NYC Rock Keyboard Workshop

This forum is for the Rock Piano Workshop with Chuck Leavell on May 9, 2014.

Topic

To everyone who attended the workshop,

I mean it when I say you are my heroes for what you do for music in the schools.
Best,
Chuck

That was one of the best professional development workshops I’ve ever attended. I’m still “there” and probably won’t be able to think of anything else for quite a while… The workshop was magical in every respect, and Chuck, besides being rock royalty, is just the nicest, most humble person anyone could imagine! No airs…no attitude….just a warm, engaging and brilliant musical giant. Talk about letting talent speak for itself!! I can never thank you(IROCKU) enough for bringing him to meet our NYC music teachers. They’ll never forget it, and neither will I.
Director of Music- NYC Department of Education

The NYC Department of Education hosted a Rock Piano Workshop with Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones and his IROCKU team. The workshop ended in a jam session with Chuck and some of the great music teachers of NYC. A special thanks to Barbara Murray for making this great event happen.

Here’s what Chuck practices when he’s getting ready to go out on tour. This video is a must see for anyone interested in taking their piano playing to the next level. You might be surprised that even a rock superstar sticks to the basics – finger exercises, scales, Hannon, octave drills, etc. Chuck ends the video playing a killer James Booker stride piano piece.

The NYC Department of Education hosted a Rock Piano Workshop with Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones. In Chuck’s intro, he shares the unique way he was taught to play piano and provides a brief overview of IROCKU.

The NYC Department of Education hosted a Rock Piano Workshop with Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones. In the Question and Answers session, Chuck shares some of his thoughts on improvising.

The NYC Department of Education hosted a Rock Piano Workshop with Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones. In the Question and Answers session, Chuck shares some of his experiences as a rockstar and playing with the Rolling Stones.

The NYC Department of Education hosted a Rock Piano Workshop with Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones. In the Question and Answers session, Chuck shares some of his thoughts how to teach piano.

What a great opportunity for NYC. Thanks for sharing the day. Will IRockU teach a version of the James Booker Tune that Chuck performed? Loved the technique ideas as well.

Thanks!

Yes, the workshop was truly a magical event. Let’s hope for many more.

“Keep on Gwine” by James Booker is an insane piece. We’ll add it to our list… that will make for a very challenging lesson.

During the session Chuck also went into detail on how he played “Alberta” ( Clapton Unplugged) and “Living in a Dream” ( Sea Level). We are turning these two songs into full lesson packages to be posted later this year.