Real jazz piano voicings. Real transformation.
No fluff. Just soul.
Propped Up and Packed with Promise
I had it propped up on the piano music stand. It was an inch and a quarter thick. This jazz piano method book that I had purchased in a music store in Milford, Massachusetts was crammed with what appeared to be the equivalent of Python language to a wannabe programmer. I was not the type to start at the preface of a book and make my way through a page at a time. I was looking for musical examples that I could play. After all, I bought the book with the hopes that a transformation was in my near future.
Looking back, that’s not really far from the truth.
A Moment Etched in Time
I remember it like it was yesterday, now decades later. The mini epiphany took place somewhere near the middle of the book, once I could get it to stay open. I was looking at a music staff that had the notes to an Fmaj7 chord in root position written on the treble staff. However, the chord symbol above it read Dmin9. Well now, this was just grand. A book that I had just spent probably my last few bucks for the week on had a misprint. This was disappointing.
But my eyes made their way to the bass clef. Staring at me from directly in the middle was that D, written below my familiar Fmaj7. I played it and… BAM! Wow, this was a familiar sound that I had heard time and time again on recordings.
“So this is what a 9th chord is… and what it sounds like!” My enthusiasm perked.
One Discovery Leads to Another
Before long, I discovered the section on dominant chords. A G13 was illustrated in the context of a ii-V chord progression. The ii was that Fmaj7… (ahem!)… I mean Dmin9 chord. I played it. Holy cow! These few minutes were worth more to me than the price of the book.
Satin Doll, a Console, and a Spark
I was 17 at the time, pianist in my first band. The other guys were 24, 34, and 39. It was a general business band so we played our share of weddings. When the bride and groom made their “first appearance in public” during the reception, the tune that we played as they made their grand entrance was always the Duke’s “Satin Doll”. That tune is full of ii-V’s.
I just had to try this tune with my newly found jazz piano voicings. I played the voicings with the right hand as my left hand supported with the roots in the bass. I started swinging it all by my lonesome as I was seated at my Kimball console.
Yowser! This was it. I finally hit it. It was as if I had just found a long-lost friend whom I had never actually met. Things were never the same for me again.
A Shift in Dimension
Jazz piano voicings were my guiding
light. How can one explain it? Recalling The Wizard of Oz—at the beginning—remember the scene was all black and white? And then, suddenly during Dorothy’s dream everything came alive with color. It was like the movie took on a whole new texture.
To me, that’s what chord voicings do to music. My passion for them never faded. On the contrary, it grew… even to the point where I felt I just had to share this epiphany-like musical transformation with others.
The Birth of ProProach
That was the inspiration for my creating ProProach. This jazz piano chord voicings program was intended by me to be delivered one lesson per week. The idea here was for the learner to learn one voicing or concept and apply it for at least a week before moving on to the next lesson.
Of course, at the conclusion of the series, he or she would have all the lessons for their reference so they could experience the lessons again and again.
Resistance and Reward
I received quite a bit of resistance from some purchasers of the program. After explaining the method to my madness, they would usually understand. I would receive emails from certain individuals who wanted to express their appreciation for that delivery process. I would read comments like, “Dave, you’re absolutely right. Investing an entire week with the lesson and applying it to tunes as you clearly explain really works.”
You see, I didn’t just want ProProach to be a resource of voicings. I wanted the player to have confidence with actually incorporating what was learned into actual musical scenarios. The compliments I received were extremely gratifying—certainly worth a lot more to me than the compensation I received for the program.
Keeping the Charm Alive
I created ProProach around 2009–2010. That’s about a decade and a half ago. Back then, I presented the material with a rather loud voice. At the beginning of the video sessions, I would welcome the learner with a very loud greeting. I wanted the program to be energetic.
I really didn’t communicate that way on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, when I listen to some of those older sessions, I cringe a little as I think, “I can’t believe that was me.” I remember reading the words of a reviewer referring to me as “a bit high strung.” Nevertheless, his review of the program was very good.
All that said, it was a very special time for me. And the fact that ProProach was making a difference for players on the other side of the world had an impact on me.
Preserving What Works
Considering all that, I value the nostalgia of the entire experience and have since decided to keep the program available just as it was—untouched. The videos have some age, maybe an occasional flicker, a little camera shake once in a while… but the lessons still have an impact on enthusiasts, so it is what it is.
The content will be helpful for anyone wanting to get a handle on jazz piano voicings. Cocktail pianists, I believe, especially thrive since all the demonstrations include me playing as a soloist.
Instant Access, Timeless Pacing
Today, you don’t need to wait a week for each lesson. You’ll gain instant online access to the entire collection.
I still encourage you to invest a week or so looking for ways to apply each lesson before moving on. It’s my conviction that the impact of the program will be much greater if you do so.
I can’t emphasize enough that taking yourself through the lessons from #1 to #25 will provide tons of value to you. I have received confirmation from members that this is certainly true.
As Bob Proctor would teach, “If you read a book the second time, you don’t see something in it you didn’t see before—you see something in yourself that wasn’t there before.” Take yourself through these lessons again and again, and you’ll see for yourself.
Connection and Continuity
Receiving emails from ProProach members is a pleasure and privilege. It’s a joy to be able to answer questions when I can. And I value the relationships that are formed by such interaction.
So, as I make my way down memory lane while I put this collection together, my antennae are still up for creating new material for piano lovers of all backgrounds and skill levels.
A Shared Language
Wherever you happen to be reading this, I feel as though we are kindred souls who would very likely have a genuine appreciation for each other if we were ever to meet.
Who knows? Maybe we will. But until then, maybe we’ll connect through cyberspace. If you decide to take the plunge with ProProach, please know that I am just an email away.
Get the first 5 lessons complete:
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