keyboardimprov.com summer 2013 newsletter

7/28/2019 KeyboardImprov.com Summer 2013 Newsletter

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http://keyboardimprov.com Summer 2013

Weekly Personal Video

Lessons! This is probably

our most exciting new

feature. You can now send

me a video or audio as often

as every week and Ill send

you a personal video lessonin response. Weekly privatelessons!

Whats new:

Summer 2013

Upcoming activities:

"Music can name the unnamable

and communicate the

unknowable." Leonard Bernstein

Ill be returning to teach andperform at the Fairbanks (Alaska)Summer Arts Festival from July 14-28. Ill be teaching piano improvalong with vocal performanceclasses .This will be my 15th summerat this wonderful festival, alongwith the 3 winter sessions Ivesurvived! For more info:http://www.fsaf.org/

We all go through periods when we cantpractice as much as wed like, or not at all.We set musical goals, but then life gets inthe way.When this happens, dont give up. Simplycome back to the piano when you can andtry to play for even a few minutes per day,especially on those crazy days when thisdoesnt seem possible.

Musical progress happens over time, andyou owe it to yourself not to let a busyschedule discourage you from enjoying theexperience of making music. Sometimeswhen we set aside our short-term goalsand enjoy our practicing for its own sake,we find that we improve the most. Iveseen many adults in particular benefitrom this shift in perspective.

Most of all have fun!

Hello fellow improvisers!When I first startedKeyboardImprov.com, a friendpredicted that it would take meto places I couldnt imagine at thetime. Well, he was right. Whatssurprised me is how quickly itsgone global. Ive had the

delight and privilege of hearing from amazingpeople from more countries than I dreamed possible,including Lithuania, Brazil, Canada, and India. Ilove hearing your stories and feel truly blessed to beable to share in your musical success anddevelopment. I cant wait for the next part of thejourney!

Happy improvising!

Ron Drotos

New video series: Wereproud to now featureClassical Piano Improv,Classic Rock/Pop/Countrysongs, and The Art of KeithJarrett. If youre not yetfamiliar with Jarretts work,

check him out; youre in fora treat!

Summer thoughts:


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In each issue, we feature a KeyboardImprov.com subscriber who is having agreat time improvising on the piano, keyboard or organ. This seasonsfeatured musician is (drumroll and fanfare).. Mike B.!!!

My story really starts as a classical piano student who, like millions of other kids, foundthat 12-year investment to be a prelude to a 25-year hiatus. That said, when I came toAlaska and volunteered to be the piano player for my church choir, I was gently asked tosing, but not to play. Rusty and clumsy, I was frustrated by the disconnect between mybrain and fingers after all those years.

In the 3 years that followed, I learned how to sing and eventually became choir director.However, it was at the 2012 Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival where I found my voice whileworking in a vocal performance class with Ron Drotos. Interestingly enough, whilelistening to him teach and play keyboard, I felt a compelling desire to play again myself. Isubscribed to keyboardimprov.com and my adventure into keyboard improvisation wason!

Over the last 6 months I have gained the confidence to sometimes put the written musicaside and just let things flow. Pretty soon, the congregation started noticing andcomplimenting me on the change. Even more amazing, my TEENAGERS started noticing.You know you are making true progress when your 17-year-old son pokes his head up

from his electronic device and says, That was sick! (This is a compliment.) Who knew hewas even listening? In 6 short months, concentrating on my improvisation with Ronsencouragement and his strategies, I have learned how to really play the piano and amanticipating what the next 6 months will bring!

Mike B.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. Charlie Parker


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10 Ways To Improve Your Piano Improv Skills

Best musical wishes for the summer!

Improvising on the piano can be an immensely rewarding activity. While its true that weneed to let go and be in the moment, there are specific ways in which we can prepare

ourselves to be in top form, just as athletes do. These piano improv tips can go a long waytowards helping you improvise at the top of your game. Enjoy!

1. Sing along with your improvised lines. Youll express your individuality more if youtry this, at least while practicing.

2. Learn transcriptions of your favorite solos. Better yet, transcribe them yourself. Youmay want to sing them first, until theyre memorized. Then gradually write themdown. This will help you internalize them better, so theyll influence your playing ona deeper level.

3. Improvise solos with your left hand alone. In addition to developing your left handstechnique, this will focus your ear on really hearing the notes, since you wont beable to rely on the patterns that your right hand can play automatically.

4. Pick an energetic groove (rock, jazz, calypso, lively classical) and improvise aREALLY SIMPLE solo. Have fun with the rhythms. Youll be in more control ofeverything, including the shape of the lines.

5. Play very slowly and try to really hear every note with your inner ear before youplay it. This is especially important when working with challenging chordprogressions.

6. Work on some of your favorite music. Sometimes were so busy practicing what wethink we should do, that we lose sight of the music we enjoy the most. Youll tend tostick with it longer, too!

7. Choose a short melodic phrase, chord voicing, or progression, and try playing it in all12 keys. Youll experience the musical content differently as you explore the differentshapes on the piano.

8. Play with other musicians. Youll mutually inspire and learn from each other.

9. Practice a wide variety of music. If you like rock, for instance, play some jazz, folk, orclassical-style improvisations. The change of pace will be fun and youll learn somenew things to apply to your usual style.

10. Go slowly and enjoy every moment (even the challenges!). LOVE what you are doing.

keyboardimprov.com summer 2013 newsletter

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