Ultimate Online Learning Experience

  • Receive mentoring from Terry Smith
  • Easy webcam assignment recording
  • Always available personalized session

... go beyond YouTube and DVDs

Improvisation: Beginning

Did you ever listen to a pianist or other musician playing a song that you knew but, somehow, it sounded very different and fresh.

You can play tunes in many different ways by improvising. You can learn to improvise on an existing tune or from ground zero and make up everything as you play. Improvising is exciting because you're shaping or choreographing the musical piece and inviting the listener on a musical journey with lots of twists and turns.

This course is designed for pianists, guitarists, harpists, and musicians playing multi-timbral instruments. You should already know basic music notation and be able to play simple music on your instrument. 

It includes lessons, demonstration videos, audio files and assignments in an easy-to-use system. You will also be able to access the Course Forum where you will easily be able to send messages, video and audio recordings and receive playing tips and feedback.

What You Will Learn

This course includes the following lessons. Each lesson should take about a week but you can go at your own pace.

  1. Musical Scales and Keys
  2. Major and minor Chords: Knowing and Using the Primary Chords
  3. How to Read Lead Sheets
  4. Chord Inversions
  5. Variations: Accompaniment
  6. Variations: Melody
  7. Seventh Chords

How it Works

  • When you enroll, you will be able to access the Course webpage with lessons, videos, and periodic assignments.
  • In the Course Forum, you will be able to easily send audio or video back to show me how you are progressing on your assignments. I will review your assignments and give you personal coaching on your playing.
  • You're never alone. You can post questions to me or other students anytime.

To get started, click the Enroll button. You can also send me a message with any questions you have.

Terry Smith

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Terry is the owner/instructor of Applegate Music Studio (www.applegatemusicstudio.com) in Phoenix, AZ. He has had 17 years private piano study earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Theater Arts with additional graduate study in Music Education. He is also a certified instructor for Scott Houston's "Play Piano in a Flash" Chord Approach Method. Terry teaches both children and adults in Phoenix, AZ and online anywhere. Terry is a member of the Music Teachers National Association.