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The purpose of this is to help people who have never improvised before by giving them some tools to create sounds that they will likely find pleasant. This will build their confidence and set them on the path of becoming an improviser. It's not a comprehensive method for improvisation in one short 6-minute video. That being said, there is actually significant tension and release when you maintain the 4-note collection in the right hand over the different notes in the bass. With Bb in the bass, you have the major 7 (A), With Eb in the bass, you have the #11 (also A). You don't get much more tense/colorful than those pitches. Listen for when the Eb 5th in the left hand resolves down to D -- very strong tension/resolution. These sounds are frequently used by Keith Jarrett in his solo piano concerts. Keith is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest improvisers ever, and I'm explaining and teaching one of his tools to beginning improvisers. Since you have such strong opinions of my teaching and musical concepts, could you post a video where you improvise in the manner you prefer? I'm very interested to hear your improvisation. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for the comment! I don't really understand the comparison, though... The Firm is a composed piece of music with zero improvisation; I'm teaching people to improvise.

@@roberthodson It's in the way you build the sound th-cam.com/video/0MQ8RxSiMlQ/w-d-xo.html

@@roberthodson It's is the way you build the sound, listen to Ray's Blues by Dave Grusin from The Firm

@@karaoke6861 Also a very nice recording, but it's not the style I'm teaching; I'm teaching an approach to jazz blues that is based more on Bud Powell and Barry Harris than Ray Charles - different style, sound, textures, rhythmic approach, aesthetics. You obviously prefer the Ray Charles style -- good for you, buddy. I'd rather listen to Ray Charles directly, though, over Grusin's polished, composed, studio approach.

@@roberthodson Your style is a kind of jazzify western piano bar, don't forget to teach how to play with feeling

Thanks so much! I'm definitely planning to continue... really, I'm just getting started.

You're welcome. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks so much. Yes, these ideas can be really useful for guitar.

Thanks!

Hi Jenica -- thank you so much! I'm so glad you're finding this video helpful. For the other videos that you were having a hard time with, was it just because I played the melody too fast? If it would be helpful, I could make a video teaching Now's the Time and Bag's Groove completely by ear, with a verbal description. I will also make sure to give more verbal descriptions of what I'm playing in future videos, rather than relying so heavily on the music notation. Thanks so much for mentioning this.

@@roberthodson yes, thank you. I would appreciate it. The melodies were kind of fast and I had trouble picking them out. I appreciate your understanding and willingness to help.😊

@@jenicacole1474 You got it. I'm away from my piano through Tuesday, but I'll see if I can get something recorded on Wednesday.

Thank you!!

You're so welcome! I'm glad you're finding them helpful.

Thank you so much! I hope you checkout the other lessons in the series!

Awesome, glad it helps!

Hey, thank you so much! I so appreciate your kind words and am thrilled that you're finding value in the SATB videos. Those videos were actually created for the students in my theory class (I teach at the University of Wisconsin), and the page numbers refer to the workbook for Tonal Harmony by Kostka & Payne. I'm pretty sure that there's a pdf floating around out there, though you didn't hear that from me (: The academic year starts up again in 2 weeks, and I'm planning to revise and expand all of those videos so that they're more friendly to a general TH-cam audience rather than just being geared toward my students. This is actually part of my larger goal of making an entire 4-semester undergraduate music theory sequence available for free on my channel. So, keep following, and you'll see more material.

Also, this video compiles all of the videos I've made for first-year theory: th-cam.com/video/tSoexbSa9KI/w-d-xo.html This one focuses on the Neapolitan chord: th-cam.com/video/haZITSbwTj8/w-d-xo.html

@@roberthodson Robert, ofcourse i subscribed immediately although i do not fit into your students categories by far, but your instructions are so valuable for us amateurs and i am sure i could profit a lot from your teachings. so thanks again!!!

@@roberthodson wow - thank you so much!

Thanks!

You're welcome!

Thank you so much 😀

@@PamDazey Thank you, Pam. And thank you for what you wrote about her… it was really beautiful ❤️

Thanks!

Thanks a lot!

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it!!

@@roberthodson More than welcome. Thank YOU!

merci!

Thank you so much for this wonderful compliment!

@@roberthodson Just stating the truth ;) Have a nice w.e.

Thank you! Appreciate you for listening and especially for the comment.

Thank you so much

I so appreciate your comment, thank you. I put these out, not knowing if anyone really listens, let alone finds them enjoyable or even inspiring. Seriously, this comment made my day.

Thank you so much. Really appreciate your comment.

Thanks so much! And, thanks for sharing that video -- VERY cool to see. She's quite a beast on the keyboard (: Can't wait to see her in person. NARU is such a great club -- I've been there many times. I ended up canceling my trip -- since my mom passed 2 days before I was supposed to fly. Tentatively planning for a month over the new year holidays. Thanks again for your comments and support -- it really means a lot to me.

Any chance you could post more improvs on jazz standards?

More on the way. Thanks so much for your comment.

Thank you! 😊

You just made me day! Thank you ♥