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(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Of course it's only fair to include the overhead piano camera footage. Look out for the downloadable sheet music and discussion about the piece shortly. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is RAW unmixed and unmastered version of a traditional hebrew song called Oifn Pripitchik. This version won't appear on the Album, but really sets the mood and highlights the musical sensitivity of all the Musicians. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)The wait is over. There's some huge plans for the near future of SOMO. Here's the big secret everyones been talking about. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Perhaps you’ve heard of it? If not, don’t worry…here it is. In our opinion - an instant solution to creating great substitutions in a ii-V-I setting. This video is very detailed and you should probably watch ‘the Mysterious Altered Chord’ before delving into it. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)If you want the ability to create some dangerously tasty chords… then allow us to treat you to the Mysterious Altered Chord. (Soon to be not so Mysterious.) This lesson will clear up the idea of playing Altered Chords, and creating your own Altered Chords. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is the Second Secret Member Bonus. If you enjoyed the first one... then here's the encore. Have Fun. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)You've been practicing hard, and all your hard work shouldn't go un-rewarded. Here's something I'm sure you'll enjoy. Congratulations. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Here are the backing tracks for lesson 37, however they certainly help your improvisation, scales, chords - or anything else you can think of. You can play along here, or download them are jam away from the computer. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Have you heard of the Seven Primary Rules of Embellishment? If not, you're in for a treat. Any note can sound correct over any chord - it's just a matter of following it up in a good way. These Seven Rules will give you the ability to play tasty improvised piano/keyboard lines.... every time! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Now it’s time to put some authentic Latin sounds into your playing. This isn’t just a ‘play-these-notes’ thing either, we’re actually going to look at how this Montuno is derived. This is the first of many lessons on Authentic Latin Styles - if you can get the co-ordination down for this… then you’ll boost your playing in every style. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Lasting over half an hour, this is by far the longest most serious lesson to date. This lesson works on getting that ‘lounge-piano’ sound with the ‘power-rock-ballad-bassline’ and also shows you a great technique for learning and memorizing all inversions of any chord. Pick a tune and here we go! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)You’ve been asking…and now the wait is over. Introduction to the blues touches on the blues as a twelve bar form and as a new sytle. You can also add this great new bass line into your bag of tricks. We also add a right hand lick that will not only sound authentic… but will really help consolidate those Dominant modes. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is a great lesson for everybody, whether you’ve been playing your whole life or you’ve just started. Introducing Ostinatos into your practice will really help you separate your brain into two. Dave also suggests a trick with your Metronome that not only helps your time, but helps you swing! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Now that chords are coming easy, lets step them up a notch. This lesson looks at the role of the piano’s chords in a band setting, and how we can make them more hip. Lets drop the Tonic and start adding the Ninth. Otherwise you’ll be on the Bass Player black list! -We also touch briefly on the Samba. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)It's arrived : Serious Chords! We expect this to really unlock the door to building chords, and more importantly understanding any chord that you're EVER going to come across is any book. This is a big video, so make yourself a coffee and come back and enjoy. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)That basic improving lesson also applies here! This lesson attacks the Minor seven chords and improvising over them. With this lesson under your belt, you can now play and improvise over 80% of chords. From here on in it becomes your interpretation… well done! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Now all you’ve got to do is play that V7 chord and improvise over the top. If you can practice them by themselves, then you’ll have no problem when you tackle them in the middle of a tune. …and did you know that that basic improvising lesson applies here??? |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)So you’ve got those ii-V-I’s smooth and starting to get some real nice sounds… lets see how you go with just the V7.. sounds easy? You be the judge. Isolating the chord is going to make sure that you can be fluent when you come across a dominant chord by itself. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Here it is! Part II will have you joining up those target notes using the Dorian and Mixolydian scales from Lesson 26. There’s no doubt… you all now know how to create beautiful flowing melodies. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Understanding these scales and how they fit in and relate to chords is a huge part of improvisation. After this lesson you’ll understand and it’ll open the door to improvisation and creating smooth, tasty, inside solo lines. Surge forward fellow Musicians into Intermediate Two! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is a great way to finish off the Intermediate one levels. Improvising using a simple and effective trick to create tasty solos. Target notes make sure that you're outlining the chord changes. Think of them as the dots, because in Part II we're going to join them up! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is an essential lesson covering the now famous ii-V-I progression. In this lesson we're going to learn a practical way of practicing it. It's also going to give us the ability to loop all twelve keys with ease and start creating and composing songs. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Lets play some music! This lesson makes sure you can play through your ii-V-I’s as a Bossa and a Swing. Don’t forget your embellishments and approach notes. That’s what helps you sound unique and interesting. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)A second look at the ii-V-I progression reveals a quick and easy way to play it. You’ll be playing these chords in no time at all. It’s a great way to drill all 12 major seven, dominant seven and minor seven chords and become proficient around all keys. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)The ii-V-I progression is the most common chord progression in the jazz and contemporary styles. This video lesson will teach you what they are and why they are so useful. This is the first of many lessons on this progression to come. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)With the Minor Seven Chords you will learn in this lesson you now have over 80% of all chords you’re going to find in contemporary music... and what better way to master them than with a great new style. Introducing… the Tango. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)The Dominant chord is found everywhere in music. In fact, it is the most prominent chord in the blues. It is a very small adjustment from a Major Seven. Here it is for you to master. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)If you enjoyed the video lesson on Basic Improvising… then why not apply to all twelve Major Seven chords. This video lesson offers a way to apply it into your practice to gain fluidity in any key. Your improvisation skills will improve dramatically. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)So you can figure out the notes in any key signature or major scale? Now it’s time to learn the right hand fingering in just three simple steps. Learning to play the Major Scales this way will lead to incredibly fast technique and open up your improvisational possibilities. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is the first video in a two part series on Major Scales and Key Signatures. This video delivers a quick and easy way to figure out any Key Signature, or the notes is any Major Scale, using only the Circle of Fourths. This essential skill is going to make improvising possible in ANY KEY! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Improvising... Why can some musicians create really tasty solos, and others struggle?? This is the first of many lessons that attacks improvisation in such a logical manner. Using five basic concepts you will be assured that every solo from now on will be interesting and musical. Say goodbye to clashing notes! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Are your comping patterns sounding too monotonous in your right hand? Here are a whole bunch of practice patterns that are going to test your skills, rhythm, and co-ordination. Oh yeah,... and lets not forget your patience. Hang on tight. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This Lesson is designed to prepare you for the upcoming improvisation. You are going to learn how to play all major seven chords effortlessly. That in itself is an impressive and important skill, but the foundation you are creating by moving through these lessons one-by-one is simply astonishing. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)When you put that essential Scale and Arpeggio over a bassline... all of a sudden you have put it into a musical context. You also have a way of practicing it and making it sound great. (...not to mention the co-ordination between hands that this builds up.) Once you are comfortable with this... your improvisation can really begin |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)THIS IS NOT A BORING LESSON!!! Don’t let the name throw you. Scales and Arpeggios will help create really amazing solos. The Arpeggios outline all chordal notes and target notes for soloing, while the scale provides you a smooth passage to join them up. This Lesson is ESSENTIAL and will make you a better Musician! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)All of those great Embellishments and Inverted Basslines work with the Swing Feel too. This video creates a versatile Swing Bassline that really swings hard. It also opens a door into the fast approaching world of improvisation. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)It’s time to learn a new style. This is the basic swing feel. This will create the foundation for much musical vocabulary. Nail this, and with the next lesson under your belt you will start sounding like a pro. As a pianist your greatest musical growth will begin when you can accompany yourself and others. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Have you been wondering why your Bossa feel has a tendency to creep up the piano? You’ll now be able to keep everything within a certain range. It’ll sound musical, It’ll sound deliberate, and with this new type of Bassline Embellishment It’ll sound hip. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Those basslines will burst to life with this video lesson. Your Bossa Feel will sound more sophisticated with a new sense of energy about it. This is a real big step towards improvisation as you can now make desicisions on the fly.... to embellish or not to embellish?... that is improvisation. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Adapting those Minor Chords into a Bossa Nova feel is easy. It’s another great way to consolidate those Minor Triads and make them second nature |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)If you thought Major Triads were easy... here are the Minor Triads. This easy to understand video lesson literally doubles your chordal knowledge. You will be playing all 12 Minor Triads with ease |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Usually the most important ways to encourage musical growth is to listen to music, and to actually play music. In these sections, you can listen and play. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Now you can play all your chords... perhaps you want to start making it sound like music. Here you can learn the basic Bossa Nova feel. It’s a great way to consolidate those major triads and will help you to start reading lead sheets and general chord music. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)There are certain things that are part of every serious pianists Gig Bag. We know it can often be hard to find the right tools to learn with if you don't know what you're looking for..... so we've made it real easy. ENJOY! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)So you’ve got a grasp on Chordal Skeletons. Lets start playing all your Major Triads with ease. Use this trick to help make them come without thinking. After this lesson you will play any major triad in a matter of seconds. Easy. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Chordal Skeletons are a step often skipped by most teachers. Did you know that all major seven, minor seven and dominant seven chords have the same Chordal Skeleton? Watch this lesson and you will have absolutely no problems getting to future chords effortlessly. A MUST LEARN FOUNDATION FOR CHORDS! |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Here are the first three rhythm & sight reading exercises. This video explains how to read the music, and effective ways of practicing it. Feel free to download and print the music to start your very own sight reading and rhythm exercise folders. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is an introduction to the new Rhythm & Sightreading method. With over 300 Rhythm & Sightreading exercises, these exercises will have you reading lead sheets. We will continue to upload the exercises as more lessons become available. |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)This is the lesson for when you sit down at the Piano for the First time. You will learn what all the notes are and where they are located. (Including all Sharps and Flats) |
(Members Only, Please Join or Log In To View Lesson)Welcome. Before you start, let us show you how you can quickly kick start your music into action. |
