| There's a lot of piano instruction books on the market. | | | | way to "follow the changes." |
| Books on note reading, chord playing, etc. But there's | | | | For example, the book "New Age Piano Made Easy" |
| only one book that puts together chord charts and | | | | contains over 80 improvisation exercises. Each one is |
| chord playing to get you improvising and creating your | | | | designed to get you doing one thing and that is to play |
| own music. | | | | chord changes without thinking about it. That is, the |
| So, what book am I talking about? It's called "New Age | | | | goal is to be in the moment with the music. Something |
| Piano Made Easy" and with it, you'll be able to quickly | | | | many students wish they could do, but can't for one |
| play something called the open position chord and then | | | | reason or another. Most of this has to do with the |
| use it to create your own music. But how is this | | | | belief that what's coming out of you isn't good enough. |
| possible? | | | | The other belief that stops many students is the one |
| Simple. The open position chord is a modern sounding | | | | where they keep saying they need to know more |
| chord structure that uses both hands right away at the | | | | before they take the plunge into improvisation. |
| keyboard. And with it, you can play modern sounds | | | | Nothing could be further from the truth! All you need is |
| immediately. But just having these chords under your | | | | a few chords under your eager fingers and a chart |
| fingers isn't enough. You need a framework - | | | | and you're off exploring new worlds of sound! |
| something that will enable you to improvise and | | | | It's very exciting for many students to be able to do |
| compose. That framework is the chord chart. | | | | this. Many of them are used to the note reading |
| Something most piano lesson books don't teach you | | | | approach only and literally have no clue how to just sit |
| about. | | | | down and "be" at the piano. Most of this has to do |
| A chord chart is a "navigation" tool that tells you when | | | | with attitude and the belief that improvising is difficult. |
| to play a chord and for how long. It also tells you when | | | | They've seen people sit down and play off the top of |
| to change chords. Jazz players use them almost | | | | their heads and are amazed. But there's a method to |
| exclusively because it gives a very clear and easy | | | | the magic. |