In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano with one of the most important scales – the Major (Ionian) Scale.
We’ll start with learning the notes of the scale along with 3 common chord progressions you can use when soloing. Then we’ll learn 5 left hand accompaniments, including chording, rock, latin, flowing, and comping. Jonny will you teach you his best techniques for soloing, including steps, skips, and outlining chords. We’ll dive further into the scale by learning 2 block positions and 4 rhythm exercises.
To finish, we’ll practice a scale shifting exercise and learn how to solo over multiple chords.
Course Objectives
Learn the notes of the major scale in every key
Discover 3 common chord progressions you can use the major scale to solo over
Master 5 left hand accompaniments: chording, rock, latin, flowing, comping
Practice 2 block positions and 4 rhythm exercises
Develop your soloing technique with steps, skips, and outlining chords
Understand how to solo over multiple chords
Learning Focus
Exercises
Improvisation
Scales
Featured Reviews
View PWJ member reviews of this course!
Major Scale Improv Magic!
This is another great Beginner-Intermediate course designed to learn the art of improvisation using the Major Scale. Quite a bit of material to digest in one sitting. I tackled the entire course in one day and will be going back over the various sections to try and work this material into my daily practice routine. It is a very immersive course in the art of improv and one that will probably take a fairly good while to totally absorb, but it has the potential of allowing some of that "Jonny Magic" to rub off on those who are willing to spend the time in pursuing these concepts and dutifully practicing them various techniques over time. Thanks again, PWJ! Good stuff!!
Took me a while, but I think I got the gist of it
At first I felt a bit lost about what I'm supposed to do. I now think that Jonny simply wanted us to muck around with the simple tools, while training our ear (and brain) to know what sequences and lines sound more musical than others. Towards the end this became at least implicit (if not explicitly mentiones). In other words, this course/workshop is a longer term project - leading the students to the path of improvisation. In yet other words, Jonny was applying the "Show, not tell" approach of many a teacher (or author).
Lots of Great Soloing Ideas Here!
Jonny goes over many, many soloing ideas in this course. Really makes it look effortless! Great improv tips!
Enjoyable and Informative course.
Generally enjoyed the course. Got a little frustrated in the earlier videos as to lack of guidance on best fingering to use - really important for beginners and intermediates where they don’t have access to a physical teacher. It would seem to be very easy to anotate the sheet music with some fingering suggestions. Also, found some of the examples at the end of each session to be way too fast a cadence to understand/follow what was being done, and the left hand accompaniment seemed to drift away from basic triads with no explanation as to what was happening. Thanks for the lessons.
The method behind the magic
When you don't know what you're hearing, it sounds like wonderful complex magic that you think you could never master. Then you follow Jonny's course and he breaks down exactly how it's done. Turns out it's not magic, just a methodology that a great teacher can explain and make it seem rather straightforward. If you really commit to diving into each technique and taking your time with each concept, pretty soon you are the one creating the 'magic'. Jonny's approach is so much better than simply playing scales up and down and still not being able to make music with them. Within this course the major scale won't seem scary anymore, nor will your approach to what to play seem random and non-musical. It's not that complicated once he explains it, but that's the gift of great teacher.
This is another great Beginner-Intermediate course designed to learn the art of improvisation using the Major Scale. Quite a bit of material to digest in one sitting. I tackled the entire course in one day and will be going back over the various sections to try and work this material into my daily practice routine. It is a very immersive course in the art of improv and one that will probably take a fairly good while to totally absorb, but it has the potential of allowing some of that "Jonny Magic" to rub off on those who are willing to spend the time in pursuing these concepts and dutifully practicing them various techniques over time. Thanks again, PWJ! Good stuff!!
Took me a while, but I think I got the gist of it
At first I felt a bit lost about what I'm supposed to do. I now think that Jonny simply wanted us to muck around with the simple tools, while training our ear (and brain) to know what sequences and lines sound more musical than others. Towards the end this became at least implicit (if not explicitly mentiones). In other words, this course/workshop is a longer term project - leading the students to the path of improvisation. In yet other words, Jonny was applying the "Show, not tell" approach of many a teacher (or author).
Lots of Great Soloing Ideas Here!
Jonny goes over many, many soloing ideas in this course. Really makes it look effortless! Great improv tips!
Enjoyable and Informative course.
Generally enjoyed the course. Got a little frustrated in the earlier videos as to lack of guidance on best fingering to use - really important for beginners and intermediates where they don’t have access to a physical teacher. It would seem to be very easy to anotate the sheet music with some fingering suggestions. Also, found some of the examples at the end of each session to be way too fast a cadence to understand/follow what was being done, and the left hand accompaniment seemed to drift away from basic triads with no explanation as to what was happening. Thanks for the lessons.
The method behind the magic
When you don't know what you're hearing, it sounds like wonderful complex magic that you think you could never master. Then you follow Jonny's course and he breaks down exactly how it's done. Turns out it's not magic, just a methodology that a great teacher can explain and make it seem rather straightforward. If you really commit to diving into each technique and taking your time with each concept, pretty soon you are the one creating the 'magic'. Jonny's approach is so much better than simply playing scales up and down and still not being able to make music with them. Within this course the major scale won't seem scary anymore, nor will your approach to what to play seem random and non-musical. It's not that complicated once he explains it, but that's the gift of great teacher.
In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano with the Aeolian scale - a sad, ominous sounding scale often used in rock music. We'll cover the notes of the scale, which chords/progressions to use, 5 left hand accompaniments, 2 block positions, 4 rhythm exercises, 3 soloing techniques, and more.
In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano with the Dorian scale. We'll cover the notes of the scale, essential soloing techniques, left hand accompaniments, common chord progressions and rhythms, and we'll learn how to solo over multiple chords.
In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano over major chords with the Lydian scale. We'll cover essential soloing techniques, left hand accompaniments, common chord progressions and rhythms, and we'll learn how to solo over multiple chords.
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Piano With Jonny offers three core content types:
Courses
Courses are comprised of lessons and are based on selected styles of music and learning focus topics. PWJ offers regular courses, workshops which include teacher interaction, and challenges which are divided into a 4 week learning format.
Lessons
Lessons are combined into courses. Most lessons build upon concepts of the previous lesson, with the exception of Quick Tips which stand alone.
Smartsheets
Smartsheets use the Soundslice sheet music player to give students digital access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music.
Content Types
Piano With Jonny offers three core content types:
Courses
Courses are comprised of lessons and are based on selected styles of music and learning focus topics. PWJ offers regular courses, workshops which include teacher interaction, and challenges which are divided into a 4 week learning format.
Lessons
Lessons are combined into courses. Most lessons build upon concepts of the previous lesson, with the exception of Quick Tips which stand alone.
Smartsheets
Smartsheets use the Soundslice sheet music player to give students digital access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music.
Course Types
Courses are comprised of lessons and are based on selected styles of music and learning focus topics. PWJ offers regular courses, workshops which include teacher interaction, and challenges which are divided into a 4 week learning format.
Lesson Types
Lessons are combined into courses. Most lessons build upon concepts of the previous lesson, with the exception of Quick Tips which stand alone.
Sheet Types
Smartsheets use the Soundslice sheet music player to give students digital access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music. Smartsheets provide audio playback, light-up key notation, transposition, looping, and other learning tools.
Lessons sheets break down a song into smaller learning sections. They are all instantly downloadable.
Arrangements are through-composed pieces that are fully notated. They are available for digital viewing and print purchase.
Skill Levels
Beginner: You have never played piano or are just starting your learning journey.
Intermediate: You have some familiarity with the basics of music, and have learned a few pieces.
Advanced: You are more confident with music theory and can play several challenging pieces.
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