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Free Jazz Improvisation Course | Coursera

by Tim Topham

Ever wanted to learn more about jazz improvising? Here’s a free 5-week online course that you can take from your own studio and featuring one of the greats of jazz improvisation, Gary Burton from the Berklee College of Music. Coursera is an education platform that partners with top universities and organizations worldwide, to offer courses online for ... Free Jazz Improvisation Course | Coursera

01/08/2015 Read more

Teaching 12 Bar Blues to inspire beginners (especially boys!)

by Tim Topham

Want a quick-win in your next lesson? One of the best ways I’ve found to get kids really motivated to play piano is by working on a 12 bar blues. There is heaps you can do with this simple framework, and it works for students of all levels – whether they are beginners or have been ... Teaching 12 Bar Blues to inspire beginners (especially boys!)

04/20/2012 Read more

The Firm Soundtrack – Dave Grusin

by Tim Topham

A colleague recently introduced me to the music from the movie “The Firm”. I haven’t seen the movie, but the music is great – energetic and fun, jazzy and bluesy. It is at the harder end of the spectrum – about Grade 7+ – and teenagers in particular will love it. At least one piece ... The Firm Soundtrack – Dave Grusin

02/04/2012 Read more

Repertoire Ideas

by Tim Topham

I recently purchased some new music you might be interested in exploring with your students this year. Firstly, have a look at The Virtuosic Performer. Just about all the pieces in Book 2 were fantastic and around Grade 2-3 level. Many of them sound and look amazing, but are actually quite easy to learn and ... Repertoire Ideas

01/27/2012 Read more

Soundscapes & Supersonics – more cool music for the boys!

by Tim Topham

If you’re looking for new music for your students and especially pieces that will instantly appeal to boys, check this guy out! Daniel McFarlane is a young composer from Brisbane who has been quietly writing some fantastic piano music that will suit all styles and tastes. If you and your students have enjoyed the work ... Soundscapes & Supersonics – more cool music for the boys!

12/18/2011 Read more

Nikolai Kapustin – the crossover jazz music keeps coming!

by Tim Topham

Since being introduced to the music of Friedrich Gulda at the APPC conference in July by Jovanni de Pedro, I stumbled upon another fantastic and, it seems, undervalued crossover jazz/classical composer: Nikolai Kapustin. Kapustin has been active as a composer since the late 1950s though he has only become known in the West during the ... Nikolai Kapustin – the crossover jazz music keeps coming!

07/27/2011 Read more
 

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Jazz for Classical Pianists by Freidrich Gulda

by Tim Topham

During the recent Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference in Wagga Wagga, I was lucky enough to attend a lecture/recital by American-based pianist Jovanni de Pedro who introduced an enthusiastic crowd to the exciting and fun music of French “crossover” pianist Friedrich Gulda. I’ve already promoted a couple of youtubes of his music, but I wanted to ... Jazz for Classical Pianists by Freidrich Gulda

07/24/2011 Read more