{"id":237,"date":"2008-07-15T12:32:44","date_gmt":"2008-07-15T18:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iamanoffering.com\/blog\/?p=237"},"modified":"2011-03-10T21:09:33","modified_gmt":"2011-03-11T03:09:33","slug":"pitfalls-of-teaching-piano-players-to-play-by-chord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iamanoffering.com\/blog\/pitfalls-of-teaching-piano-players-to-play-by-chord\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pitfalls of Teaching Piano Players to Play By Chord"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hand<\/a><\/p>\n

For a long time I’ve subscribed to the school of thought that playing by chord off of lead sheets or chord sheets is a much better way to go for piano players than playing straight from the actual piano music.\u00a0 You only have to have a couple of pages to turn through, you learn how to play chords just in case the piano music is unavailable, and you develop your ear.\u00a0 However, there is a problem:\u00a0 it’s much harder to lead<\/strong> if you don’t have experience.<\/p>\n

Without Rhythm and Melody – Chords Don’t Go Anywhere<\/h3>\n

As I’ve begun to teach several piano players how to play by chords instead of by the piano music I’ve run into a problem that I completely didn’t expect.\u00a0 Chords, without being driven by rhythm and melody, don’t really go anywhere. <\/strong> I can tell the piano player to “just play by the chords on this one” and it leads to a great fit when I’m leading from the guitar.\u00a0 I can carry the rhythm from the guitar and let the piano color and accent the song.\u00a0 But if I say, “I’d like to you lead this one on the piano,” many of the piano players are not quite sure what to do.\u00a0 They can play the chords, but haven’t really been taught the rhythms to apply the chords to – so the song lacks movement.\u00a0 They can play the chords, but haven’t really been taught how to break them up and use passing tones to create interest – so the song lacks character.<\/p>\n

What to Do?<\/h3>\n

I guess that is my dilemma.\u00a0 I can show the piano players what to do by saying, “Let me sit for a second and show you what I’d like.”\u00a0 But then they’re just watching me do something instead of actually learning how to do it.\u00a0 I would love to know what you’ve done to teach piano players how to play chords but play them rhythmically and melodically – able to lead a song well.\u00a0 Some things I can think of might perhaps be:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Writing out piano parts for them for a while – then saying, “Okay – your turn to apply it – make up your own now.”<\/li>\n
  • Having a workshop with piano players on how to do these things – which is something I’d like to do – I just lack the time at the moment.<\/li>\n
  • Have the piano players listen and watch professionals to try and develop their ear and mimic what the professionals are doing<\/li>\n
  • Create an online youtube \/ vimeo video to help train – another thing I’d love to do – again with a lack of time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Are there any other suggestions that could help?<\/strong><\/p>\n