Hand Independence
trying to work on my technique so that i can get a halfway decent solo piano (jazz/soul) thing with a decent bass in the left hand and chord/melody on the right.
can anyone suggest any good exercises ? don't really want to do ragtime/stride but some walking bass would work. however i'd like to play a few modern songs where the bassline won't be a 4 to the bar so would welcome any hints.
thanks.
can anyone suggest any good exercises ? don't really want to do ragtime/stride but some walking bass would work. however i'd like to play a few modern songs where the bassline won't be a 4 to the bar so would welcome any hints.
thanks.
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bach.
when i was learning the piano my teacher gave a steady diet of bach to learn. i assign my students the same. i never struggled with hand independence when i became a solo pianist nor have i ever had a student question me about when they have reached the stage of becoming solo pianists.
start with the first book then go on to the second book, then the tow part inventions then the three then the well tempered clavier. once you can perform a few of the fugues you will not be asking this question in the forum any more.
when i was learning the piano my teacher gave a steady diet of bach to learn. i assign my students the same. i never struggled with hand independence when i became a solo pianist nor have i ever had a student question me about when they have reached the stage of becoming solo pianists.
start with the first book then go on to the second book, then the tow part inventions then the three then the well tempered clavier. once you can perform a few of the fugues you will not be asking this question in the forum any more.
hand independence is easier than you think.
first things first. do you know what you want to do? sounds like you do, so the second thing is try to do it and record what you played.
then listen to it and find out exactly what you want to improve.
one of the most practical exercises is arpeggios. two handed, two octaves apart, and using up as much piano as you can. after a few weeks of doing that for an hour a day, your left hand will have a life of it's own.
also think of the one hand idea which basically means your right and left hand are not separate items, but one big hand. you pass melodies and harmonies from one hand to the other. each finger does it's own thing no matter what hand it's on.
the great jerome gray had one of the easiest left hand strengthening techniques i've seen. basically, play all of your tunes just with your left hand. and not stride style, that is, don't play a bass note and then bounce up to play melody, do it all in one position and don't always worry about playing bass notes in the bass; they can be inside notes also.
and what mike said. bach, my favorite composer of that style, does amazing things for your hands. playing 1, 2, 3, 4, and sometimes more melodies at once, not only do your hands get worked out, but your brain does too.
first things first. do you know what you want to do? sounds like you do, so the second thing is try to do it and record what you played.
then listen to it and find out exactly what you want to improve.
one of the most practical exercises is arpeggios. two handed, two octaves apart, and using up as much piano as you can. after a few weeks of doing that for an hour a day, your left hand will have a life of it's own.
also think of the one hand idea which basically means your right and left hand are not separate items, but one big hand. you pass melodies and harmonies from one hand to the other. each finger does it's own thing no matter what hand it's on.
the great jerome gray had one of the easiest left hand strengthening techniques i've seen. basically, play all of your tunes just with your left hand. and not stride style, that is, don't play a bass note and then bounce up to play melody, do it all in one position and don't always worry about playing bass notes in the bass; they can be inside notes also.
and what mike said. bach, my favorite composer of that style, does amazing things for your hands. playing 1, 2, 3, 4, and sometimes more melodies at once, not only do your hands get worked out, but your brain does too.
If I'm not back in 24 hours, call the president.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
by Scot Ranney on 12/21/2009, 10:01
guys - thanks for the responses. i'll look into the bach stuff, but must admit to not being that good a classical player/music reader.
but will look into it, and some good tips there scot.
shaun.
but will look into it, and some good tips there scot.
shaun.
i an not a good classical player or sight reader either. but i know my bach as you will find many jazz players do. quincy jones for example. one of many very high profile jazz artists studied with nadia boulanger one the most famous piano and composition teachers of all time. it was a requirement of studying with her that you memorize on measure of a bach fugue every week. one measure sound easy to you?
lol... try it. actually do not.. start with the first lessons.
bud powell is another pianist famous for being one of the best jazz pianists of all time. if you ever become an aficionado you will start hearing him quote bach inventions and fugues in his playing frquently.
lol... try it. actually do not.. start with the first lessons.
bud powell is another pianist famous for being one of the best jazz pianists of all time. if you ever become an aficionado you will start hearing him quote bach inventions and fugues in his playing frquently.
lol ok mike -i'll give it a try !
s
s
listen to art tatum, too, his playing will show you that there really isn't any line between classical and jazz when you're making music.
If I'm not back in 24 hours, call the president.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
by Scot Ranney on 12/22/2009, 08:44
just do it. if you have trouble, break it down and practice it slowly. make exercises out of that which you cannot do easily. (and use a metronome) it's really no harder than that.
mike,
by the first book, then 2nd, what exactly are you referring to?
thanks
by the first book, then 2nd, what exactly are you referring to?
thanks
also, shaun - try incorporating som walking 10ths in your left hand a lá teddy wilson style. i've devoted 6months transcribing teddy and (desperately) trying to emulate his sound and it's done wonders to my lefty. here's an example:
thanks elvis79 will check this out for sure. really do need to build up on my left hand technique
knotty:
by s/b buy
first book means bachs book called "first lessons book 1"
by second book i mean bachs book titled "first lessons book 2"
after learning all of those pieces i move my students on to
the "bach two part inventions" and then after that the "bach three part inventions" and then finally the bach "well tempered clavier"
after completing this regimen i find that all of my students if they really learn these pieces well all have a solid understanding of the four basic food groups... ie the 1/8th note quarter note, half note and whole note. they under stand playing the four basic food groups in time and with a beat in tempo. they understand also how to play the four groups with absoulute hand independence. after they finish these pieces they are ready to tackle any composer from any idiom. they are ready to leave me and study on their own if they choose.
when they finish the well tempered clavier i dim the lights in my house and light candles and have a ceremony similar to the one in the movie "kung fu" i tell my student
"grasshopper you are ready if you so choose."
by s/b buy
first book means bachs book called "first lessons book 1"
by second book i mean bachs book titled "first lessons book 2"
after learning all of those pieces i move my students on to
the "bach two part inventions" and then after that the "bach three part inventions" and then finally the bach "well tempered clavier"
after completing this regimen i find that all of my students if they really learn these pieces well all have a solid understanding of the four basic food groups... ie the 1/8th note quarter note, half note and whole note. they under stand playing the four basic food groups in time and with a beat in tempo. they understand also how to play the four groups with absoulute hand independence. after they finish these pieces they are ready to tackle any composer from any idiom. they are ready to leave me and study on their own if they choose.
when they finish the well tempered clavier i dim the lights in my house and light candles and have a ceremony similar to the one in the movie "kung fu" i tell my student
"grasshopper you are ready if you so choose."
thanks mike.
my pleasure.
very nice track mr elvis79 !
agreed ! i do like this.
as johannn sebastian himself said. "anyone can do as i have.
all they need do is press the right keys at the right time."
all they need do is press the right keys at the right time."
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