Modern Piano

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About Course

Modern Piano is your hands-on path to contemporary styles that groove, sing, and move an audience. Whether you are coming from classical training or stepping into modern music for the first time, this course shows you how to build rich harmonic textures, play pocketed rhythms, and improvise tastefully in jazz, pop, R&B, neo soul, and cinematic settings.

Across a carefully structured sequence of lessons, you will move beyond reading notes and into creating music that feels authentic. You will practice chord extensions and substitutions, learn voicings that sit beautifully under the hands, and apply rhythmic ideas such as syncopation and polyrhythms to craft grooves that resonate in real-world contexts. Each concept is taught with clear demonstrations and practical applications you can take straight to the keyboard.

You will also develop the confidence to collaborate with singers and instrumentalists, shape expressive dynamics and phrasing, and prepare for live performance with strategies that make practice efficient and musical. The goal is connection: a more intuitive relationship with your instrument and a wider palette for your personal sound.

What You’ll Learn
  • Contemporary harmony tools, including chord extensions, substitutions, and modal interchange
  • Groove and rhythm skills, from syncopation to polyrhythms
  • Core improvisation approaches for solos and accompaniment
  • Comping methods for working with vocalists and other players
  • Expressive dynamics and phrasing for modern styles
  • Practical performance preparation and stage confidence techniques
Meet Your Instructor

Rosemary Minkler is a pianist, composer, audio engineer, and educator whose work bridges performance, production, and music technology. She studied Audio and Music Production with a concentration in Jazz Piano at Western Connecticut State University, and has collaborated with clients such as NBC Sports and Morning Brew, along with brands including Nord Keyboards, Korg, and Antares Audio Technologies. Since 2019 she has taught at Sound Collective, mentoring students in keyboard performance and music production.

Is This Course for You?

This course is ideal if you are a classically trained pianist who wants to translate solid technique into modern genres, this course will help you adapt your skills to contemporary harmony, rhythm, and improvisation. Songwriters and producers will find practical ways to strengthen voicings, comping, and keyboard fluency so parts sit well in a mix and support strong melodies.

Curious about jazz but not sure where to start? You will get a clear, structured path into improvisation that still feels musical and approachable. Church, R&B, pop, and indie musicians will develop reliable left-hand patterns, pocket, and tasteful textures that serve singers and bands. Returning pianists who want to rebuild fundamentals with a fresh, modern sound will also feel at home, gaining confidence as they expand their toolkit and personal voice.

What’s Included
  • Technique and theory essentials: notation refreshers, modes, triads, 7th chords, and chord voicing approaches
  • Improvisation modules: scale based and melody based strategies, plus integrating both
  • Style studies: jazz, pop, rock, R&B, neo soul, reggae, bossa nova, and salsa montuno
  • Repertoire guidance: how to select, learn, and memorize pieces across genres
  • Practice systems: efficient routines for scales, repertoire, improvisation, and composition

Ready to expand your sound and tell stronger musical stories at the keys? Start learning today.

 

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What Will You Learn?

  • Contemporary harmony concepts, including chord extensions, substitutions, and modal interchange.
  • Rhythmic techniques like syncopation, polyrhythms, and groove-based playing.
  • Core improvisation skills for creating modern solos and accompaniments.
  • Effective methods for accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists.
  • Expressive performance techniques including dynamics and phrasing.
  • Practical tools for preparing and delivering confident live performances.

Course Content

Technique and Theory
Rosemary discusses basic piano technique and notation, modes, triads, 7th chords, and how to voice chords.

  • Basic Piano Technique and Notation
    20:57
  • Modes
    22:43
  • Triads and 7th Chords
    23:54
  • Voicing Chords
    18:52

Improvisation
Rosemary discusses improvisation by demonstrating how to improv scale and melody based chord progressions.

Styles
Rosemary demonstrates how to play different genres of music like Jazz, Pop, Rock, R&B, Neo-Soul, Reggae, Bossa Nova, and Salsa Montuno.

Repertoire
Rosemary discusses some essential pieces to have in your repertoire and how to learn and memorize them.

How To Practice
Rosemary demonstrates how to efficiently practice your scales, repertoire, improvisation and composition.

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