No More Boring Ballads!

[@mvpapalia]

Love to see Jeremy Siskind, one of my favorites, collaborating with Open Studios, one of my favorites!

[@JeremySiskind]

Hey, that's me! Thanks so much!!!

[@paulrhodesquinn]

@@JeremySiskindYou are awesome Jeremy!

[@mvpapalia]

@@JeremySiskind You bet! Thanks for the BeBop : )

[@kierenmoore3236]

Same! Hi Jeremy! 😎🎹🙏🏼

[@JeremySiskind]

@@kierenmoore3236hi Kieren!

[@meserretorcan1228]

I am so happy that Jeremy Siskind is collaborating with Open Studies, and after watching his Solo Piano lectures I wanted again to reiterate my admiration to the way he teaches the methodology from simple to complex, with crystal clear explanations in each chapter. Thank you Jeremy for opening my mind again; and thank you Jazz Open Studio.

[@gregoryc123]

Siskind, Maness and Martin. Simply The OG’s. You guys have taught me enough to last several life times. I am forever your humble student, thank you🙏

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks much, Gregory! Happy holidays!

[@gregoryc123]

@ and to you Sir, and to you:-)

[@bluemonk9480]

Siskind's book on jazz band fundamentals is quite literally the single most important resource in my jazz journey. for anyone who dreams about playing jazz music with other musicians, there is no greater first resource

[@JeremySiskind]

That's very, very kind! Thank you, Blue Monk! I'm honored!

[@_sonicfive]

What happened to: “Hi I am the author of Jazz piano fundamentals 1 and 2” ?

[@donm3986]

This is the best discussion of tonicization that I've heard.

[@JeremySiskind]

Woot woot! Thanks much, Don!

[@RhapsodyAfternoon]

wow, i see i’m not alone in Jeremy Siskind and Open Studio making up a huge part of my jazz education online! so cool to see this!

[@JeremySiskind]

it's an honor for me to be "playing with the big boys" at OS! They're the true class act!

[@actualglacier]

More of jeremy please! possibly the best jazz educator on youtube (and an incredibly underrated jazz pianist)!

[@JeremySiskind]

Well that is just very kind! I'm honored, thank you!

[@gampopa8736]

@@JeremySiskind I am a guitarist and I find your lessons INVALUABLE. Thank you so much for what you do Jeremy, and I can't wait to see you flourish on Open Studio as well!

[@37BopCity]

Five stars! Totally outstanding video. These principles are not just for playing chords, but for soloing as well. Your clear explanations and examples are excellent and I thank you.

[@JeremySiskind]

That's very kind! And good point - you can think of this melodically as well!

[@richardlu6706]

I loved how you actually walked through using these tools in real songs, it really helped drive home what each option is trying to achieve

[@richardlu6706]

But for the love of god, please add chapters to your video

[@JeremySiskind]

Absolutely! You’ve got to talk with the OS people about chapters. 😂

[@martinbijl-schwab3308]

​@@JeremySiskind I will

[@1950francesca]

Agree about the nice collaboration, and this is an excellent video in terms of information and delivery. But I hope Jeremy isn't letting go of his own channel. The personal touch of his own videos, including his consistently direct eye contact with the viewer and heartwarmingly humble mention of his books at the beginning, lend a warmth and connection I miss here.

[@chrismowag6919]

Your os course caught me exactly at the right spot. A bit above my head but encouraging to stretch. Learned soooo much and applied it to have yourself a merry little christmas. Thank you so much ❤

[@JeremySiskind]

Niiiiice! Really happy to hear that Chris. I do hope you have yourself a merry little Christmas!

[@mskal23]

Man, what perfect timing. I just started working through Misty a few days ago. I've been doing a few cool things, but you walked through SO many more options. I love your recording at Utah State by the way; it is just unequivocally gorgeous.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thank you so much for watching that USU performance! I’m honored!

[@paulrhodesquinn]

Wonderful to see that Jeremy has joined the OS gang!

[@JeremySiskind]

I’ve been working with OS for awhile, actually! I’ve got two courses on the platform and I’ve been teaching with OS pro for 2 years. Thanks for watching!

[@paulrhodesquinn]

Wonderful! I didn’t know that but will check out your courses. Love your content on KZbin and have your book on solo Jazz piano.

[@geocosmicvalentine]

I’m watching in the middle of the night and the teaching is so clear and wonderful. Can’t wait to watch again in the morning at the piano to implement and hone these skills! Thank you, Jeremy! 😍🙏🏽🫡

[@JeremySiskind]

Great! I hope you slept well and happy practicing!

[@imteee]

I've always been a fan of Jeremy's teaching since I found his KZbin

[@JeremySiskind]

I’m honored! Thank you!

[@junkming]

Hi Jeremy and greetings from the UK. Thanks for all your great videos (to go along with your Jazz Fundamentals books, which I have). This video has provided an absolute light-bulb moment on reharmonization. For the first time I can see, and feel viscerally, how it all works in practice and have suddenly felt liberated from the tyranny of the Lead Sheet. What I have realised is that harmonisation is as much an improvisation as the melodic element, As long as you're going somewhere and keeping things moving, there are no 'wrong' chords, just some which are better than others, according, as you say, to personal taste. A lot of work still needed (I'm 77 years old), to get it all fluently under the fingers, but the drection of travel is now clear. Thanks!

[@TheJumpingjim]

Fantastic! Many thanks. Love the diminished to the tonic.

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome! Enjoy experimenting!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

gotta love jeremy, so glad to see you teaming up, taking OS to the next level

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks so much, Woody! The OS folks make me look way classier than my own videos 😂 !

[@alexpavchinski]

Many great ideas, clearly explained and illustrated, which you can start using right away!

[@JeremySiskind]

Many thanks, Alex! Enjoy!

[@talandis]

I just started with Open Studio last week. Looking at this and not understanding most anything he’s talking about makes me think I’m in for a long journey! Sigh… My challenge as someone who’s new to jazz is to keep an even keel and not get lost in thoughts like “I’ll never be able to do that.” It’s a dream just to be able to follow along with a lesson like this.

[@kierenmoore3236]

It can feel like a struggle at first, but just immerse yourself in it and don’t pressure yourself … You will pick up little bits … Then, you’ll be correcting the rest of us when we screw up, in no time! Have fun! 😊🎹

[@talandis]

@@kierenmoore3236 Hey! Thanks so much for the kind reply. Much appreciated! I'll aim to follow your advice and strive enjoy the process of being a beginner again.

[@joekealoha4727]

Great job Jeremy! Mahalo nui for your articulation on reharmonization! And thank you Open Studio for your music education! Such a great resource for a pianist to "take it to the next level".

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome! Thanks much, Joe!

[@blueacidgrooves]

Excellent tutorial !!!!

[@JeremySiskind]

many thanks for watching and enjoy the tools!

[@peacegroove7854]

As always you share amazing content! Thanks and shout out to Jeremy who helped me immensely in my amateur piano journey, with incredible attention to detail and a true desire to make me a better player. Great teachers have a love for the music that runs so deep that drives them to wanna make every student sound amazing! God bless everyone at Open Studio, you are the new mentors of this great art form!

[@JeremySiskind]

Awww, that’s awesome! Thanks for watching and best of luck with your playing!!!

[@savlecz1187]

Jeremy Siskind! I bought his books a year or so ago and they've been extremely helpful! If you're looking to get into jazz piano, don't miss out on those!

[@JeremySiskind]

I’m so happy you found the book helpful! Enjoy!

[@ZazenFlyin]

Thanks Jeremy very clear and instructive!

[@JeremySiskind]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@leesean]

This was amazing. It made my brain explode a little bit, but I requested the transcription and look forward to reviewing this many times.

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome! Enjoy it, Sean!

[@garethharrison5797]

What a wonderful lesson. Nice one, Jeremy.

[@JeremySiskind]

Many thanks, Gareth! Have fun using these tools!

[@sidw2049]

Superbly clear teaching.....thanks 👏

[@JeremySiskind]

Excellent! I'm glad you were able to pick up what I'm putting out there!

[@rogermac06]

Phenomenal lesson! Thank you!

[@JeremySiskind]

Hey, thanks much, Roger!

[@brw4807]

Love this. Good to see you on the Open Studio KZbins. I need to work on fluidity and voice leading so I can play around with these ideas more.

[@JeremySiskind]

Nice to see you here too!

[@GizzyDillespee]

Those sidesteps sound great with Misty - people don't leave the video early, or you'll miss those!

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks much for checking it out, Gizzy! 😂

[@kierenmoore3236]

Gizzy … Gizzy … 🤔 Oh!! - you were one of the founding members of Guns n Roses, right?! 💡

[@ryanmcgeary4939]

Great stuff, more please!

[@piktormusic2538]

Thank you for this lesson Jeremy and OS. Though I was already familiar with much of this, I haven’t used sidestepping as much. You got me thinking. New doors opened….Jeremy does a great job of clearly and efficiently laying out these familiar devices with practical applications. I suppose that one could go even further in a solo context, but it would be a good idea to get the techniques here sharpened up. Just a request/suggestion for a future topic: X number of ways to end a tune. I have done organ gigs where I cannot rely on the bass player, because he is me. 😮

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks so much for watching, Piktor!

[@WIUBenny35]

I love the chord enclosure mindset!

[@JeremySiskind]

Nice! Enjoy playing around with that, Benny!

[@gio1618phi]

❤wow , excellent. Makes a sometimes difficult topic look/ sound easy.

[@JeremySiskind]

I don’t think it’s necessarily that hard! I hope you have fun experimenting with it!

[@egg5576]

Thank you! I was just looking at Oscar Peterson’s Tenderly and am trying to explore what chords i can play over the melody. Awesome vid as always.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for watching!

[@Debangshuification]

This was an exceptionally helpful session

[@JeremySiskind]

Fantastic! I'm really happy to hear it!

[@diplamatikjuan3595]

This man's "Caravan" performance is amazing

[@JeremySiskind]

That’s so nice! Thank you!

[@Chris-bn3rx]

Excellent stuff. Thank you!

[@JeremySiskind]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching, Chris!!!

[@NonDewman]

Hi Jeremy i have your books and they are the coolest!!

[@anastasiahulai5095]

The books are WOW💯 the most helpful ever

[@JeremySiskind]

As, you guys are the best! Thank you!

[@terryparham3913]

On vacation in Melbourne, Australia and just learned some much needed key reharm moves. Now to find a piano…Lol. Thanks!

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome! Sorry to ruin your vacation. 😂

[@michaelkeithson]

Great lesson! Jeremy is awesome 🙌

[@JeremySiskind]

Aw shucks, Thanks much, Michael! Happy holidays and I hope you enjoy using these tricks!

[@MickeyBassman]

This is like lowk one of the best videos i’ve seen

[@NoName-yp6ow]

Very clear, thank you !!

[@JeremySiskind]

My pleasure, happy practicing!

[@foxjohng51]

Thanks, Jeremy. You’ve need my view of how to reharmonize.

[@JeremySiskind]

Happy new year, John! I hope you have a great one!

[@foxjohng51]

@ “broadened “ not “need’ of course. And a wonderful new year and new adventure as a dad to you!

[@andreiter]

What a great lesson in arranging 🙂

[@thomasboucher3087]

Wow that video is a gold mine !

[@John-p7i5g]

This is amazing, thank you OS

[@JeremySiskind]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching!

[@yghorr]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome! Glad you like it and happy practicing!

[@N373H]

Jeremy! 🥰

[@JeremySiskind]

👋👋👋👋

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@JeremySiskind. So, THAT’S how he is so good … he has four hands!! 😱

[@JeremySiskind]

@@kierenmoore3236lol

[@canesawyer8467]

This was amazing

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks so much, Cane (Cane? Sawyer?)! I love reharmonizing!

[@tjwallermusic]

Great video! ❤

[@JeremySiskind]

Thank you, TJ! Happy holidays to you!

[@andrewcampbell-bluespianop6741]

Very interesting, thanks 🙂

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for watching, Andrew! Happy reharmonizing!

[@marksimo4406]

Superb!

[@tutubeos]

Fantastic thank you ❤

[@JeremySiskind]

Many thanks for watching! Happy reharmonizing to you!

[@schaschuschascho]

Thanks!

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for watching and happy new year!

[@DavidThorpe]

can’t believe this shit it free! Thank you so much!!! Many things in this video helped make it “click”!!!

[@JeremySiskind]

Yay, I'm so happy to hear that, David! Happy reharming!

[@DavidThorpe]

@ thanks Jeremy!!

[@kazuki535-j5j]

thanks for your philosophy

[@henriknielsen8305]

Epic collab

[@JeremySiskind]

Epic!!!😮😮😮

[@henriknielsen8305]

@@JeremySiskind Truely♥ Appreciate your lectures, keep it up:)

[@Mattrace]

That was awesome

[@JeremySiskind]

Cool! Glad you dug it, Matt!

[@martinmills135]

This is a great collection of strategies to use. Bit above my level to be able to do spontaneously, but if I work out my arrangement beforehand, I can apply some of this! Was wondering, when you side-step, are you sort of just moving everything down (or up) a semi-tone, letting your fingers do the work, or are you thinking in terms of the actual neighbouring chord? Does this question make sense or am I just over-thinking something?

[@JeremySiskind]

I get the question! I think whatever gets you there fastest is fine. I personally think more about each note moving (most of the time).

[@martinmills135]

@ Ah, thanks Jeremy! The question occurred to me because I‘m often fighting the old bad habit of letting my fingers play what they already know, and am instead trying to engage my ears and active understanding of harmony. I wish I’d understood as a young man that rote learning of notated music is a dead-end street. You can see the garden, but you’re at a remove, peeking over a wall.

[@robertoserpieri7272]

Beautiful lesson. Happy 2025🙏🏻💫✨☀️

[@JeremySiskind]

Many thanks, Roberto! Happy new year to you as well!

[@rideyard]

Love this

[@JeremySiskind]

Many thanks, Rideyard! Wishing yo a happy new year!

[@luispajares5248]

great man

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks much for watching, Luis!

[@andrewleach1667]

*plays the Misty Chord* "Let's pretend you didn't like that."

[@JeremySiskind]

Hey, sometimes you've gotta make a point! 😆

[@amosasante4962]

Perfect

[@JeremySiskind]

Aw shucks! (blushes). Thanks for watching!

[@kierenmoore3236]

16:50 … nice; not weird! 😉 Subverting expectations slightly, but not in a grating, Rian-Johnson-Directing-Star-Wars kinda way … 😜

[@JeremySiskind]

Haha, good analogy…a bit Dennis Miller specific, but I like it haha😂

[@edgenovese]

I so appreciate the great educators Like Jeremy, But for some reason I always feel like it's like painting by the numbers. It's strange to me as a pro drummer how patterns and history can be so valuable but when I compose, I listen to my ears and the music and never the "Formula" to get to my creation. I've had many friends I have admired tell me, they don't want to "Mess with how I get to where I arrive." They don't understand it but yet I have always been envious of those who are "Schooled." I suppose Imagination is a book with no rules. I once had a friend tell me., ."Why would you learn what everyone already knows?" I don't claim anything worth wile, but I do own my share of creations. Still trying believe it or not.. I'll get there in my own time...I suppose....

[@JeremySiskind]

I think that's fair! i don't want to be in "cerebral" thinking mode when I'm performing or composing, but I do want to be there as I'm practicing. When I hear a sound I like, I like to analyze it, figure out how it works, and use it so that it gets adopted into my vocabulary in practice. Then, the hope is that it comes out organically connected to an emotion or image in my playing/composing. That's my philosophy anyway!

[@edgenovese]

@@JeremySiskind Thanks Jeremy. I understand and agree with you. It's a paradox for me. I'm no genius but finding a teacher who " gets my ears" hasn't worked out so far. I envy and admire those with a theory education perhaps I'm starting too late. Funny one day I "Discovered" what I guessed to be a C7 chord. I was pretty pleased with myself but by the time I tried to figure it out I had already composed a nice orchestral piece based on my childish discovery. I think there's a C7 in there somewhere! ha ha...Wish you taught closer to me. Thanks for your great input...Still trying..Ed G

[@ArgoBeats]

Gold.

[@JeremySiskind]

Nice! Thanks and enjoy!

[@ArgoBeats]

@@JeremySiskind Thank you, Mr. Siskind!

[@ChillBuddies]

Nice!

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks so much, Chill Buddies!

[@aldelaniz5726]

Love it

[@JeremySiskind]

Great! I'm glad you liked it and I hope you enjoy using these tools!

[@EnricoDellAquila]

any chance to see this lesson applied to guitar? There are some more troubles to get rid of, due to fretboard topology and available notes limitations...

[@JeremySiskind]

Not from me personally! You might talk to the OS folks about that.

[@EnricoDellAquila]

@@JeremySiskind Of course.. :) :) I was just hoping someone at OS will think about it. I often try to transport OS piano lessons concepts on guitar. Lots of valuable material for any instrument!

[@marcusarnstrom7211]

excellent

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for checking it out, Marcus!

[@aucomint]

Too complicated for me right now... I will get back to that video in about two centuries...

[@JeremySiskind]

You'll get there! Stay at it!

[@nathaniellevy7956]

You... Don't like the first three bars of There Will Never Be Another You?

[@JeremySiskind]

Hm, an upwards scale in quarter notes over a major chord. It's fine! But good performers are going to making music out of it rather than just simply play the scale and the chord.

[@nukiolbartes6279]

Any rhythmic component to spice up ballad?

[@JeremySiskind]

You should take the OS course! Ballads generally aren't so much about rhythm as they are about the melody, but here's a comment on ballad styles that includes rhythm: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3O1kphmatl3pKM

[@dmmetoes8805]

LETS FUCKING GO JEREMY

[@kierenmoore3236]

‘Cautiously supportive’, lol

[@JeremySiskind]

Woot woot woot!

[@AdrianLesher]

I do not see a way to access the PDF from the email. Where is it?

[@JeremySiskind]

I dunno! Good luck! But thanks for watching!

[@kierenmoore3236]

11:29 *above? 😉

[@oriolcubeles620]

as a horn player would it be nice to use those reharmonizations even when the pianist isnt using them? or that’s more of a piano kind of thing?

[@kierenmoore3236]

F!

[@joeb4349]

Jeremy: This is a great post. However, I can't play 10th's like you demonstrate (F# - A#) or even C - E. So this post really depresses me. Merry Christmas.

[@markbra]

That they added, not we!

[@JeremySiskind]

Sorry!!!

[@frontier9]

No man, it sounds fine to people who having over-practiced and aren't thinking too much. Sure, there is a time for going mental or reharmonizing but good songs work because they were well written and ballads can have space ... and I learned substitution a loooong time ago so sure, but you act like a few bars without substitution and its game over.

[@JeremySiskind]

Super legit opinion! For me, in most of the Bill Evans, Fred Hersch, Keith Jarrett, Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, and Hank Jones transcriptions I've done, something is generally moving at least once per measure. Maybe it's not a total chord change, but there's at least some inner voice movement creating or implying movement for tension and release. Tension and release is really the heartbeat of music (in my humble opinion). But whatever makes your ears happy is what you should do!

[@dagadbm]

the great :)

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for watching!

[@nezkeys79]

I feel the same way about "stock 2-5 spam" everywhere. That's way more boring than staying on one chord for 2 bars, lol

[@JeremySiskind]

I like "stock ii-V spam." You could call it "ii-V slop"!

[@kierenmoore3236]

Sometimes it’s fun to ‘peruse the junk mail’, lol …

[@cursedswordsman]

What?? Jeremy Siskind on Open Studio?? (Jeremy... your lessons are LEAGUES above the OS content, fyi...)

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for the compliment! I’m so happy to be part of the Open Studio fam!

[@John-p7i5g]

​@@JeremySiskindDude I've never heard of you before (I'm not in the US) but this was one of the clearest explanations of reharms ever. Thank you ❤ from Australia

[@MarkEisenman]

Great video! We think alone the same lines. For anyone who's interested, here 's my take on sidestepping and some drastic but fairly smooth moves on the bridge of Misty. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobLh6tseN6KpZI

[@pawlowski6132]

I don't think this is actually reharmonization, but I love it. Great to see good examples of substitutions, passing chords, inversions, extensions etc

[@JeremySiskind]

It's definitely small-scale reharmonization, but you're right the we're not totally remaking the harmony like some more total reharmonization.

[@MarkEisenman]

Here's an example of a drastic reharmonization move on the bridge... Land on Fmajor7 instead of Abmaj7 on bar 3 of the bridge! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobLh6tseN6KpZI

[@timwood1987]

I ask Jeremy for some constructive criticism of this piece from the Bela Bartok National Concert Hall in Budapest kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmTRY5iqmpuearc

[@kierenmoore3236]

F!

[@moritzwerner-qg4zl]

You'll not gonna help anyone if you start out the lecture by saying "to play ballads effectively"... economy is about efficiency, not music... It's actually the number one thing, you shouldn't think about, when you make music... Just sayin'.

[@JeremySiskind]

Great point! Great insight!

[@7snugguns7]

I’m sorry but this feels exactly like a certain ceo billionaire trying to ‘splain’ why he should exist. And it’s deliberate. That said…..this video is great even it’s kinda hard. But come y’all it’s actually really easy!

[@JeremySiskind]

I have no idea what this means...but thanks for watching!

[@7snugguns7]

@@JeremySiskind great video thank you immediate results!

[@nezkeys79]

Speak for yourself. I wasn't tired of it. There was literally less than 10 seconds of music that probably amounted to 2 bars 😅

[@JeremySiskind]

(not sure what this is referring to, but you do you, baby!)

[@nezkeys79]

​@JeremySiskind I was referring to the first 10 seconds of the video where you claimed that what you were playing in the first two bars was boring and made you lose interest so fast It wasn't that different from something you might hear in a Keith Jarret or Fred Hersch ballad, and these two people are literal gods of the jazz ballad genre

[@JeremySiskind]

@@nezkeys79cool! Fred is my teacher and mentor and one of my favorite pianists and I’ve transcribed almost all of “The Melody at Night, with You.” We have the same tastes!

[@nezkeys79]

​@JeremySiskind if it was just a simple Eb triad for 2 bars maybe, but the add2 chord has a really nice sound

[@nezkeys79]

​@@JeremySiskindah cool. Any recommendations of pianists similar to those two?

[@michaelzinna6536]

Oh god that tune needs to buried out in the back yard someplace. So over played

[@JeremySiskind]

Some tunes are played a lot because they're great tunes...but, yeah, it's possible to overplay them or overhear them...

[@michaelzinna6536]

@@JeremySiskind yes they where great tunes. Many of them played over and over again. Most of them the better part of a hundred years. I noticed this gut emotion at gigs before Covid. Except for a small group of enthusiasts, a lot of this stuff just isn’t making it any more. Just my opinion.

[@bksmith82]

I like this guy, he seems very nice, but he should really see a speech therapist before his voice gets worse. It sounds like he has weak breath support and weak throat muscles. His voice will just continue to deteriorate as he gets older if he doesn't take preventative measures now. I could be out of pocket here. I obviously don't know his story. But I just wanted to put that out there, just in case he does think it's a good idea. Take care. Thanks for the lesson.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thank you so much for looking out for me!

[@СергейПопов-ъ2ы2ъ]

😂

[@Soundcloud765]

Too many words.What if just showing the examples?Less words more actions.

[@JeremySiskind]

Great call! Onwards and upwards!

[@sven_jorgensen_ita]

Beautiful, thank you!

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks so much, Sven! I'm glad you liked it!