• Home
  • Live Performance
    • Upcoming Concerts
    • Past Concerts
    • Weddings | Corporate | Private Events
    • Musical Theatre
  • Services
    • Motivational Talks
    • Workshops and Masterclasses
    • Orchestration and Arrangement
    • Backing Tracks
    • Studio Recording
  • Work with Natalya
  • Listen
    • Albums
    • YouTube
  • Blog
    • Piano Skills
    • Music Career
    • Inspiration
    • Pop Culture Piano
  • Contact
  • About
    • Bio
    • Interviews
  • Merch
  • Jazz Harmony for Classical Players: What You Actually Need to Know

    January 12, 2026
    Accompanist Guide, Artist Growth, Aural Skills, Collaborative Pianist, Ear Training, Ensemble Playing, Freelance Musician, Independent Music, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Science, Music Storytelling, Music Theory, Musicianship, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Exercises, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips, Uncategorized
    classical pianist learning jazz, jazz chords explained, jazz harmony basics, jazz harmony for classical pianists, jazz theory for piano, understanding jazz harmony

    As a classically trained pianist, jazz improvisation has never really been my forte.I grew up reading everything on the page, interpreting what was written, polishing details – not being handed a chord symbol and told to “just play”. For a long time, jazz harmony felt like a completely different language, one that everyone else seemed

    Continue reading →

  • How I Built a Sustainable Career as a Pianist

    January 5, 2026
    Accompanist Guide, Artist Growth, Branding, Career Development, Collaborative Pianist, Digital Marketing, Ensemble Playing, Freelance Musician, Gig Booking, Independent Music, Marketing, Music Business, Music Career, Music Education, Music Income, Music Industry, Music Promotion, Music Strategy, Musician Wellness, Networking, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Inspiration
    creative entrepreneur musician, freelance pianist career, how pianists make money, independent musician income, making a living as a pianist, modern pianist career, multiple income streams for musicians, music business for pianists, music career advice, music freelancing tips, music industry jobs for pianists, musician business tips, pianist freelance work, pianist income streams, pianist side income, piano career advice, sustainable music career

    Before I decided to start freelancing full time, I genuinely thought there were only two career paths after studying piano. You either became a piano teacher or a classical concert pianist. Those were the options and neither sounded appealing. It was not until I started working in the industry full time that I realised how

    Continue reading →

  • How to Read Lead Sheets and Fake Books: A Pianist’s Guide

    June 14, 2025
    Accompanist Guide, Artist Growth, Aural Skills, Collaborative Pianist, Ear Training, Ensemble Playing, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Storytelling, Music Theory, Musicianship, Performance, Piano, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Exercises, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips
    chord symbols piano guide, fake book piano tutorial, how to play from lead sheets, how to read lead sheets, lead sheet piano accompaniment, lead sheet vs full notation, learn lead sheet notation, piano for singers accompaniment, reading fake book notation, real book piano tips

    Whether you’re sight-reading for a last-minute gig, jamming with a singer, or performing pop songs at a wedding, lead sheets and fake books are a lifesaver for pianists who want flexibility, freedom, and speed. But if you’re used to fully-notated classical scores, lead sheets can look… a little bare. Just a melody? A few chord

    Continue reading →

  • How to Play with a Singer or Ensemble: 7 Tips for Collaborative Pianists

    March 15, 2025
    Accompanist Guide, Artist Growth, Collaborative Pianist, Ensemble Playing, Freelance Musician, Independent Music, Music Career, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Strategy, Musicianship, Performance, Piano, Piano Accompaniment
    best practices for collaborative pianists, collaborative piano tips, ensemble piano playing tips, ensemble rehearsal tips, how to accompany a singer on piano, how to balance piano in an ensemble, how to follow a singer on piano, how to improve piano accompaniment, how to play piano in a band, how to support a singer on piano, music collaboration techniques, pianist accompaniment techniques, piano collaboration tips, piano performance tips, playing piano in a group, playing piano with a singer, playing piano with other musicians, tips for accompanying vocalists, working with a singer as a pianist, working with an orchestra as a pianist

    Playing piano solo is one thing, but playing with a singer, a band, or an ensemble is a whole different skill set. As a collaborative pianist, you’re not just playing the notes – you’re supporting, adapting, and communicating with other musicians in real time. Whether you’re accompanying a vocalist, working with an orchestra, or playing

    Continue reading →

  • YouTube
  • Spotify
  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Threads
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Patreon

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • NATALYA PLAYS PIANO
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • NATALYA PLAYS PIANO
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar