{"id":233,"date":"2013-05-20T14:16:41","date_gmt":"2013-05-20T21:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jazzskillsforpiano.com\/wp\/?page_id=233"},"modified":"2016-11-08T03:35:11","modified_gmt":"2016-11-08T11:35:11","slug":"welcome-to-jazzskills-for-piano","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jazzskillsforpiano.com\/wp\/welcome-to-jazzskills-for-piano\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to JazzSkills for Piano"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to JazzSkills for Piano<\/span><\/h2>\n

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How to navigate through this course . . .<\/h2>\n
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  1. Each Lesson Page:<\/strong>\u00a0 1)\u00a0 features a yellow box<\/strong> at top which tells you the difficulty of the lesson.\u00a0 It also tells you which lesson precedes that lesson.\u00a0 2)\u00a0 Has a video<\/strong> describing the lesson (click on the video to start playing)<\/em>.\u00a0 3)\u00a0 Has text and visual pages which are contained in the video.\u00a0 4)\u00a0 Has PDFs<\/strong> of the lesson pages which are shown in the video (these can be printed)\u00a0 Click on the text<\/strong> next to the PDF icon to view.<\/span>\u00a0<\/em> 5)\u00a0 Has a\u00a0 Personal Evaluation<\/strong> for you to check off to see if you have mastered the lesson.\u00a0 Each page also has a special red button\u00a0
  2. Study the Table of Contents Page.<\/strong>\u00a0 This will give you an overview<\/em> of the entire course.\u00a0 Also, you can read a short synopsis of each lesson.\u00a0 It’s important that you have a plan to completely assimilate each lesson in a natural order.\u00a0 Take your time<\/em> with this study.\u00a0 The lessons are mostly progressive.\u00a0 Don’t begin a new lesson, until the prior lesson is mastered completely.\u00a0 All the pages also feature a side Menu of Lessons<\/strong>, where you can quickly move from lesson to lesson.<\/li>\n
  3. Study the Self-Evaluation Page.<\/strong>\u00a0 Analyze where you<\/em> need to start<\/em> in this course.\u00a0 As you are going “from Here to There . . .”<\/em> . . . then you have to know your starting point and your eventual goals.\u00a0 It’s individual.\u00a0 This course is organized very much the same as the way that I teach personally. As a teacher, I am interested in the following information about the student:\u00a0 What is their background and skill level?\u00a0\u00a0 What do they wish to accomplish (their end result)?\u00a0 Once I know that, I can create their assignments.<\/li>\n
  4. Study the MartanBlog<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 These,\u00a0blog posts by Martan Mann<\/strong> will give you more of Martan’s writings.\u00a0 They will be added frequently.<\/li>\n
  5. You can use the Search<\/strong> to look for specific words contained throughout JazzSkills for Piano<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  6. You can use the Category Search<\/strong> to search the lessons and blog by specific categories.<\/li>\n
  7. I am very happy to read and respond to your feedback emails.\u00a0 Especially, please tell me what you would like to see added or changed in this course.<\/li>\n
  8. As a JSFP Subscriber<\/strong>, you are entitled to view all of the JAZZ MASTERCLASS: Step-by-Step lessons<\/strong>.\u00a0 These are stand-alone special lessons on playing specific tunes and styles.\u00a0 They are usually for the more advanced pianists.\u00a0 The lessons can be found by clicking JMC:SBS at the top menu.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    There a many books which teach the theory of jazz. Learning the theory of jazz is important. However \u2013 what many pianists truly need is a method to expand their various jazz skills<\/em> using that theory. To put this simply:\u00a0 competent jazz pianists play automatically<\/em>. They \u201cflip the switch\u201d<\/em> and the music flows out of them.\u00a0 They speak the language of jazz.\u00a0 The main question is . . . “how did they get to that skill level?” Also, is there a more direct way to arrive to that level of excellence?<\/p>\n

    We know that classical players spend years honing their skills. They work on piano technique, pianistic skills and music interpretation.\u00a0 The accomplish this by studying with competent teachers who teach them skills of playing piano and guide them through piece after piece. Through years of learning and memorizing classical pieces, the classical pianist eventually develops musical skills, good tone, a fluid piano technique, good timing and rhythm, phrasing, interpretation, and music-reading skills.<\/p>\n

    The pathway to developing excellence in jazz is more nebulous and more mental than in classical.\u00a0 In addition to learning the classical fundamentals of playing the piano, the competent jazz pianist concentrates on developing jazz theory, comping skills, developing different grooves, developing great \u201ctime\u201d, reading jazz charts, ear training skills, improvising and soloing, and interacting with many different bands and vocalists. The jazz pianist learns through personal development: by studying jazz books; with teachers; transcribing and practicing licks; assimilating jazz theory; listening extensively to jazz; composing lots of tunes and most importantly, by playing lots and lots of gigs.<\/p>\n

    The issue here is to find specific exercises<\/em> which help the budding jazz pianist to get from \u201chere\u201d to \u201cthere\u201d<\/em>. That is the subject of this book. This is a book about training the subconscious to perform automatically<\/em> \u2013 on it\u2019s own.\u00a0 To do this \u2013 we need specific exercises, using essential music theory to develop specific skills.\u00a0 We practice the exercises over and over until the subconscious learns them completely.<\/p>\n

    Throughout this book, there are exercises in theory assimilation, piano technique, ear training, rhythm development, style development, how to learn a tune, hand (and mind) independence, etc. It is suggested that you go to the area that you want to develop and spend time on the specific exercises that will slowly lead you toward your eventual goal. The subconscious learns best in small digestible chunks. It is suggested that you take one exercise area that you believe that you need to improve. If you need, limit the \u201clearning area\u201d to a digestible bite. Then work on one easily-assimilated area for five minutes or so, until the subconscious takes over the action. When this is accomplished, then move on to another exercise \u2013 or, if need be, just part of an exercise for another five minutes.<\/p>\n

    A good example of this is the development of your piano technique. Good piano technique does not happen overnight. If you practice exercises every day – slowly, you will see improvement. It\u2019s just part of your musical life. You practice technical exercises on your instrument so that you automatically play with ease, good tone, good time, perfection and musicality.<\/p>\n

    This is a book about the \u201cmusical you\u201d<\/em>.\u00a0 This is a personal training. Be truthful with yourself \u2013 you know the areas that you are comfortable \u2013 and the areas which need improvement. I\u2019m sure you realize that when it is time to \u201cperform\u201d \u2013 it is your subconscious which will \u201cperform\u201d.\u00a0 At that point \u2013 all of your prior training will come into play. Your success in that moment depends on the prior training. Again \u2013 this means being truthful with yourself. Don\u2019t expect the other jazz players to tell you where you need improvement (because they probably be reticent about bringing up the subject). Certainly the listening audience or your friends won\u2019t tell you. Once you (and your jazz teacher) critically analyze the \u201cmusical you\u201d,\u00a0 get started and begin the daily improvement process.<\/p>\n

    It is recommended that as soon as you feel you are ready, start playing with other musicians<\/strong>.\u00a0 You need this inter-reaction to develop your skills.\u00a0 For instance, find a vocalist to accompany . . . or play with a bassist and\/or drummer.\u00a0 Consider sitting in at jam sessions.<\/p>\n

    Each specific lesson is one skill which should be mastered completely.\u00a0 The lessons build . . . lesson by lesson . . . exercise by exercise.\u00a0 Each lesson contains a video (or videos), PDF(s) and text.\u00a0 Spend as much time on an individual lesson as it takes to learn and play it automatically.\u00a0 Choose the lessons at your own pace.<\/p>\n

    This is a life-time process. In each step of your development, you will know that you have accomplished the \u201cchange in the subconscious\u201d when the subconscious takes over the activity completely, effortlessly, and without conscious thought. Then, move on to another exercise, another goal. Little by little \u2013 you will improve. It will happen!<\/p>\n

    Assess your jazz skills. Where are you now? Where would you like to be . . . when?<\/em><\/p>\n

    Here are a few skills which have to be acquired by training the subconscious:<\/p>\n