Piano Lessons: Learning the Piano Keyboard, how to play piano instructional DVD
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Pete Sears teaches piano
  • Best DVD out there
  • Great insruction; adequate DVD layout
  • not for beginner
  • Outstanding Instruction
Piano Lessons: Learning the Piano Keyboard, how to play piano instructional DVD
Starring: Pete Sears
Manufacturer: Music Star Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BZ5NW4
Release Date: 2005-11-17

Description

Multi-Platinum recording artist Pete Sears provides step by step instructions showing chords, scales, modes Progressions and music theory, providing users with a solid foundation for their journey into playing the piano. In Pete Sears 41 years as a professional musician, Pete has played Keyboards, Bass Guitar, or both with a large variety of artists including playing piano on the classic Rod Stewart albums, "Gasoline alley", "Every Picture Tells a Story", "Never a Dull Moment" and "Smiler", as well as the singles "Reason To Believe" and "Maggie May". Pete also played both Bass and Keyboards as a member of Jefferson Starship from 1974 to 1987.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Pete Sears teaches piano.......2007-03-22

The dvd is a joy to watch and listen to. Mr. Sears is going to give you musical concepts that you will have to practice with and develop to create your own personal expressions. The tools he gives are the ones that artists who play "by ear" use. Mr. Sears love for music and the joy he feels as he expresses himself on the piano and his desire to share his path with us comes warmly through. The emphasis is on the blues. You will not learn individual songs here, but rather the ideas that go into blues and improvisational playing. This DVD is just a starting point. But a good one.

5 out of 5 stars Best DVD out there.......2007-02-15

I am brand new player, This DVD is right on target. It covers everything from Half steps, to chords to reading music. I can't understand someone saying this isnt for beginners. He even tells you what kind of CHair to buy. If you are going to spend money, this is the best money to spend. Granted he does jump around, and some of it might seem confusing. Watch the whole DVD and you will understand. If you are looking for music theory and learning for real look here, if you are looking for mary has a little lamb, or twinkle twinkle look else where. I rented almost all the DVDs out there on this subject, and this one is the best hands down so far. About 10 times more useful information on it, and I can't believe the DVD is only 17$.

4 out of 5 stars Great insruction; adequate DVD layout.......2006-11-20

Like the other reviewers, I am a beginning adult piano student. And like most of us, I'm going through a plethora of books and DVDs to find the "right" one. Pete Sears' DVD comes pretty darn close. He has a very conversational style that would almost make you think he's a little "spacey", but that is far from the case. He provides a very solid (and I believe) very classical approach to piano instruction. However, the DVD is a long lecture - not sub-divided into specific topics. I found it very cumbersome to go back to a paritcular point. I strongly suggest that you go to his website and download the script to the DVD (I use the script as a textbook when I'm practicing his exercises). Its all there and its a "must" if you really want to get the most out of his very good approach to piano instruction.

2 out of 5 stars not for beginner.......2006-10-13

I bought this DVD hoping to learn how to play chords on piano or keyboard. With three years of piano lessons I was able to kind of follow the instructor. It's definitely not for beginner. I learned some new music theory. Each topic would be better if the instructor includes familiar songs to demonstrate or examplify. Overall I would not recommend this to eager learner or those who are looking for introductory or systematic instructions to learning piano or keyboard.

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding Instruction.......2006-09-20

I am indebted to Mr. Sears for sharing his expertise in this DVD. It represents three hours of very well presented instructional material. His presentation style is a delight, and it is joy to a count this top professional among my teachers. I've reviewed a large number of piano instructional DVD's and this one stands out as my all time favorite. It is also very reasonably priced. If you are a beginner expect to review this DVD more than once.

His ending dialog on music appreciation is in itself almost worth the price of the DVD.

Again, thank you Mr. Sears. I hope you will one day do another.

WPFleming
Gallup, New Mexico
The Piano Lesson
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Learn Your Lesson
  • "As long as Sutters had that piano, they had us as slaves."
  • A battle between the historic past and dreams for the future
  • Hallmark censorship
  • A Lesson of My Own
The Piano Lesson
Starring: Charles S. Dutton , Alfre Woodard , Carl Gordon , Tommy Hollis , and Lou Myers
Director: Lloyd Richards (II)
Manufacturer: Hallmark Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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  1. August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson": A Study Guide from Gale's "Drama for Students" (Volume 07, Chapter 14) August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson": A Study Guide from Gale's "Drama for Students" (Volume 07, Chapter 14)
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ASIN: B00006SFKF
Release Date: 2002-12-17

Amazon.com

The only one of August Wilson's plays to be filmed (and for television, at that), this 1990 Pulitzer Prize-winner is an amazing piece of work. Adapted by Wilson and directed by Lloyd Richards, who staged it on Broadway, the play deals not just with racism and its effects but with the ongoing legacy and curse of slavery on modern blacks. Set in 1920s Pittsburgh, the story deals with the arrival of Boy Willie (Charles Dutton) from Mississippi, to claim a family heirloom from his sister Berniece (Alfre Woodard): the piano, carved by their ancestors with symbols of slavery. He wants to sell it to buy the land his grandfather worked as a slave; Berniece refuses to give it up because it represents a horrifying episode from the family's past. Add in ghosts, superb performances, and Wilson's poetically charged writing, and you have a startlingly solid piece of theater that works well as a film. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Learn Your Lesson.......2007-06-13

August Wilson's 'The Piano Player' with Charles Dutton and Alfre Woodard is such an engrossing play. This screen adaption brings you into there lives and makes you feel for every one in the movie. The writing 'superb'. The acting 'superb'. And the supporting cast is so top notch, you have to watch it more than once just to see all the scene stealers. This is a group that can send a complete message with just the raising of an eye, the shrugging of a shoulder, or the shaking of a head. You know what every gesture means. I now need 'Fences'.

5 out of 5 stars "As long as Sutters had that piano, they had us as slaves.".......2004-12-27

Winner of the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, August Wilson's lively domestic drama focuses on a black family in the 1930s and their piano, which dominates the living room of Doaker Charles and his niece Berniece in Pittsburgh. The piano is adorned with the faces of their slave ancestors, carved by a distant relation who was owned by the Sutter family in Mississippi before Emancipation. Berniece's brother Boy Willie, recently released from a prison farm, has come to Pittsburgh from Mississippi with his friend Lymon, determined to sell this ancient piano in which he claims half-ownership.

Charles Dutton, as Boy Willie, Berniece's brother, endows his role with a humor and good-naturedness not obvious from a reading of the play, and his passion to use the money from the sale of the piano to buy a hundred acres of Sutter farmland, which his slave ancestors once worked, is palpable. Courtney B., as Boy Willie's friend Lymon, is credulous and innocent as he explores the city, responding to its differences from the life on the farm, and bringing Berniece (Alfre Woodard) out of the grief she has borne since the shooting death of her husband three years before. Woodard herself is a fierce Berniece, protective of her young daughter and determined to preserve the piano and its heritage.

Directed by Lloyd Richards for the Hallmark Hall of Fame in 1995, the screenplay was adapted by August Wilson from his own play. A bit shorter than the original, with offensive expletives omitted for television, the script remains close to the original. When Sutter's ghost makes several appearances, the superstitions and folklore which have been part of the family's culture become both real and violent, and when Willie Boy, Lymon, Wining Boy (his gambler uncle, played by Lou Meyers), and uncle Doaker (Carl Gordon) sing, on several occasions, the viewer is reminded of the role of spirituals in black culture, their unifying spirit, and the dignity they inspired.

The appearances of Sutter's ghost and Boy Willie's battle with him create a sense of melodrama in this otherwise thoughtful battle between the reverence for the past (as seen in Berniece) and the hopes for the future (as seen in Boy Willie). As a record of the era in which many blacks left the farms for the opportunities of the city, however, the play is unparalleled in its insights. Mary Whipple

5 out of 5 stars A battle between the historic past and dreams for the future.......2004-10-12

If you are seriously into dramatic theatre plays, you may agree that re-creations made for movies or televisions are often substandard to the book! In this case, the re-creation was geared toward television/movie quality rather than a reproduction of a stage theatre performance.

And if you are familiar with the works of August Wilson, you will recognize that to adher to the vernacular - spoken language of a region - is critical to the element of his works. In this DVD movie, the use of the N word was omitted and that omission is part of history.

African American playwright, August Wilson was born in 1945 and has received numerous, that include Pulitzer Prize honors, "Fences" in 1987; and "The Piano Lesson" in 1990. Each of his works chronicle a decade in black experience. The Piano Lesson takes place in the depression era, the 30's.

The story revolves around an old carved upright piano that is symbolic with rich family history that dates back to trading slaves. The carvings are stunning and each scene depicts a story filled with vivid description. The plot includes supernatural elements.

Actor Charles Dutton has performed as other characters in Wilson's plays and here he plays Boy Willie. With dreams of owning land like his ancestors, his plan involves selling a piano that belongs to him and his sister Berniece, played by the well-known Alfre Woodard. However, the piano, an heirloom, is a representation of the past and she refuses to sell it. The carvings were done by her grandfather, an enslaved plantation carpenter.

The movie version of the Piano Lesson was done quite well with some stunning performances by seasoned actors. Like any well-written play with all the elements required, it lays heavy on meaningful and lengthy dialogue.

The Piano Lesson opened onstage in 1984 and became Wilson's second Pulitzer Prize in 1990. Supposedly, this Hallmark version is shortened and since I have not read the book, I cannot say how true to the book it is. ....MzRizz

3 out of 5 stars Hallmark censorship.......2004-02-25

An already posted review claims that this TV version is true to August Wilson's play. Only partly--and the differences are almost certainly attributable to Hallmark. Wilson adapted his own original stage script, but this version is shorter than the original (which may be a good thing--Wilson does like to let his characters gab) and the language is very different. For example, the nice, politically correct folks who want to sell greeting cards at Hallmark no doubt forced Wilson to remove the numerous instances of the word "ni____" from his play. Some other "rough" language (which can now be heard on the evening news, much less TV fiction) also failed to pass Hallmark's censors.
The TV production also "opens" the play from its original setting in Doaker's living room and kitchen and adds a silent, visual accompaniment to Doaker's marvelous tale about the family piano.
Do these changes damage the play? No, but they certainly do alter its flavor.
On one hand, I'm very happy that this great Black American playwright allowed one of his scripts to have a TV production and that we now have this video record of that production. On the other hand, it seems a shame that Wilson had to compromise his artistry in order to reach a wider audience than theatre itself can supply.

5 out of 5 stars A Lesson of My Own.......2004-01-18

I teach language arts, including drama, at a rural high school. I read "The Piano Lesson" and was hoping for a film version that I could show to my students to go along with their reading. This film is true to the play and shows viewers what happens when we don't carry on family traditions and make good use of the gifts and talents we have. The cast and production crew have done a marvelous job of creating a compelling version of this Pulitzer Prize winning play. I highly recommend it for its many levels of enjoyment and learning.
Donald Fagen - Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano DVD
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Must For Steeley Dan Fans
  • Just what you need
  • great addition to the library of any true Steely Dan fan
Donald Fagen - Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano DVD
Starring: Donald Fagen , and Warren Bernhardt
Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001WANWW
Release Date: 2003-03-05

Description

Gain rare insight into the musical thinking of one of the most influential popular songwriters and arrangers in America. Donald Fagen analyses three Steely Dan hits ("Chain Lightning," "Peg," "Josie") and two solo works from his Grammy-nominated album Kamakiriad ("On The Dunes," "Teahouse On The Tracks"). These songs use familiar blues and R&B structures, and Donald explains how, by altering the bass line and chordal qualities, he transformed them into sophisticated jazz-rock compositions. You'll trace the development of increasingly complex pieces as Donald and Warren Bernhardt reveal each tune's singular structure, harmonic and rhythmic characteristic, intro ideas and other devices.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Must For Steeley Dan Fans.......2007-02-07

My husband is a huge Steeley Dan fan and I gave this to him for Christmas. He was very surprised because he had never heard of it. He loved it, especially the parts where Fagen talked about the music, not just when he played. I would recommend this to every Steeley Dan fan!

5 out of 5 stars Just what you need.......2006-03-25

I think this is a very good dvd. -A fine way to get introduced to the world of Fagen/Steely Dan. It has an interesting set-up with the conversation with W. Bernhard posing questions that you (the viewer) might want to have asked.

4 out of 5 stars great addition to the library of any true Steely Dan fan.......2005-02-24

If you're looking for a DVD that truly "puts the focus on the music", you'll be in for a treat with Donald Fagen's "Concepts For Jazz/Rock Piano". I will point out that if you're someone who likes to listen to great music, yet isn't super interested in its actual writing/ arranging process, you will probably find your attention wandering during portions of this DVD. On the other hand, although this is an 'instructional' DVD, any Steely Dan/ Donald Fagen fan should certainly be able to derive enjoyment from this for the marvelously rich sound of Fagen's classy piano playing. Fagen's 'sidekick' on here is Warren Bernhardt, a man who played live with Fagen supporting the "Kamakiriad" album in 1993, the same year this video/ DVD was originally recorded. The songs that are given in-depth musical analysis here are Steely Dan's "Chain Lightning", "Peg", & "Josie", plus "On the Dunes" & "Teahouse On the Tracks" from Fagen's "Kamakiriad"; sheet music is supplied for these 5 tracks as well. Not coincidentally, the aforementioned Steely Dan songs are 3 of their most overtly blues-based, & Fagen shows how traditional blues ideas were tinkered with to ultimately create these masterful compositions. For the most part Fagen is on piano with Bernhardt on electric piano--they do swap positions for "Josie"--& they're playing is a joy to watch & listen to. Indeed, plenty of time is devoted to straight up musical performances from Fagen & Bernhardt, and they're conveniently indexed, which is ideal if you're not in the mood for the talk. You consistently get a bird's-eye view of Fagen's hands so you can actually watch what he's playing, something that can be of frustration to certain viewers as far as certain live concert videos/ DVDs are concerned. Although you don't generally hear Donald Fagen or his Steely Dan co-hort/ writing partner Walter Becker's names when great songwriters are mentioned, these guys are really on a whole different plateau as far as "pop songwriters" go, which is made abundantly clear by viewing this DVD--the harmonic/ chord ideas are incredibly sophisticated, yet have a way of making perfect musical sense--something that Fagen himself makes reference to--a big part of what makes their music so endlessly fresh & compulsively listenable. That said, Donald Fagen is an ideal person to do a DVD of this nature, & if you're blown away by Steely Dan's sophisticated, yet irresistible songwriting, this is a must-have video/ DVD. Fagen clearly knows his stuff--he uses lots of sophisticated musical terminology, speaking seriously, yet vibrantly; he's in great spirit on here--you really don't get the slightest sense of Don & Walter's trademark sarcasm. Warren Bernhardt, a jazz pianist who played live shows with Fagen in 1993 following "Kamakiriad"'s release, is clearly an excellent, tasteful musician who seems super thrilled to be doing this DVD with Fagen--he lavishes Fagen with a load of praise and unfortunately does tend to be rather corny in his offhand remarks, plus he annoyingly seems to be trying to one-up Fagen at times when analyzing the compositions (to be sympathetic, the guy may have just been nervous), but on the other hand, Bernhardt does do a respectable job of interacting with Fagen & bringing even more out of him than he may have otherwise delivered. So, there are Bernhardt's occasional annoyances, plus the list price of this is quite high (though ironically, not as high as the VHS version). Still though, if you can get this for even a relatively cheap price, it's not a bad deal at all--the DVD runs 70 solid minutes & the positives steamroll the slight negatives of the actual DVD content which is highly informative and compulsively watchable/ listenable. Ultimately, any true Steely Dan fan will find "Concepts For Jazz/Rock Piano" a real treat, & it makes for a very nice companion to Steely Dan's "Aja" installment in the "Classic Albums" video/ DVD series.
Play Piano Today!
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Play Piano Today!
    Robbie Gennet
    Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

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    5. DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #1 DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #1

    ASIN: B00008NRKM
    Release Date: 2003-03-25
    DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #1
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Excellent but requires some musical knowledge
    • Recommended
    • really quite nice
    • Great Learning Video (For those that play by ear)
    • Highly recommend!
    DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #1
    Starring: David Bennett Cohen
    Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
    ProductGroup: DVD
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    ASIN: B000624D0K
    Release Date: 2004-09-01

    Description

    Get started playing authentic blues piano by ear! No music reading or previous piano experience is necessary. Within minutes you'll be playing a shuffle rhythm on the bass notes with your left hand and riffing on the treble notes with your right.

    David Cohen is an expert player and teacher, and his step-by-step method is logically and carefully conceived. He systematically leads you through all the steps you'll need to play solid blues piano, whether as a soloist or as a member of a band.

    The heart and soul of blues playing is in your ability to improvise, and there is no better way for a beginner to get started than with this superb instructional DVD. David imparts innumerable tips on style while showing you the scales, chord theory, turnarounds, endings and blues licks that will quickly make you a formidable player.

    Homespun's overhead cameras give you a close-up, bird's eye view of everything that David plays, making his instruction easy to follow and user-friendly. You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll be able to sit down at the piano and play this exciting music.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Excellent but requires some musical knowledge.......2007-02-19

    Cohen uses a fair amount of musical terminology (like diminished chord, 6th chord, 7th chord, minor scale, major scale) and if you don't know those terms you're likely to feel lost. If you do have a basic grasp of musical terminology and theory, however, then you can use this DVD to learn some cool piano blues.

    I've only been working on piano for a couple of months now, but this DVD helped me to learn some basic shuffles with the left hand and some of the less-challenging comps with the right hand, and it's enough to motivate me to work even harder to conquer the harder stuff. (Disclaimer: At this point I'm playing stuff very slowly, and chord changes and turnarounds are still pretty awkward and frequently flubbed. I don't want to make it sound like I've mastered anything. I'm just...on my way.)

    Cohen moves fast and takes no prisoners, so be prepared to use the pause and rewind buttons a lot. He doesn't spend much time on any given topic, but his explanations are clear and helpful. I keep moving from the piano bench to the couch, playing then watching.

    There's no secret magical formula here to make blues piano easier. It was quite a struggle for me to make that initial breakthrough, and I have a long, long way to go to be able to play smoothly and up to speed. But if you're determined and motivated, the material here is definitely enough to get you well on your way.

    4 out of 5 stars Recommended.......2007-02-14

    I agree with the other reviews here, if you are not into sheet music you can learn from this very quickly especially if you already know something of the terminology of 1 3 5 7 and how it applies to your keyboard activity. My son is tinkling away as I write inspired each time he watches a bit more of the DVD.
    My only criticism is that the overhead camera would be better about 10 or twenty degrees off to one side to give a better idea of the finger movement.
    if not that then maybe lighting from the side to give some shadows for the same effect.

    5 out of 5 stars really quite nice.......2007-01-09

    I've found this DVD well-suited to my learning style. It's oriented not around sheet music, but demonstration & explanation.

    The presenter is personable, communicates well, and introduces some fun & interesting blues piano in a way that sends me dashing constantly back to the keyboard to try things out.

    5 out of 5 stars Great Learning Video (For those that play by ear).......2005-09-30

    If you are like me and play by ear - this is an excellent learning video. A background in music theory will help you take this even further. Highly reccommended.

    5 out of 5 stars Highly recommend!.......2005-03-03

    I have had no musical training and cannot read any notes yet after watching this DVD i can play these blues chords and notes. The instruction is so simple and practical. You will have to pause a few times to practice the notes and chords you just learned before going on to the next step. As he is teaching the camera will view down on the top of the piano and keys so you can see exactly what you are being taught and exactly where to place your fingers.. I think its a very helpful video and very fun!
    DVD-Dr John Teaches New Orleans Piano -Lesson One
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Great for experienced piano players
    • Doctor John Teaches New Orleans Piano
    • Fantastic!
    DVD-Dr John Teaches New Orleans Piano -Lesson One
    Starring: Dr John
    Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
    ProductGroup: DVD
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    5. Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano - Volume 2 Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano - Volume 2

    ASIN: B0009OBHNQ
    Release Date: 2005-05-01

    Product Description

    Imagine being able to see as well as hear the amazing piano styles of the great Dr. John up close! This one-hour DVD is jammed full of powerful playing, slowed-down instruction, and the wonderful personality of one of the premier artists of our time. Mac (Dr. John) Rebennack discusses and demonstrates the playing styles of the great New Orleans piano stylists. 60-MIN. INCLUDES MUSIC EARLY INTERMEDIATE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Great for experienced piano players.......2006-07-21

    Dr. John is not going to teach you how to play. In fact, he's not going to teach you anything, but if you can learn by watching his hands, then you will gain a lot. I've learned a ton of new licks just by watching him play. But if you're anything other than an advanced blues player already, you're not likely to gain from this DVD.

    5 out of 5 stars Doctor John Teaches New Orleans Piano.......2006-07-03

    Very much into the New Orleans blues and get down boogie woogie . Doctor John has listened closely to the great New Orleans piano players and he is now a great one and legend in his own right .If you cherish plain get down earthy blues and a boogie woogie beat then this DVD is for you . Doc John also teaches you about the so rich black music culture still cooking in New Orleans . Suggest you purchase both volumes of his DVD's on this subect you will not regret .

    4 out of 5 stars Fantastic!.......2005-10-04

    This DVD is for anyone who truly wants to learn how to play blues piano properly. Dr. John is a fantastic musician with an outstanding repertoire. Perhaps the only downside is that not all of the songs are transcibed which is a pity, especially with Swanee River Boogie, but that shouldn't deter anyone from buying this DVD. He is a true master and the opportunity to have him personally show you how to play blues piano should not be passed up. Absolutely fantastic!
    Starter Series: Beginning Keyboard, Vol. 1
    Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
    • Not for the beginner
    • Fantastic for any starter DVD
    Starter Series: Beginning Keyboard, Vol. 1
    Starring: Sandy Stein
    Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
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    Piano & KeyboardPiano & Keyboard | Classical | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video
    DVDs Under $9.99DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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    Similar Items:
    1. Beginning Keyboard, Vol. 2 Beginning Keyboard, Vol. 2
    2. Play Piano Today! Play Piano Today!
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    5. How to Play Keyboards: Everything You Need to Know to Play Keyboards (How to Play) How to Play Keyboards: Everything You Need to Know to Play Keyboards (How to Play)

    ASIN: B00008G7U8
    Release Date: 2002-10-01

    Product Description

    This value-priced DVD is a great introduction to the keyboard! It covers: note names; scales and chords; hand positions; chord progressions; rock, blues and pop styles; and more. Includes a detailed booklet and a jam session with a live band!

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Not for the beginner.......2007-04-10

    I have never played the keyboard or piano before, therefore I thought this would be a great help. It wasn't. I learned more about the keyboard from the little book that came with the keyboard than I did from this DVD. Maybe once I learn to play the keyboard, this will be a great way to learn to play the different styles it talks about, but right now I need to learn the basics and this was no help.

    4 out of 5 stars Fantastic for any starter DVD.......2006-04-01

    This DVD is a great way to get started on the keyboard asap. It goes over scales, chords, hand positions, and styles. Very detailed and it also features a jam session with a band.
    A Lesson With Steve Allen: An Introduction to Jazz Piano
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Intro to jazz piano playing
    • Perfect for any jazz piano enthusiast or student
    A Lesson With Steve Allen: An Introduction to Jazz Piano
    Starring: Steve Allen
    Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
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    Piano & KeyboardPiano & Keyboard | Classical | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video
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    1. DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #1-Getting Started DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #1-Getting Started
    2. DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #2-Basic Keyboard Harmony DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #2-Basic Keyboard Harmony
    3. DVD-Learn To Play Jazz Piano Standards DVD-Learn To Play Jazz Piano Standards
    4. DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #3-Soloing & Performing DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #3-Soloing & Performing
    5. Learning Rock N' Roll Piano Learning Rock N' Roll Piano

    ASIN: B0002PYS1A
    Release Date: 2004-08-31

    Description

    One of America's most beloved entertainers divulges his personal tricks of the trade (trills, octave vibrato, "fake runs," blues riffs etc.) and shows you how to build arrangements and spice up jazz pieces with a variety of easy techniques.

    In his only instructional lesson, Steve Allen covers basic blues, boogie woogie, stride, walking basses, the use of 10ths, descending bass lines and more, while he plays and analyzes "Honeysuckle Rose," "Spring Is Where You Are," "I'm Confessin' That I Love You," "You Can Depend On Me," "A Time For Love" and other jazz standards.

    You'll get inside tips about the musical contributions of several jazz masters too, including Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie and Art Tatum in Steve's entertaining and informative overview of jazz piano. A great springboard to further jazz studies!

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Intro to jazz piano playing.......2007-05-12

    The late Steve Allen was a modern renaissance man or maybe just a jack of all trades in music and performing. He wrote and played popular jazz standards as well as being a funny comedian, an author, and a very likeable TV personality. In this DVD made from a 1994 tape he shares a lot of little 'tricks' which he either discovered or learned from the greats of jazz like Art Tatum and others.

    I'm just a beginner in piano and I can't pick up eveything he is doing the first time going though this. It will be something you will want to go over many times. There are a lot of things here that if you go over them on your own or better with a teacher can make you sound a lot better than you are.

    The DVD is divided into 33 sections of 2-3 minutes each so you can find any of tricks to go over easily.

    5 out of 5 stars Perfect for any jazz piano enthusiast or student.......2006-04-01

    This DVD presents a great insight into the world of jazz piano. Taught by Steve Allen, this is a great how-to on the tips and tricks of being a successful jazz pianist. Includes a number of great arrangements of standards.
    DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #2
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #2
      Starring: David Bennett Cohen
      Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      GeneralGeneral | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video
      Independently DistributedIndependently Distributed | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video
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      Similar Items:
      1. DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #1 DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #1
      2. DVD- Learn To Play Gospel Piano DVD- Learn To Play Gospel Piano
      3. DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #1-Getting Started DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #1-Getting Started
      4. Learning Rock N' Roll Piano Learning Rock N' Roll Piano
      5. DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #2-Basic Keyboard Harmony DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #2-Basic Keyboard Harmony

      ASIN: B000624D0U
      Release Date: 2004-09-01

      Description

      David Cohen continues his expert instruction in blues piano, taking you beyond the beginner's level and firmly into intermediate territory. Again, the heart and soul of this lesson is in your ability to improvise, and David gives you all the tools you'll need to make up your own solos, completely by ear.

      Starting his lesson with various kinds of "slow blues," the emotional and dramatic form that is the basis for so many great songs, David demonstrates variations in the basic chord progression as well as an array of bass lines, chord voicings, turnarounds and familiar-sounding riffs.

      You'll then get into the "New Orleans Rumba," with its infectious rhythms and funk-based sounds made famous by Professor Longhair, Dr. John and many other Crescent City players.

      Finally, David wraps up his instructional method with a rockin', straight-time boogie-woogie, giving you yet another blues format to add to your newly found repertoire.

      David's approach to teaching is systematic and logical, and he packs an amazing amount of information into this DVD lesson, giving you enough material to keep you busy for months to come.
      Piano For Quitters: Learn to play . . . Enjoy the lessons!
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Piano For Quitters: Learn to play . . . Enjoy the lessons!

        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

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        ASIN: B000CS8I4A

        DVD:

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