Jazz lessons

Solo Piano-Lessons-Ensemble Performances-Reviews

Pedagogy

Chris uses several approaches in teaching:

• Instructional videos (see below)
• Custom arrangements written for specific student's capablities
• Playing along on a second keyboard-particularly useful when playing a bass line for students
• Recording audio of student's projects to guide their practicing
• Students can opt for an approach that suits their interest, from a range of concentration on improvisation to playing from fully notated pieces
• Composition in all its forms can be taught-songwriting, jazz composition, arranging up to fully notated classical composition.
• Technology: Chris is a fluent user of the Logic and ProTools digital audio workstations (DAWs), notation programs Sibelius and Dorico, and is capable in video programs iMovie and Adobe Premier.
• Remote lessons via Zoom with high-quality sound and views from two cameras are available. See our setup in the Gallery.

A unique option with the Woodruff Piano Studio is the option for blended study of traditional classical instruction with jazz/pop/improvision. Most commonly, classical musicians are exceptionally well-trained in technique, sight-reading and the like, but are not fluent in improvisation or the American musical vernacular; conversly jazz musicians are experts at speaking the improvisational language of the blues and bebop, but often have blind spots in technical execution. With our team, Junko can instantly step in to address, eg, techical execution of a challenging jazz passage, or Chris can write an arrangement of a Gershwin tune for a classical student.

Instructional Video

Chris has recorded a series of five graduated video lessons on how to approach playing the classic “Avalon”, starting with an introduction, followed by a reference performance, how to approach reading a lead sheet, some strategies in soloing, and arrangement strategies. All performances are notated.