Tag Archives: beginning

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

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Video – Jazz Piano Solo on Keyboard – Excellent Improvisation Style

Here is a great example of a rather complex, advanced jazz piano solo played on a keyboard. The player exhibits great mastery not only in the playing of the piano, but in the art of improvisation.

At my studio here in Portland, Or, students who are taking piano lessons or keyboard have varying interests. Some of the material we cover at lessons includes; learning to read music, play by ear, theory, accompanying voice, blues and jazz improvisation. Learning to play jazz is one of the more complex areas of playing piano. At the lessons, for students expressing an interest in jazz, we often start out with an introduction to blues improvisation. This gives students a great opportunity to develop their playing skills independent of reading music. They gain the valuable ability to hear melodies and chords and be able to play them on the keyboard. Some student own a piano and some have a keyboard, but teaching to play piano is the same.

Jazz is a uniquely American style of playing the piano. It’s a technique applied to virtually any type of music with emphasis on rebuilding the chord structure of a piece to make it more complex and detailed, as well as varying the melody with new and fresh improvisations from that melody. There are many forms of jazz piano from music eras beginning way back at the turn of the 20th century with ragtime piano, thru the 1930s with bebop and stride piano, big band in the 1940s, and the more avant garde styles from the 1950s, and more contemporary styles since.

adult play piano

Learn to Play Great Piano & Keyboards – Children & Adults – Portland Oregon

adult play pianoGetting started with piano or keyboards lessons might be something you have been thinking about for a long time. The quickest and best way to get started is with private, individual lessons. You will learn everything you’ll need to know to become a proficient piano player. Reading music is not such a mystery when you have all the parts broken down in a simple, easy to understand progression. You can learn to play classical, pop, new age, folk, blues and more.

Playing the music you enjoy will speed up the learning process and give you a real sense of accomplishment. Do whatever you want with your music. Learn to enjoy your playing simply for yourself; or get the skills to play music with your friends. Maybe you’d like to try some beginning blues improvisation, so you can play by ear. It’s essential to find a piano teacher that will make your lessons special and help you learn at a pace that you feel comfortable with. Students who are excited and inspired learn faster.

Lessons for children or adults can begin at any age. Relax and enjoy the lessons. You will be surprised at how quickly you will pick up the basics and start playing songs. Express yourself by learning to play the piano.

More on piano & keyboard lessons in Portland Oregon…

video of solo piano music coldplay song yellow

Video Of Solo Piano Music, Coldplay Song ‘Yellow’

video of solo piano music coldplay song yellow

This is a solo piano version of Coldplay’s hit ‘Yellow’. The transcription is based on the Classic FM ‘Songs Without Words’ album version. In 2000, Coldplay co-produced and released the song ‘Yellow’ for their debut album. The original has various instruments in addition to piano. The song did very well on the charts, reaching #4 on the British Singles Chart. This is the song that generated a lot of excitement for Coldplay and rocketed their career forward. ‘Yellow’ continues to be one of Coldplay’s most popular hit songs.

I am often asked how long it takes for a beginning piano student to be able to play a particular piece of music. This varies greatly, depending on the complexity of the piano arrangement. It’s always possible to take a song and re-arrange it to suit a more beginning student. If piano lessons include instruction on playing by ear, learning theory, and playing blues improvisation, the learning process can often be speeded up. These skills can greatly increase a student’s ability to read music.