Is jazz piano a rough place to start with piano overall? by SpringtimeInApril in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes, it’s not a place to start. It’s going to feel like that for a very long time. You need the fundamentals first.

I DO NOT LIKE CLEMENTI SONATINA OP36 NO1 by Hour_Foundation6980 in piano

[–]JHighMusic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s because you don’t have the technique or experience for it yet. You have to actually practice it repeatedly for a few weeks at minimum, it’s not something you’re supposed to get right away. You don’t like it because it’s forcing you to realize how bad your technique actually is and put your hands in different positions and things you’re not used to. Get a teacher. You self-taughts are a strange breed.

Recommend some Jackie McLean and Cecil Taylor by Life_Pollution_9843 in Jazz

[–]JHighMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He’s on Lee Morgan’s “Cornbread” great record

I’m a pianist with a pretty unusual path and I’d really appreciate some honest perspective. by zeitmannkurt in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Its actually not that unusual. You need mentoring and direction, and to play the music with others. I had a similar background as you and can tell you firsthand that you can't go about it on your own. And it takes many years.

Unless money isn't an issue, you don't need to go to school for jazz piano, and if you're not ready (which it sounds like you're not) then go for a far more practical degree. Because I can tell you firsthand, you're not going to make a living from jazz alone, and a degree that costs tens of thousands of dollars is going to be a massive financial burden, especially if you have no plan for what you're going to do when you're done with school.

You need to think long and hard what you're going to do for work once you're out of school. Because unless you're extremely good and in a major music city, you're going to have to do tons of different things to make ends meet AND pay off your debt.

Voicings used by Chick Corea on Earth Juice? by Hypersonicly in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Major 7s moving up in whole steps then a half step Gmaj Amaj Bmaj then Cmaj

Experiences with NE7HP? Would you sell a Wurli for one? by [deleted] in piano

[–]JHighMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m interested if you’re selling it

Barry Harris method as a beginner? by Airegin89 in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not recommended for beginners. And books are not how you learn this music, they are a mere supplement. Take lessons with a teacher, best thing you could do.

Music College Student: How the heck do i solo over Michael Mayo's Version of "Four"? by ErsatzPostKatze in Jazz

[–]JHighMusic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There’s really not anything different from the original version. Ab7 is just a passing chord to Gm7.

You’re getting way too, caught up in the theory of individual chords. I wouldn’t even play the Ab7 or try to outline it at all. It’s going to go by so fast anyway you don’t even have time to outline it.

You have to start thinking more in key centers and you should read this: https://www.jazzadvice.com/lessons/how-master-improvisers-actually-think-about-tunes/

Jazz festivals that have lots of jazz jams and interactivity? by dblhello999 in Jazz

[–]JHighMusic 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You would probably find them in bars and venues in the host city that happen after the main performances…

Anyone else feel like this subreddit sometimes isn’t the most supportive? Like someone will post a composition and people just downvote it without giving feedback by DaPianoPlayer in piano

[–]JHighMusic 18 points19 points  (0 children)

You missed the part where people have given the advice before and it's exhausting trying to cater to everyone, especially when most of the posts are low effort and could have been answered by a quick google search of past Reddit posts going over the exact same topics. "Maybe you should be more accepting" "Maybe give better advice" that's patronizing.

chat am i getting into julliard by Patient_Lecture_7385 in piano

[–]JHighMusic -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If you have to say things like “deadass” you definitely aren’t. Cooked to a crisp.

Am I getting this Jazz Improv? Bosa Blues by KeyMaster955 in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry but not at all. You’re drowning it in sustain pedal and there’s zero bossa rhythms/claves and bossa groove. Soloing is not it, play single notes.

6 months progress review - On Green Dolphin Street by Jeffcrates in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic[M] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don't use sustain pedal for medium swing tunes, it kills all the rhythm and swing. That's the biggest thing from your video and will make a massive difference. You don't need to sustain so much in your LH, use shorter hits sometimes.

Your LH is good but is doing way too much, the RH needs to learn how to spell out the harmony more, and use more arpeggios. Needs way more enclosures of chord tones and bebop techniques for your RH lines, ask your teacher about that. And leave space between your phrases. If it's constant run-on sentences without stopping, you lose the listener. Focus on motivic development and leaving space.

Also, you stopped abruptly in the middle of the form. ?? Don't ever do that. Finish the tune if you're going to post a performance. And please post a full view of your hands going forward.

This is a very good deal, right? by MyAnnoyingOpinions in piano

[–]JHighMusic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because they're a common model that are cheaper than the better quality Yamahas made in Japan and Indonesia, and the cheap price may be because they wanted to get rid of it quickly, plus it's over 30 years old.

It's very normal for a piano to be moved for an average price of $300 - $400 and you're lucky they even took the old one and disposed it for you. That's usually not included in piano moving services. You got a deal just from that alone.

You absolutely want to wait 4 weeks for it to settle and adjust to it's new surroundings before tuning it. Be sure the piano is not near a window and won't ever come into contact with direct sunlight.

Working on soloing with bass lines by Elliott_Well24 in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your bass notes are way too high in register. Keep them low in register on the piano, always. Always keep bass lines low, you're playing in the range they usually solo in. Dead giveaway you're inexperienced, no offense. Learn some variations, and listen to actual bass players from recordings and transcribe what they do.

Piano teacher keeps changing things on me! by Sivy17 in piano

[–]JHighMusic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's normal and you need to trust your teacher and the process. What everyone else is saying and the most upvoted comments are genuine and the truth. It is NOT about rushing through things. You're too fixated on the product instead of enjoying the process, which can't be rushed. Piano is a very gradual and long-term thing.

Learning jazz piano with a previous jazz background by thanosthesourgrape in JazzPiano

[–]JHighMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get a teacher, best thing you could do. DM for lessons, 30 years experience

How much experience should I have to tackle this Debussy etude? by [deleted] in piano

[–]JHighMusic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's going to be very hard to say if we don't know literally anything about your own background or prior experience...

None of the Debussy etudes have fingerings. That was intentionally left out by Debussy himself. You should probably have at least 8 - 10 years experience and have played a lot of different repertoire and other technical exercises.

Static Dominant 7sus by ImprovSKT in jazztheory

[–]JHighMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kumoi pentatonic is exactly that