b5 chords with the left and right hands at a tempo of 100 beats per minute; playing the Blues (G7, C7, D7) shuffled or in straight 8ths at a tempo of 90 beats per minute; playing a ballad (Bbmaj7, Gm7, Cm7, F7, Ebmaj7) at a tempo of 75 beats per minute; reading music at sight (sight reading) at a tempo of 66 beats per minute; playing all Major and Natural Minor scales in one octave with both hands at a tempo of 80 beats per minute; playing all Major and Minor triads in all twelve keys in root position with both hands, including Major and Dominant 7th chords; singing a note on the piano and matching the pitch over three octaves at random (ear training); naming notes in chords and scales (G Major scale, A Natural Minor scale, Ebmaj7 chord, Gm7 chord); naming notes on the musical staff; naming keys represented by key signatures; writing the correct fingering over notes in scale exercises; Et cetera.
DOMBROVSKI: Going to the PHILADELPHIA SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION was good. Vincent James, the founder, usually brought in interesting guests to speak about the music biz. TAXI is an independent A&R company. They'll pitch your music to interested parties if they think your music is commercially viable. If your material isn't commercially viable, TAXI purports to tell you why. It was interesting listening to TAXI president Michael Laskow explain how TAXI goes about doing that and making those determinations. Again, you realize people judge your music by many criteria.
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Artist History ==> Web Page 20 of 26