Upper structure triads are complex altered dominant chord voicings that are widely used in solo jazz piano performance.
We explore inner voice movement over major, minor, and dominant chords, and then we will apply this information to a well-known jazz standard.
Misty is one of the most popular jazz ballads and the distinctive melody is immediately recognisable amongst jazz musicians.
In tandem with the launch of the “Cocktail Piano Improv Course”, Hayden hosts a workshop to help students get started with cocktail style improvisation over their favourite jazz ballads.
In this workshop we explore the intricacies of minor harmony. We analyse the construction of the minor 251 progression and outline drills and exercises to master in all 12 keys.
In this live seminar we take a deep dive into the tune “Misty” to discuss intros, alternate chord changes, fills, embellishments, and endings.
Learn how to play and improvise in the cocktail piano style. We cover chord voicings, chord progressions, and improvisation techniques for solo jazz piano.
We take the diatonic 7th chords and change the chord qualities to dominant which allows us to access more interesting colours & textures.
In this lesson we drill UST 2 and UST 6 around all 12 keys. Both USTs contain a natural 13 which makes them related & interchangeable.
Intros can be useful to extend the length of your performance and also to establish the tonality or the key in which the tune is being played.
We explore various ways to add harmonic interest over dominant chords using tritones. We use the tunes ‘Body and Soul’ and ‘Misty’.
Tritone Substitution is a useful reharmonisation technique that can be used to add harmonic interest and variety to a chord progression.
Block chords are used for harmonising a melody line by moving the notes of the chord in parallel, following the same rhythm as the melody.
