Educator

1) 3 Piano Technique Tips For Non-Classically Trained Jazz Pianists!

In this lesson, I discuss 3 Piano Technique Tips for Non-Classically Trained Jazz Pianists that I learned from my mentor, Robert Estrin.

2) Kenny Barron Autumn Leaves Transcription Analysis

This is an Intermediate-Advanced Lesson in the General category and a sample from my exclusive lesson library for my private correspondence students. Transcription is an essential part of the learning process that puts all of our skills into context and can fill many holes in one's playing that may result from "book learning". There are so many gems to take away just from this 1-chorus: LH Voicings, rhythms, comping approaches, harmonic anticipations, Blues, Diminished, and Bebop lines, Line Adaptation, chordal movements, secondary dominants... the list goes on! 

3) Oscar Peterson Take The A Train Analysis - COMPING LANGUAGE

In this lesson, we focus on JAZZ PIANO COMPING LANGUAGE, extracting from Oscar Peterson's melody transcription on Take The A Train. After the full transcription analysis, I do what I call a "VISUAL STACKING ANALYSIS" - which is one of the best ways to analyze a transcription whereby we stack reoccuring sections throughout the transcription. This allows us to observe the similarities and differences in approach: in terms of comping rhythms, harmonic approach and voicings.

4) How To Create Inner Voice Motion - Advanced Jazz Harmony Lesson

In this lesson we will examine a slick movement over a "Ima7-VI7-iimi7" progression. This works great for tunes that start on the iimi7 chord, like "I Fall In Love Too Easily" or "Body and Soul".

By creating your own movements, this is a great way to: 1) Strengthen your harmonic knowledge, 2) Fill in holes in uncomfortable keys by transposing to your unfamiliar keys, 3) Apply them to tunes

5) Jazz Voicings Lesson: How To Create Chords From ANY Scale

​In this lesson, we discuss how to create chords from any scale. This is a breakthrough jazz voicings approach that will allow you to 1) create textures (control the density and spaciousness of voicings, and create clusters), 2) harmonize melodies, and 3) create movement (when comping and writing/arranging). 

6) Barry Harris Round Midnight Lesson: Chromatic Bass Reharm

In this lesson, we examine Barry Harris' reharmonization to the coda of Thelonious Monk's Round Midnight. He starts with a Ebmi/Bb and then reharmonizes by playing a chromatically ascending baseline and adjusting the chords to fit the melody & bass note.

7) Subtractions Practice Technique

In this lesson, I share with you a practice tip for multiple rhythmically independent parts I call "Subtractions". This is a powerful practice technique when dealing with syncopation and hand independence. In this lesson, I use Sting's Shape of My Heart as an example - but this can be useful when practicing any style that has multiple rhythmically independent voices: jazz, pop, and even classical music. This is applicable to pianists, drummers, vocalists who play and sing. ​

8) Rhythmic Approach for Jazz Improv: Changing Rates (Part 1)

This is an Advanced Improv Lesson where I give a 60-second overview of how to create rhythmically engaging improvisation by employing changing rates: alternating between eighth note, eighth note triplet, and sixteenth note phrases. In part 2, I demonstrate how to alternate rates within a single line. I delve much more in depth with this powerful skill in my studies.

9) How To Play Chick Corea's Matrix: Crossed Hands Piano Technique

This is an Advanced Lesson in the Repertoire category and a sample from my exclusive lesson library for my private correspondence students. 

10) 3 Altered Voicings for Jazz Piano

This is an Intermediate Lesson​ in the Theory/Harmony category and a sample from my exclusive lesson library for my private correspondence students.  

11) How To Create Beautiful Improv as a Beginner in 60 Seconds

This is a Beginner Lesson where I give a 60-second overview of how to create beautiful improvisation as a beginner using 3-note LH Chordal Patterns and Key Notes, Releases, and Melodic Textures in the RH. This is a 5-step process that I break down into 5-weeks in my studies.