Practicing Jazz: A Creative Approach

A must have for all pianists seeking a creative approach to developing left and right hand coordination. The exercises and solos (based on the chord changes to well-known standards) are rhythmic, colorful, and fun to play. The chapters cover six specific areas of left hand development and left/right hand integration, with practical application from standard jazz tunes in the form of musical solo piano pieces. This book will definitely be an essential part of your practice routine. Besides improving your hand coordination, it will challenge you to think differently about it. All of the concepts are easily applicable to the real world. Highly endorsed! Pianist Emiko Hayashi has written a very comprehensive, challenging yet very accessible method book. With exercises designed for left hand alone and exercises designed to develop interplay between the hands, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I\'ve already started practicing! - Kenny Barron In Etudes for Jazz Piano Emiko Hayashi illuminates a challenge that faces scores of jazz pianists at all levels; that of integrating the left hand in improvisation in a meaningful way, not only as an accompanist, but as an integral part of the whole. By taking various jazz standards and creating etudes specifically for the left hand as well as for developing coordination and the conversational aspects between the left and right hands, Ms. Hayashi illustrates many possibilities for expanding one�s technical and expressive range. I would think this set of etudes would be extremely useful to jazz pianists at any stage of development since the obvious outcome of the study will improve one�s ability to play melodically and expressively throughout the keyboard, without regard to the traditional roles of the left and right hands. - Todd Coolman It is understood that all musicians must play piano. Emiko\'s book fills a void for non-pianists addressing specific technical problems which will help towards being able to use the piano to improve and enlarge one\'s playing and composing, no matter what instrument you play. This is a hands-on book directed towards immediate results. - David Liebman

Waste Not Thy Time-Rolly Brown has been practicing the Guitar for 50 years and in that time he?s developed a large armamentarium of tools to aid and motivate himself and his students.In this two hour DVD starting with his ruleof ?half work half play? he shares many of these ideas interspersed with teachings to help you better enjoy and understand music and the guitar from a simple ?nuts and bolts? point of view. Whatever style of music you play youwant ways of practicing rhythm harmony and melody the 3 building blocks of music.Whether you flatpick or fingerpick play bluegrass jazz or folk music; whether you?re trying to learn your first F chord or looking fora method of practicing arpeggios to inform your jazz solos this video offers tools and advice to improve your playing.The topics covered include:On Creativity and Structuring Your TimeScales andModesHow To Rapidly Master New ChordsArpeggios: Bridging the Gap Between Chords and MelodyRight Hand TechniqueUsing a MetronomePracticing with Rhythm TracksSample PracticeRoutines

Noted jazz pianist, composer, recording artist and educator Andy LaVerne has drawn from his decades of experience playing with master musicians from Getz to Lovano to create this comprehensive compendium of contemporary moving voicings. Quartal, quintal, drop 2, dominant 7b9/diminished, triadic, whole tone and chromatic performance proven voicings pioneered by McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Andy himself are presented and fleshed out in all twelve keys. This book picks up where others leave off, enabling you to replace static chords with voicings that move melodically, dramatically, and gracefully over the entire range of the keyboard. Firmly rooted in contemporary jazz theory, the emphasis is on practical performance applications. Andy ties it all together with illustrations of comping choruses for five standard jazz tunes. Chords in Motion satisfies a long awaited need in actual comping situations, and shows you how to move chords through varying harmonic rhythms. FINALLY ' a book that gives you moving voicings, and sets them in motion in all twelve keys. Chords in Motion is a valuable resource for all keyboardists, arrangers, and instrumentalists. Activate, animate, and energize your comping with this encyclopedic volume. 156 pages, spiral bound for easy opening. Andy carries the flame of jazz piano tradition and just great music. He always inspires me. Chick Corea This is a great book! I am going to sit down and play through this!! I am always telling my non-piano playing students how important it is to work with (and internalize) the sounds that we live with all our lives as Jazz musicians. Coltrane spent years sitting at the piano and so should all of us!!! John Patitucci Berklee College of Music One thing about Andy'he is complete as can be and has been consistently so for years in both his teaching materials and playing. He is completely knowledgeable in such a way that when I play with him, I know he KNOWS!! Plus he is one of the smoothest and polished of players around. Great book'encyclopedic in content. Dave Liebman Founder, Artistic Director, International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ) I've played and recorded with Andy LaVerne many times over the years and in many different settings and he's always come up with the hippest, most interesting chords in the most musical way! His way of playing and looking at chords inspires me as a drummer and his rhythm section partner to play things that are in turn inspiring to the rest of the band. This book, helps musicians, understand, in a clear thoughtful presentation, how to go about getting this together. Billy Drummond Jazz Drummer, Educator, Juilliard, NYU Chords in Motion is an outstanding and comprehensive guide by Andy LaVerne, whose encyclopedic knowledge, decades of experience and brilliance as a performer and educator make this an invaluable handbook of modern jazz piano harmony. Its user-friendly, intelligent design enables musicians to expand their harmonic palette and potentially transform their playing, writing and arranging. Chords in Motion is an invaluable contribution to jazz musicians! Lynne Arriale Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator, Associate Professor of Jazz Piano, Director of Small Ensembles, University of North Florida Chords in Motion is exactly the book I'd expect from Andy LaVerne. It's clear, openhearted and inspiring, as has been every conversation I've had with Andy over the years. Long a fan of his playing, I have enjoyed this look behind the curtain at how Andy LaVerne formulated his signature style. One other thing -- any pianist, no matter his/her approach, will gain insight into what will surely be new and exciting musical directions. Pete Malinverni Jazz Pianist, Educator, Director of Jazz Studies, SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music What a great resource for expanding the harmonic palette! Chords in Motion is a must have for the aspiring young jazz pianist as well as the seasoned veteran. Another winner from Andy! Paul Schmeling Jazz Pianist, Educator, Chair Emeritus, Piano Department, Berklee College of Music In Chords in Motion, I recognize chords and sounds that have inspired me to compose and play: harmony from the music of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. This book is well organized, and from the beginning gets you playing. Each chord structure is explained and developed. There is plenty to practice. I especially like the exercises using contrary motion, arpeggiation and pivot, and the application to tunes. The reader will be tempted to stop on every page and compose. I found the Lost Chord, but won't tell you the page number. Bert Ligon Jazz Pianist/Guitarist, Composer, Arranger, Educator, Director of Jazz Studies, University of South Carolina Ever wonder how to move harmony around instead of repeating the same chord voicing over and over' Then Chords in Motion is a must have book for you! Andy has included a ton of information that will open up your comping and should keep you busy with new ideas for a long time! I highly recommend it! Dan Haerle Jazz Pianist, Composer, Author, Educator, Professor Emeritus, University of North Texas Chords in Motion is an essential guide to expanding one's conception of modern Jazz Piano Harmony. Andy LaVerne has managed to outline in a very practical and concise way, modern principles of piano chord voicings, as they pertain to the Jazz Pianist's primary group function of comping. David Hazeltine Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator, SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music Chords in Motion should be fun to take into the practice room to explore new ways of sustaining harmonies over the entire register of the piano. It is encyclopedic and thorough in its content. No stone is left unturned! Stephany Tiernan Pianist, Composer, Educator, Chair, Piano Department, Berklee College Of Music Chords In Motion is an excellent practicing resource that provides a garden of harmonic sonorities for a musician to choose and explore at the piano. I like the way that Andy has made the information accessible to any level of student. I look forward to discovering some different sounds with this book. Phil DeGreg Jazz Pianist, Author, Educator, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music I am delighted to recommend Andy LaVerne's Chords In Motion to aspiring jazz pianists! Andy is a superb pianist, very capable of addressing this topic. Prior to pianists like McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, and others, most pianists were content to have acquired a small handful of chord voicings, generally with the chord roots on the bottom of the voicings. Though 'rootless voicings' were adopted in later years, they were primarily for the left hand and generally only used the 3rd or 7th on the bottom. But now the serious jazz pianist needs to be able to move his or her voicings in a more diatonic manner, as shown in Andy's book. Jerry Coker Jazz Saxophonist, Author, Educator Andy LaVerne's Chords in Motion is a study of encyclopedic scope on the use of harmonies based on fourth intervals in the context of jazz harmony. There is a wealth of information in terms of voicings, voice leading and chord/scale relationships and their application to common harmonic formulae (ii-V, etc.) and the chord progressions used in blues and common standard tunes. Jazz musicians interested in this vocabulary should find this book to be a useful launching pad for exploring this important corner of the world of jazz harmony. Bill Dobbins Jazz Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Author, Educator, Professor of Jazz Studies, Conductor, Coordinator Jazz Composition and Arranging, Eastman School of Music Chords in Motion is a highly detailed, informative and filling-in-the-gap text. It's an important and welcome addition to the jazz piano literature, which can be applied to any level of proficiency. Stefan Karlsson Jazz Pianist, Educator, Professor/Jazz Studies Division, University of North Texas Fantastic pianist Andy LaVerne has put together an amazing, detailed, and incredibly comprehensive guide for effectively implementing quartal and related voicings. He has honed in on the 'secret' to using these structures musically and creatively: moving the voicings through changes in logical and interesting ways. Clearly presented, extremely thorough, and loaded with information, Chords in Motion is a must-have for any pianist! Martin Bejerano Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator, Assistant Professor, Jazz Piano, Frost School of Music University of Miami Chords in Motion is an in-depth look at fourth and related voicings that give an atmosphere that you want to improvise on. We play over the voicing, not the chord symbol. Chords in Motion targets that modal atmosphere that horn players love playing over. Love this book - can't wait to start practicing it! Jerry Bergonzi Jazz Saxophonist, Composer, Author, Educator, New England Conservatory I was thrilled when Jazz Piano Great Mulgrew Miller agreed to write a quote for this book. I was deeply saddened to hear of Mulgrew's passing just days before publication. All who loved Mulgrew and his music will sorely miss him, and are grateful for the rich musical legacy he left us. Rest easy, Mulgrew. Andy LaVerne

Learn to improvise using the techniques pioneered by Piano greats Lenny Tristano and Dave McKenna. This methodical approach to learning the art of solo jazz Piano improvisation will free your creative sense of music. It beginswith a review of chord symbol interpretation walks through bass line development and ends with how to play several melodic lines simultaneously in stimulating musical conversation. You'll learn how to develop solos thatembellish and support the melody and use lead sheets to help you generate your own musical ideas.Twenty-one lessons present techniques practice exercises and tunes based on jazz standards. Notated transcriptions ofsample improvisations illustrate each lesson's technique and the accompanying CD lets you hear a master improviser put these ideas to work. Packed with hundreds of ideas that will teach you the art of improvisation.

Book and CDCreated by two of the country's leading jazz educators the book and CD is designed as a practical guide for teachers at all levels with hundreds of musical examples. It provides practical guidance for GCSE Standard Grade a comprehensive view of jazz incorporating swing Latin rock and African music written vamps for keyboard accompaniments a step-by-step approach to teaching improvisation guidance in arranging for the classroom clear discussion of jazz harmony in various styles along with hints on directing. The accompanying CD gives a clear idea of how some of the music examples should sound.

Nancy and Randall Faber's student-centric Piano Adventures books have enjoyed huge success and are considered by many to be the one of the most complete and accessible methods for learning the Piano. The Piano Adventures series is now the teaching method of choice at many leading universities and music studios around the world. One secret behind the series' success is that it doesn't just teach students to play the Piano - it helps them to develop a 'musical heart and mind' teaching them to analyse the music that they play and encouraging them to explore their own creativity and expression. The winning combination of varied pieces to play accompanied by creativetheory pages will ensure that students gain a sound technical grounding without detracting from the enjoyment of playing the instrument. This 'all-in-two' edition for students at level 3 includes a Technique & Performance Book and this Lesson & Theory Book. Faber Piano Adventures: Level 3 - Lesson & Theory includes: A step-by-step approach to major and minor scale technique primary chords (I IV V7 and i iv V7) the triplet cut time quavers and musical form. A wide range of musical styles from jazz to classical including melodies of Beethoven Grieg Pachelbel and Tchaikovsky. Pianistic fingerings to build technique and graceful movement across the keyboard. Expressive pieces with teacher duets that build tone articulation and phrasing. Discovery questions creative activities and theory pages to develop the student's 'musical mind'. An included CD featuring imaginative orchestrated accompaniments which encourage expressive playing rhythmic accuracy and practice time.

What exactly are the steps that lead to ability? In which order should they been taken? What will be required to master each one? These are questions the author has explored in this book resulting in a rather unique one-thing-at-a-time approach to studying improvisation - one that incorporates discipline technique creativity and musical intuition. Each topic is explained and demonstrated using written musical examples and it is accompanied by suggested exercises and a sample daily practice schedule which can be modified to fit your own needs or liking. The book has been used by the Performance Studies Department of the Berklee College of Music in Boston forteaching improvisation since September 1988. It brings significant new insight to the art of jazz improvisation and should be an important addition to jazz pedagogy. Crook's approach to improvisation is a refreshing alternative to the usual 'learn your scales and good luck' methods. This book adresses the elements of rhythm meldody and harmony in a manner that truly provides the student with a process and practice routine which enables the delvelopment of an improvisational technique so essential to the creative jazz musician. 

Featuring Instruction from Jason Bittner John Blackwell Keith Carlock David Garibaldi and more-For the first time in print Hudson Music has taken lessons from the eBooks contained on their award-winning DVDs and compiled them into a book/DVD package for drummers of all styles. Lessons with the Hudson Greats Vol. 1 contains note-for-note transcriptions of many of the key exercises grooves fills and concepts performed and taught by some of the greatest drummers in the world creating a workbook that will improve your playing on just about every front. Concepts cover all the bases including hand and foot technique builders odd-time patterns jazz time and comping concepts fill ideas from basic to extremely advanced groove creativity ideas funkpatterns including odd linear groupings and more.These eBooks together present a fantastic amount of challenging practice material in all styles almost like a college course in modern professional drumset playing. Not only a companion to the Hudson DVDs the book works as a stand-alone course of study that will allow you to incorporate the concepts of many of today's leading players into your approach.Included is a DVD containing one hour and 15 minutes of clips pulled from the Hudson DVDs referred to in the book indexed for ease of reference making this a complete educational package. Included are drumming greats Jason Bittner John Blackwell Keith Carlock David Garibaldi and all the artists from the Modern Drummer Festival 2008: Will Calhoun Ndugu Chancler Gavin Harrison Simon Phillips Thomas Pridgen Dafnis Prieto Derek Roddy Todd Sucherman Bill Stewart and Billy Ward.