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Podcast 186 – Creative Practice Ideas

Warmup Routine:
 Rachmaninoff two-hand warmup
 Scales
o Major
o Minor (Harmonic, melodic, natural)
o Practice in Contrary Motion, 6ths, 10ths
 Arpeggios
o Major
o Minor
o 6ths and 10ths
 Hanon
o Range of tempos with Metronome
 Sight-reading
 Classical Pieces (suggested)
o Bach
 Two and Three Part Inventions
o Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn
 Piano Sonatas
o Brahms
 Klavierstucke
o Debussy
 Deux Arabesques

Jazz Practice Goals & Ideas

 Play a blues a day
o Record yourself
o 1 month (30 day) challenge

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 Investigate an artist
o Find your favorite albums by 1 artist
 Ex. Bud Powell
 “The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1”
 “The Genius of Bud Powell”
 “Bud Powell Swings”
o Learn the tunes they play from these albums
 “Parisian Thoroughfare”
 “Wail”
 “Another Dozen”
o Transcribe their solos
 Bud Powell – “Celia”

 Learn Music by Composer

o Charlie Parker (omnibook)
 “Moose the Mooche”
 “Ornithology”
 “Segment”
o Thelonious Monk
 “Straight, No Chaser”
 “Rhythm-a-ning”
 “Brilliant Corners”

 Transcription Challenge
o Transcribe 4 solos in 1 month
o 1 solo per week!!
o Go to https://jazzpianoschool.com/transcriptions/ for ideas!

 Compose
o Start with writing a blues, rhythm changes, or other
contrafact!
o https://jazzpianoschool.com/3-easy-ways-to-start-
composing-jazz-now/
o 32 bar tune
o Free form tune

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 Shed your solo chops!

o Look to influential albums for inspiration
 Bill Evans – Alone
 Thelonious Monk – Solo Monk
 Keith Jarrett – Facing You, & The Melody at Night with
You
 Brad Mehldau – 10 Years Solo (live)

 Practice Stride Piano

o Learn some Scott Joplin rags
 “The Entertainer”
 “Maple Leaf Rag”
 “Sugar Cane Rag”
o Learn some traditional tunes
 “Body and Soul”
 “Honeysuckle Rose” (Fats Waller)
 “Indiana”
o Check out some stride pianists
 James P. Johnson
 Teddy Wilson
 Willie “The Lion” Smith
 Fats Waller

©2020 Jazzpianoschool.com