Spelling Scales 1-1 It is recommended that you are able to quickly spell the major scales (major for now, minor scales, later). This helps in giving you a basis of harmonic analysis. The following is a method that I learned from my piano teacher, Frederic Saatman years ago. lt is easy and logical. To understand […]…
Practicing Scales 1-2 It is universally accepted that practicing scales (and arpeggios) is the bedrock of learning an instrument. Strive to develop rhythmic evenness and a beautiful, fluid, legato touch. The fingerings must be totally subconscious. Work on playing scales to a metronome (see video). As you master scales . . . your playing in […]…
Explanation of Piano Technique I am presenting a very basic set of principles and exercises to develop your jazz piano technique. At the outset I say that these are my ideas – a collection of thoughts from classical piano teachers and a great deal of my own analysis. The single most important element of piano […]…
Five Finger Exercise Part 1 2-2 Here is a good beginning exercise to eventually understand advanced jazz theory. It starts with counting the keys. You can start on any key. Count in half steps (two adjacent notes) and whole-steps (two adjacent notes with a note in between). When you count up (to the right on […]…
Learning Intervals 2-1 Learning to think in intervals is really the core of improvisation. This enables you to hear in all twelve keys (in numbers) and to play on the piano what you are hearing in your head. Classical pianists often have a difficult time with “playing-what-they-are-hearing” simply because they most often think of the […]…
Studying Music Theory Theory is all about the language of music. It’s also all about learning in numbers. When you learn theory in numbers . . . you reduce the complexity of music by 1/12th. At that point – it won’t matter what key you are playing. It takes time to train the language center […]…
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