Tag Archives: piano

How to Voice Standards at the Piano: The Menu

April 4, 2016 IM

Jazz pianist Mark Levine of Local 424 (Berkeley, CA) provides an easy-to-learn method for playing the melodies of favorite jazz standards, using hip voicings as played by Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock of Local 802 (New York City), McCoy Tyner, and Kenny Barron of Local 802. Author of The Jazz Piano Book, Levine has created a “Menu,” a succinct guide to learning a multitude of voicings so performers can harmonize melodies on the spot. Using two standards and a bebop melody as examples, he breaks up each tune into four-bar sections and shows the best voicings to use on each chord. Once learned, musicians can spontaneously create a personal style of playing, based on the masters of the art form.

How to Voice Standards at the Piano: The Menu, by Mark Levine, Sher Music Co., shermusic.com.

Books-Resources, Products

The 2000s for Piano: Over 40 Modern Pop Favorites

February 29, 2016 IM

The 2000s for Piano contains more than 40 of the biggest hits of the new millennium. Piano accompaniment, vocal melodies, lyrics, and guitar chord diagrams are included for each. Among the tunes are: “All About that Bass,” Meghan Trainor; “Best Day of My Life,” American Authors; “Count on Me,” Bruno Mars; “Doin’ What She Likes,” Blake Shelton; “Fortune Teller,” Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; “I See Fire,” Ed Sheeran; “Let It Go,” from Walt Disney’s Frozen; “My City of Ruins,” Bruce Springsteen; “Teardrops on My Guitar,” Taylor Swift, “You Raise Me Up,” Josh Groban.

The 2000s for Piano: Over 40 Modern Pop Favorites, Alfred Music (Alfred.com).

Cool Tools, Products

Casio’s Celviano Grand Hybrid GP-500BP and GP-300 digital pianos

October 5, 2015 IM

Grand Feel and Sound

Casio’s Celviano Grand Hybrid GP-500BP and GP-300 digital pianos combine the latest electronic music technology with the traditional sound and feel of acoustic grand pianos. AiR Grand Sound Source recreates all the multi-faceted sounds of an acoustic piano, including sympathetic string resonance, damper resonance, key-off response, and mechanical sound. Plus the Grand Hybrids recreate three legendary grand pianos: the Berlin Grand, the Hamburg Grand, and the Vienna Grand. Several preset configurations of these pianos are included, along with other essential instruments. A multi-channel amplification system creates the immersive sound field of a nine-foot concert grand, while headphone mode produces an ideal stereo image while practicing quietly.
www.casiomusicgear.com

International Musician

An Approach to Comping: the Essentials, a Guide to Jazz Accompanying

August 31, 2015 IM

Comping is a term used to describe how a pianist (or other chordal instrumentalist) plays chords in a rhythm that propels and supports a soloist. Author and pianist Jeb Patton of Local 802 (New York City) says that this is the type of book he searched for when he first started playing jazz. It is meant as an aid to aspiring jazz musicians, uncovering some of the mysteries behind comping. It reveals what happens in the background—the groove, the backdrop, the rhythmic conversation, and the colors behind the soloist—and underscores the piano player’s role in comping. Two included CDs provide demonstration and comp-along tracks to help you learn techniques by playing along.

An Approach to Comping: the Essentials, a Guide to Jazz Accompanying, by Jeb Patton, www.shermusic.com.

Yamaha’s P-115 Portable Digital Piano

February 26, 2015 IM

Precocious Portable

Yamaha’s P-115 portable digital piano replaces its P-105 with upgraded features at an affordable price. P-115’s Pure CF Sound Engine reproduces the sound of the Yamaha concert grand with improved damper resonance and reverb effects, to allow the use of dynamics not typically available in a digital piano of this size and price range. Other upgrades include a controller app for iOS, expanded polyphony (192 notes), and 14 drum rhythms. Its aux outputs and USB port enhance connectivity. An optional furniture stand and piano-style pedal unit give it a stylish appearance. P-115 is available in black or white.

usa.yamaha/products/musical-instruments

Cool Tools, Products

Korg LP-380 Digital Piano

December 1, 2014 IM

The stylish Korg LP-380 digital piano is now available in a compact 73-key model. It combines weighted keys and a brilliant piano sound with a low profile, slim, space-saving, and stylish design. It features 120-voice polyphony and 30 sounds, 30 demo songs, and built-in features like brilliance, reverb, and chorus effects. It’s available in traditional black, or two-tone orange-black, silver-black, or cream-black.

Grand Feel and Sound

Precocious Portable

AFM