Q. I am an adult who wishes to take piano lessons - is their a clear concensus on piano teaching methodology? I desire to be able to play classical pieces, as well as be able to read down a jazz chart!
A. Play Piano In a Flash - Even If You Don't Know Where Middle C Is
So, you've been dying to play the piano. But you don't want to spend years learning how to read music. Of course you don't! And you won't have to IF you learn a chord-based approach to playing the piano.
Here's a method I use to get my students playing piano in a flash. First, you need to learn a few chords. But not just any chord type. No. The chord type I have my students learn first is something called the open position chord. And with it, you'll be able to create your own unique music right away!
The open position chord is exactly what its name implies. It's a chord structure that covers more than 2 octaves of the keyboard AND uses both hands right away. If you don't know what an octave is, not to worry. Suffice it to say that 2 octaves are over 16 white keys. It's a handful to play this chord structure but once you master it, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the secrets of keyboard harmony.
So, how exactly can we use this chord to create music with? Easy. Take a look at my free piano lesson "Reflections in Water" (available by clicking below.) The first thing you notice about this lesson is that it's unusual. It's not your typical piano lesson by far. In fact, you might even think it looks like an art lesson - and you'd be right! I specifically designed the lessons using a step by step approach that many art instruction books use.
The lesson contains four open position piano chords with fingering diagrams. The beautiful thing about this chord structure is that once you master it, you can easily use it to play ALL the chords in all 12 keys. The first thing I ask you to do is play the chords - first all tones together (solid chords) and then with the tones broken up (broken chords.)
Once you have this chord structure under your fingers and you've developed a muscle memory for it, the rest is easy!
In the lesson "Reflections in Water," we use this chord structure to improvise a few minutes of music. The chord progression is laid out for you and all you have to do is simply follow along. I also provide audio examples so you can hear how I used the same chords to improvise with.
If you really want to play piano in a flash and don't want to wait, try the open position piano chord. You won't be disappointed!
Switching from classical to jazz piano music?
Q. I've been playing classical piano for several years, but am really interested in learning to play jazz. There isn't a big jazz scene in my town, so finding a piano teacher has been really difficult. Can you recommend some piano pieces and theory books I can look at to get into jazz?
A. Pick a the only book there really is Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory Book" and also get yourself a jazz scales book which shows you all the jazz scales - half diminished, whole tone, etc. and practice them in each key.
After that get some popular music jazz charts (sheet music with the abbreviated notations - ie eb Alt, g m7,maj) You will find these in what are called "Jazz Fake" books.
Work through some easier standards (old popular jazz songs) like "Girl from Ipanema", "Day in the life of a fool" and or "Fly me to the moon". This is the bread and butter learning of jazz.
Once you know your chords , such a s the 7th chords, try to improvise within the songs by using all the notes from that 7th chords on the top hand while playing that ie 7th chord in the bottom hand.
let me know how you are progresssing , or if you need more help
Does anyone have any suggestions for some Jazz Combo charts to play?
Q. So here's the sitch. Were starting a Jazz combo at my school. There will be a trumpet, alto/tenor sax,
Piano, Drums, and Bass/Guitar. The only issue is, we don't really have any charts at our school. We aren't looking for low level charts either. We all can play. Anyone have any suggestions for charts with that instrumentation, or something that could easily be transposed as such?
A. Real Book = ur friend
http://www.4shared.com/document/FeKmAuCg/The_Real_Book_6th_Ed_.htm
http://www.4shared.com/document/kXGd6Bz9/The_Real_Book_6th_Edition_Eb.htm
http://www.4shared.com/document/ksgCsHFt/The_Real_Book_6th_Edition_Bass.htm
http://www.4shared.com/document/K6mhk9-r/The_Bb_Real_Book_Volume01.htm (5th edition)
Ive answered this b4, and Ima copy and paste my songlist below:
Afro Blue
Afternoon in Paris
All the Things You Are
All of Me
All of You
Black Coffee
Blue Bossa
Blue Monk (I kinda dont like this one so much)
Caravan is awesome (Maynard Ferguson's version is my fav)*
Confirmation*
Countdown
Dexterity (I love this song)
Dizzy Atmosphere (This is like the corniest song of life, but Im madly in love with it)
Donna Lee (you'd hafta be badass 2 pull this one off as a band. This is my audition song for college)
Four on Six
Freddie Freeloader
Gee Baby, Aint I Good to You
Giant Steps (easy melody, ridiculous chord changes)
God Bless the Child
Groovin High
Half Nelson (another Bird and Miles song)
How Insensitive (easy melody and changes to play over. since its bossa style is the only worry)
I Remember Clifford
Impressions
In A Sentimental Mood
In the Mood
Intrepid Fox (I never played it, but it looks like a challenge)
It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing)
Little Boat (Karrin Allyson version is so chill and inciting)
Lucky Southern
Lullaby of Birdland (one of my fav songs for some random reason)
Mr PC
Misty
My Favorite Things
My Funny Valentine
Naima
A Night in Tunisia
Oleo
Ornithology
'Round Midnight
Satin Doll (yea, high school made me hate this, Blue Monk, and Autumn Leaves)
Scrapple From the Apple (listen to Dexter Gordon's version)
So What (one of my fav Miles Davis songs)
Some Skunk Funk
Summertime*
Take Five
Take the "A" Train
When Sunny Gets Blue (my fav ballad at the moment)
Witchcraft*
*-not in the 6th edition of the Real Book.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Title : What is the best piano method for beginning adults?
Description : Q. I am an adult who wishes to take piano lessons - is their a clear concensus on piano teaching methodology? I desire to be able to play c...