blues
Hand position on blues chords
A student asked me if it is okay for her to pull her hand back a bit when switching between chords. She’s learning Alma Mater Blues. Is this a technique no-no, or is it okay? This is on CAGE chords and also on the shift…
Playing LH finger 5 in blues
In the 12 bar blues pieces (starting with Jackson Blues), I have several students who hold down finger 5 in the LH and just move the thumb up and down. Even after I’ve shown them the correction, they are not repeating the finger 5 on…
Adult student needs help with worship band
I have a prospective student who has been playing piano at church since she was 12, and she’s in her fifties now. She said several times that she was “groomed” for playing hymns at church, and she reads music, but she doesn’t play with freedom…
Mashing up blues songs
I did an activity with one of my teenage students today that was really great. I was encouraging him to use the different blues songs to get ideas, mash them up, etc. Then we jammed. I was on guitar and I gave him a few…
Student in a valley
One of my students hit a valley this week and I am struggling to know how to navigate it with him. It is a very personal connection as my student is also my husband! He has been taking for about five years from me, and…
Fingering for all blues scales
Blues & Improv – is there a method for fingering the blues scale in other keys? I understand developing the shapes, but do we just find the most comfortable way of fingering? C: RH 1 2 3 4 1 3 1 2 3 4 1…
Modifying chords for students with small hands
Today I encountered a challenge with my 6 year old trying to learn Bishop Street Blues. He can do Jackson Blues and understands the concepts and the 12 bar progression and the concept of replacing the I, IV, and V chords with other chords. BUT.…
Blues & Improv – Identifying IV chord
For the Blues & Improvisation stream, I have an adult student asking if she can locate IV chords as a whole step down from finger 5 instead of a half step up from finger 3. She feels it’s easier because she’s already needing to think…
Duet ideas
Let’s share ideas…what are some fun duet ideas you have used with your students? Last week I had one student play a nice chord progression (like Canon in C chords) and the other student improvised. Not as smooth as when I play with them, but…
Shoo-Fly is it Blues?
I’ve just done Shoo-Fly, and in the video Neil says it’s a blues song. I can’t figure out how it is Blues. So far I’ve learnt that Blues fits the I IV V pattern sometimes with a few variances. I can’t see any 12-bar blues pattern with…