Hope For The Piano Beginner
If you are a piano beginner who is questioning your ability to play, read on…
What Is Cocktail Piano?
Firstly, What Isn’t Cocktail Piano? As a cocktail pianist, I find it interesting how a simple phrase like “cocktail piano” can lend itself to so many opposing interpretations. Many individuals, including pianists themselves, have a number of different ways of expressing their personal definitions of “cocktail piano.” To be totally candid, I don’t agree with …
Hope For The Piano Improvisation Beginner
If you are a piano improvisation beginner, here are a few words of wisdom that will boost your confidence and have you improvising on those keys before you know it…
Tritone Chord Substitution Explained
“We’re Getting A Sub Tomorrow!” Reflecting back on those early school days, I recall the attitude that permeated the classroom when we learned that a substitute teacher would be conducting class for a day or two. Most class members would seem to engage in a deep sigh of relief and celebrate… “Yippee! Something different for …
Cocktail Piano For Beginners – Literally
Is cocktail piano for beginners? Ever wanted to just sit down at that piano and makes some music despite having no experience? Let’s do it…
The “Sus”pended Piano Introduction
A Very User-Friendly Piano Introduction This piano introduction can serve you well in a variety of interesting ways. It can work very nicely whenever you want to create an impromptu introduction for a ballad that starts on the I chord. Naturally, the chord that has the strongest tendency to resolve to the I chord is …
Creating An Effective Piano Arrangement
How’s The Conversation Going? Performing an effective piano arrangement can be compared to meeting an interesting person for the first time. How do you imagine the conversation would progress? Is it likely that this new acquaintance would know your entire history within the first three minutes of chatting? Probably not. If it went that way, …
Piano Improvisation For Beginners
Beginner? Can’t Improvise? Is piano improvisation for beginners? After all, being able to improvise is one of those complicated musical skills that is reserved for those who have at least a few years of playing experience. Makes sense, right? Well, it “makes sense” if you have listened to others who would have you believe that. …
It’s A Chord: So What?
On Monday, March 2, 1959, pianist Bill Evans sat in with Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums), Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor saxophone), and Julius “Cannonball” Adderley to record the first track So What on Miles Davis’ legendary jazz album Kind Of Blue. This is one of the most recognizable jazz tunes ever. The …
Simple Cocktail Piano Tip: KISS
Simple cocktail piano tip that lies at the heart of sounding like a professional…