Tag Archives: improvisation

great blues piano solo improvisation luca sestak live in austria video

Great Blues Piano Solo Improvisation Luca Sestak Live in Austria Video

Here’s a great Blues piano solo improvisation by the gifted Luca Sestak, recorded live in Austria.

Luca Sestak was 17 at the time of this recording. Luca was born on January 10, 1995 in Celle, Germany. He began playing piano at the age of 9. After studying classical piano music, he  discovered Jazz and taught himself both Blues and Boogie Woogie on the keyboard. In a short time he had achieved an extraordinary level of excellence. He published his first original music at the age of 11. He has toured extensively and played with many great artists such as Silvan Zingg and Vince Weber. He recorded his first CD in August 2010.

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Video – Keith Jarrett Piano Jazz Improvisation Solo Concert

This video is a beautiful performance by Keith Jarrett playing a piano solo concert. Recorded live in Tokyo in 1984, the playing is an excellent example of the massive talent of Keith Jarrett. Jarrett is a master at improvisation, and gives rich, modern interpretations that are simply wonderful to listen to.

Keith Jarrett began playing the piano even before he was three years old, and started piano lessons soon afterward. Through decades of public performances, Keith Jarrett has become one of the most talented keyboard players of all time. His virtuoso abilities on the piano extend way beyond what most pianists ever achieve. Although well known for his classical recordings and his trio Jazz work, he is probably best known as a solo pianist from his extraordinary live solo piano recordings, where he propels the genre of solo piano playing to new heights. He is truly a master of piano playing.

Keith Jarrett

 

 

Video – Exceptional Jazz Blues Piano Solo With Oscar Peterson Styling

This is a wonderful piano solo of Sweet Georgia Brown being played by Gyuri Villas. The elements in this solo are very similar to the great blues style of Oscar Peterson. The performance here represents a very accomplished and skilled piano player and a great example of this very exciting form of music.

At my Portland piano studio, when my piano lessons students express an interest in improvisation, we begin by learning Blues Piano. Whether played on a piano or a keyboard, Blues Piano can be learning quickly and has a very easy to understand format. Playing blues does not require as much playing skill as jazz and can be learned soon after a student begins lessons. Many of my students find Blues Piano and excellent way to learn to play by ear, and gain a new level of self expression. It’s very straightforward to learn, and is incredible fun.

Video – Keith Jarrett – Somewhere Over the Rainbow Piano Solo Tokyo 1984

Here is a wonderful piano solo of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow “ by Keith Jarrett. Known for his blisteringly fast and beautifully emotional harmonies, Jarrett is considered by many as the best jazz pianist in the world.

Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer. Jarrett began piano lessons before his third birthday. At the age of five he appeared on a TV talent program, and continued to display prodigious talent as a young child. Jarrett gave his first formal piano recital at age seven, playing Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and two of his own piano compositions.

Jarrett has performed and recorded with numerous famous artists worldwide. His enormously successful career, performing jazz and classical music, spans decades. He is best known for his jazz standards, original jazz solo performances, jazz trio work, and classical renditions. His legendary and stunning virtuoso live piano solos are known for their complexity and originality. Jarrett’s improvisations draw from traditional jazz, blues, gospel, and folk music. His modern and artistic way of engaging the keyboard is unique. There is simply no other pianist that possesses the remarkable skills he has. Keith Jarrett has received countless awards and recognition for his piano playing and compositions, and is an icon of American jazz.

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Blues Piano

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blues piano keyboard lessons portland


“Having A Blast. Love Doing Blues Improv”

“The Pieces Are Coming Together And I Now Understand How To Play Blues”

“Playing My Own Music Is The Best”

 


blues piano lessons keyboardWhy Learn To Play Blues Piano?
Learning to play Blues Piano is a fabulous way to improve your piano playing skills. It will help you learn to play by ear, understand how music is constructed, and enable you to fly over the keys. Students who learn Blues Piano acquire a sense of freedom to play piano and keyboards effortlessly. Playing Blues on piano or keyboards is just a lot of fun. It’s creative, full of energy and emotion. Blues Piano is very cool.

Students who already read music will learn a new way of approaching the keyboard. Blues Piano can revitalize and enliven your playing. Jamming Blues Piano with friends makes a great music connection. It’s the fastest way of learning to play music with others. Complete beginners, after spending a few months learning to read music, can begin Blues Piano, learn new techniques and expand their proficiency.

While learning blues, we’ll work on some extra music theory, to round out your understanding of how things fit together. If interested, you can also learn to arrange music, and write original pieces. If you are a singer, we can look at chord styles to accompanying your voice. Adults have a great curiosity about Blues. Kids also naturally love to improvise on piano. Blues is an excellent way for anyone to use their imagination to paint musical pictures on the keyboard.

blues piano lessons player

What Is Blues Piano?
Blues is an original American music. The beauty of Blues Piano is its simplicity and creative energy. Blues is improvisational, with each repetition a playful expansion of what came before. Usually played as a twelve bar progression, there is a distinct chord and melody structure which gives it such a unique sound. Blues Piano is often played solo, and is a lot faster and more innovative than Blues generally played on guitar. In it’s more complicated versions, it sounds a lot like Jazz. Playing Blues is a whole world of music in itself. It’s artistic, and is full of soul. Learning to play Blues Piano is great way to be introduced to Jazz improvisation.

Since the 1800’s Blues has been greatly influenced all types of American music, Classical, Folk, Rock n’ Roll, Jazz, and more. Blues music can be found everywhere and is loved and appreciated throughout the world. Constantly evolving, Blues Piano music continues to excite, delight and captivate people.

Some well known Blues piano players from different time periods are: Otis Spann, Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Oscar Peterson, Randy Newman, Professor Longhair, Keith Jarrett, Michel Petrucciani.


play blues lessons piano

Blues Piano – Getting Started
You’ll see lots of ‘How To Play Blues Piano’ books. Learning to play Blues from a book is very hard. The material is hard to make sense of and students end up confused and frustrated. Learning to play Blues is best done as a one-on-one hand’s on experience. It’s the way to go. I have taught hundreds of people to play Blues Piano with confidence and ease. Beginners, after learning to read music a bit, will find Blues to be well suited for them. If you already play piano and want to learn this great American piano style, then you can begin right away. Playing Blues Piano helps students acquire a nice fluid playing style and improve all areas of their playing.

blues piano lessons improvisation

The Blues Piano Lessons
The way I teach Blues Piano is unique; developed over years of teaching, it’s easy to follow and understand. Learning to play twelve bar Blues begins with the left hand chord progression and right hand Blues Scale. You’ll learn all the necessary steps to begin improvising some really nice, fun Blues. Everything you need to know to master the basic styles of Blues will be presented in an easy to understand progression.

Playing Blues Piano is a wonderful introduction to improvisation and playing by ear. There is a special feeling of freedom and accomplishment to being able to play without music. Blues Piano will give you new energy and expressiveness in your playing. Lessons are presented to each student at a comfortable pace and according to their own personal interests.

Examples of Blues



  Some things you will learn:
Left Hand Blues Chord Progressions
Right Hand Blues Scale
Swing and Other Rhythms
Walking Bass
Rhythm Variations
Alternative Twelve Bar Progressions
Jazz Style Blues Chords & Scales
1930-1950 & Contemporary Styles of Blues


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