My Teaching Philosophy...
Chords + Concepts = Creativity
My Teaching Philosophy...
Chords + Concepts = Creativity
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Have you ever wanted to just sit down at the piano and play? If so, my revolutionary piano teaching method is for you. You will be playing popular songs in days not months or years!
CHORDS – Unlike traditional piano instruction, whereby you are taught to read notes in the treble and bass clefs, chord-based lessons eliminate the need to read notes in the bass clef/left hand. This expedites learning exponentially. Instead of left hand notes written out, the left hand notes are represented by a chord symbol written above the right hand melody notes. This form of printed music is called a “lead sheet.” I have arranged hundreds of songs in lead sheet form. Lead sheets have only ONE note, the so called melody note, written out in the treble clef, so with no notes to read in the left hand and ONE note to read in the right hand you can expect to play full sounding piano arrangements insanely fast!
CONCEPTS – Concepts are LIFE-LONG. I understand the concept of addition; I don’t need to practice adding everyday to still know how to add 5 years from now. I teach musical concepts which enable students to enjoy playing for life! For example, I focus on concepts such as: True Circle of 5ths, Inversions, Close Chords, Open Chords, Scalar fills etc. In Contrast, traditional piano lessons merely teach dots on the page, so you don’t learn any concepts. It’s rote learning which is fleeting compared to understanding foundational concepts.
CREATIVITY – Combining chord knowledge with practical musical concepts allow my students to “make their own music.” When you understand the components of music and how patterned it truly is, you can then, unlock the mysteries; you are free to create!
Have you ever wanted to just sit down at the piano and play? If so, my revolutionary piano teaching method is for you. You will be playing popular songs in days not months or years!
CHORDS – Unlike traditional piano instruction, whereby you are taught to read notes in the treble and bass clefs, chord-based lessons eliminate the need to read notes in the bass clef/left hand. This expedites learning exponentially. Instead of left hand notes written out, the left hand notes are represented by a chord symbol written above the right hand melody notes. This form of printed music is called a “lead sheet.” I have arranged hundreds of songs in lead sheet form. Lead sheets have only ONE note, the so called melody note, written out in the treble clef, so with no notes to read in the left hand and ONE note to read in the right hand you can expect to play full sounding piano arrangements insanely fast!
CONCEPTS – Concepts are LIFE-LONG. I understand the concept of addition; I don’t need to practice adding everyday to still know how to add 5 years from now. I teach musical concepts which enable students to enjoy playing for life! For example, I focus on concepts such as: True Circle of 5ths, Inversions, Close Chords, Open Chords, Scalar fills etc. In Contrast, traditional piano lessons merely teach dots on the page, so you don’t learn any concepts. It’s rote learning which is fleeting compared to understanding foundational concepts.
CREATIVITY – Combining chord knowledge with practical musical concepts allow my students to “make their own music.” When you understand the components of music and how patterned it truly is, you can then, unlock the mysteries; you are free to create!
Mark Miller’s TV Appearances
Mark Miller’s TV Appearances
One thing I stress with all of my students is the “Why” of what I do. Anyone can play their version of a song and tell you the particular chords they chose, but the real question that needs addressing is “why?” Why do I use block style in this particular measure? Why do I use a walking bass for this particular song? Why do I use broken tenths in this passage? And often the answer is “why not?”
Jazz is all about playing a song and making it your own, whether that be by changing the chord voicings, or rhythmically enhancing the harmony, or improvising over the changes etc. Each element can be learned with my teaching method. As my favorite jazz pianist, Bill Evans, once said: “it’s far better to learn 1 song 20 ways than to learn 20 songs 1 way.” The beauty of my teaching method is I can teach you a dozen or so jazz concepts in 3 to 4 months of lessons and then you’ll have the skill set to play piano lifelong!
I love my classical training but I did not learn musical concepts, I just played dots on a page. With my jazz training, I began to see how music is pieced together and from this knowledge, I’m able to memorize, arrange and play music much more easily which translates into how efficiently I teach my students jazz piano.
So with that in mind, the adjacent image illustrates some of these jazz concepts via the song “Ain’t Misbehavin'”
One thing I stress with all of my students is the “Why” of what I do. Anyone can play their version of a song and tell you the particular chords they chose, but the real question that needs addressing is “why?” Why do I use block style in this particular measure? Why do I use a walking bass for this particular song? Why do I use broken tenths in this passage? And often the answer is “why not?”
Jazz is all about playing a song and making it your own, whether that be by changing the chord voicings, or rhythmically enhancing the harmony, or improvising over the changes etc. Each element can be learned with my teaching method. As my favorite jazz pianist, Bill Evans, once said: “it’s far better to learn 1 song 20 ways than to learn 20 songs 1 way.” The beauty of my teaching method is I can teach you a dozen or so jazz concepts in 3 to 4 months of lessons and then you’ll have the skill set to play piano lifelong!
I love my classical training but I did not learn musical concepts, I just played dots on a page. With my jazz training, I began to see how music is pieced together and from this knowledge, I’m able to memorize, arrange and play music much more easily which translates into how efficiently I teach my students jazz piano.
So with that in mind, the adjacent image illustrates some of these jazz concepts via the song “Ain’t Misbehavin'”
Tributes to My Teachers
Tributes to My Teachers
ALAN SWAIN
I’m eternally grateful for Alan Swain’s teaching, not only because he was an excellent teacher, but because he inspired me to do what I do today, and to do it well! His teachings influence how I teach from the popular American songbook.
TONY CARAMIA
I first met Tony after enrolling in a jazz piano course at my local community college. I loved the jazz harmonies that Mr. Caramia was playing. I had been classically trained up to this point in my life, and thus, hadn’t heard anything like what he was playing!
Call or text 847-401-1721 to schedule your free, 30-min, no-obligation lesson!
ALAN SWAIN
I’m eternally grateful for Alan Swain’s teaching, not only because he was an excellent teacher, but because he inspired me to do what I do today, and to do it well! His teachings influence how I teach from the popular American songbook.
TONY CARAMIA
I first met Tony after enrolling in a jazz piano course at my local community college. I loved the jazz harmonies that Mr. Caramia was playing. I had been classically trained up to this point in my life, and thus, hadn’t heard anything like what he was playing!
Call or text 847-401-1721 to schedule your free, 30-min, no-obligation lesson!