Ron's blog on piano improv and the role of music in our lives
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Do you ever think about phrasing while you’re improvising jazz? If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ve never had to and your piano playing always sounds fresh and inspired. And if you’re one of the “unlucky ones,” you overthink the process and feel stilted because you don’t “understand” phrasing. (Ironically, this approach is what’s … Read More
Hey everyone! When I started teaching online, in 2012, I had no idea where it would take me. I didn’t know anything about the internet but I did know that 99% of the musicians and piano students I had ever worked with enjoyed the experience and that this would translate into the online world in … Read More
Hey everyone! I had so much fun making my 31-Day Rock Piano for Beginners Workout Challenge last month that I‘ve decided to jump right in with a jazz series. The pianists who went through the rock series made remarkable progress and I’m really excited to be making these jazz videos. Yes, the rock series concluded … Read More
Do you want to know how to play piano like Billy Joel? The typical answer might be to learn his songs and copy his style. But that won’t get you playing like Billy Joel. You might have fun doing that, and yes, it’s a worthwhile endeavor. However…. To really play like Billy Joel, you’ll need … Read More
Have you ever seen those “reaction” videos that people post on YouTube? They generally consist of someone listening to a recording, and “reacting” with big facial expressions of surprise and delight. They’re very popular and a lot of people find them to be entertaining. “Reaction” videos were on my mind as I sat down to … Read More
I’m excited to share a video that 50 of my online piano students and I have put together. A few months ago, I asked all of my online students, who live all over the world, if they’d like to participate in a kind of “virtual orchestra” video, with all of us pianists jamming together. 50 … Read More
Hey everyone, A funny thing happened on my way to the Real Book. Between giving lessons each day and doing some non-jazz recording sessions this week, I haven’t been playing as much jazz lately as I usually do. But at the same time, I’ve been posting a daily 20-minute Rock Piano for Beginners Workout video … Read More
Hey everyone! I’m having the time of my life making the Rock Piano for Beginners Workout videos this month, and I’m delighted that many of you are coming along for the ride. We’re only halfway through the month, and it’s gratifying to hear how this series is helping with hand independence and getting players to … Read More
Have you ever sat down at your piano and specifically tried to play in the style of one of your favorite jazz pianists? This can be a lot of fun, especially if it’s during a rubato, out-of-tempo section where we can take our time and think of what comes next. I recently did this while … Read More