Some Great Finger Exercises

Greetings friends and fellow musicians!!

Hello to all my Keyboard Friends!

Thank you for visiting you Personal Piano Professor Website!

Piano exercises are an important part of learning to play piano or electronic keyboards.

As a beginning and intermediate keyboard player I spent a great deal of time getting the muscle memory I needed to play fluidly and express my ideas at the keyboard.

While they can be a bit tedious at times, the minutes you spend during your practice sessions on scale and chord exercises will pay off quickly.

What may seem difficult at first it terms of finger coordination will eventually become second nature like walking or riding a bike.

There are two videos waiting for you that will in no time increase your speed and agility at the keyboard

To see the entire lesson, click the link below

piano finger exercises

If you are interested in taking your piano playing to the next level, I think I may have struck the right chord for you. Just last week, I was contacted by my friends over at HearandPlay.com who specialize in teaching people how to play piano by ear.

Jermaine Griggs, the President of HearandPlay, just let me know that his site had recently been updated with a few new piano resources...

When I finally checked it out (because I was very busy last week), I noticed one particular article that discusses the differences between musicians who play piano from sheet music and others who play by ear --- some of the advantages and disadvantages of both.

The article focuses more on the advantages of playing by ear --- obviously because that's their specialty. Here are just a few of the many examples of what they said (you'll have to check out the article for yourself to get the full story):

Get the Full Story

Advantages of Playing Piano By Ear

1) "Being able to instantly recognize chords that are played in songs even without being at a piano."

************************* How does this help you? *************************

"You are able to learn songs faster and easier because you understand why chords are played at certain points in songs."

2) "Not required to memorize chord progressions (pattern of chords played one after the other) because understanding them will automatically incline you to know what chord to play next."

************************* How does this help you? *************************

"Allows you to improvise and add your own "flavor" to the song. This is especially advantageous when playing in a church as you can never predict how long a song will be sung or what key the singer might resolve to. In a band, this might be helpful if the leader simply instructs everyone to surprisingly repeat a part of the song or change the key in which the song is currently being played in."

3) "Will allow you to use the same methods to play virtually any song you want (most songs; don't quote me if you're referring to Mozart as this might take more practice than most other songs)."

************************* How does this help you? *************************

"Saves you the money and time of having to go out and buy the sheet music to a song that you've already learned how to play by using the ability of your ear to recognize melodies, chords, and progressions. However, buying the sheet music isn't a bad idea if you want to learn specific parts to songs that have high levels of complexity."

You know... I could really go on and on about this article, but due to the lack of space, I'm going to have to send you over there so you can check it out for yourself:

(...and if you're really serious about taking your piano playing to the next level, you might want to consider taking them up on their 300-pg course, "The Secrets to Playing Piano by Ear").

Meanwhile, let me know if you have any questions and I'll answer or pass them to the right folks at HearandPlay.com.

Again, go to: Hear and Play.com

As promised, I have posted a lesson with an 8 minute video on how to play Amazing Grace on the piano.

It is estimated that this well loved American gospel song is performed over 10 million times each year.

After experiencing the grace and love of God, John Newton, a former slave trader was converted to Christianity and in 1772 penned the lyrics to this timeless classic hymn.

He wanted to deliver the message that forgiveness and redemption is possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God.

To learn this timeless classic Gospel song click on the link below.

Learn Amazing Grace HERE!

You Need to check out this software! Very cool!

I've got to tell you I was truly impressed by this new software and you would do well to check out the worlds first internet powered song learning software. If you can find a song on Google or anywhere on the internet this software will teach you from beginning to end.

I have personally tried this and so have many of my more serious students. Its like having me there as a teacher 24/7..

Check this out for yourself by clicking the link below..

Amazing Song Tutor software

An understanding of music scales and the major scale in particular is one of the most important single concepts to understand as we continue to study the basic music theory required to get the most out of your experience playing piano or electronic keyboards.

To learn chords by memorizing each note or looking at pictures is like learning speak and foreign language with out understanding the meanings or context of the words.

By learning a few formulas starting with the formula for a Major scale you will not only speak the language of music but truly understand the how and why of chords and chord progressions.

Major Scales: the foundation to chord theory

Have you ever thought: “How excellent would it be to sit at a piano and play any melody that comes into my mind – without any notes?”

Or: What do I do when my band wants me to take a Piano Solo?

Piano improvisation, is the art of spontaneously playing melodies on the piano at the spur of the moment.

You may think it is domain of few very creative, experienced, and gifted musicians and thus unreachable for hobbist musicians or beginners. However......

I believe if you read on and go through some of the suggestion contained in these lessons that you or anyone can begin to learn this awesome skill.

View the whole video lesson by clicking below.

piano improvisation

Learning the 12 bar blues progression is basic to understanding the roots of American popular music.

When you see a group of musicians getting together to play everyone seems to know what to do almost magically.

This is because at one time or another they learned the 12 bar blues progression.

While there are lots of variations of this timeless progression the most common is a three chord 12 measure version explained in this lesson.

The 12 bar Blues for piano

Have you always wanted to learn to play jazz & blues on the piano but never had the time or money?

Or couldn't find the right person or course to teach you the "real" stuff?

If so, I've definitely found someone who can help you.

I'm talking about James Wrubel, an amazing musician and expert instructor. He's been there and back as a professional jazz musician and has played with some of the top names in the industry.

In two dvds and over 2 hours of step-by-step instruction, he takes you by the hand and shows you how to master tons of jazz & blues tricks and techniques as well as signature soloing secrets that'll have you sounding like you've been playing for years.

Here's some highlights.

Discover: * How to quickly and easily form tons of chord patterns and runs that'll have you sounding pro almost overnight.

* How to accelerate your jazz learning curve by combining 3 secret elements pros don't want you to know!

* How to pack every chord and voicing with just the right amount of flavor to get the job done.

* 7 secrets to playing signature solos without hesitation or even thinking about anything.

* And much more.

Clink the link below to get started!!

Learn Jazz Here!!

Best Gospel Course for Ear players

Also you can find a contact form on the site and suggest a song for a future lesson. Don't be shy. Let me know how i can help!!

I am grateful for all of you, and wish you the best success in your playing!!

Thanks, Greg

Go To Piano Lessons For Life