
John Proulx
Los Angeles, CA
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John Proulx is a singer, pianist, composer, and educator. In addition to touring with his own trio, John has performed with the likes of Anita O’Day, Natalie Cole, and Melissa Manchester. His four albums have garnered national and international acclaim.
As a composer. John has written songs for many notable vocalists. Jazz legend, Nancy Wilson, recorded “These Golden Years”, a song that John co-wrote with lyricist D. Channsin Berry, for her Grammy-winning CD, “Turned to Blue”. Most recently, John co-wrote a song called “Stained Glass” with Melissa Manchester for his new album, “Say It”. John and Melissa also co-wrote a song called “Big Light” for her 20th studio album, “You Gotta Love The Life”, featuring a duet with Melissa and Al Jarreau. Jazz singer, Mary Stallings, recorded “Stuck in a Dream” (2005, “Remember Love”), and “Before You Know It” (2010, “Dream”), two songs John co-wrote with lyricist K. Lawrence Dunham. Deana Martin also recorded “Stuck in a Dream” on her latest album, “Destination Moon”.
John began his formal musical education at the age of three in Grand Rapids, MI on Suzuki violin, but quickly switched to classical piano lessons. His late grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist who introduced him to the world of jazz. Hooked on the freedom of improvisation, his education took him to Chicago to study at Roosevelt University’s Chicago School of Performing Arts where he received his Bachelors of Music in 1999. In 2001, John moved to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits. He emerged as a young talent on the Los Angeles jazz scene and loved the wide-range of opportunities the city had to offer. John also spent four months in 2009 at the prestigious Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency hotel in New York City playing a nightly solo piano/vocal engagement. Since then, John has appeared on Michael Feinstein’s radio show on NPR, “Song Travels” as well as on Marian McPartland’s radio show, “Piano Jazz”. John recently received his Master’s degree in jazz vocal performance from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now serves as adjunct faculty at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Long Beach. He is also gives online jazz voice and piano lessons at jazzvoice.com.
About John Proulx
Education
Bachelor of Music - Roosevelt University
Master in Jazz Vocal Performance - Western Michigan University
Favorite piano styles
John Proulx's Latest Courses
This comprehensive course covers dominant drop 2 voicings. We’ll learn these voicings with fun exercises, and apply them to short songs in a bossa, swing, ballad, and funk style.
This comprehensive course covers 4-note quartal voicings. We’ll learn these voicings over the 2-5-1 progression in all the minor keys, how to incorporate chord alterations, and finally we'll apply them to a song at the end using the chord changes from Alone Together.
This comprehensive course covers 4-note quartal voicings. We’ll learn these voicings over the 2-5-1 progression in all the major keys, how to incorporate chord alterations, and finally we'll apply them to a song at the end using the Satin Doll progression.
This comprehensive course covers minor drop 2 voicings. We’ll learn these voicings with fun exercises in all the minor keys, and apply them to short songs in a bossa, swing, ballad, and funk style.
John Proulx's Quick Tips (Instructor)
Learn to comp and improv on "Giant Steps"…one of the most feared and revered jazz tunes. Then master reharmonization using Coltrane changes.
Learn the “Top 5 Funk Chords Every Pianist Must Know” and funk piano grooves in the style of Herbie Hancock, Bill Withers and Bruno Mars.
Improvise jazz piano with the magical sound of the Lydian Dominant Scale. Learn to hear, construct and solo over 4 common jazz progressions.
Improvise with the hippest jazz scale of all—the Altered Scale (aka "Super Locrian," "Diminished Whole Tone"). This is your Complete Guide!
John Proulx's Smartsheets
Learn to comp and improv on "Giant Steps"…one of the most feared and revered jazz tunes. Then master reharmonization using Coltrane changes.
This comprehensive course covers dominant drop 2 voicings. We’ll learn these voicings with fun exercises, and apply them to short songs in a bossa, swing, ballad, and funk style.
This comprehensive course covers 4-note quartal voicings. We’ll learn these voicings over the 2-5-1 progression in all the minor keys, how to incorporate chord alterations, and finally we'll apply them to a song at the end using the chord changes from Alone Together.
This comprehensive course covers 4-note quartal voicings. We’ll learn these voicings over the 2-5-1 progression in all the major keys, how to incorporate chord alterations, and finally we'll apply them to a song at the end using the Satin Doll progression.
John Proulx's Latest Shows
Office Hours (May 23)
Office Hours are an opportunity to get interactive feedback from a professional piano coach!
Live Workshop (June 2023)
In this Live Workshop, we'll be focusing on solo accompanying on the standard, "Girl From Ipanema."
Office Hours (June 27)
Office Hours are an opportunity to get interactive feedback from a professional piano coach!
Office Hours (June 20)
Office Hours are an opportunity to get interactive feedback from a professional piano coach!
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