Tag Archives: beginner

Video – Beginner Classical Piano – Minuet in G – Johann Sebastian Bach

This video is of the Minuet in G by Johann Sebastian Bach. It comes from a songbook called the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, that Bach had written for his wife.

Beginner piano lessons start off with learning to read music. Once students have achieved some basic skill, we begin looking at the wide variety of styles and pieces that they might like to try. Classical music is a great introduction and Bach is a good choice in learning to play piano and keyboards. The Minuet in G is often the first true classical piece that my students play. It’s a great place to begin.

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer of the Baroque period, and played organ, harpsichord, violin, and viola. He wrote sacred and secular pieces for orchestra, choirs, and solo instruments. He is well known for his unparalleled mastery of contrapuntal technique and his complex use of rhythms and textures in his music. His music was heavily influenced by composers from France and Italy. Some of his well known works include; Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, St John Passion, the Cello Suites, and Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Bach was highly regarded as an organist all throughout Europe. Bach was a prodigious composer. He wrote and arranged hundreds of pieces. His notoriety as a composer was later acknowledged in the beginning of the 19th century and he is now considered one of the most accomplished composers of all time.

more about Johann Sebastian Bach

Beginner Piano Lessons and Keyboard in Portland OR – Fun For All Ages

Learning to play piano is a skill you’ll enjoy for many years. People who play piano find it a rewarding and inspiring experience. Piano lessons will motivate and challenge you to learn the skills to understand music in a special way. The best way to learn to play piano or keyboards is with private, individual piano lessons.

My students range in age from 4 years up to over 80. Children and adults get to work on the kinds of music that is perfect for them to play. You can learn to read music, play by ear, improvisation, accompanying voice, theory, and lots more. Learn to play classical, popular, blues, jazz, new age, and folk music. Learning to play piano will give you a chance to express your creativity and individuality. It’s also a great way to feel a strong sense of achievement. My studio is a supportive environment in which to learn to play piano. Students get to learn at a comfortable rate. I use a modern, effective, and personal approach to teaching and make the lessons relaxed and stress-free. Call to find out more about lessons.

Norm Zarr
503-253-8021

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adult keyboard plays piano

Beginner Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons in Portland For Children, Adults

Piano Lessons & Keyboards For Children and Adults

adult keyboard plays pianoLearning to play piano will give you an extraordinary skill. Playing piano and keyboards will make you more creative and boost your confidence to master challenges. Kids or adults will not only have fun, but will gain tools for self expression and accomplishment. Learning to play piano can be a wonderful and satisfying experience. You can learn to play music from Bach to Beethoven to the Beatles. There is an entire world of classical, folk, pop, blues, jazz, and new age music.

Perhaps you want to learn how to do blues improvisation or be able to jam with your friends. Be challenged and inspired by music. Playing piano and keyboards is the best way to learn all about music. Students can begin at any age. Find a fun piano teacher that you will enjoy working with, and will teach at the right pace for you. That will make all the difference.

The rewards of learning to play piano are many. It’s a great adventure that everyone should try.

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blues piano keyboard

Blues Piano

 
blues piano lessons portland

 

“This Is Such A Blast. I’m Finally Learning What I Wanted, Improvise Blues Piano.” – J. Simmons

“Playing The Blues By Ear Has Always Been My Dream. What Fun.” – Sandra Michaels

“Soon I’ll Be Able To Jam With My Friends”

– D. Baker


blues piano keyboard

Why Blues Piano?
Learning Blues Piano is a great way to expand your piano skills. Blues piano is a great introduction to learning to play by ear, playing jazz, and becoming fluent on the keyboard. Students who acquire basic facility with blues, experience a sense a freedom of being able to play piano with ease and little effort. What makes Blues Piano so much fun? It’s spontaneous, energetic, experimental, imaginative. It’s the most playful type of music.

Students who already play, will discover that learning blues improvisation, will revitalize and energize their playing. It’s a terrific way to learn how to jam along with your friends. Those of you who are complete beginners, will want to spend a few months learning to read music before beginning blues. Once you have basic playing skills, blues is an excellent way to be introduced to new playing techniques.

Along with blues, you might also be interested in working on some extra theory, learning arrange your own music, and writing original music. If you sing, you might want to learn to accompany your voice with chords. Children love to experiment on piano, and blues gives them a way to use their imagination. They take to it immediately and it’s inventive nature.

blues piano player

What Is The Blues?
Blues is truly the original American music. It’s artistic, soulful, and very innovative. The twelve bar blues progression is a structure of chords combined with melodies and improvised. Blues played on the guitar is generally slow and melancholy, and accompanied by vocals. On the piano, blues often has no vocals, and the music is much faster, and full of creative energy.

Blues is a kind of jazz, and it’s a great way to get introduced to the world of jazz improvisation. Blues and jazz have influenced music for decades. It’s everywhere, and internationally loved and appreciated. Some popular blues players piano players are: Oscar Peterson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Otis Spann, Dr. John, Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Professor Longhair, Barrelhouse Chuck. Blues piano can evoke emotions in many ways. Its constant swirl of textures can be imaginative, delicate, rambunctious, evocative, captivating, elegant, and playful.

play blues piano

Getting Started
Music stores are full of ‘Learn To Play Blues Piano’ books. However, I’ve yet to find a student who could make sense of the material presented in book form. They end up confused and frustrated. Learning blues piano is a hands on experience. I’ve  taught hundreds of students to understand and blues. One-to-one training is effective, and the way to go.

Playing blues on the piano is very well suited for beginner players. To learn to play blues, students don’t need any previous piano experience. We can start right at the beginning with reading music. As soon as the student has enough playing skill, we can begin the blues. If you already play piano and have a good ear but don’t read music, then we can begin blues right away.

blues improvisation

The Lessons
My approach to blues is unique; modern, clean, easy to understand. Learning 12 bar blues starts with the left hand chord progression and right hand melodies. I’ll show you all the steps you need to play a real nice blues. After a short time practicing the basics, you’ll be improvising your very first original blues. I’ll teach you everything you need to know to master the basic styles of blues.

You should find blues piano to be a delightful introduction to improvisation. Those who are starting piano from the beginning will enjoy the freedom of playing without music. Those of you that already play will find new energy and expression in this engaging music. If you have tried playing jazz piano, and found it too hard, blues piano should be a much easier style to learn. Each student is a unique individual, so the lessons are guided by each students interests and comfort level.

 

 

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Examples of Blues


Some techniques covered in the lessons:
• Understanding Basic Chord Theory
• Left & Right Hand Swing Rhythms
• Left Hand Walking Bass
• Left Hand Rhythmic Variations
• Alternative 12 Bar Chords
• Diminished Chords & Scales
• Boogie Woogie & New Orleans Styles

 

 

 

 

Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons
Portland, Oregon

503-253-8021

 

 

blues improvisation

Videos

Beginning piano lessons is an exciting start to a new world of music. People who can play piano or keyboards attain an entire new outlook about music and their understanding. There are a number of avenues to becoming a well rounded musician. Learning to read music is the most basic skill. It will enable you to play all sorts of interesting and fun pieces. There is an amazing amount of music available from every genre imaginable; Pop, rock, classical, new age, blues, jazz, and folk are just a few. Then there is the ethnic and world music from around the world.

Another skill that students may want to explore, is learning to play by ear. Understanding melodies and chords and how they are formed into a piece of music is fascinating. Being able to hear a song and then play it is magical.

Blues improvisation is so much fun. It’s another skill that is unlike reading or playing by ear. With all the playing ability that’s achieved, it’s natural for students to want to play music with other people. Playing duets and jamming is a blast.

Playing by ear is something that appeals to many students. Studying chords and melodies increases one’s ability to translate the sound we hear to playing the notes. In addition, blues improvisation and theory are a great addition to playing by ear. 

Other techniques that can be learning are accompanying vocals, arranging, composing, and song writing. Recording a video to share is a great way to show friends or family members what you are up to.

  Individual Piano & Keyboard Lessons

  Beginners Welcome To Start Anytime

  Patient Teacher, Experienced

•  Easy-going No Stress Lessons

  Children and Adults, All Ages

Live Remote, Online, Virtual
Piano Lessons &
Keyboard Lessons
Call for Details

Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons
Portland, Oregon

503-253-8021