Sneak Peek #2: Stormy Weather
Hello! Dave here. I invite you to grab a favorite beverage and “peek over my shoulder” as we explore this wonderful world of music and improvisation together.
Throughout my musical life, many of the lessons I’ve treasured most were those rare moments when I could peek over the shoulder of a fellow pianist and see what they were doing. When approached, they were usually quite accommodating and eager to share. These opportunities might have lasted just 30 seconds or a few minutes, but I always grasped something I never learned in formal piano lessons.
Nothing can replace those special “aha!” moments.
The Secret to Musical Creativity
I want to share one of the most powerful strategies for pianists who want that “special something” — the ability to play through multiple choruses of a tune like Skylark or Misty with the confidence to make each chorus sound different.
If you want to speak a language freely and fluently, you must practice using elements of that language over and over in different contexts.
You’ve already proven this works — you do it every day with spoken language. You speak words, phrases, and sentences freely and creatively because you practiced using the elements of your language over and over in different contexts. This is the foundation of all my creative piano learning programs.
The Sneak Peeks Approach
Sneak Peeks takes this concept to the next level. You’ll be introduced to unique ideas while understanding a crucial fact about this learning process: repeated exposure to unfamiliar elements makes them familiar.
Within the context of each session, you’ll gain helpful styling insights, tips, and strategies for turning heads whenever a piano is available.
Sneak Peek #2: “Stormy Weather”
Session focuses on the first three measures of the Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler standard Stormy Weather.
What You’ll Master
- Piano fills
- II–V–I chord progression
- Tri-tone chord substitution
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Diminished scale
- Blues scale
- Easy way to improvise over an entire chord progression
While enjoying this video, as you discover one insight after another, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to hit that pause button often and run to the keys to make these ideas happen for yourself before your very eyes!
How valuable would it be to “peek over the shoulder” of a pro piano stylist for an hour? Can you imagine the possibilities?
This video presentation covers jazz piano basics explained in a fun and inspiring environment. There are plenty of intermediate/advanced highlights sprinkled throughout, too.
Truly a super learning tool you’ll be able to grow with!
Preview excerpt
Preview sample excerpts from this session →