The piano is a versatile instrument, simultaneously capable of being an entire orchestra while also being able to isolate a single pitch like a wind instrument. In this Piano Workshop with Eli Wallace the technical and theoretical elements of playing jazz will be applied to an approach focusing on the meta-concepts of proper feel and interpretation. Jazz was born out of a specific emotional-societal construct.  We will delve into understanding, respecting, and honoring these qualities in our own playing while relating them to more academic nuts and bolts necessary to play this music.

The Piano Workshop with Eli Wallace is for all pianists who are interested in expanding their technique, as well as comping and soloing language. The online format means that you can enroll from anywhere in the world. All you’ll need is a piano or keyboard, and a computer (or tablet/smartphone with internet).

 

LIVE STREAMING: INTERACTIVE and DYNAMIC WORKSHOPS

Language: English

US EST
When: Sundays at 11:00 am EST
Fee: $245 per 4 sessions, or enroll by trimester for discounted rates

EU
When: Sundays at 4:00pm US EST
Central European Standard Time: 19:00
Greenwich Mean Time: 18:00 (UK)
Eastern European Standard Time: 20:00
Moscow Standard Time: 21:00
Contact us for weekday and weekend availability

ASIA
When: TBA at 0:00am US EST
Japan standard time: 24:00
China standard time: 23:00
Singapore standard time: 23:00
India standard time: 22:00
Contact us for weekday and weekend availability

 

 

Topics covered:

  • Construct piano voicings and expand chord vocabulary to include time-honored structures while also adding modern concepts taken from post WWII classical music and current jazz pianists.

  • Develop solos, building ideas in an intuitive way that relates to the piece we’re playing but also immediately works to hone everyone’s singularly individual improvisational voice.

  • Improvise over standards and use them to craft a personal approach and sound. Honoring the tradition while immediately employing personal creativity.

  • Solo over more modern pieces that have unorthodox harmonic and rhythmic sequences, developing strategies for ingenuity over difficult structures and how to stay connected to the composition

  • Comp and listen to other musicians, responding and reacting in a way that makes the music exciting. We will learn to engage with the ensemble while also respecting ones bandmates.

  • Approach the piano differently while playing solo, envisioning the instrument as able to create a much larger sound through a diversity of accompaniment, choice of range, and approach to rhythm and feel.

  • Study this music in a way that stays rooted in honoring and respecting its history, its origins, and what it means to play jazz in the United States, especially during our current epoch.