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  • 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

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  • Staying Motivated: How to Keep Practicing When You Feel Stuck

    June 28, 2025
    Artist Growth, Career Development, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Psychology, Musician Wellness, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips
    daily practice habits, how to keep practicing piano, how to stay motivated to practice music, music motivation, music practice rut, music progress tips, musician mindset, overcoming music burnout, piano practice motivation, practice tips for musicians

    We’ve all been there. You sit at your instrument, open your sheet music or pull up your practice app… and then just stare. Nothing flows. Nothing feels exciting. You play the same passage 47 times and it still sounds meh. You’re not alone – plateaus in practice are completely normal, whether you’re a beginner or

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  • 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

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  • Musicality explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Expression

    June 7, 2025
    Artist Growth, Aural Skills, Career Development, Collaborative Pianist, Ear Training, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Psychology, Music Science, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Music Theory, Musicianship, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips
    expressive piano playing, how to improve musicality, how to play piano musically, music expression skills, music performance tips, musical expression, musicality for pianists, piano artistry, piano emotional playing, piano interpretation tips, piano performance tips

    “But how do I play it musically?” If you’ve ever asked your teacher that question – or been that teacher – you know how slippery musicality can feel. It’s not just about playing the right notes, or even playing them well. It’s about making music speak – telling a story through sound, communicating emotion through

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  • Perfect Pitch: What It Is, Can You Develop It, and Do You Need It?

    May 24, 2025
    Aural Skills, Ear Training, Music Education, Music Theory, Musicianship, Piano Technique
    benefits of perfect pitch, can you develop perfect pitch, do famous musicians have perfect pitch, how to play music by ear, how to train your ears for music, is perfect pitch rare, music theory perfect pitch explained, perfect pitch vs relative pitch, relative pitch training, what is perfect pitch

    For as long as I can remember, I’ve had perfect pitch – but for much of my early life, I didn’t realize it was anything unusual. I just assumed that everyone could identify notes instantly, recognize keys without a reference, and pick out melodies without too much effort. As a child, I would sit at

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  • Do-Re-Mi vs. C-D-E-F-G vs. Nashville Numbers: Pros, Cons & How to Choose

    May 17, 2025
    Music Analysis, Music Education, Musicianship, Piano Technique
    advantages of solfège, best way to learn music notes, Do Re Mi vs C D E F G, how to read music by ear, how to transpose music easily, learn to play by ear faster, Nashville chord chart method, Nashville Number System explained, solfège vs letter names, which note system is best for musicians

    If you’ve ever studied music, you’ve likely encountered different ways to name and understand notes and chords. Some musicians swear by the Do-Re-Mi system (Solfège), others stick to letter names (C-D-E-F-G-A-B), and some rely on the Nashville Number System, especially in contemporary and pop music settings. Each system has its strengths and weaknesses, and the

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  • Learn Music by Ear: 6 Steps to Recognizing Chords & Melodies Like a Pro

    May 10, 2025
    Aural Skills, Ear Training, Music Analysis, Music Education, Music Theory, Musicianship, Piano, Piano Exercises, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips
    best ear training methods, ear training exercises, ear training for pianists, how to hear chord progressions, how to identify melodies faster, how to improve musical ear, how to play by ear piano, how to recognize chords by ear, how to train your ears for music, solfège for ear training

    Have you ever listened to a song and wished you could immediately play it by ear? Training your ears to recognize chords and melodies is one of the most valuable skills a musician can develop. Whether you’re a pianist, singer, or instrumentalist, having a strong ear makes learning music faster and more intuitive. But how

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  • 5 Essential Warm-Ups for Pianists to Improve Technique & Flexibility

    March 1, 2025
    Music Education, Musicianship, Performance, Piano, Piano Exercises, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Piano Warm-Ups, Practice Tips
    advanced piano warm-ups, arpeggio practice for piano, best exercises for pianists, best finger exercises for piano, best piano warm-ups, essential piano warm-ups, finger exercises for pianists, hand coordination for pianists, hand independence piano exercises, how to develop finger strength for piano, how to improve piano technique, how to warm up before playing piano, improve piano dexterity, piano exercises for beginners, piano practice tips, piano technique exercises, piano warm-up exercises, piano warm-up routine, scales for piano practice, wrist relaxation piano exercises

    Warming up before playing the piano is like stretching before a workout – it helps prevent injury, improves flexibility, and sets you up for a great practice session. Whether you’re getting ready for a concert, a rehearsal, or just a casual play-through of your favorite pieces, a few simple warm-ups can make a big difference.

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  • How to Memorize Piano Music in 6 Easy Steps

    March 20, 2019
    Music Education, Musicianship, Performance, Piano, Piano Exercises, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Piano Warm-Ups, Practice Tips
    best memorization strategies for pianists, best ways to memorize piano pieces, effective piano learning methods, how to improve piano memory, how to learn a piano piece quickly and efficiently, how to learn piano music faster, how to memorize piano music, how to practice piano without a piano, memorizing sheet music efficiently, mental practice techniques for musicians, muscle memory for pianists, piano memorization techniques, piano performance tips, piano practice routine, piano practice tips for beginners, step-by-step guide to memorizing piano music

    Learning a new piece of music can feel overwhelming – especially if you’re trying to memorize it. But don’t worry! Breaking the process into smaller, manageable steps makes it much easier (and even fun). Whether you’re tackling a classical masterpiece, a pop song, or a video game soundtrack, here’s how you can memorize piano music

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