Blues Piano 1C

About this course

This third-term course develops blues piano vocabulary and basic improvisation through work on 12-bar blues. Learners practise right-hand motifs, blues licks, turnarounds, endings and varied left-hand patterns, while exploring a range of blues styles. Teaching combines tutor demonstrations and suggestions with listening exercises, individual turns, and duets with the tutor or other participants. Weekly assignments and home-study references support practice between classes.

What you'll learn

• Play a 12-bar blues across several choruses using different right-hand motifs
• Apply blues licks, turnarounds and endings
• Use a range of left-hand accompaniment patterns
• Recognise and work with different blues styles

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for competent pianists progressing beyond fundamental techniques. Previous completion of Blues Piano 1A and 1B is required, alongside knowledge of major scales in most keys, major triads, some music reading and reasonable piano technique. Participants also need to practise between classes and attend weekly.

• Requires completion of Blues Piano 1A and 1B
• Suitable for pianists with at least a stated Grade 3 level of technique
• Regular practice and weekly assignments are part of the course
• Includes taking turns to play and performing duets with others

Before you go

• Each participant uses a digital piano in the keyboard room; two acoustic pianos are available for duets.
• The book "Improvising Blues Piano" by Tim Richards is recommended and can be obtained from music shops, the tutor or Morley Library.
• Weekly assignments require regular practice at home between classes.