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Simple Improvisation with Christopher Norton's Connections
Bluebottle
Connections Preparatory Level
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Theme.png?1667992021)
Click here to download the music for Bluebottle.
Learn the piece first. You can hear a composer (solo piano) performance here:
There’s also a backing track for Bluebottle and you will be using it! Listen to it here:
Here are the steps to follow (don’t worry, they’re easy!).
Play these 2 chords (they’re the only chords in the piece):
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_1.png?1667395568)
Now download the backing track (without piano) from here (or click here to download):
Next play the chord progression without the track, then with the track. There are some stops, but they’re easy (and fun!)
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_2.png?1667395580)
Now you’re going to try some chord rhythms. This means you play the same chords, in the same order, but play them in different rhythms. Here are 2 examples to play with the track:
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_3.png?1667395591)
Example 2:
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_4.png?1667395601)
Try some of your own rhythms with the track.
Next, some simple right hand melodies to play with the track. 2 examples:
Melody 1:
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_5.png?1667395610)
Melody 2:
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_6.png?1667395619)
Try some of your own right hand melodies with the track.
Now 2 easy-to-play left hand chords to play with the track:
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_7.png?1667395627)
Finally, put the left hand chords and right hand melodies together. I start you off, then do your own thing in your right hand. You can vary the left hand rhythms as well.
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ptp-test/dfp-test/Images/Christopher_Norton_-_Piece_1_-_Bluebottle_-_Image_8.png?1667395639)
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