Welcome to Jazz, Funk, and Pop with James Beckwith

Hey, how's it going?

I'm James Beckwith, a pianist, composer, keyboard player, and producer from England, currently living in London. Today, I'm here at Rock School to take you through some jazz, funk, pop, and reggae pieces.

My Journey

I suppose I was asked to do this because I'm a jazz pianist. I've been playing professionally for over 10 years.

• I studied at Leeds College of Music in the north of England, where I was fortunate enough to write a big band piece that won the John Dankworth Prize for composition.
• I played in many different groups and bands during my time there.
• Later, I came to London to pursue a Masters at Trinity and got myself onto the London scene.

Since then, I have travelled the world, performing with my own band and playing in various ensembles, in addition to doing many sessions here in London.

I currently lead my own trio, the James Beckwith Trio, which is recording its debut album, set to be released later this year. So, if you're interested, be sure to check it out!

What You'll Learn Today

Today, we'll focus on pieces rooted in jazz, pop, and funk.

Key Elements We'll Explore:

• Swing rhythms from jazz
• Syncopation techniques from funk
• Off beats in reggae
• Smooth piano lines with pedal for pop

I'm going to show you a real mixture of things, including:

• Tips and Tricks to improve your technique
• Approaching the more difficult aspects of playing
• Enhancing your overall musicianship

Regardless of whether you're aiming for grades with Rock School or just looking to enhance your skills, there's something here for everyone!

Join Me!

I hope you can join me in having fun as we break down these pieces, watch how I play them, and learn together to become better musicians. Let's get started!