IntroductionUnlock the rhythmic magic of Latin piano with our comprehensive guide to mastering the Montuno style. In this blog post, we'll break down an 8-step exercise based on the iconic piano arrangement from Gloria Estefan's "Conga." Whether you're a seasoned pianist or a beginner looking to delve into the world of Latin grooves, this step-by-step... Continue Reading →
Introduction: In the world of jazz improvisation, we often emphasize the importance of choosing the right notes over chord changes. However, today we're going to shift our focus to another crucial aspect of improvisation: rhythm. In this video, we'll explore the concept of using rhythmic words to guide our bebop improvisation. By incorporating these rhythmic... Continue Reading →
Learning jazz piano can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance and resources, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. While traditional jazz piano lessons with a private instructor can be helpful, they can also be expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, there are now many excellent online jazz piano lesson programs available that offer... Continue Reading →
In this new series we will explore the Harmony and Voicings of Pat Metheny applied to the piano. These are intermediate to advanced piano lessons. So, join us and learn more about the harmonic techniques used by Metheny. One of the most iconic guitar player and composer of our time. https://youtu.be/pZ364c7cdN8 We are back with... Continue Reading →
If you want to adapt popular music to jazz, the best approach is to think of the harmonic functions (rather than just the chords) and then use techniques of tonal harmony. In the following video we show how to turn a very basic piano version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" into a jazz... Continue Reading →
I've been asked many times "Why do I need to learn and practice scales?" or "Why do I need to understand chords-scales and tonal harmony?" Some other people complain about the chord-scale theory, saying that they don't want to play scales, meaning they wish to play in the jazz vocabulary, licks, motives, playing rhythmically or... Continue Reading →
Here's a musical concept nobody taught me at school. While analyzing 1000+ jazz tunes for The Jazz Standards Progressions Book, I noticed a great number of songs in major keys tonicize the IV degree at the beginning of the bridge. It's usually preceded by the V/IV, landing on the IV at the beginning of the... Continue Reading →
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