Customer Reviews

DVD-You Can Play Jazz Piano #1-Getting Started

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This DVD has a lot of really great information. He starts with the basics of scales, finger positions, triads and inversions. He is excellent with putting this information into the context of jazz playing. I'm only 1/2 way through the first viewing, but am really enjoying it. The pace moves very quickly. A true beginner on the piano would find this too advanced. But someone who has a little music theory and piano experience would be comfortable. Highly Recommended.

I've always been a fan of video presentations. Warren's work is one of those that keeps you involved and interested. His development of the ideas is a nice step-by-step approach to improving one's facility as a performer. You can't help but improve your technique and musicial knowledge with Warren's work. Well done!

WB is a fine pianist and educator. His three volume set supplies the self-motivated, intermediate pianist with enough instruction in jazz theory, reharmonization, improvisation, comping, soloing, etc., to last a lifetime. Given the various costs of private lessons, a bargain at many times the price.

I've been trying to teach myself jazz for several years. I've got a few more years to go. This DVD is certainly helpful. Still, it represents years of study by Warren and demonstrates that jazz is not acquired in an hour-long lesson. This will help you fill in some gaps. But, it cannot be used as a stand-alone lesson. It assumes a certain basic knowledge of chords. In fact, you should be fairly adept at reading chords from a fake book before this will be helpful to you. I've been through this volume about 4 times, and pick up something new each viewing. It has a cursory overview of ii-V-I progressions, blues scales, building a melody, walking a bass line, and using a scale to improvise. Each one of these subjects could be a three-hour DVD.

I give this volume a 3 star--not great, but not bad. It's certainly worth $25.00 bucks having Donald Fagan's comp'er sitting at your piano for an hour.

Nice playing, but very poor explanations. A beginner would be totally lost. Starts with extremely basic point or two, then, "I assume you know chord structure..." Then says that he is embellishing, and while it is nice and sounds good, doesn't explain what the embellishment is, very frustrating. Nice guy sitting at the piano, laid back conversation. I wish I could say something better, but I can't. I could also rant about it, but I'll hold back on that also....