How to Improvise

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Introduction

Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt – they were all great improvisers. Sadly, in the late nineteenth century and throughout the twentieth century improvisation was a dying art. I suspect this was due to the abundance of sheet music and the wish to “refine” classical music, distinguishing it from jazz, folk and pop.

These videos are aimed at pianists who know their chords and scales, but who simply can’t think of anything to play when faced with a piano but no sheet music. I have included activities for ear-training, some theory of intervals and harmony and, most importantly, various ideas to spark imaginative performances.