What's your favourite Piano Picnic course or coaching so far?

RuthPower

This thread will be great for those who have just joined the membership and are deciding which content they might like to tackle first. Give details of why you like that particular course or coaching and how it's helped you grow as a pianist.

noellah-jeannica

My favorite courses (though I believe they are excerpts from a live coaching) from Piano Picnic are "Peaceful Piano Improvising at Home" and "Let's Play". I'm enjoying the idea of hacking through the different techniques that composers use to make their pieces sound appealing, and how I can apply these same patterns to different chord progressions and sound all cool and fancy.

Speaking of which, my favorite coaching so far must be "Chord Progressions" coupled with "Basic Technique + Drills". From these sessions, I've taken away so much information and exercises that I now apply to my pre-piece practice routine -- that is, warming up my fingers and wrists, and playing chord progressions in different keys (although my improv. skills still suck 😅).

RuthPower

noellah-jeannica ooh this is so great to hear Noellah! I love that you are picking up loads of techniques to sound cool & fancy, that's what it's all about! And also some general good technique, I'm so pleased you've been working on that. As creative pianists it can be tempting to leave the proper technique for the traditional pianists, but it's worth it when we give it a go!

alexx88

I'm really interested in Playing By Ear & all that encompasses it, so for me my favorite courses so far are: Playing By Ear, Peaceful Improv at Home, Loving's Leadsheets & How to Improvise Instantly in Any Key, although that last one may have been a monthly coaching topic or a bonus lesson.

I consider myself an intermediate player, & I always find something helpful in the courses. Everything is so relatable, especially the weekly broadcasts. It's always a topic that everyone, no matter what level we're at, will relate to & gain some insight from.

RuthPower

alexx88 Thank you Alexx! You are so experienced in many of the courses, so I really value your feedback! Yes that last one was a freebie lesson, but nice and simple yet effective eh? Thank you for the feedback on the weekly broadcasts - I'm trying to be consistent with that, so it's good to hear you're enjoying them! What would you like to see in future weekly broadcast topics?

alexx88

RuthPower It may be too in depth of a topic for a weekly broadcast, but I would really like to get deep into the concept of incorporating/using the sus 2 & sus 4 when they're not written. Even though in theory it's easy enough to do, but I have a tough time with it. Maybe I'm overthinking it. Even with a lead sheet, sometimes I have a tough time letting go & throwing my own stuff in to the mix. Another thing that I would like some tips on, is how to add in some flavor & depth to a song that is not necessarily a piano song, & that has a lot of drums or guitar in. Examples would be U2's With or Without You, Fleetwood Mac's Gold Dust Woman, or the Eagles Hotel California, without sounding like elevator music.

alexx88

RuthPower Hi! I have another idea for a topic. I’m currently trying to get a handle on this, & I’m having a tough time with it, probably because I’m overthinking it & trying too hard.

Is is it possible to do a training on how to execute that never stopping, constant movement technique of both hands that mimics guitar picking? That super flowy sound that really makes you sound “pro.”

I’m trying to figure it out. I think it’s done by playing on every syllable, but then I think you also add in passing notes between. Thanks!

RuthPower

alexx88 oooooooh yes Alexx! I love these suggestions. So the sus2 and sus4 is going to be covered more in the Riffing Pro course, so you'll be sorted there soon! And the adding flavour & depth to a song that isn't a piano song is about learning some arranging skills - which I DEFINITELY have thoughts on. I have a masterclass on Arranging that I did for another music school a while back that I may repurpose in the future, thank you for reminding me! You have such good ideas!!! 🤩

alexx88

RuthPower Thanks! Awesome! Looking forward to all this!! 😍

RuthPower

alexx88 Hi Alexx! Yes this is a great topic and perfect for a coaching - or maybe even including in the Riffing Pro course! Good suggestion!
When you're practising it yourself, what part in particular is tripping you up do you think?

alexx88

RuthPower It could very well be that I'm overthinking it. It's in the context of a real song v just playing chord progressions that's really frustrating me.

The main problem is the 1.) "whole never stop moving" thing. The playing on every syllable & also adding in passing notes, without sounding basic or contrived, and also without 2.) not just keeping to root position & only arpeggiating with little to no passing notes added in.

3.) Making it sound relaxed & effortless v purposeful & contrived. 4.) Adding in the words! Whether just in my head to keep my place or trying to sing with it.

5.) How to blend in/give enough but not too much, attention to chords at the end of line when lyrics aren't attached, & before coming in to the next lyric line, whether I'm still on the same chord or a new one.

And these 5 are just right off the top of my head! Ahhhh! 😬

As I write this I am definitely overthinking this concept, but I can't seem to get out of my own head & out of my own way. Cue the colorful words! 🤬🤣

RuthPower

alexx88 Alexx, I get it. You're right, it's partly a mindset thing - relaxing and giving yourself space to make mistakes is probably going to help you a lot, but also, I understand that being able to relax is easier when you have a plan. So...
I've just created a document called 'Playing & Singing Feedback' - and I'm going to try to address as much of this as I can on the coaching this week. I truly appreciate your feedback!

vkisamore

Actually, I have benefited the most from the Active listening mini-course and I need to keep working on it while I do the other modules.

vkisamore

RuthPower

vkisamore ooh that's very interesting! Glad to hear it! That makes me think we should do a Part 2!

alexx88

vkisamore RuthPower Val which mini course are you referring to? One of the weeklies? I like to re visit that.

The active listening concept has really made a difference in my ear skills. It's helped me to work out the chords to a song faster than before. I've always just gotten the melody down first & then worked out the key & figured the chords from there.

Now my ears are getting better at finding the bass notes, which helps with getting the chords faster. I'm also getting better at isolating different instruments & picking up on multiple notes/harmonies being played.

RuthPower

alexx88 awesome Alexx! That's great improvement! It's a strange concept isn't it? That all the information there, our ears can actually hear everything - it's just noticing that we hear it that needs improvement!
I think Val was talking about the 5-days to a Better Musical Ear bootcamp !

vkisamore

Yup, 5 days to a better ear musical bootcamp. I need to redo it and then try it with some other songs. I'm very weak at it right now.

alexx88

vkisamore Thanks Val! I'm going to revisit it too! BTW, I have a younger sister named Valerie!

RuthPower

alexx88 it's here - https://my.pianopicnic.com/ear-bootcamp if you've done it before, it might not send you the emails again, let me know if that happens.

alexx88

RuthPower Thanks for posting this link for me! I saved all the emails from when I did it before, so I don’t have to sign up again.

The Day 1-5 video links still work. All the song links except for the Bjork video work. Something about not being available in the US, but I just Googled Bjork "Bachelorette" & found it. Nothing like the present! It's Day 1!