Gabriel Piano Studio
  • 2021 WINTER-SPRING
  • VIDEO LESSONS

LESSON PAGE.  ​ORLOFF

​
4/6
​Material ready.
Pending to re-organize your lesson page to reflect the three blocks: method / tunes / transcription

JAZZ PIANO METHOD BOOK by Mark Davis

​This book is going to provide for us a source of exercises, theory concepts, and a progressive approach to build the basic foundation and create a practice routine that you have to master if you want to have speed of thought when improvising.  Up to now we were learning the concepts as they were appearing in the material we were studying.  It is time to be sure the foundation is solid before we go into more difficult concepts.

The method book will start easy, and you will think it is too basic, don't get too confident because it will fly over your head very quickly.  Do all the exercises it asks in the very beginning, or you will not be able to keep up.

Every exercise with some exceptions, will need to be done in all 12-keys .  There is no shortcut to that.  It takes time and it is mentally exhausting, but you have to do it if you want to play jazz.

If you have a chance before our lesson, read through chapter 1, chapter 2, and optional, chapter 3.  Chapters 1 and 2 will feel easy but underline, write on the book, any questions you may have and ask me at the lesson.  We will go through those chapters and then get started on chapter 3 asap, that's where things will get interesting.

If you don't have time to do this before our lesson, no problem, we will do it together.

Also, there is a list of Recommended Listening.  Open a streaming service like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc. and type the first name in the list.  Listen for at least one hour even while you do other things. Then type the second name and repeat as you go through the entire list.
4/6
Work on Chapter 4​

Transcription assignment.  No need to write it down.
​"My Old Flame" (Johnson / Coslow)

real_book_2_my_old_flame_.pdf
File Size: 136 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1-_my_old_flame.mp3
File Size: 9885 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

4/6
Learn by ear, no writing. Play along the recording.

3/15
No need to write it down if you don't want to.  The goal here is to learn it by ear and be able to play along with the recording.
We are going to work on the actual theme rather than the improvisation.  He improvises a little during the theme and this will give you insight on improvising close to the theme rather than just based on the chord changes.

Transcription goal will be from the beginning all the way to 02:20.  If you are able to do this before the jury, then we will go for another chorus, otherwise we will stop here.

REAL BOOK: All the Things You Are

2/19
Fake book lead sheet.
​Biff Smith harmonization pages 1 and 2
ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE
File Size: 104 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE -Biff Smith 1/2
File Size: 1161 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File

ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE -Biff Smith 2/2
File Size: 943 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File


BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH Levant/Heyman

From "The Melody at Night with You".  Keith Jarrett.
2/9
Next lesson I will ask you to play as much as you have learned following the score


11/24
​This one is just to learn the notes and  discover how K.J. treats the melody and harmony.

11/17
Transcription updated.  more updates will come and I will add the date to the versions I post here.

11/3
Note by note transcription still in progress.  I will update the file here when I have added more material to it.

10/20
Try to reproduce what K.J. plays (approximately) by reading the chart and following the chord symbols.  Interpreting the symbols is the goal rather than creating a complete replica of the transcription.

10/13
The transcription in progress is attached here.  It has part of the melody and the chord symbols.  Gradually I will be adding more to it.  Do the same and we can compare your version with mine and discuss them.

10/12 UPDATE
​I have started the transcription of the basic melody.  Harmonically it is nice and interesting, quite intuitive, but in terms of improvisation, it doesn't really offer material for study.
​
​10/6
Start analyzing and going through the chart with melody and chords while I have the chance to extract the audio and figure out what K.J. does as improvisation.

Transcription work

BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH April 6
File Size: 112 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Transcription source

Real Book BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH
File Size: 55 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

blame_it_on_my_youth_-jarrett-mp3.mp3
File Size: 17343 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File


MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN PASSED ALREADY


ON GREEN DOLPHIN STREET.  PASSED

green_dolphin_street_real_book.pdf
File Size: 111 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

10/6
Check on the composed improv for Green Dolphin.
How to practice using iRealPro and how to record using the app.


​9/22
I still want you to create a composed improvisation for this tune.  When ready, send it to me so I can follow while you play it at the lesson.

​I also would like you to start using your iRealPro app to accompany yourself while playing through the theme and basic improvisation.
ON DOLPHIN STREET solo by GABRIEL
File Size: 76 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

9/9/ UPDATE
Just in case you have difficulties managing the iRealPro, here are practice tracks to accompany you while practicing On Green Dolphin Street.
on_green_dolphin_street_practice_tracks_mm-110.mp3
File Size: 5910 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

on_green_dolphin_street_practice_tracks_mm-136.mp3
File Size: 4812 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File


BEAUTIFUL LOVE (Victor Young)

11/24
Here we want to develop your intuition improvising, but you must know which scales you are going to use first, and practice the scales with the right hand in different ways, straight, in thirds, alternating notes, creating small themes, etc.
I will add a tutorial to illustrate this point.  Maybe I can find one on Youtube already made even if it is based on another tune.

10/20
Goal:  Record your playing along the app iRealPro.  Slowly is good so you have time to plan what you are going to play.
Structure:
1- theme
2- your composed improvisation
3- real improvisation
4- a second round of improvisation (optional)
5- theme

10/13
The best improvisation I have heard you play yet.  Very thoughtful, matching the chords with very interesting scales.  I am sure you are proud of it.
Next step is to practice and then record using  iRealPro
​Send me a recording example of you playing along with the app, hopefully before next lesson.
​
10/6
Focus on using iRealPro for all tunes from this point on.
​Theme, composed improv, real improv, theme.

​9/22
Regarding "Beautiful Love" with scale suggestions file above:
The printed chord changes above the melody correspond to the original "Real Book" chord changes, while the red manuscript chords match the Petrucciani improvisation, which uses some chord substitutions that bring a more interesting color.

Therefore, the scale suggestions that I wrote next to the printed chords match those chords.
The scale suggestions I wrote next to the red chords match the red chords.

Which ones to use?  It is up to you if you decide to follow the original chart (printed chords) or if you like better the colors of the chord substitutions that Petrucciani makes in his version (red chords).  No right or wrong option there.

When in meas. 11 and 12 I wrote "same as m 1+2" is because the chord progression is identical to measures 1+2, therefore you would already know which scale to use.

Composed improvisation:
Your exercise was very good, it had interesting structural points that can still be filled with a few more notes.  Notice how at the lesson we filled them up by creating ladders, or scales that landed on the structural points you created.  Some of them are fine the way they are, you don't have to fill everything up.

Then you can learn your own exercise and play it to sound like a real improvisation.

iRealPro:
I would like you to explore again using this app, and get used to playing with a jazz rhythm section, so when classes take place in person again, I can recommend you for one of the school's adult jazz combo classes.  
Prepare the app, select a tempo that is slow for thoughtful practice and do several rounds:
1- theme
2- your composed improvisation
3- real improvisation
4- a second round of improvisation
5- theme

9/8
Composed improvisation:
We are going to restrict the total freedom of improvisation by keeping the choices to the scales and chord outlines marked on the chart to the right of this paragraph:
Send me a photo of your composed improvisation, learn it ahead of time and the goal is to play it so it sounds like an actual improvisation.
BEAUTIFUL LOVE with alternate chords
File Size: 650 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

BEAUTIFUL LOVE Solo Petrucciani
File Size: 77 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

BEAUTIFUL LOVE scale suggestions
File Size: 950 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Exercise on enclosures

Based on the enclosures found in the ALL OF ME by David Magyel, we are going to practice small cells.

Ready for practice:

exercise_on_enclosures_-grb-.pdf
File Size: 74 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

CHART OF SCALES AND CHORDS

chart_of_scales_-_sheet1.pdf
File Size: 28 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

This chart should help you relate chords and scales.
Picture

TUTORIAL BASED LESSONS.
Using as reference material others have created on video.
You can watch these lessons over and over until you can replicate the assignment

2/23
You have already practiced this exercise in C Major.
Now practice it in D Major (download ready on the right margin)


2/10
Regarding "altered" scales:
Let's learn one thing at a time.  Right now we are fociused on diminished scales, and only after we are very comfortable with these, we will start exploring other options from the altered scales.

​Goal: Learn to play the exercise either following the video or using the printed sheet.  You are welcome to use a diminished scale rather than an altered scale to learn the concept well.

Only after you are confident with the exercise in C, you can move to the transposed version in D.
SCALE EXERCISE 2-5-1 David Magyel
File Size: 61 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


scale_exercise_2-5-1_-c-_analysis.pdf
File Size: 3162 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

scale_exercise_2-5-1_-d-_david_magyel.pdf
File Size: 62 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS CONNECTED. All of Me.

2/23
Analyze this exercise and try to find:
- Which scales are used
- Which arpeggios
- Which enclosures
​Write down on the score what you are able to identify.  Then we will compare with my notes.

​Eventually I will be giving you a score that has only the indications but not the notes and following the indications you have to create the improvisation.


2/9
Goal: Learn to play the exercise either following the video or using the printed sheet.  Eventually I will post a version of the exercise with a full analysis.  I welcome you to do it before I post it, and send it to me by email.

Only after you are confident with the exercise in C, I will place the same exercise transposed to a different key.
all_of_me_exercise_david_magyel.pdf
File Size: 82 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Diminished scales applied to this exercise

diminished_scales.pdf
File Size: 37 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Chart of scales by notes and by visual reference of black keys.
Picture
C-Eb-F#-A
Picture
G-Bb-C#-E
Picture
D-F-G#-B
2/9  HOW TO PRACTICE THESE DIMINISHED SCALES
​Practice each of the scales UP and DOWN 3 octaves at a comfortable tempo

Exercise:  C diminished 
Learn the black key pattern
LH play C RH play the C dim starting on C
LH play Eb RH play the C dim starting on Eb
Same starting on F# 
Same starting on A

​Exercise: C# diminished 
Learn the black key pattern
Apply the same concept for the exercise to each of the note of the diminished chord

Exercise: D diminished
Learn the black key pattern
Apply the same concept for the exercise to each of the note of the diminished chord

LEARNING HARMONIZATION.
​Someday My Prince Will Come (harmonized by Biff Smith)

2/23
Today we talked about "Secondary dominants":  The temporary dominants that prepare any given chord by just placing a V7 in front of them.

Example: In C Major, need to prepare a G chord? Precede it with a D7.  The V7 in C Major still is G7, but in this case the D7 becomes a temporary dominant to prepare the chord G.  That is called a "secondary dominant" because the primary dominant in C Major is still G7, and the secondary is whichever V7 you use temporarily to prepare a chord.


2/9
Reminder that we still need to exercise your harmonic ear by playing complex Biff Smith harmonizations.  Don't forget to work on this following these instructions:

First learn the fully written score, then using the chart that only shows the melody as reference, fill all the harmonies yourself.
SOMEDAY PRINCE full chords and symbols
File Size: 61 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

SOMEDAY PRINCE only melody
File Size: 42 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Building a jazz vocabulary.  Patterns in 2-5-1

​2-5-1 in Major key

2-5-1 EXERCISES in Major key. F Major
File Size: 145 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2-5-1 in Minor key

EXERCISES 2-5-1 in Cminor
File Size: 72 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Video with 2 - 5 - 1 Major key

LH accompaniment should be:
1- Simple, single note bass changing with the changing chord symbol
2- Bass + 7th
3- Basic chords on the beat
4- Basic chords ahead of the beat
5- Basic chords behind the beat

2/9
You don't need to learn them all.  Select the ones you like and start there

Video with 2 - 5 - 1 Minor key

MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE

11/24
Approach your assignment in order, don't try to do everything at once.
Practice first by playing through the Biff Smith harmonization of "Someday My Prince".  Your ear will become used to these harmonies.
Then replicate a similar harmonic feel on "My One and Only Love" and see where your intuition takes you.

Then write down the scales you can use on each chord for improvisation.

Then slowly and without time pressure, create improvised lines based on these scales.


11/17
Practice plan:
1- Create a presentation of the theme piano solo, in which you bring rich harmonies.  Let's see what you can create and we will discuss your choice of chords.

2- Create a chart of the scales you can use for improvisation

3- Create a recording of yourself playing through a thoughtful improvisation.  It can be written out or just planned and truly improvised, but record your best take and send it to me to listen before we meet for our next lesson.
real-book_my_one_and_only_love.pdf
File Size: 125 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Gabriel's harmonization

In progress...
​Click to see enlarged picture
Picture
  • 2021 WINTER-SPRING
  • VIDEO LESSONS