C minor is the key of Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony, with its stormy opening notes, but it also sounds great in jazz. This course covers all the essentials of C minor, and since it’s closely related to Eb major, many of the notes will feel familiar. You’ll learn the C minor scale plus two variations that give minor music its unique flavor, with the fingering for each hand and strategies for playing them smoothly and building speed.
Next, you’ll learn the 10 chords you’ll see most often in C minor and four of the most common chord progressions (chord patterns) in this key. Then you’ll bring it all together with Long Ago, a fun, jazzy original swing tune that shows off a cooler, more relaxed side of C minor.
Once you’re comfortable, you’ll use inversions to make your chord changes sound smoother and apply them to Long Ago. Then you’ll play it along with a bass and drums backing track, so it feels like you’re playing in a jazz club. Finally, you’ll learn simple ways to play chords for someone else to sing or play along to.
Course Objectives
Play C natural, harmonic and melodic minor in both hands with the correct fingering
Use practice strategies to play your scales smoothly and build speed
Learn the 10 most common chords and four of the most common chord progressions in C minor
Play Long Ago, an original jazz swing tune
Apply inversions, perform with a full backing track and accompany other musicians
Learning Focus
Chords
Groove
Lead Sheets
Scales
Songs
Featured Reviews
View PWJ member reviews of this course!
Fun course!
Enjoyed playing the tune and also the rhythms / accompaniment lesson was great. Those are two rhythms I am sure I will use a lot in my playing going forward.
Minor Keys are fun to play.
Fun course. For me, "Long Ago" wasn't as challenging as the previous songs, but it was nice to have an easier tune to learn. Good pacing.
Very comprehensive
I would appreciate if you add in every last lesson of every course (accompaniment) also a melody to listen to, not only rhythmic section. Thank you
Over The Hills and Long Ago!
I started studying piano Foundations Courses at PWJ a little over a year ago. I have gone from studying the Key of C Major to just finishing the Key of C Minor. Sometimes, learning scales and chords can seem a little like drudgery. However, as the name Foundations implies, one needs to build a solid Foundation to reach one's loftier piano goals and I'm now halfway through the Foundations Courses and I'm beginning to experience the thrill of mastering the techniques and skills necessary to reach my piano dreams. My hands are naturally beginning to go where they are supposed to go with less and less concentration and effort and playing scales and chords are beginning to feel 2nd nature. I'm also beginning to translate these skills into playing some basic Jazz Standard arrangements and what I thought impossible a year ago is becoming reality. I hope that this encourages others who may find working on Fundamentals to be less than exciting. Don't give up, there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...........Just keep playing and I'll see you at the finish line!!
Enjoyed playing the tune and also the rhythms / accompaniment lesson was great. Those are two rhythms I am sure I will use a lot in my playing going forward.
Minor Keys are fun to play.
Fun course. For me, "Long Ago" wasn't as challenging as the previous songs, but it was nice to have an easier tune to learn. Good pacing.
Very comprehensive
I would appreciate if you add in every last lesson of every course (accompaniment) also a melody to listen to, not only rhythmic section. Thank you
Over The Hills and Long Ago!
I started studying piano Foundations Courses at PWJ a little over a year ago. I have gone from studying the Key of C Major to just finishing the Key of C Minor. Sometimes, learning scales and chords can seem a little like drudgery. However, as the name Foundations implies, one needs to build a solid Foundation to reach one's loftier piano goals and I'm now halfway through the Foundations Courses and I'm beginning to experience the thrill of mastering the techniques and skills necessary to reach my piano dreams. My hands are naturally beginning to go where they are supposed to go with less and less concentration and effort and playing scales and chords are beginning to feel 2nd nature. I'm also beginning to translate these skills into playing some basic Jazz Standard arrangements and what I thought impossible a year ago is becoming reality. I hope that this encourages others who may find working on Fundamentals to be less than exciting. Don't give up, there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...........Just keep playing and I'll see you at the finish line!!
Get your groove on with the funky, bluesy side of G minor. You'll learn the scales and chords that make this key tick, then play and improvise over Flunkalicious, a funky blues original.
Master the key of C from scales to chords to progressions, then play a beautiful performance piece that brings it all together. It's a thorough, rewarding look at the most important key for every beginning pianist.
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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.
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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.
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