Many think improvisation is creating music on the spot. Many teachers say improvisation is “spontaneous composition.” Improvisation is not spontaneously creating melodic lines, harmonies, or rhythms that you’ve never played before. Instead, improvisation is a language that is similar to spoken language. Great speakers do not spontaneously create new words or phrases they have never heard before when they speak. You and I don’t spontaneously use words we have never learned in a spontaneous conversation with another person. Instead, we communicate to others using words we ALREADY KNOW. So, improvisation is really about spontaneously recalling “musical words” (melodic lines, harmonies, rhythms etc.) you ALREADY KNOW. Learning jazz piano licks, runs or exercises is a very effective way to broaden your melodic musical vocabulary.
Dr. Alton of Minstrel School of Music has made available his 30 Modern Bebop Licks PDF exercises book to download at www.minstrelschool.com/shop. His book helps pianists develop their ability to play jazz piano licks, runs, chords or learn jazz bebop melodic vocabulary. The book is a compilation of 30 exercises designed to help you learn and incorporate the Bebop jazz language into your playing. Each of the 30 exercises found in the pdf book consists of Bebop melodic lines played in the right hand with chords simultaneously played in the left hand. The licks sound great and will enhance your technique and introduce you to new sounds, broadening your melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical vocabulary. Happy Practicing! Alton Merrell
Purchasers of this book / PDF Download also receive a link to access a video demonstration of Dr. Alton playing each of the 30 exercises found in his “30 Modern Bebop Licks: Exercises to Help You Master Bebop Improvisation” book. The video demonstration is for musicians that play by ear and don’t read music.
Download the book by clicking HERE.
*Disclaimer: You agree that you are solely responsible for your own musical advancement. The creator, producer, distributor, and all associated in the creation and distribution of thisPDF download are in no way responsible for any lack of musical progress. The said outcomes of this course detailed above are the result of the student learning and mastering the content found in the book.
Download the midi and audio files from “Alton’s Shout!” by Dr. Alton Merrell. Alton’s Shout (Praise Break) Midi Files & Drum Track download consists of one midi file containing the separate piano, organ, bass, guitar, strings, brass, and lead synth midi files heard in the recording of Alton’s Shout. Simply drag the downloaded midi file into you Digital Audio Workstation and the midi files for each individual instrument will appear. This download also contains the audio file of the drum track heard in Alton’s Shout! The file is a wav file in 16bit 44.1K format.
To purchase Alton’s Shout (Praise Break) Midi Files & Drum Track files, click HERE.
MIDI is becoming one of the top ways to learn songs on the piano. Simply take the midi file you purchase here and import it into your digital audio workstation (such as Logic). Not only will you be able to hear each of the notes, you’ll be able to speed up or slow down the tempo so you can learn the original performance at a tempo of your choice. Importing a MIDI file into your digital audio workstation or software such as Chordie or MIDIdiculous, enables you to see each of the notes played on a virtual keyboard at your desired tempo.
Are you a keyboard player who has tons of musical ideas, but your hands and fingers lack the coordination, strength and dexterity to play your ideas? Have you been trying to play riffs and runs you hear in your head but keep getting tripped up by poor undeveloped fingering? Is your left hand weaker than your right hand resulting in your left hand not being able to do what your right hand can do on the piano or vice versa? Are you one who can only play essential chords in a few keys or with one hand, and could benefit from learning essential chords in all 12 keys with both hands? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, The Complete Piano Technique Course by Dr. Alton Merrell is for YOU!
The Complete Piano Technique Course is a comprehensive 315+ page course consisting of three books. One book is for the beginning student another for the intermediate student, and the final book is for the advanced student. After taking this course, you will have:
- Developed your hand and finger muscle dexterity so you can freely play demanding riffs, runs, or licks found in more complex music.
- Developed your ability to play with proper fingering so you can play riffs, licks and runs at fast tempos.
- Developed the strength and dexterity of your fingers in both your right and left hands to be equally competent in executing more complex music.
- Learned to play essential chords and their inversions in all 12 keys empowering you to learn songs quickly.
- Learned to play arpeggios of all the fundamental chords and their inversions in all 12 keys so you can effortlessly embellish your chords using the entire range of the piano keyboard.
- Learned tips and proven insights from a seasoned performing and teaching artist with over 30 years of experience.
The Complete Piano Technique Course: Book 1, 2 and 3 by Dr. Alton Merrell has something to offer all pianists and keyboard players, students as well as teachers. A noted bonus with this course is that it is presented in a musically-notated format, as well as in a format for the non-music readers. So what are you waiting for? Purchase Book 3 for the advanced pianist today by clicking HERE!
If you prefer to purchase the entire course consisting of Book 1, 2 and 3, click HERE.
*Disclaimer: You agree that you are solely responsible for your own musical advancement. The creator, producer, distributor, and all associated in the creation and distribution of thisPDF download are in no way responsible for any lack of musical progress. The said outcomes of this course detailed above are the result the student learning and mastering the content found in all three books.
Are you a keyboard player who has tons of musical ideas, but your hands and fingers lack the coordination, strength and dexterity to play them? Have you been trying to play riffs and runs you hear in your head but keep getting tripped up by poor undeveloped fingering? Is your left hand weaker than your right hand resulting in your left hand not being able to do what your right hand can do on the piano or vice versa? Are you one who can only play essential chords in a few keys or with one hand, and could benefit from learning essential chords in all 12 keys with both hands?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, The Complete Piano Technique Course by Dr. Alton Merrell is for YOU!
The Complete Piano Technique Course is a comprehensive 315+ page course consisting of three books. One book is for the beginning student another for the intermediate student, and the final book is for the advanced student. After taking this course, you will have:
- Developed your hand and finger muscle dexterity so you can freely play demanding riffs, runs, or licks found in more complex music.
- Developed your ability to play with proper fingering so you can play riffs, licks and runs at fast tempos.
- Developed the strength and dexterity of your fingers in both your right and left hands to be equally competent in executing more complex music.
- Learned to play essential chords and their inversions in all 12 keys empowering you to learn songs quickly.
- Learned to play arpeggios of all the fundamental chords and their inversions in all 12 keys so you can effortlessly embellish your chords using the entire range of the piano keyboard.
- Learned tips and proven insights from a seasoned performing and teaching artist with over 30 years of experience.
The Complete Piano Technique Course: Book 1, 2 and 3 by Dr. Alton Merrell has something to offer all pianists and keyboard players, students as well as teachers. A noted bonus with this course is that it is presented in a musically-notated format, as well as in a format for the non-music readers. So what are you waiting for? Purchase Book 2 for the intermediate pianist today by clicking HERE!
If you prefer to purchase the entire course consisting of Book 1, 2 and 3, click HERE.
*Disclaimer: You agree that you are solely responsible for your own musical advancement. The creator, producer, distributor, and all associated in the creation and distribution of thisPDF download are in no way responsible for any lack of musical progress. The said outcomes of this course detailed above are the result the student learning and mastering the content found in all three books.
Are you a keyboard player who has tons of musical ideas, but your hands and fingers lack the coordination, strength and dexterity to play your ideas? Have you been trying to play riffs and runs you hear in your head but keep getting tripped up by poor undeveloped fingering? Is your left hand weaker than your right hand resulting in your left hand not being able to do what your right hand can do on the piano or vice versa? Are you one who can only play essential chords in a few keys or with one hand, and could benefit from learning essential chords in all 12 keys with both hands? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, The Complete Piano Technique Course by Dr. Alton Merrell is for YOU!
The Complete Piano Technique Course is a comprehensive 315+ page course consisting of three books. The first book is for the beginning piano student. The second book is for the intermediate piano student. The third and final book is for the advanced piano student.
After taking this course, you will have:
- Developed your hand and finger muscle dexterity so you can freely play demanding riffs, runs, or licks found in more complex music.
- Developed your ability to play with proper fingering so you can play riffs, licks and runs at fast tempos.
- Developed the strength and dexterity of your fingers in both your right and left hands to be equally competent in executing more complex music.
- Learned to play essential chords and their inversions in all 12 keys empowering you to learn songs quickly.
- Learned to play arpeggios of all the fundamental chords and their inversions in all 12 keys so you can effortlessly embellish your chords using the entire range of the piano keyboard.
- Learned tips and proven insights from a seasoned performing and teaching artist with over 30 years of experience.
The Complete Piano Technique Course: Book 1, 2 and 3 by Dr. Alton Merrell has something to offer all pianists and keyboard players, students as well as teachers. A noted bonus with this course is that it is presented in a musically-notated format, as well as in a format for the non-music readers. So what are you waiting for? Purchase Book 1 today by clicking HERE!
If you prefer to purchase the entire course consisting of Book 1, 2 and 3, click HERE.
*Disclaimer: You agree that you are solely responsible for your own musical advancement. The creator, producer, distributor, and all associated in the creation and distribution of thisPDF download are in no way responsible for any lack of musical progress. The said outcomes of this course detailed above are the result the student learning and mastering the content found in all three books.
A lead sheet of “You’re The Reason” written by pianist Alton Merrell. “You’re The Reason” is the title track from Dr. Alton Merrell’s album released in 2004 on the Minstrel Enterprises record label. Download a PDF copy of the lead sheet by clicking HERE. Check out other jazz lead sheets Dr. Merrell has made available by clicking HERE.You can listen to a recording of the song by clicking one of the videos below:
Dr. Merrell’s Recording:
Sean Jones’ Recording featuring Kim Burrell:
Dr. Alton Merrell is a world-class pianist, composer, and educator based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His musical artistry is a unique blend of lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and fluid technique that spans multiple music genres including jazz, gospel, classical, pop, and rhythm and blues. His music is known to take listeners on spirit-filled excursions that deeply touch the soul.
Currently, Dr. Merrell leads his instrumental jazz group, “The Alton Merrell Quartet,” as well as his gospel jazz vocal group “Dr. Alton Merrell & Impact.” In both groups, Dr. Merrell incorporates diverse musical styles in the repertoire to minister love to people worldwide.
Do you want to download a lead sheet of the song “Chance” written by jazz pianist Kenny Kirkland? “Chance” a tune from his self titled album released in 1991 on the GRP record label. Download a lead sheet of “Chance” transcribed by Dr. Alton Merrell by clicking HERE. Check out other jazz lead sheets Dr. Merrell has made available by clicking HERE.
You can listen to a recording of Kenny playing the song by clicking HERE.
Kenny Kirkland was closely associated with Wynton and Branford Marsalis. He surprisingly only led one CD of his own before his premature death. Kenny Kirkland started playing piano at age six, and later studied at the Manhattan School of Music. His early musical jobs consisted of playing with Michal Urbaniak, Miroslav Vitous, Terumasa Hino, and Elvin Jones. Influenced by Herbie Hancock, Kirkland was regularly featured in Wynton Marsalis’ band in the early 1980s. Kirkland’s departure in 1985 to play pop music with Sting greatly upset Marsalis. After leaving Sting in 1986, Kirkland became a session musician. In the early ’90s, he joined the Tonight Show band under the direction of Branford Marsalis. His only album as a leader was for GRP in 1991.
The following is a jazz piano lesson teaching you how to play Mirror Piano Exercise #1. This lesson video is part of Dr. Alton Merrell’s “The Jazz Licks and Tricks Series.” This is episode #6: Mirror Image Exercise #1. Dr. Merrell plays the mirror image exercise, then breaks it down and teaches you how to play the exercises hands seperately, then teaches you how to play it hands together. Download the sheet music here: https://minstrelschool.com/product/mi…
Here is the video lesson. To get more lessons from Dr. Merrell, become a member at: http://www.minstrelschool.com
LESSONS: Take one-on-one piano lessons with Dr. Alton.
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