Piano Improvisation Technique

Free online resources on the Art of Improvisation : 1
www.musilosophy.com
FREE online resources on the Art of Improvisation
(Piano) Improvisation
Technique
by Musilosophy
www.musilosophy.com
Improvisation means real time composing.....
Copyright © 2006 Paolo Parrella.All rights reserved.

www.musilosophy.com
“I know of knowing nothing” ( Socrates )
Music is based on harmony
Harmony is based on chords and scales
Melody and improvisation are based on chords and scales
Accompaniment is based on chords and scales
Chords are based on scales
Scales are based on physics,mathematical principles and musical

tradictions
Musical tradictions are based on human

perception,technology,economy,history,religion…

www.musilosophy.com
SUMMARY
1. Keys
Key awareness
Major
Minor
Scale harmonization
2.Chords
Major 7th
Minor 7th
Dominant 7th
Half diminished 7th
Diminished 7th
Inversions
Chord degrees
3.Other scales
Blues
Whole tone
Diminished
Diminished/whole tone
Pentatonic

www.musilosophy.com
4.Melody
Melody building
Chordal notes
Turning note
Passing note
Leaning note
Delaying note
Anticipated note
Chromatic note
Double leaning note
Mixed note
“Wrong” notes
5.Phrasing
Beginning of phrase
Ending of phrase
Imitation
6.Rhythm
Emphasizing offbeats and upbeats
Syncopation
Swing
Polyrhythmics
7.Practice… Practice… Practice…

Generale practice
Progressive drills
Fondamental drills
Greatest piano improvise
www.musilosophy.com
About improvisation
Intervals
Improvisation with perfect fourths
Analysis of solos
Lydian chromatic concept
Main chordal progressions
Main used forms
Improvisation tips
Inside, outside
“Free” improvisation
What you have to avoid…
Improvisation goals

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About other music subjects
COMPOSING
EAR TRAINING
ARRANGING
ANALYSIS

jazz improvisation techniques : jazz music harmony : theory
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Improvisation and music harmony : MIOP

● - Learn improvisation technique : introduction
● » Jazz improvisation and music harmony : summary
● - Music harmony concepts
● - Chord charts and keys
● - Learn chord charts
● - Major seventh
● - Dominant chord chart
● - Minor seventh chords
● - Half diminished chords
● - Diminished chord
● - Altered, whole tone, pentatonic, diminished scales
● - Blues scales chart
● - Learn blues chords and structures
● - Major blues charts
● - Minor blues
● - Jazz melody and improvisation
● - Jazz phrasing : imitation technique
● - Music phrasing
● - Music theory and mistakes
● - Music rhythm
● - Swing jazz rhythm
● - Learn music theory : polyrhythms
● - Jazz techniques : practice
● - Music techniques : coming soon articles
● - Art of improvisation project
● - General improvisation tips
● - Music studying : general tips
●
http://www.musilosophy.com/jazz-improvisation.htm (1 of 6)9/9/2006 2:34:37 AM

Jazz improvisation, music harmony and theory
MIOP means Musilosophy Improvisation Open Project.
"Improvisation means real time composing.....
Improvisation means composing new ideas....".
Music bases on harmony.
Melody and improvisation base on chords and scales.
Accompaniment base on chords and scales too.
Chords base on scales.
Scales base on physic, mathematical principles and music
traditions.
Music traditions base on human perception, technology, economy,
history, religion.
You need to know the following items to improvise and compose in
a right and nice way:
first you have to know all major and minor scales and relative
keys and all chords in every keys. Then you must play all chord
inversions and the building melody techniques.
You have to practice so much so you can play right melodic lines

with swing and without thinking about scales, rules, keys...
Phrasing is the following step.
You must learn to begin and finish melodic phrases from every
point of measure.
Ear training, transcribing, transposing, voicing, harmonization are
other important and fundamental techniques to learn jazz
improvisation and composing.
These techniques can give you the skill for express the music you
have inside.
Learning jazz improvisation is not simple. The theory and
harmonic concepts you have to learn are few and easy to
understand but the fundamental concept is just one: to learn
improvisation you have to play much and practice for a longtime!
I used to compare improvisation with language. Improvisation is
a language, you can express ideas, concepts and emotions and
sometimes much deeper than language. So, as well as you have
to study and practice a lot to learn English or French or Italian so
you have to do the same with music improvisation.
You do not need to understand difficult concepts but without
doubts you must be patient. Here in this site I offer free
resources to learn this art but be patient if my English is not
perfect.
1. Music harmony : keys
Key awareness
Major
Minor
Scale harmonization

2. Chord charts
Major 7th
Minor 7th
Dominant 7th
Half diminished 7th
Diminished 7th
Inversions
Chord degrees
3. More music scales
Blues
Whole tone
Diminished
Diminished/whole tone
Pentatonic
4. Melody and improvvisation lesson
Melody building
Chordal notes
Turning note
Passing note
Leaning note
Delaying note
Anticipated note
Chromatic note
Double leaning note

Mixed note
Wrong notes
^ TOP
More resources on music harmony and jazz improvisation
5. Musical phrase
Beginning of phrase
Ending of phrase
Imitation
6. Music rhythm and jazz swing
Emphasizing off beats and upbeats
Syncopation
Swing
Polyrhythmic
7. Practice and improvisation techniques
General practice
Progressive drills
Fundamental drills
Greatest piano improvisors
If you have troubles to understand what I write, or any concepts I
try to explain, send me an email.

^ TOP
Learning jazz improvisation online
E-mail
Contact me
©2005-2006 Paolo Parrella. All rights reserved

music harmony concepts : theory : chords and scales
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Home | Pop music videos | Pop blues jazz albums | Jazz improvisation and harmony | Lingua italiana | HELP and FAQ |
Site menu
❍ - Blues singer songwriter jazz pianist
❍ - Pop music videos
❍ - Pop blues jazz albums
❍ - Jazz pianist music stores
❍ - Improvisation : MIOP donation

❍ - Learn improvisation technique : introduction
❍ - Jazz improvisation and music harmony : summary
❍ » Music harmony concepts
❍ - Chord charts and keys
❍ - Learn chord charts
❍ - Major seventh
❍ - Dominant chord chart
❍ - Minor seventh chords
❍ - Half diminished chords
❍ - Diminished chord
❍ - Altered, whole tone, pentatonic, diminished scales
❍ - Blues scales chart
❍ - Learn blues chords and structures
❍ - Major blues charts
❍ - Minor blues
❍ - Jazz melody and improvisation
❍ - Jazz phrasing : imitation technique
❍ - Music phrasing
❍ - Music theory and mistakes
❍ - Music rhythm
❍ - Swing jazz rhythm
❍ - Learn music theory : polyrhythms
❍ - Jazz techniques : practice
❍ - Music techniques : coming soon articles
❍ - Art of improvisation project
❍ - General improvisation tips
❍ - Music studying : general tips
●
Music harmony concepts : keys
http://www.musilosophy.com/music-harmony.htm (1 of 5)9/9/2006 2:35:21 AM

KEY AWARENESS
Scale is a sequence of tones.
It is a base to make music.
The main scales of western music are major and minor scales.
Every scale determines a key, that is a harmonic combination of tones based on that scale.
So, F Major key uses the tones of F Major scale. E minor key uses the tones of E minor
scales.
I consider the Blues like a key: for example Bb Blues or Bb minor Blues are like a Major
and Minor key type.
You always have to know in which key you are playing in each moment.
Modulation is a change of key.
Each scale or key has its own chords.
They are build on each degree of the scale with harmonization by thirds.
You can recognize key by Clef, chords, melody...
The chords of every key are:
Major Key : D Maj Example
Harmonic Minor Key : D minor example
Natural Minor Key : D minor example

Melodic Minor Key : D minor example
Transpose and play in all keys!
Practice the analysis and recognition of chords, modulations and keys in classic music,
jazz, pop songs...
Recognize the chords and then the key they belong to.
^ TOP
Music theory and harmony : chords and keys
Remember:
Each chord has not its own scale.
The scale of each chord depends by the key in which it is!
This concept is important but I have realized that not many musicians have understood its
importance.
For example, they play the D Dorian scale also on a Dmin7 that belongs to Bb key!
In this way they do two terrible mistakes: E instead of Eb and B instead of Bb!
Let us analyze this song:

When you improvise on this song you have to use basically the C minor scale (when you
are in C minor key) and Eb scale when you are in Eb key.
This is the key concept. But a melody and so an improvisation base above all on chord
besides on key.
^ TOP

How to improvise music
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©2005-2006 Paolo Parrella. All right reserved

learn chord charts : major dominant minor : half diminished
MIOP Donation
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Home | Pop music videos | Music albums | Jazz improvisation and harmony | Lingua italiana | HELP and FAQ |
Site menu
❍ - Blues singer songwriter jazz pianist
❍ - Pop music videos
❍ - Pop blues jazz albums
❍ - Jazz pianist music stores
❍ - Improvisation : MIOP donation

❍ - Learn improvisation technique : introduction
❍ - Jazz improvisation and music harmony : summary
❍ - Music harmony concepts
❍ - Chord charts and keys
❍ » Learn chord charts
❍ - Major seventh
❍ - Dominant chord chart
❍ - Minor seventh chords
❍ - Half diminished chords
❍ - Diminished chord
❍ - Altered, whole tone, pentatonic, diminished scales
❍ - Blues scales chart
❍ - Learn blues chords and structures
❍ - Major blues charts
❍ - Minor blues
❍ - Jazz melody and improvisation
❍ - Jazz phrasing : imitation technique
❍ - Music phrasing
❍ - Music theory and mistakes
❍ - Music rhythm
❍ - Swing jazz rhythm
❍ - Learn music theory : polyrhythms
❍ - Jazz techniques : practice
❍ - Musical techniques : coming soon articles
❍ - Art of improvisation project
❍ - General improvisation tips
❍ - Music studying : general tips
●
How to learn chord charts
Chord families
Every melody and accompaniment bases on a chord.
Melody generally uses the notes of a chord or notes that return to it.
You need to know and play every chord very well to improvise.
http://www.musilosophy.com/learn-chord-charts.htm (1 of 4)9/9/2006 2:35:57 AM

The fundamental drill is playing every chord and every inversion of each chord.
I suggest to study five families of chords:
1. Major seventh chord
2. Dominant 7
3. Minor seventh
4. Half-diminished
5. Diminished 7
^ TOP
Learn chord charts with inversions : major, dominant
Play every chord : 12 chords X 5 families = 60 chords X 4 inversions = 240 (basic)
chords
For example:
1. Major 7th chord : F Maj 7
· Maj 3th + perfect 5th + maj 7th
2. Dominant 7th chord : Bb 7
· Maj 3th + perfect 5th + minor 7th

^ TOP
Learn other chord charts : minor, halfdiminished, diminished
3. Minor 7th chord : Em7
· Minor 3th + perfect 5th + minor 7th
4. Minor 7th dim 5 (half-diminished) chord : Dm7b5
· Minor 3th + diminished 5th + minor 7th
5. Diminished seventh chord : C# dim7
· Minor 3th + diminished 5th + diminished 7th
^ TOP

How to learn chord charts online
Play every inversion and improvise on a chord using just the chordal notes.
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diminished scales : whole tone : altered pentatonic scale
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● - Major seventh
● » Altered, whole tone, pentatonic, diminished scales
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Whole tone, altered, pentatonic, diminished scales
Do not become confused!
http://www.musilosophy.com/diminished-scales.htm (1 of 6)9/9/2006 2:36:17 AM

These scales do not determine a key! Just the blues scale could be a basis for a
particular key (Blues).
You ca use them above all on dominant seventh chords to enrich or vary the colors of
improvisation.
Be careful and always control by ear when you use diminished or whole tone scales
because they have notes not belonging to the key.
^ TOP
Whole tone scale : Debussy scale
Whole tone scale - It contains only whole tones. I suggest to use it just on the
dominant 7th chord. Whole tone scale is used above all in Jazz music. Debussy and
Ravel used this scale.
We can simplify and summarize all 12 whole tone scales to just 2 scale types : "A";
whole tone scale and "B"; whole tone scale.
"A"; whole tone scale type
"B"; whole tone scale type

· The other 10 whole tone scales have the same notes of these, but of course, they
begin from different tones.
For example, D whole tone scale begins from D and has the same notes of the "A";
whole tone scale, while F whole tone scale begins from F and has the same notes of
the "B"; whole tone scale
^ TOP
Diminished scales
- It is made only by a sequence of half step (semitone) and whole step (tone). I
suggest to use it just on the dominant 7th and diminished 7th chord in a jazz context.
· Each tone has two different diminished scale:
1. Diminished scale beginning with half step
2. Diminished scale beginning with whole step
Also, we can simplify and summarize all 12 diminished scales to just 3 scale types :
"A"; diminished scale, "B"; diminished scale and "C"; diminished scale
"A"; diminished scale type
"B"; diminished scale type

"C"; diminished scale type
The other 21 diminished scales have the same notes of these, but of course, they
begin from different tones.
^ TOP
Diminished-whole tone, altered scale
Diminished-whole tone scale ( also called super locrian or altered scale). I suggest to
use it just on the dominant 7th chord in a jazz context.


^ TOP
Pentatonic scales
Pentatonic scale has just five tones. It is like the major scale but without fourth and
seventh degrees.
This a catchy scale and it sounds good on many chords
(Maj seventh , min 7th , 7 )
You can use different pentatonic scales on a chord.
^ TOP
Learning other scales
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jazz melody composing : improvisation : compose melody
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Jazz melody building in improvisation : chordal, turning,

passing notes
http://www.musilosophy.com/jazz-melody.htm (1 of 7)9/9/2006 2:36:32 AM

This is the most important chapter! In this page I explain how you can build a
melody : these "rules" are not only for improvisation but for composing songs and
other instrumental or vocal pieces.
I suggest you to learn every item to build melodic lines; they base on classic and jazz
harmony and you can improvise or compose easily and correctly by knowing them. I
want to specify that knowing and mastering harmonic techniques are not enough to
create high artistic value music. Musician has to express emotions, ideas and
messages to himself and to the public, besides playing in a right harmonic way.
So an improviser needs:
● Well trained hands
● Learned mind
● Open hearth
When these three faculties are synchronized and in harmony, your improvisations,
compositions and your music become magic and have a great emotional power.
Melody is the most powerful and beautiful item of music. It has symmetric, geometric
and harmonic rules:
Pay Attention: I mean 1th , 3th, 5th and seventh ( of a chord ) by "CHORDAL NOTE";
When you improvise or compose, you can use to build a melody these notes:
generally they are chordal notes or notes that return on them. So the fundamental
melodic concept is:
MELODY is based on the CHORD and on the KEY in which it is. Here are the most
used and important e rules or suggestions to build a melody.
● Chordal notes
● Turning note
● Passing
● Leaning
● Delaying
● Anticipated
● Chromatic

● Mixed
● Double leaning tones
Test every item with your ears! Let me know what you think about!
1. Notes of the chord - (Chordal notes)
( = chordal note)
You can use the notes of a chord freely
2. Turning note : does not belong to chord but comes from a note of the chord and
turn on it. ( T = Turning note)
You have to turn on the note of the chord
3. Passing note : it is between two chordal notes. ( P = Passing note)

^ TOP
How to build a jazz melody in improvisation : leaning, delaying, anticipated
notes
4. Leaning note (Appoggiatura) : it leans on a chordal note ( L = Leaning note)
After a leaning note you have to play the chordal note close to it
5. Delaying note (Ritardo) : it delays a chordal note ( D = Delaying note)

After a delaying note you have to play the straight away below chordal note
The difference between leaning and delaying note is: the first one can go up or down
to a chordal note while the second must go down to the straight away below chordal
note!
6. Anticipated note (Anticipo) : it belongs to the next chord ( A = Anticipated note)
^ TOP
Jazz melody building in improvisation : chromatic, mixed, double leaning notes
7. Chromatic note : it belongs neither chord nor key ( C = Chromatic note)
I distinguish these cases:

7.1 Chromatic passing note ( Cp)
7.2 Chromatic turning note ( Ct )
7.3 Chromatic leaning note (Cl )
8. Mixed notes : they are a mix or a combination of previous cases:
For example:
· Passing note of a passing note (also chromatic ) =Pp
· Passing note of a turning note (also chromatic ) =Ptu
· Turning note of a turning note (also chromatic ) =Tt
· Passing note of a delaying note (also chromatic ) =Pd
· And so on......
9. Double leaning tones ( =Ld )
This is a good melodic ornament
^ TOP
Melodic concepts

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music phrasing : jazz improvisation : music phrasing
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Music phrasing in jazz improvisation
Practise to end the phrase on the different tones of a chord and to make the action I
http://www.musilosophy.com/music-phrasing.htm (1 of 4)9/9/2006 2:37:04 AM

propose.
The fundamental element to build a good phrasing is that every phrase must be
connected with the previous ones.
1. Remember to vary the beginning and ending of a phrase:
Practise to begin and to end the phrase in every point of the measure
B = Beginning tone
E = Ending tone
AVOID this bad habit : (Same beginning and ending points )
^ TOP
Ending of a phrase
Practise to end a phrase on different tones of a chord:
Tone Effect Style Action

Rest - Close the Rock, Pop

1 You have to begin a new phrasing
phrasing You
Tension and You have begin the following phrase

2 Jazz
unbalance from that note
Rest and strong

3 Any style No particular action
determination
4 Tension, unbalance Begin from that note and solve it to the

Jazz, Blues
and suspension tone below
5 Rest and neutral Any style No particular action
A bit of tension and I suggest to begin the following phrase

6 Jazz, Pop
coloured tone from that note
7 A bit of tension and

Jazz, Blues Pop No particular action
determination
This aspect is very important
^ TOP
Music phrase : phrasing development
^ TOP
Practise to end the phrase on the different tones of a chord and to make the action I
propose.

Na = no particular action
T = Tension
Ba = Begin again
S = Solving tone
Another example containing a wrong ending tone ( Tension is not solved or begun
again).
^ TOP
Learn music phrasing online
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music rhythm concepts : learn : blues jazz improvisation
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Music rhythm concepts in jazz and blues improvisation
When you improvise, you have to emphasize off beats (or upbeats).
http://www.musilosophy.com/music-rhythm.htm (1 of 4)9/9/2006 2:38:49 AM

There are different kinds of off beats ( upbeats) :
1) Quarter notes = emphasize 2th and 4th beat
2) Eighth notes = emphasize the even notes ( 2,4,6,8 in 4/4) ( 2,4,6 in ¾)
3) Eighth note triplets = emphasize above all the last note of every triplet
4) So on....
This is one of the most important concept in improvisation and music in general:
emphasizing off beats (or upbeats)
^ TOP
Exercises to learn music rhythm concepts to improvise
Exercises:
1. Improvise all quarter notes continuously and in the same way:
2. quarter note triplets
3. eighth notes
4. eighth note triplets
5. sixteen notes
6. sixteen note triplets
7. .....
But remember to emphasize off beats always!
^ TOP

Learning music rhythm concepts for blues and jazz improvisation
Often, when you improvise on an eighth note basis, because of the time speed,
emphasize just one or two notes:
So practise this important drills:
1. Emphasize the fourth eighth-note continuously every 2 quarters ( 4th and 8th
eighth) (6th and 12th eighth note triplets)
I think, this is the most important rhythmic accent pattern.
2. Emphasize the second eighth-note continuously ( or eighth triplets) every 2
quarters ( 2° and 6° eighth)
3. When the time speed is very fast, emphasize continuously just the last tone of
every measure

The goal of these drills is to acquire the habit to emphasize the weakest point of the
measure.
^ TOP
Learn rhythmic concepts online
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jazz techniques : improvisation : general music practice
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http://www.musilosophy.com/jazz-techniques.htm (1 of 6)9/9/2006 2:39:26 AM

Jazz techniques for improvisation
General practice
I suggest these progressive exercises:
Learn all major, minor and ...blues scales
First play the scales for an octave just with the right hand, then
with both hands; play for 2 and 4 octaves with both hands
Learn all chords of every key
Play the chords of every key with right hand then with both hand
Learn to analyze music
Practice to analyze every music style with scores or if you want by
ear. Write keys, chord types, degrees of the chords, modulations
(key changing) on the scores. Analyze melody and write the
harmonic role of every note (Chordal note, turning note, passing
note......).
Arpeggiate all chords
Arpeggiate all 7th chords with right hand (but not only) in their
four inversions.
Begin to improvise just using the chordal notes
Improvise only on a chord and using just the four chordal notes
( also out of time )

Improvise just using continuous eighth notes, eighth-triplet
notes, sixteenth notes.
For pianists : improvise on a song using just the four chordal
notes, moving the melody up and down the whole keyboard and
playing the chord with the left hand. (You have to play this chord
around C4 and moving the notes less possible when you change
the chord )
Improvise using a melodic item one at time
Practice a melodic item out of time and just on a chord
Improvise using the suggestions on musical phrase
Practice a phrasing item out of time and just on a chord
Some important considerations
Mastering these techniques needs many, many hours of playing
but it is amusing and you can feel what creating music means.
Beseides, these techniques are the same of composing songs or
any other music style.
Composing is easier than improvising because you can correct
your mistakes.
However I will suggest you some easy techniques to "correct"
some melodic "errors";.
Sometimes many new and interesting ideas come from so called
harmonic "errors";.

^ TOP
Improving jazz techniques
Ear training
Use this free tool - Functional ear trainer
Transcription - Powerful!
Select your best songs or solos and transcribe them on paper
using your piano or keyboard, then transpose them in all keys. I
think this is the MOST IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL DRILL TO
LEARN IMPROVISATION
Transposing
Transpose some phrases in all keys
Singing
Sing the notes you are improvising
Search
www.musilosophy.
Web com
^ TOP
Listening great artists to analyze jazz techniques
Listening
Every musical style but good music, that is great artists

When you listen to music, analyze it!
Piano improvisors
Listen to these masters of piano improvisation:
Bill Evans
Keith Jarrett
Herbie Hanckock
Chick Corea
Ahmad Jamal
Oscar Peterson
Bud Powell
McCoy Tyner
Many others...
Improvisors
Other instruments:
Miles Davis ( Trumpet )
Charlie Parker ( Alto Sax)
John Coltrane ( Tenor Sax )
Pat Metheney ( Guitar )
^ TOP
Resources on the Art of improvisation
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pop blues pianist : songwriter : jazz music improvisation
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Pop rhythm and blues singer songwriter, pianist

and jazz music improvisation resources
Piano and music improvisation
are my passions. I wish to share
them with you, offer my music and
free resources to learn this magic
Art.
Blues, soul, jazz, funk, dance and
pop are my favorite styles. I love
very much artists as Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Steve Wonder,
http://www.musilosophy.com/ (1 of 5)9/9/2006 2:40:17 AM

Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Santana, Supertramp
and many others. As pianist I grow up listening Bill Evans, Keith
Jarrett, Ahmad Jamal, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock.
I have studied piano by 30 years and I graduated from Saint
Cecilia music Conservatory in Rome. Now, I teach piano, jazz,
music harmony and I am promoting my music on the Web.
^ TOP
Free resources on jazz music improvisation and harmony
Music is expression of emotions.
Creativity, fantasy and originality are the best ways of express
them.
The Art of Improvisation is the most original and creative
language of music.
I am publishing free resources on jazz improvisation, piano
techniques, music harmony and theory. I hope you can
understand what I write in this site. My English is not perfect as
you can note. If you have a bit of time you can also correct what I
write! I am building other sites about improvisation, piano
techniques and music harmony and I want to give all I know for
free.
If you want help me to develop these resources you can may a
donation, but I desire above all you can learn the magic art of
improvisation.
I am publishing also other sites about music theory, harmony and

improvisation. (www.aboutmusictheory.com)
Musilosophy Improvisation Opern Project :
MIOP ^ TOP
Piano jazz music improvisation, rhythm and blues and pop albums
Pop soul rhythm and blues album : "Inside"
Inside is a collection of pop songs with rhythm and blues,
soul and jazz contaminations. Last year I have recorded this
album and now I am promoting it on Internet. You can listen
every song clip for free. Three songs of the album has a
video: "The Colour of Your Eyes", "Other World" and "Inside".
If you like the album you can buy it on Itunes, Msn, Yahoo,
Rhapsody, Emusic or many others mp3 stores. If you want
the compact disk you can order it on CdBaby or ArtistLaunch.

Piano dance rhythm and blues album " Modern
jazz dance"
Piano Fender Rhodes improvisations on rhythm and blues and
dance rhythms. New jazz concepts on modal harmony. The
album contains a fusion of different styles. I like very much
to improvise with electric piano on a dance groove. The bass
lines are very simple on a modal harmony.
Solo piano jazz improvisations : "Piano
meditation"
Acoustic piano meditations: totally improvised album. Do you
know the greatest living musician? For me he is Keith
Jarrett, a genius and not only a pianist. His improvisations
bring you to the magic, spiritual and mystic sense of music
based on Gurdjieff 's teaching. In this album I have tried to
follow that direction, playing and recording without preparing
chords and any other pre-material.
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Contact me
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pop music videos : soul rhythm and blues : songwriter
italiana |
Videos by Musilosophy
● - Rhythm and blues videos
● - Music albums
Site menu
● » Pop music videos
● - Jazz improvisation and music harmony resources : MIOP
● - MIOP news
Pop music videos by Musilosophy
The Colour of Your Eyes
Other World Inside
Here I propose three multimedia music videos from my pop
soul album "Inside". "The colour of your eyes" is a funk pop song
http://www.musilosophy.com/pop-music-videos.htm (1 of 4)9/9/2006 2:40:52 AM

with a dance feeling. Other World is a video in which I show how
we live in western world and how many people live in the poorest
world! Inside is a pop dance song: here I express the joy and
beauty of life.
^ TOP
Rhythm and blues soul music videos
Two world exists: one is based on hyper-consumption, hyper-
nutrition, hyper -waste or in other words "HYPER", the biggest
other one in which people literally die of thirst. Being children
weaker than adults, they are unfortunately the largest victims of
this bad tragedy.
But having someone in a family that is not healthy, who is hungry
usually makes the other member try hard to heal him or to feed
him. Why then do we, inhabitants of the rich world, not really help
our unluckier brother?
Often it happens, but often it doesn't. Consequently many people
hide to themselves this less world which needs help; actually it is
unable to survive, maybe it is still untimely, maybe the "first
world" has been exploiting it for hundreds of years, perhaps for
thousands, for its hyper-consumption.
"...give them a piece...a small piece of your bread..."- (Other
World)
Help your brothers!
^ TOP

Piano jazz, rhythm and blues and pop albums
soul and jazz contaminations. It contains 10 songs , of which
three are in Italian language. I have mixed "Inside" in my
home studio recording (DAW).
jazz dance"
Fender Rhodes piano improvisations on dance, rhythm and
blues rhythmics. This album is a fusion of jazz, dance, funk
and blues ideas. I have played electric and acoustic piano too.
meditation"
I love the style of Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans. For me they
are the best jazz pianist. Here, I have recorded acoustic
piano meditations: a totally improvised album.
^ TOP

Piano blues jazz live videos
In this section I will publish jazz and blues piano live videos with
my acoustic grand piano Shimmel. I am building other sites in
which I want to publish my piano improvisations and blues vocal
scatting.
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Contact me

pop blues jazz albums : singer songwriter : italian pianist
Home | Pop music videos | Pop blues jazz albums | Jazz improvisation and harmony | Lingua italiana |
Music albums
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● - Italian singer songwriter
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● » Pop blues jazz albums
● - MIOP news
Pop blues jazz albums by Musilosophy
Inside is a collection of pop songs with rhythm and blues, soul and jazz
contaminations.
Piano dance rhythm and blues album " Modern jazz dance"
Fender Rhodes piano improvisations on dance, rhythm and blues rhythmics. Nu
jazz concepts on modal harmony.
Solo piano jazz improvisations : "Piano meditation"
Acoustic piano meditations: totally improvised album.
http://www.musilosophy.com/pop-blues-jazz-albums.htm (1 of 4)9/9/2006 2:41:11 AM

Yahoo! News: Music News

Cat's Musical Comeback (E! Online)
E! Online - Yusuf Islam is hoping fans will remember him with

a smile. And an open wallet.
Priest Confesses to Madonna Threat (E! Online)
E! Online - A 63-year-old Dutch priest has confessed to calling

in a phony bomb threat last week before a pair of Madonna
concerts in Amsterdam in a last-ditch effort to stop the singer
from staging her mock-crucifixion act, officials said Friday.
Another Crowe Flies the Coop (E! Online)
E! Online - Apparently being a Black Crowe is too hard to

handle for certain members.

RSS integration by RSSinclude
^ TOP
Italian rhythm and blues singer songwriter, jazz pianist
"...I think piano is the most complete music
instrument..."
Piano is like an orchestra you can play with your fingers. The left hand plays
accompaniments and gives a rhythmic base to the other hand. You can play
melodies, chords or both and you can improvise with the right hand . Sometimes I
use to improvise with both hands to create different melodic lines. Mozart and
Beethoven used to compose piano sonatas to experiment with orchestral
compositions. For these reasons and for many others I think piano is the greatest
music instrument.
^ TOP
Music stores

You can buy the mp3s of my music albums at Itunes and other online
mp3 stores. You can order Cd albums at CdBaby and ArtistLaunch.
E-mail
Contact me

jazz pianist : pop blues singer songwriter : music stores
Home | Pop music videos | Pop blues jazz albums| Jazz improvisation and harmony | Lingua
italiana |
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● » Jazz pianist music stores
● - MIOP news
● - Improvisation :MIOP donation
Jazz pianist, pop rhythm and blues singer

songwriter : music stores
You can buy the mp3 of Inside at

Itunes and other online mp3 stores. You can order Inside and
Modern Jazz Dance Cd albums at CdBaby and ArtistLaunch. You
can buy Piano Meditation at SoundClick as digital download
(mp3).
http://www.musilosophy.com/jazz-pianist.htm (1 of 3)9/9/2006 2:41:32 AM

^ TOP
Free resources on jazz improvisation and music harmony
Music is expression of emotions.
Creativity, fantasy and originality are the best ways of express
them.
The Art of Improvisation is the most original and creative language
of music.
I am publishing free resources on jazz improvisation, piano
techniques, music harmony and theory.
^ TOP
soul and jazz contaminations.

jazz dance"
Fender Rhodes piano improvisations on dance, rhythm and
blues rhythmics. Nu jazz concepts on modal harmony.
meditation"
^ TOP
E-mail
Contact me

musilosophy improvisation open project : MIOP : news
MIOP
Site map
Donation
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News
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● » MIOP news
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● - Improvisation :MIOP donation
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Musilosophy Improvisation Open Project : MIOP

News
News about Musilosophy Improvisation

Open Project , MIOP
^ TOP
http://www.musilosophy.com/miop-news.htm (1 of 3)9/9/2006 2:41:42 AM

News
June 2006 : 2th, 3th and 4th position with three songs in Rhythm
and blues; 9 and 11th in pop; 9 in blues ArtistLaunch.com charts.
June 2006 : musilosophy.com rebuilding with CSS
May 2006 : Section on the art of improvisation
March 2006: musilosophy.com restyling
February 2006 : "The Colour of Your Eyes", "Other World" and
"Inside" Video published on musilosophy.com
January 2006 : "Modern Jazz Dance", rhythm and blues album
recordings and mix
December 2005 : www.musilosophy.com site published
December 2005 : "Inside", pop album printed and published on
Cdbaby.com and Tower Records Label
November 2005 : "Crystal White Piano Quartet" ,piano jazz dance
Album recordings and mix
October 2005 : "Piano Meditation" piano solo album recordings
and mix
September 2005 : "Inside", pop album mix
August 2005 : "Inside" pop album recordings
^ TOP

soul and jazz contaminations.
jazz dance"
Piano Fender Rhodes improvisations on dance, rhythm and
blues rhythmics. Nu jazz concepts on modal harmony.
meditation"
^ TOP
E-mail
Contact me

MIOP : musilosophy : links
Mappa del sito

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Home | Pop music videos | Music albums | Jazz improvisation and harmony | Lingua italiana |
Links
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Site Menu
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Musilosophy's links
123musicstars.com - The popular music guide
MaximumMusician.com. Showing guitarists where to find the best free guitar info,
how to turn their practicing into playing, and how to build maximum musical
motivation. Downloads, tabs, articles, and more.
http://www.musilosophy.com/link.htm (1 of 2)9/9/2006 2:41:57 AM

MIOP : musilosophy : links
Music link exchange
Artistopia - The Ultimate Music and Artist Resource
Artistopia is the first company that delivers a clear, potent, and qualified strategy
for independent music artists and music industry professionals to come together
under one roof and speak one language - potential success!
E-mail
Contact me
2005-2006 Paolo Parrella. All right reserved
http://www.musilosophy.com/link.htm (2 of 2)9/9/2006 2:41:57 AM

Piano Improvisation Technique

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Free online resources on the Art of Improvisation : 1

FREE online resources on the Art of Improvisation

Improvisation means real time composing.....

Copyright © 2006 Paolo Parrella.All rights reserved.

Music is based on harmony

Harmony is based on chords and scales

Melody and improvisation are based on chords and scales

Accompaniment is based on chords and scales

Chords are based on scales

Scales are based on physics,mathematical principles and musical

Musical tradictions are based on human

Copyright © 2006 Paolo Parrella.All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2006 Paolo Parrella.All rights reserved.

7.Practice… Practice… Practice…

Improvisation with perfect fourths

Lydian chromatic concept

Main chordal progressions

Main used forms

What you have to avoid…

Copyright © 2006 Paolo Parrella.All rights reserved.

About other music subjects

Copyright © 2006 Paolo Parrella.All rights reserved.

Improvisation and music harmony : MIOP

http://www.musilosophy.com/jazz-improvisation.htm (1 of 6)9/9/2006 2:34:37 AM

Jazz improvisation, music harmony and theory

MIOP means Musilosophy Improvisation Open Project.

"Improvisation means real time composing.....

Improvisation means composing new ideas....".

Music bases on harmony.

Melody and improvisation base on chords and scales.

Accompaniment base on chords and scales too.

Chords base on scales.

Scales base on physic, mathematical principles and music

Music traditions base on human perception, technology, economy,

You need to know the following items to improvise and compose in

a right and nice way:

inversions and the building melody techniques.

http://www.musilosophy.com/jazz-improvisation.htm (2 of 6)9/9/2006 2:34:37 AM

with swing and without thinking about scales, rules, keys...

Phrasing is the following step.

Ear training, transcribing, transposing, voicing, harmonization are

other important and fundamental techniques to learn jazz

improvisation and composing.

Learning jazz improvisation is not simple. The theory and

harmonic concepts you have to learn are few and easy to

understand but the fundamental concept is just one: to learn

improvisation you have to play much and practice for a longtime!

I used to compare improvisation with language. Improvisation is

a language, you can express ideas, concepts and emotions and

sometimes much deeper than language. So, as well as you have

to study and practice a lot to learn English or French or Italian so

you have to do the same with music improvisation.

You do not need to understand difficult concepts but without

doubts you must be patient. Here in this site I offer free

resources to learn this art but be patient if my English is not

1. Music harmony : keys

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Half diminished 7th

3. More music scales