Blues Piano 1A

About this course

The course develops blues piano skills through demonstrations, tutor suggestions and playing on individual digital pianos. Participants work on simple 12-bar blues melodies in C, F and G, left-hand bass lines, right-hand improvisation, and triads, sixth chords and inversions. Class activities include playing together, taking turns and optional duets on the room’s acoustic pianos. Listening to blues piano recordings is also part of the teaching. Participants prepare pieces for performance during the course.

What you'll learn

• Play simple 12-bar blues melodies in C, F and G
• Accompany yourself or others with a left-hand bass line
• Apply basic right-hand improvisation techniques
• Play triads, sixth chords and their inversions

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for competent pianists at an intermediate level, with knowledge of major scales in most keys and familiarity with major triads. Learners are expected to practise between classes and prepare pieces for performance.

• The class combines individual keyboard work with playing alongside other learners
• Participation may include playing in front of others and preparing pieces for performance

Before you go

• A recommended text is Tim Richards’ Improvising Blues Piano.