| "Practice!" That's what piano teachers always tell their | | | | you will get: |
| students, or "Practice makes perfect," spout many. But | | | | C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db(C#)-Gb(F#)-Cb(B)-E-A-D-G-C. |
| practice what? Practice how? If practice makes | | | | Memorize this movement because a lot of chord |
| perfect, then it is also true that imperfect practice | | | | progressions in songs move naturally in this way, either |
| makes imperfection! And we don't want that. To | | | | down in perfect 5ths or up in perfect 4ths. For |
| become really good at our craft, i.e. piano-playing, it is | | | | example, the A section of "Fly Me to the Moon": |
| important to know what and how to practice. Hence, | | | | Ami7-Dmi7-G7-Cma7-Fma7-Bmi7(b5)- E7-Ami7. The |
| to me, the saying should really be knowledgeable | | | | roots of the chords move perfectly around the cycle, |
| practice makes perfect. | | | | diatonic to the key of C major! |
| Here are the seven important areas to cover and to | | | | 5. Form - All the elements of music - melody, harmony |
| diligently practice in order to become a better pop and | | | | and rhythm - will be pointless or meandering if not held |
| or jazz pianist. | | | | together or structured in specific forms. Pop songs are |
| | | | known for their verse and chorus structures, or AB |
| 1. Scales - All contemporary piano players know that | | | | form. It is also common to find modern pop songs |
| scales are the basic building blocks in music. The notes | | | | these days with the following form: |
| of a melody come from a scale, as are improvisational | | | | intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-outro |
| lines in jazz solos. Essential scales to master are: | | | | (ending). Blues music, of course, has its 12-bar structure, |
| major (ionian mode), melodic and harmonic minor, | | | | and its less common 16-bar form. And the 32-bar song |
| modes (dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, aeolian | | | | form in jazz with its many variations, i.e., AABA, AABC, |
| [natural minor], locrian), major and minor pentatonic, | | | | et cetera, are all important to note and remember. |
| major and minor blues, diminished and whole-tone. | | | | 6. Styles - The beautiful thing about contemporary |
| 2. Chords - From scales, we build chords. It's vital to | | | | music is its many styles: pop, rock, R&B, reggae, |
| memorize all the diatonic chords of the major and | | | | gospel, bossa nova, swing, bebop, et cetera. Each and |
| minor scales. Diatonic chords are chords that are built | | | | every style has its inherent melodic, harmonic and |
| on every note of a scale and whose notes come | | | | rhythmic characteristics. Break down every facet of a |
| from that very scale; there are seven altogether for | | | | style and learn how to interpret it correctly. Master the |
| each scale. Learn up its chord quality and function | | | | styles and make your playing more colorful and |
| within the scale or key, regardless whether the chords | | | | multidimensional! |
| are triads, sevenths, or 13th chords. Essential chord | | | | 7. Listen - Last but not least, because contemporary |
| families to master are: major, minor and dominant. | | | | music comes in many genres, styles, shape and form, |
| 3. Rhythm - The best melody and harmony in the | | | | we need to develop a healthy listening habit. Every |
| world will be quite boring without a hint of rhythm that | | | | area from 1 to 6 above can be consolidated through a |
| goes with it. Rhythm gives life to music. Inherent with | | | | good listening session. As you listen to a piece of |
| rhythm is feel, i.e. the interpretation of rhythmic units. | | | | music, be it something from Coldplay, Sara Bareilles, |
| Essential rhythmic feels to grasp are: straight and rolled | | | | Michael Buble, or Keith Jarrett, look out for and analyze |
| 8ths, straight and rolled 16ths, swing and triplet. | | | | all the elements - the melody/scale, chord/harmony, |
| Additionally, it is also important to work on other | | | | rhythm/feel, form and style. Music is an audible art. |
| rhythmic aspects such as syncopation and anticipation. | | | | Hence, as a musician you need to build up your |
| 4. Cycle of 5ths - Imagine the face of a clock and | | | | analytic listening skills! |
| instead of the hourly numbers, replace these with the | | | | Since there are 7 areas to work on altogether, these |
| 12 notes in music, i.e. starting at the top at 12 with C, | | | | can be put to efficient practice, one for each day of |
| then moving clockwise down five steps to F, then Bb | | | | the week! And remember only knowledgeable and |
| and continuing this until you end back at C. This is what | | | | perfect practice makes perfect. Have fun! |