Tag Archives: piano lessons

Video – Solo Rock Piano – Ben Folds Plays A Live Concert

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A video with Ben Fold playing a cool piano solo. Lots a fun to watch. Recorded during a live concert performance.

Ben Folds is an American keyboard and piano player, and singer-songwriter. He also is a record producer. His first band, Ben Folds Five, recorded albums from 1995 to 2000. Their piano heavy, alternative rock style was new and fresh, and his band gained much notoriety. He left the band to continue a solo career. He has since toured as a solo artist throughout the world. He has done live appearances with William Shatner and other celebrities. Folds has also recorded music for film. Ben Folds took piano lessons for a couple of years, beginning at age nine. He also learned to play by ear, and this enabled him to set a course to become a singer songwriter. He studied music in college in Miami, and perfected his playing technique. He left college just before he was to graudate. His song writing career continued from there.

Some Ben Folds Songs:
Ben Folds Five
Whatever and Ever Amen
Fear of Pop: Volume 1
Rockin’ the Suburbs
Ben Folds Live
Songs for Silverman
Way to Normal
Fifty-Five Vault

more info on Ben Folds

 

 

Video – Randy Newman Plays Piano – You’ve Got A Friend In Me

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This video is of Randy Newman singing “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” and playing piano live at Jazz Open, Stuttgart, Germany. The song is from the movie ‘Toy Story’ and is about the friendship of the film’s characters Andy and Woody. Randy’s unique style of singing, keyboard playing, and lyric writing have made his performances easily recognizable.

Randy Newman spent his youth in Los Angeles, California. His family later moved to New Orleans. Newman began piano lessons when he was six.He began his successful and longstanding songwriting career at the when he was 17. He states that Ray Charles had the biggest influence in the development of his music style, and that you can easily hear in his singing.

Randy Newman has been in the music world his entire life, singing, songwriting, playing piano, and composing and arranging for film. He is best known for his work scoring such films as “Toy Story” and “James and the Giant Peach”. He has been recognized with two Academy Awards, and numerous other accolades, including an Oscar, 3 Emmy awards and 5 Grammy’s. With his enormous contribution to American music, Randy Newman is truly a national musical treasure.

Randy Newman

 

 

Video – Keith Jarrett Piano Jazz Improvisation Solo Concert

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This video is a beautiful performance by Keith Jarrett playing a piano solo concert. Recorded live in Tokyo in 1984, the playing is an excellent example of the massive talent of Keith Jarrett. Jarrett is a master at improvisation, and gives rich, modern interpretations that are simply wonderful to listen to.

Keith Jarrett began playing the piano even before he was three years old, and started piano lessons soon afterward. Through decades of public performances, Keith Jarrett has become one of the most talented keyboard players of all time. His virtuoso abilities on the piano extend way beyond what most pianists ever achieve. Although well known for his classical recordings and his trio Jazz work, he is probably best known as a solo pianist from his extraordinary live solo piano recordings, where he propels the genre of solo piano playing to new heights. He is truly a master of piano playing.

Keith Jarrett

 

 

Video – Exceptional Jazz Blues Piano Solo With Oscar Peterson Styling

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This is a wonderful piano solo of Sweet Georgia Brown being played by Gyuri Villas. The elements in this solo are very similar to the great blues style of Oscar Peterson. The performance here represents a very accomplished and skilled piano player and a great example of this very exciting form of music.

At my Portland piano studio, when my piano lessons students express an interest in improvisation, we begin by learning Blues Piano. Whether played on a piano or a keyboard, Blues Piano can be learning quickly and has a very easy to understand format. Playing blues does not require as much playing skill as jazz and can be learned soon after a student begins lessons. Many of my students find Blues Piano and excellent way to learn to play by ear, and gain a new level of self expression. It’s very straightforward to learn, and is incredible fun.