About this project
I thought I'd make this section easy by using the kickstarter questions as a guideline...so here goes.
WHAT DO YOU WANT
I would like to write a "how-to" book for the jazz and cabaret piano player. I've spent most of my piano playing career as an accompanist, and it's time to share some of the knowledge I've gleaned from toiling all those years in the nightclub/concert milieu. The musical techniques that this career demands have rarely been written about, and so this is an attempt to fill that gap. It's a practical guide to the secrets, both musical and psychological, of the accompanist's art. You can read, and listen to, the first chapter at - www.mikegreensill.com
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO DO IT
I plan to lock myself in my garret and slave away night and day with quill pen until it's done.....well something like that! This book is going to be published in two editions, both digital and hard copy. So while I'm writing the text and thinking up appropriate musical examples, my web designer, Barry Sinclair will be doing his magic and making it all into an on-line, interactive e-book. You'll be able to access the video and audio that we plan on recording for the book, and these spots will feature my own piano playing as well as the singing of my wife, the acclaimed vocalist, Wesla Whitfield. www.weslawhitfield.com
WHAT IS THE MONEY FOR
It's for two things...
1. To buy time for me to actually do the writing. 2. For the development of the on-line edition.
1. I'll explain a little further...I need a good stretch of time. I figure I need at least 2 or 3 months that I can dedicate to writing and not having to worry about doing all those little gigs that help keep the wolf from the door every month - the very things that have prevented me finishing this book before now.
2. I feel that we definitely need an on-line edition. It's where future academic reading and study will take place, and that takes time and money to develop. My designer, Barry Sinclair is working on an elegant and intuitive interface so that all you ipad users will feel right at home. We're still deciding whether the digital edition will be in the clouds (see how hip I am), or downloadable, or both!
Now the market for a book of this sort, important though it is :) isn't enormous. That's why I'm coming to you folks. You can be an important supporter of the arts...a real philanthropist! And you can do this for not much money - and if you do give a lot, you get great rewards. Imagine dinner with the Greensills' after a show...witty repartee, worldy wisdom...well we promise to be polite anyway.
Again, you can get an idea of what we're up to, by reading, and listening to, a preliminary draft of the first chapter of the book on my web site - which can be found at - www.mikegreensill.com
Thanks for your ears.....
Mike Greensill
FAQ
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on March 1, 2011.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Your name will be listed in the book as a "bronze contributer". And I'll be eternally grateful for your help in this project.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Your name will be listed in the book as a "silver contributer". And you'll receive a downloadable digital copy of the book!
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Your name will be listed in the book as a "silver contributer" in LARGER TYPE! You'll receive a downloadable digital copy of the book!
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Your name will be listed in the book as a "gold contributer". Plus you'll receive a hard copy of the book and a digital version of the book.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
This is a 'singers' category - although of course it is a category that the non-singer could give as a gift to the singer in their life. This reward is two (2) Mike Greensill arrangements for vocalist and piano trio, and a digital version of the book. This and the next two categories will be listed as "gold contributors" but in larger type!
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
Another 'singers' category - as before, this is a category that the non-singer could give as a gift to the singer in their life. This reward is one (1) Mike Greensill arrangement for vocalist and piano trio plus a one hour vocal lesson from acclaimed Wesla Whitfield with Mike Greensill at the piano - and of course a digital version of the book.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
This is the last 'singers' category. This reward is two (2) Mike Greensill arrangement for vocalist and piano trio plus two (2) one hour vocal lessons from Wesla Whitfield with Mike Greensill at the piano - and a digital version of the book and a hard copy.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
For this generous amount you'll get a private concert featuring Mike Greensill playing solo piano in your home or a venue of your choice (you'll need to find a venue with a piano) - plus both versions of the book. This and all the following categories will be listed as "platinum contributors".
Pledge $1,500 or more Pledge $1,500 or more
You get 2 VIP tickets to Wesla's next run at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco ( May 10th thru May 29th) or at the Metropolitan Room in New York (May 31st thru June 11th) and dinner afterwards with Mike and Wesla - plus both versions of the book.
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
This exquisite reward includes a private concert by the Mike Greensill and his Trio! In your own home or a venue of your choice (as before we'll need a real piano) - plus both versions of the book.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
This even more exquisite reward includes a private concert by the Mike Greensill Trio for you and your friends. In your own home or a venue of your choice (as before we'll need a real piano). AND... you get 2 VIP tickets to Wesla's next run at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco ( May 10th thru May 29th) or at the Metropolitan Room in New York (May 31st thru June 11th) and dinner afterwards with Mike and Wesla - plus both versions of the book.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
This most exquisite reward includes a private concert by acclaimed vocalist Wesla Whitfield accompanied by Mike Greensill for you and your friends in your own home or a venue of your choice (as before we'll need a real piano) - plus both versions of the book. But wait, there's more - 4 ginzu knifes, no really it's 4 VIP tickets to Wesla's next run at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco ( May 10th thru May 29th) or at the Metropolitan Room in New York (May 31st thru June 11th) and that elegant dinner afterwards with Mike and Wesla.
Project By
Connected as Mike Greensill (982 friends)
After graduating in 1972 from Leeds College of Leeds College of Music in England, Mike toured Europe and the Far East finally settling into his adopted home, San Francisco in 1977.
Well known in his role as musical director to acclaimed vocalist Wesla Whitfield with whom he has recorded sixteen albums, Mike is also resident piano player and sidekick on Sedge Thomson’s weekly Public Radio show to the world, West Coast Live. Mike can also be caught playing jazz in many Bay Area venues.
As an arranger Mike, in addition to his work with Wesla, has had the opportunity to write for big bands and symphony orchestras including the Boston Pops and the San Francisco Symphony.
His writing and arranging for the Kronos Quartet can be found on Wesla Whitfield’s CD "September Songs" on HighNote Records and Wesla's HighNote CD "Livin' On Love" features Mike's arrangements for The Klingelhorns a French horn quartet led by SF Opera's principle horn, Bill Klingelhoffer. Mike’s own latest CD, The Mike Greensill Trio “Live at the Plush Room”, is available on-line at CD Baby and Amazon.com.
Mike is currently in the middle of writing his magnum opus "The Art of the Accompanist" and exploring the taste delights of his new adopted home, St Helena in Napa Valley's "wine country".
