Today Robert is going to provide some tips on how to Improvise on the piano. This is a very deep and involved topic but we hope to provide a good starting point with this video.
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3 thoughts on “How to Improvise on the Piano”
Actually, the Julliard grad student story sort of happened to me! I had graduated from a great fine arts schools, and could sight read most anything, and got a job just out of college playing at a Creative Arts Program, teaching, accompanying. Out of nowhere, someone had a birthday and expected me to play at the assembly in the moment. I muddled through, playing the melody by ear, and hoping to do a few root chords in the bass with it. Lesson learned! I do improvise, but don’t usually play Happy B-Day much. I don’t think I represented myself well!
I’m now starting to add a “improvisation” segment to piano lessons. Keep the teaching ideas on improvisation coming. “Heart and Soul” is another good one for learning to improvise. It’s good to start this at any stage, beginners too. I use “animal sounds” or playing with interval sounds for kids.
Great story about the Julliard grad student. I am classically trained too, although not quite so extreme in the unable-to-improvise spectrum. The little tips about improvising with the diatonic 7th chords is refreshing. Thanks for what you do.
Hi Bob – you ask for suggestion on your video. The noise of cars going up and down distracted me from what your saying. Though the ambiance of the trees and foilage out the window look pretty, I found them equally distracting.
Not sure what the purpose of focus is of this blog / video. If your trying to get students, I would play a full improv piece or two or show a piece like Misty, that is reconizeable and then display three or four different styles of improv with the same piece.
The piano also from at least how it was mic seemed to need voicing….some notes poke out and others are muted.
Listen to it a few times and I think you might be inclined to agree. Drapes over the windows will put more of the focus on you and your eyes. Towards the end you actually keep looking away from the camera.
Just some minor points. Hope your still selling. Check out my new site in making….
http://www.artscottmusicconsultant.com
I am still teaching and love getting referrals if your ever sell any units down this way.
I was turned down to day for yet another loan modification…I am hanging on because I know in a few years the market will return. I have been as you know successful on 4 loan modifications on firsts and seconds and did it all myself without using one of the rip off attornies which you live by now!
I still have a my church gig in Capo Beach weekly and that stable income really helps.
I have yet to sit down with the chairperson at my church to plan a fall artist series.
Hey, you should post yourself taking a tour of Harout’s shop and show pianos being rebuilt. This would drum up business for both of you and establish your credibility.
Below is a link to my teacher from college who finally posted a recording of him playing “The Legend”, Franz Listz.
http://www.liberty.edu/academics/arts-sciences/musicandhumanities/index.cfm?PID=4700
All the best, Art