Getting Started with Improvisation at the Piano

Welcome to this first section on getting started with improvisation at the piano! This lesson is designed to help you quickly check a few essential boxes, enabling you to enjoy the full range of what improvisation can offer you as a pianist.

Hand Position

Hand position is crucial, whether you're:

• A complete beginner
• Someone returning to piano learning for the second or third time
• A more advanced player looking to expand your skills through improvisation

Tips for Hand Position

1. Imagine Your Hand Position:

   • Hold your hand out as if you're about to play on the keyboard.
   • Picture placing a precious, beautifully shaped oval egg in the cup of your hand.
   • Turn your hand over without dropping the egg.

2. Finding Your Hand Position:

   • Immediately place your hand onto one of several hand positions.
   • Start with the white keys.
   • You can even play all the keys simultaneously to check your hand position.

3. Experiment with the Black Keys:

   • Try a similar hand position using the black keys.
   • Use five notes, five fingers, five notes, play consecutive notes with both hands.
   • It can be anywhere on the keyboard and with any set of notes.

4. Try Different Arrangements:

   • Experiment with a hand position that has a black key in the middle, with two white keys on either side.
   • Again, practice this with both hands.

By following these steps, you will establish the technical background necessary to flow into improvisation and truly enjoy what it can bring to your piano playing!