Tag Archives: jazz

Video Cole Porter Song Night and Day – Jazz Piano Solo

Here is a really nice version of the very popular song, ‘Night and Day’ by Cole Porter, performed by Alfonso Gugliucci. Porter was inspired to write the song during a trip to Morocco in 1932. It’s one of his most famous compositions. Porter performed the song in several Hollywood movies, and it has been recorded by countless artists.

 

Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) wrote many popular songs during his career. He was born in Peru, Indiana. Porter began his music training early. He began piano lessons when he was eight. He wrote his first piece at the age of ten.

Porter wrote 300 songs while he was at school at Yale. Upon graduating, Porter began his law studies at Harvard Law School. Realizing that he did not wish to be an attorney, he switched to studies to music. In 1915, his first Broadway song was an immediate success.

In 1917, At the start of World War I, Porter moved to Paris. He worked to distribute relief supplies for several months. There is some documentation that he may have served in the French Foreign Legion in North Africa. While there, he had a special portable piano constructed so he could carry it with him and entertain troops while on bivouac.

On October 24, 1937, the horse that Porter was riding, fell down on top of him, crushing his legs. He was left crippled and in agonizing pain. His doctors insisted on amputating at least one and possibly both his legs, but Porter refused the procedure. He later underwent more than 30 surgeries, and during the remainder of his life, was beset by pain and depression.

Cole Porter performed exclusively on a Steinway piano and owned one. His piano currently resides in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City

blues piano keyboard

Blues Piano

 
blues piano lessons portland

 

“This Is Such A Blast. I’m Finally Learning What I Wanted, Improvise Blues Piano.” – J. Simmons

“Playing The Blues By Ear Has Always Been My Dream. What Fun.” – Sandra Michaels

“Soon I’ll Be Able To Jam With My Friends”

– D. Baker


blues piano keyboard

Why Blues Piano?
Learning Blues Piano is a great way to expand your piano skills. Blues piano is a great introduction to learning to play by ear, playing jazz, and becoming fluent on the keyboard. Students who acquire basic facility with blues, experience a sense a freedom of being able to play piano with ease and little effort. What makes Blues Piano so much fun? It’s spontaneous, energetic, experimental, imaginative. It’s the most playful type of music.

Students who already play, will discover that learning blues improvisation, will revitalize and energize their playing. It’s a terrific way to learn how to jam along with your friends. Those of you who are complete beginners, will want to spend a few months learning to read music before beginning blues. Once you have basic playing skills, blues is an excellent way to be introduced to new playing techniques.

Along with blues, you might also be interested in working on some extra theory, learning arrange your own music, and writing original music. If you sing, you might want to learn to accompany your voice with chords. Children love to experiment on piano, and blues gives them a way to use their imagination. They take to it immediately and it’s inventive nature.

blues piano player

What Is The Blues?
Blues is truly the original American music. It’s artistic, soulful, and very innovative. The twelve bar blues progression is a structure of chords combined with melodies and improvised. Blues played on the guitar is generally slow and melancholy, and accompanied by vocals. On the piano, blues often has no vocals, and the music is much faster, and full of creative energy.

Blues is a kind of jazz, and it’s a great way to get introduced to the world of jazz improvisation. Blues and jazz have influenced music for decades. It’s everywhere, and internationally loved and appreciated. Some popular blues players piano players are: Oscar Peterson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Otis Spann, Dr. John, Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Professor Longhair, Barrelhouse Chuck. Blues piano can evoke emotions in many ways. Its constant swirl of textures can be imaginative, delicate, rambunctious, evocative, captivating, elegant, and playful.

play blues piano

Getting Started
Music stores are full of ‘Learn To Play Blues Piano’ books. However, I’ve yet to find a student who could make sense of the material presented in book form. They end up confused and frustrated. Learning blues piano is a hands on experience. I’ve  taught hundreds of students to understand and blues. One-to-one training is effective, and the way to go.

Playing blues on the piano is very well suited for beginner players. To learn to play blues, students don’t need any previous piano experience. We can start right at the beginning with reading music. As soon as the student has enough playing skill, we can begin the blues. If you already play piano and have a good ear but don’t read music, then we can begin blues right away.

blues improvisation

The Lessons
My approach to blues is unique; modern, clean, easy to understand. Learning 12 bar blues starts with the left hand chord progression and right hand melodies. I’ll show you all the steps you need to play a real nice blues. After a short time practicing the basics, you’ll be improvising your very first original blues. I’ll teach you everything you need to know to master the basic styles of blues.

You should find blues piano to be a delightful introduction to improvisation. Those who are starting piano from the beginning will enjoy the freedom of playing without music. Those of you that already play will find new energy and expression in this engaging music. If you have tried playing jazz piano, and found it too hard, blues piano should be a much easier style to learn. Each student is a unique individual, so the lessons are guided by each students interests and comfort level.

 

 

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Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons
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Examples of Blues


Some techniques covered in the lessons:
• Understanding Basic Chord Theory
• Left & Right Hand Swing Rhythms
• Left Hand Walking Bass
• Left Hand Rhythmic Variations
• Alternative 12 Bar Chords
• Diminished Chords & Scales
• Boogie Woogie & New Orleans Styles

 

 

 

 

Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons
Portland, Oregon

503-253-8021

 

 

The Teacher

Norm Zarr attended college in New York City. He moved to Oregon and started a music software company, where he was at the forefront in developing software for professional musicians that was used in the studio to record and edit songs, and manage an entire stage full of keyboards during a performance.

As a sound-designer, he invented synthesizer sounds used in recordings for T.V., Film and CD’s. For this he was awarded two Platinum Records.

In addition to teaching piano and keyboards for over 25 years, he has composed many pieces of music. His original compositions have been included in numerous television shows. They span a large variety of styles; Southern Blues, Jazz, Rock, Folk, Native American, North African, Indian, Celtic, and Film Soundtracks. Mr. Zarr has also performed piano professionally.

Norm Zarr Was Awarded Two Platinum Records
His soundtracks have been featured on these shows

 
While filming in Portland, actor Steve Zahn was preparing for his role in the film Management, starring Jennifer Aniston. In one scene, he was required to play keyboard. Steve, however, did not play at all. His production team arranged a schedule with Mr. Zarr to give him a crash course in playing keyboard.

 Live Remote, Online, Virtual
 Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons
Call for Details
Original T.V. Music Excerpts

Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons
Portland, Oregon

503-253-8021