Congratulations to high school junior, Jagger Clark, for winning the Prestigious Eastman School of Music Award for his musical talents and contributions to his school. Chuck and the team at IROCKU couldn't be prouder of your achievements!!!! "What'd I Say" piano lesson Jagger's earliest introduction to the piano was through his IROCKU lessons. In fact, at one of our early recording sessions with Chuck, Jagger was asked to participate since he was our youngest student at the time. Under the guidance of IROCKU musical director, Cary Brown, Jagger has worked his way through the 7-level IROCKU curriculum and now routinely performs the IROCKU material in his gigs. Thank you Eastman School of Music for validating that the classical approach to learning piano is not the only path …
Rock Piano Lessons
Debunking the misconception that Improvisation is running up and down scales.
In "Chuck Leavell's Stride Blues" Rock Essentials series we debunk the misconception that Improvisation is running up and down scales and we show how playing "shapes" is an easier way to improvise. "Stride Blues" piano lesson We've received lots of positive feedback on this approach which leads us to the following questions: What are the best methods and techniques for learning to improvise? For those of us with limited time to practice what is the most efficient way to learn? What are the biggest mistakes and myths among people learning jazz & blues piano? What are the biggest wastes of time? What are the biggest mistakes novices make when they are playing/practicing? Even at a professional level, what mistakes are most common? Reply below to let us know …
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IROCKU Featured Piano Lesson-“Little Martha” by Duane Allman
This week's featured piano lesson is "Little Martha", the only Allman Brothers song written by legendary guitarist, Duane Allman. Here's a beautiful version of the IROCKU lesson performed by Holly Bowling. Holly is a concert pianist who performs jam band music as solo piano selections. She is known for her interpretive performances of Phish and The Grateful Dead songs so we are thrilled that she decided to take on our version of "Little Martha". "Little Martha" piano lesson The melody line of “Little Martha” is made of two-bar phrases played over a repeating 3-note cross rhythm. The first phrase lines up with the third note of the 3-note pattern, the second phrase lines up with the first note of the 3-note pattern, the third phrase lines up with the second note of the 3-note pattern, …
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New IROCKU Essentials Series!!! – “Chuck Leavell’s Stride Blues”
"Chuck Leavell's Stride Blues" piano lesson This multi-part video series covers both right and left hand piano techniques that Chuck has used throughout his career. If you want to learn the fundamentals behind Chuck’s epic performances ranging from “Jessica” ( Allman Brothers) to “Honky Tonk Women” ( The Rolling Stones”) and everything in between, this series is the place to begin. The series covers left-hand stride and walking bass lines, and right-hand scales, chords and patterns based on blues, minor, major and pentatonic scales. All are fundamental elements of Chuck’s legendary style. The series begins with an overview of the 8- bar blues form used in the recording, “The Blues is All Wrong”. The first half of the series teaches left-hand stride techniques and introduces elements …
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IROCKU Featured Piano Lesson- “Such a Night” by Dr. John
The featured irocku piano lesson takes you for a frolicking journey down the Mississippi River with a New Orleans legend, Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John. From his best selling 1973 album, Right Place, Wrong Time, “Such a Night” is a funky, light and bouncy song that showcases the musical heritage of the Delta. Dr. John’s piano playing is 150 years in the making, it is steeped in Southern culture, and when it accompanies his uniquely funky vocals, you have a fusion of soul, funk, blues and boogie that are all part of this great New Orleans sound that the Dr. has dedicated his life too. "Such A Night" piano lesson From the opening notes, “Such a Night” skips along at a moderate tempo, the melody is bright and airy, with funky breaks and pauses that are accented by the virtuosity of Dr. …
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IROCKU Featured Piano Lesson- “Jessica” by the Allman Brothers
The irocku featured piano lesson is "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers. "Jessica" Piano Lesson If you check out the videos of "Jessica" live you'll see that during the solo Chuck comps using the A and D chords in his left hand. The irocku lesson uses a left hand baseline similar to what the bass is playing so the lesson is actually more difficult to play. If you want to simplify the solo, you can play chords in the left hand similar to how Chuck is playing it. Click here to check out the Jessica videos in the sidebar. In our ongoing survey of Top Rock piano Songs and Performances, “Jessica” is currently ranked number two after “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. Given that so many of the irocku members are also Chuck’s fans we’re sure that there is some bias in our poll. But …
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Black Friday Special – Online Piano Lessons
Want to learn rock piano? Here's a 35% discount off an Annual Membership to our online rock piano lessons. Use coupon code "BlackFriday2017". Start Rockin! Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Join Now and SAVE!!! …
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The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil – Live in St Louis
The IROCKU featured piano lesson is “Sympathy of the Devil” by The Rolling Stones. Click below for the piano lesson and sheet music: "Sympathy for the Devil" Piano Lesson The original title of this song was "The Devil Is My Name." As Mick Jagger tells it, "Songs can metamorphosize. And Sympathy for the Devil is one of those songs that started off like one thing, I wrote it one way and then we started to change the rhythm. And then it became completely different. And then it got very exciting. It started off as a folk song and then became a samba. A good song can become anything..." Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Join Now and …
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