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Posts Tagged ‘Dexterity’

Jazz Piano Lessons – Learning Slow to Fast Jazz Beat

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While countless of people would think that to play jazz music through the piano is something very difficult and complicated to do, it would be best to equip yourself with the appropriate methods of learning it. There are in fact, countless of various jazz piano lessons that you may access in the internet anytime which can enlighten you that learning about how to play jazz music through the piano is not difficult after all. Here are just a few of the so many things that you may want to know about taking piano lessons, specifically the lessons in jazz music:

• Practice Just Appropriately
Practice does not need to be very extensive. In fact, this is where a little sense of time management is called for. Manage your time wisely so that you may allot a regular time for practicing which does not necessarily have to be so long. Also, make it a point to incorporate some finger and hand exercises before your every practice so as to ensure dexterity of your hands as well as the flexibility of your fingers. In doing so, you will be assured that even though you constantly play each day, or you play long in your practice, your fingers and hands are prepared and therefore, will not complain about getting so tired playing the piano.

• Learning The Basics
You, as a beginner student in piano playing, should learn the basic things about performing using the piano. As instructors tell their students, the basics of piano playing are very essential in being able to play the piano effectively. But then your piano instructor in your jazz piano lessons can testify that such piano basics are even more so important in learning how to play jazz music through the piano.

• Basic And Advanced Lessons Continuum
While knowing the basics of learning the piano is very indispensable for a piano enthusiast to learn the instrument, the more so, they are needed when you get promoted to the more advanced piano level or grade. Knowing all the basics should also be matched well with the perfect pacing or tempo.

• What To Expect In The Lessons
First, expect that you will be taught the slow manner of playing jazz music through the piano. After which, your instructor will then let you get a feel of how a pianist would play jazz music using a much faster or quicker tempo. However, since to do would not be as easy as you think, it would be best to keep up to the pacing that you can only deliver. Then keep in mind that with constant practice, you will be able to catch the perfect tempo for a particular piece of jazz music.

• Last but not least, bear in mind that it is highly important for you to treat learning jazz piano lessons as something that is truly satisfying and worthwhile. That way, you will not feel any tinge of boredom from practicing each day. And what is more, you will surely get your money’s worth because of such determination, focus, dedication and interest you are showing.

By: Josephine S. Sewyerd

Practice Jazz Bass Lines by Making a Play List

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Jazz falls in the spontaneous forms of music. Nobody is a Jazz expert from birth; rather it is rigorous practice and love for Jazz music that extracts an expert from a common Jazz lover. Take the example of any Jazz expert, you will find that continuous improvisation and repeated practice have made them the master of the art. First they learn all genres of Jazz and then they tried to specialize and have expertise in one form.

On the path of specialization, your interest plays a significant role. Once you know the basics, step forward to have mastery in one. The logic behind it is very simple. One lifetime is perhaps not the enough tenure to excel in all forms of jazz and having expertise in left hand Jazz piano playing like Art Tatum, thundering blues lines like Oscar Peterson and the harmonic complexity of Bill Evans. Hence, specialization leads to excellence. This article comprises of beneficial tips that make your Jazz piano practice easier.

1- Expose yourself to a variety of Tempos

When you practice jazz piano, Practice at a variety of tempos like slow, medium and fast. From quarter note = 40 to 360- never be scared of any tempo.

2- Be creative

While using the metronome, let the creative part of your Jazz-love perform its best. Click on the upbeats (beat two and four) instead of downbeats (one and three). Set the metronome in your comfort zone and practice Jazz piano for all patterns in both hands. It helps you to be more creative and develop a greater level of dexterity.

3- Apply the golden “Five Time” rule.

While practicing Jazz piano or baselines, play the scale, chord, lick, pattern, phrase or song five times in a row without committing any errors. If you commit any mistake (whatever negligible it might be), you are lacking in concentration. Practice this rule until you have not attained mastery.



By: Akhila Choudhary