1. Randall F:
The experience has been invaluable, and some of the simple tricks I've learned and revisited has given me a renewed ease in my Jazz Improvisation abilities - both in what I have in my repertoire, by ear and on sheet music - as well as my own compositions.
The fluidity and ease that I've renewed and polished from Daniel's material been, and continues to be a rekindled joy to effortlessly slide up and down my 88 keys. He has an approach that is very easy to understand, and his methods make it a different and easier experience. If you've ever wanted to learn to play this beautiful instrument I highly recommend Daniel Bennett - and for you old Jazz efficiencianodos - look it as as a refresher brushup. My fluidity as freedom has jumped in leaps.
2. Beth West:
In A Philosophical Approach to Jazz Piano, author Daniel Bennett explains the difference between a classical and jazz mindset and how to transition from the first, a genre of following written directions perfectly without a real need for understanding, to the latter in which one is forced to make constant, spontaneous decisions based upon his understanding. Rather than exalt one genre over another, Bennett shows the relevance of both. Bennett explains so clearly why playing jazz is not just about which notes and chords to play but why it’s about spirit, attitude, intuition, and a sensitivity to one’s surroundings. The book is replete with audio examples of each concept as well as direction to specific artists and their works online to explain his points. The author’s tone is gentle and patient—as if he were the neighborhood piano teacher you’ve always known who can already anticipate a student’s self-imposed roadblocks and be ready to address them. My favorite part of this book, aside from its clear explanation of concepts and analyses of songs, is the philosophical ideas it tosses out for the reader to ponder. For example, if my goal as a pianist is as stated above, then I will approach the piano radically different than if my goal is merely to reproduce a score on the piano.
3.Jerry:
This is a great book that takes a different approach to playing the piano. Using your internal piano (mine is a Bösendorfer), instead of just reading notes on a page. I started reading the book and watched a few of his videos on youtube, and asked Dan a question: " when I try to improvise, it always sounds like the melody, he wrote back and said to read the book and watch the videos. Anyway, after a while of reading the book and watching the videos, here is what happened:
I was playing the piano one night, and started to try and improvise on the song " The Good Old
Gospel Ship", it only has 3 chords, and I didn't have any music in front of me. I played it using ii-V-I's, 9th and 13th chords, which I have never done before. Then all of a sudden, I was still playing and trying different notes and things on the melody, the song started to sound like " In The Mood". Now that was "music to my ears". I will keep on reading the book, and watching the videos, maybe next time I play " The Good Old Gospel Ship", it will sound like "row, row, row your boat". This is a great book and video combination, and don't forget about the guy who wrote it. I highly recommend this book, but remember this: no matter how great a book or teacher is, you have to put in the time and effort to get a benefit from it. There is no such thing as a "magic" book or teacher that will automatically make you a better piano player if you do not put in the effort.
4. Robert Pekurney:
Your E-book is well written,with great audio examples.The chapter on note value awareness is worth the price alone. Please continue with more lessons.
5. I’d highly recommend this ebook to anyone looking to become a great jazz pianist. It has 11 fully developed chapters encompassing vital aspects of jazz: note value awareness, developing a unique musical personality, improvising techniques, internalizing new songs, etc. Unlike other piano teachers who prey on eager piano beginners to get them to purchase their overly expensive piano programs (almost everyone on youtube), Dan truly wants to help others become great at piano without any ulterior motive. His teaching style is very understandable to beginners like me, who only started learning piano 6 months ago. Even my school librarian, who quit playing the piano as a child because of how boringly repetitive learning scales was, likes reading Dan’s ebooks (albeit the standard piano ebook). This book isn’t about arcane theory, scales, and voicings; it’s about developing your internal ability to play the piano, because your physical ability is already there. It’s really all you need to become the jazz pianist you want to become.
Richard X
6. ...
