Jazz Improvisation Essentials, The Art of Jazz Phrasing, "Scrapple From The Apple"

"Scrapple From The Apple", by Charlie Parker. Tutorial explains the art of jazz phrasing. Breaks down the jazz phrases and clarifies the use of the "implied accent". Score for this lesson will be on my website soon. Please check out my book for more lessons on jazz improvisation. Here: www.kenthewitt....

[@dacrycarpusnz]

Thanks always Kent

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for watching

[@diegorisquez8195]

Thank you so so very much for this tutorial! Ive learned more in these 9 minutes than I did with multiple lessons with a piano instructor. Please continue making videos!!!!!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

That's are great compliment so I will take it to heart. Many thanks!!

[@eddiekent1997]

Great lesson

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@damianzeni2023]

Muchas gracias maestro!!! Saludos cordiales desde Argentina!!!!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Muchas gracias!

[@urzathehappy72]

im suprised these vids dont have thousands of views great playin n good n patient explantation

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+Roger Waters Thanks for the nice comment which I'll take as a big compliment. That's very positive feedback. I've only been doing this a short while and it only appeals to small select group of people, I think.

[@FrankDeruyck]

Kent you are the best teacher around on this planet!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Frank...you just gave me the best compliment...so now we are genuine buddies! Many thanks!

[@georgelancaster3579]

Excellent presentation and hits the nail on the head on jazz improvisation . This makes the difference between a good sounding jazz artist compared to a a vanilla person thinking and trying to fool the listener that he or she is playing jazz or not knowing any better. THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT . THANK YOU KENNY!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

George, that's a GREAT comment. I've been around a long time and played w/ some of the greats. Please check-out my website...I'm not bragging...... but there's a logical reason I'm good at this, because I've paid my dues! That's all part of the picture for All of us. Thanks so much.

[@ChristianSchonbergerMusic]

Kent, Fantastic as always! Those Charlie Parker bebop tunes are tricky - but very rewarding. "Confirmation" is another great bebop classic. Love those to bits and pieces! Great explanation of the swing feel, underlying harmonies and the melody "contour" (steps, leaps and up-down direction) and target notes. This is tremendously helpful, so one doesn't just rely just on blind intuition and trial and error (which can lead to being stuck and going in circles, been there!). Thanks so much for encouraging us to keep on studying and for leading us into the right direction! Happy Holidays!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+Christian Schonberger Christian, thanks so much for all of your very perceptive comments. Please keep commenting and for keeping me "on track". Merry Christmas and all the best for 2016. Stay in touch. Kent

[@karvakeisari9359]

Im hearing Parker usually playing the bridge section first 251 to Bb then double time middle eight. No one else really plays it like that but Bird always in live recordings plays it that way.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

That's interesting....thanks for telling me!

[@davidfariaphd1497]

And yet again, I find myself commenting on your music.............you are both a gifted teacher and a wonderful musician. Thanks for the insights. Everyday, I faithfully check KZbin notifications for new videos from you......truly inspiring. Very much appreciated.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+David Faria David, you are a very kind fellow, and I must say that your comments are greatly appreciated. Please see my new videos (one just now posted) but also kindly go back to see the progression of my videos over the past year...I now have reached the 100 mark. Many thanks!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+David Faria David, you are a great man. If I'm gifted then it takes perceptive people like you to realize it... and to tell me...I just think I had a passion.... and worked hard.

[@daniela-ur4hr]

Great!! Thanks

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you too!

[@fabriziodimarzo7666]

Amazing lesson!! You help me a lot.. i'll spend a lot of time to adsorbe It, but it's tprecious time

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much!

[@CliffieVanR]

Very helpful! Thank you :)

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mootrevo]

This is such a good lesson, Kent. Such an important fundamental. Thank you Maestro.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I appreciate your affirmation...keeps me going!

[@Agaveo_Productions]

Great Lesson! Very useful to improve the way I play piano jazz! . Thank you! Greetings from Italy.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Love Italy. Hope you are well, and thanks!

[@simmo1769]

Amazing🥰🥰🔥🔥🔥 Awesome tutorial... This really helped me alot💯👏👏👏👏

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for telling me!!

[@sameeruddin]

Sir You should do lesson series on video and sell them online.. You explain things like a true teacher. Thank you again for these amazing videos .

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+sameer uddin Thanks so much for comment. I rely on comments like yours to keep me going. And I do learn a lot myself during the process. Please keep watching!

[@haramora7331]

this jazz phrasing with accent is very good and helpful. I learn a lot, thanks Kent for another amazing videolesson and merry christmas.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+mauro morandini I thought it was an important concept to point out. I'm glad you appreciate it and thanks for writing!

[@thomasgooseman]

An absolute pleasure!!

[@tempgig]

One of my all time favorite tunes by Yardbird that I never attempted to play! thanks for the all important tools!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+Harvey Perry Perry, that's great! It's actually one of the easier Bird tunes, not that any of them are easy to play. Thanks for the comment and for keeping in touch.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+Harvey Perry I thought you were talking about Yardbird Suite. I had to practice this one quite a bit before I could record it...they all require keeping your chops up for.

[@BMarPiano]

Extremely helpful - thanks!

[@Agaveo_Productions]

4:22 great help for theme understanding and right way to play it at piano!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks...great comment!

[@alexandervanrose8724]

I play sax but still found this very useful: so clear in explanation and demonstration. Thank you.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I hear from sax players occasionally, also guitar players. Thanks!

[@ClaudiaGomezMusic]

Thank you... I've enjoyed it and learned a lot!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I'm glad you learned a lot. Keep it up...thanks!

[@ijohnny.]

As usual great lesson. Trying to play Parker from Paul Smith's piano solo transcriptions. The fingering is so tricky in some parts! Find I'm playing black keys with my thumb sometimes. it works, but then I'm no where near up to speed. Thanks Kent!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+johnny.w Have you tried my Donna Lee tutorial yet? The 2nd score has the fingerings...I may have changed a couple notes to accommodate the piano. Remember.... you're trying to finger saxophone licks, sometimes the unorthodox fingering works best.

[@jon44602]

could you do a video on ear training? BTW, I thoroughly enjoy your videos! keep up the good work!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+Jon Szpak Hi Jon, thanks for the compliment and request. That's a good request and one that I haven't addressed and yet so important to good musicianship and improvisation, etc. I'll have to give it some thought.

[@theodorekuzma3238]

@@KentHewittpiano88 we still want ear training video

[@razzieb695]

A great way to show the way how jazz really is played! This was one of my main problems while I was trying to transition from the classical to jazz! but good thing I already got used to it! If possible can you show how to play the Duke Ellington stride Piano for "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" I really love this tune and the swing and the way its played is just really bouncy ! I get a hard time to try to do the stride since I think its too fast and my hands is small to move from G to 1 higher octave just to play the triad or maybe the dominant 7 chord! So I just do the Triad in the same octave but is that the way to do it?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+Razzie B Razzie, An expert stride player can get a full chord or part of the chord and then the bass note 2 octaves below often even playing the bass notes in octaves. Get yourself a transcription book of Scott Joplin arrangements and practice them slowly starting with the easier ones. That will build up your technique for playing stride piano. One of the great living masters is Dick Hyman..

[@razzieb695]

+Kent Hewitt I have been trying to hard improve my improvisation, I have been practicing 2-5-1 charlie parker licks in 12 keys a as much as possible , I have the transcriptions given to me by my teacher before. How do I apply this. Somehow I can't seem to sound like I am "Making sense", whenever I try to apply it It seems its not natural for me. Any tips? Because unlike you it seems like you just swing it! I hope I can swing like that and atleast make "sense" when I play

[@MrHowsun]

Thank you very much, it help a lot

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you so much!

[@jayehrlich9430]

I know a basic version of this on the fiddle, but after not playing this for a while, I found my notes were not accurate....so I was browsing this song, found your video, and i thank you for the assistance...I'm really a hard rock guitarist so i read way too slow to be useful, but I can see some of the patterns...thanks.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

The song comes from Honeysuckle Rose which I'm sure sounds good on the violin. Keep up the good work!

[@ChessNoir]

is the score for this available?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Write to my email for all scores...thanks1

[@trevormckinnon6696]

Thank you for another terrific video, Kent. It seems get to the real core of jazz phrasing. Could you please elaborate on the rhythmic function of your left hand chords. It seems like the single notes you play in your right hand are somehow displaced rhythmically to fit around those chords or vice versa.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

The left hand often is contrasting to the right hand ,,,,so the comping would fall in the spaces, and often off the beat. There are times when the left hand will imitate and support the right hand rhythm...you can hear that a lot in Bill Evans playing. I have a playlist you might check out: kzbin.info/aero/PLFuMibnl_h5Zw99NQhQVgJW4Wsoggw5Ds

[@anastasiahulai5095]

👍 👍👏

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@Sweet_Solos]

You have been very active lately ! Can i request a video for "C jam blues" by oscar petterson : >

[@razzieb695]

+Bernardo Semião C jam is great! I used that as one of my first practice pieces! The only thing special about oscar peterson playing his version of C-jam blues is the way he uses his licks and those spectacular arpeggios! You also a fan of Oscar Peterson because he is one of my main Inspirations!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+Bernardo Semião That's a really tough request....but I'll keep it in mind. The 1st time I heard Oscar play live, I thought about quitting. Actually I have 2 videos on Oscar Peterson I did a few months back...have you checked them out yet?

[@razzieb695]

I saw those videos! The L impossible I remembered that. Indeed watching Oscar Peterson play the piano makes you just look back at yourself and see the difference, But that is what inspired me the most! I wish I could have seen him play Live. Where did you see him?

[@funkycamel2761]

Once again a great video, I love your lessons. The swing/accenting is something I have been wanting to improve but did not know how. The video explains this well, still I do not find it so easy to practice it. I suddenly have to "think" about swing and offbeats instead of intuitively playing. Then when I do I am not sure I get it right. Any practice tips?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I always recommend listening to recordings of the greats, and then... imitation. Try to mimic what they are playing with the right accents and phrasing. This is not easy. Did you watch my Donna Lee videos...those may help. Also get a zoom recorder and record yourself trying out different techniques. When you have a "breakthrough" you'll hear it objectively on the recording and then it will become more natural to you.... over time. You can "feel" it when it's moving in the right direction. Is this good advise?

[@funkycamel2761]

Thank you so much! yes the recording especially is something I have not done yet - that should help me. I know it will be hard, I've got my work cut out, now off to practice :-)

[@otisskopik1400]

very heplful

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for telling me it was helpful!

[@valentinajametgonzalez6168]

thank you so much for your video, it was so helpful for me and I've decide to play that song since I've found your indications to start enjoying this f**** goddamnn game ! haha I'm spanish sorry for mi bad english

[@budharpey]

I just came to think of a problem which I have always had but never saw a book or video adress it explicitly: When playing songs which are based on fast changing "I VI II V - patterns" where each chord lasts only half a bar, I have difficulties to think of ways to improvise over these "Rhythm Changes" (I got Rhythm, etc.). At last I tried playing "These foolish Things" - a wonderful ballad. Problem is, that if I use only the Major scale of the root it sounds so boring but for changing scales or chord extensions there doesn't seem to be enough time to play them because half a bar is onl four 8th notes... Do you recommend thinking of scales or of extensions in this case? Also it seems very hard to me to fill in pickups, chord arpeggios and chromatic tone material while still landing on well fitting "landing notes" in the shortness of the time intervall of 2 beats... Do you have recommendations to that issue?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+J. Charles Charles, it definitely is more difficult to improvise on up- tempos, you're not alone. But all the rules that work for slower tempos also work for up tempos so you start with mastering the scales and approach- tone/ target- tone techniques and gradually one step at a time increase the tempo. Did you work with the Donna Lee exercise video I put up? Practicing that slowly and gradually speeding up to fast tempos will help. Also you need to master your scales and arpeggios and particularly the altered dominant scales (diminished) and be applying these scales to all the dominant 7th chords. Scales with more chromatic approaches should make those progression sound more interesting. Learning some solos from transcription books might help. Building up "chops" is essential to playing fast. I have a finger strengthening exercise you should watch. Also, have you ever done Hanon?

[@budharpey]

+Kent Hewitt It often seems to me as if jazz piano is just overwhelmingly much to learn... Thanks very much for the input! I'll try to dive in the topics work on all exercises you mentioned and come back for questions soon maybe...

[@KentHewittpiano88]

+J. Charles Okay. Sometimes a real live teacher can help with that. I've had quite a few and although much of what I know is "self-taught" I also learned a lot from teachers, including classical ones.

[@BoredOfBills]

Nice lesson. Thing is, you can't teach a single soul to swing... They either get it (and got it) - or they clap...

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I came from Anglo-Saxon ancestors and family, who knew nothing about swing. But if you listen long enough, and like it and try to imitate it....you CAN learn it. Doesn't matter your color.