Adding a minor section to the improv last night

Hi Folks

Anyone who knows me, knows my tenacity with this piano thang!!

Man...I'm addicted


So last night I was kinda playing around with the improvisation below, attempting to take it into a minor key and back to major

For those that just love listening to me fool around at the piano

Feel free to take a listen :)


Improvisation with a minor section added - take 1 [click]


Fooling around with it some more - with bloopers - take 2 [click]

[they are a bit long winded! so be warned ;)]


Best wishes



Lee

Using Cantabile Light and a VST instrument

Hi Folks :)

Following Matthijs Instructions over at pianoworld, I downloaded a free program called 'Cantabile Light' and used it with my VST 'Steinberg the Grand'


This recording is for an improvisation challenge set by Matthijs over at pianomagic


Seasides December 2007 Improvisation


Please feel free to pass a comment if you like or don't like the piano sound, I'm pretty happy with it and the best thing is it saves me time converting the midi files (that I have recorded at home on my Yamaha CLP170) through the motif rack every time :)


take care


Lee

My First video lesson - beginning improvising

Hi Folks

Okay, I have Mikes permission to show this video in my blog :) so here goes...

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DISCLAIMER: This video is rated as a **12a** due to some *really, really bad singing!!* and it is strongly recommended that children of a sensitive nature or household pets be kept in another room whilst watching!!
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However, this video gives hope to those of us (out there) that think because they can't sing, they can't play a piano and also disproves Buffys theory that anyone can sing. For some of you (hopefully) the singing should make you laugh.

This is a video I made specifically for Elssa a pianomagic member but, if anyone wants to start improvising then, this may be of some help??







Have fun


regards



Lee

Video Test

Hi Everyone,

I have bought a new webcam, I use it for skype conversations

So, yesterday I decided to try and record something with it, I posted it yesterday at Pianoworld and asked for feedback, "LaValse" mentioned ...

"Have you tried dropping the avi into Windows Movie Maker...?"

So, I've tried it out and posted it up at "youtube"

Hey! I've noticed that when the transfer had completed it said that I could embed the video

Hmmmm...lets see if this works? (fingers crossed)




Wow...it works!! can't believe it

Please let me know if this is better or worse for you?


Lee

Hi Folks

This blog is to make things a little easier for me

I get many emails and private messages from folks trying to find a certain music file that I may have posted many months before

So In this blog I am going to post links to the most popular requests and these are usually my practise jam type thingies :)

Practise Session 1

Demo of Motif Rack Practise Jam

Practise Session 28/6/06

Practise Session (before the wedding demos)



More things to be added as I find 'em



regards


Lee

Hi Folks

This blog is to make things a little easier for me

I get many emails and private messages from folks trying to find a certain music file that I may have posted many months before

So In this blog I am going to post links to the most popular requests and these are usually my practise jam type thingies :)

Practise Session 1

Demo of Motif Rack Practise Jam

Practise Session 28/6/06



More things to be added as I find 'em



regards


Lee

Fanclub...I need your help!

Hi Folks,

As some of you may know (especially the true fans LOL) as well as owning a gym I am also a DJ and I work through an agency

A few weeks ago I was the DJ at a very posh wedding and this is the story I told the folks at pianomagic

"I am so pumped I had to tell you guys on my way home from a wedding I just DJ'd

I arrived at the venue at 6-00PM and it was running very late the guests had only just begun their meal, so I was going to have to wait around a few hours!

I haven't played a gig at this hotel very often but, it has a beautiful baby grand and a regular pianist (who is very good)

Anyways, I am waiting around to load my gear in and I'm listening to him play for about half an hour or so...

Then...he comes out of the room says a quick "hello" as he recognizes me from the last time I was there...and then it turns out he was booked from 5-30PM and has to leave...

Whats a guy to do????

I have wanted to play background at a wedding meal for (like all my life!!!) and here is my chance

I sit down the piano is situated behind the main table and I start to play - no-one so much as bats an eyelid they don't even notice I don't look anything like the old guy with glasses who has just left and I've got jeans and trainers (aka sneakers in the USA to avoid confusion) on to boot!!

I play for about 45 minutes song after song just playing for me and no-one even on the top table right in front of me notices or says anything


I LOVED IT!!!!!! I can do this, I'm gonna do this..."


Here are some piccies of the wedding...

Looking through the rear door (that I had to load my equipment through...notice how near to the Wedding Party top table the piano is! That's the brides dress BTW yikes! (would you dare do it?) and hey they never even noticed!...how cool was that?)


a very nice and well maintained Baby Yamaha Grand



another piccie of the piano, the staff are just starting to clear away the tables for the disco


Looking down the room from the piano as the room is being readied for the disco



The upshoot of this is I promptly went and told my booking agent that "I was thinking I was ready to start playing background piano during the wedding breakfast as an extra to my usual disco services"...

Now, I'm wishing maybe I shouldn't have opened my big mouth as he has come back to me saying that "he could possibly market me as this 'combo package' to prospective wedding parties and whenever it is convenient could I pop round with my keyboard and PA system and audition for him...yikes!!!!"

So...

this is where I need my fan club :)

This morning I was at home waiting around for SKY TV engineers to fix our satellite dish and I had a couple of hours to kill...In that time I have recorded the following eleven pieces I would like you to listen and tell me your 3 favourites and 3 second favourites out of this list of songs
and whatever you choose I shall play for him

Here they are all freshly recorded this morning:-

1. An Affair To Remember (click here to hear)

2. How Deep Is Your Love (Click here to hear)

3. If (Click here to hear)

4. I'll Be See-ing You (Click here to hear)

5. I'm Wishing On A star (Rose Royce) (Click here to hear)

6. I've Got You Under My Skin (Click here to hear)

7. Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet (Click here to hear)

8. More (Click here to hear)

9. Pennies From Heaven (Click here to hear)

1o. The Rainbow Connection (Click here to hear)

and finally as a little novelty piece

11. A Tribute To the Bride (Click here to hear)


I appreciate that this a lot of listening so this is strictly for the die hard fans :)

I am also thinking of putting a website together and the 6 favourites will probably be used on the site as samples of my playing for any prospective brides and grooms to hear.


Thanks in advance



Lee

EDIT:

To listen to all the pieces in one sitting {{click here}}