Ron's blog on piano improv and the role of music in our lives
Practicing the piano can be like going with the ocean tides. Swimming at a higher tide is very different than swimming at low tide. And as any beachgoer will tell you, it’s important to know how to adjust to each one. It’s the same with practicing the piano. Sometimes we’re so energized and inspired that … Read More
Since I ended up listening to an unusually wide variety of music today, I thought I’d share some of the highlights with you. After I picked these 3 recordings, I realized they have something very specific in common despite their stylistic differences: they all feature musicians who aren’t limited by genre. These pianists/keyboardists don’t let … Read More
Did you know that you can play piano twice as well in just 2 weeks from now? It’s true. Let’s imagine for a moment that I’m listening to you play piano. I’m on the other side of the room and you’re at the piano or keyboard playing whatever it is you like to play. Now … Read More
I went out for a long exercise walk this morning. My challenge is that I don’t usually have long periods of time available so I try to exercise in “bits and pieces.” But this morning was different. I had a full hour and decided to make the most of it. I started walking along a path and … Read More
If you can play piano easily in “white note” keys like C, F, and G, but find keys with lots of sharps or flats like F#, Db, and B to be too difficult, be assured that you’re not alone. What’s more, it’s not your fault. The vast majority of piano music is in the “easy” … Read More
Full confession: I LOVE to practice scales! (There, I’ve said it. Now we can all get on with our lives.) Yes, I do love to practice scales, and at certain times in my life I practiced them for 15 minutes – 1 hour daily. At one point, though, I realized that my hands weren’t 100% … Read More
What kind of music do you play on piano? Jazz? Blues? Rock? Pop? Classical? Whatever style you’re into, you’ll learn a LOT by going back to the beginning and working your way through each era up to the present. By “beginning,” I mean the very beginning. If you play jazz, this means to blues, ragtime, … Read More
Jazz great Ornette Coleman passed away yesterday (June 12, 2015) at the age of 85. I only heard him live once, at Carnegie Hall, but I’ll never forget the 100% effort he put into his music. He had the kind of presence that makes me want to be the best musician I myself can be. If … Read More
The composer Robert Schumann advised pianists to “Play always as if in the presence of a master.” I’d like to add a second part to his statement: “And someday that master shall be you.” It’s true, and you can start right now 🙂 Have you tried piano improv yet? Take your left hand playing to a new level … Read More
Here’s a fun 2-chord piano improv exercise to try today. It starts simply and gets hards and more expansive as you challenge yourself with more and more styles of music. And it will (hopefully) inspire you to get going and learn as many of these musical styles as you can. Start by playing these 2 … Read More