PIANO

For beginning to advanced adults and dedicated teens. 

Paul Hurst is a recognized master of piano, in both the popular and classical idioms as a concert artist, accompanist, composer/arranger, and teacher.  He studied piano under Jacob Gimpel and Leonid Hambro. His wide range of experience includes decades with church music, playing with many stars in Las Vegas, coaching and directing many musical theatre productions, accompanist for universities and the concert stage, conducting, composing, recording artist on dozens of recordings, and thousands of performances in the pop and classical genres.

Technique and Interpretation of:

Classical music

Learn to make all your music breathe and flow

   Understand musical styles within their historical context

   Techniques, fingering, and articulation for enhanced stylistic effects

   Exercises to build strength and agility

Popular music

   Learn to groove in various genres - ragtime, 50’s swing, 70’s pop, jazz, etc.
  Learn chords and “fake” instant arrangements from a Lead sheet - melody and chord symbols - Easy!
   Learn what musical components -rhythm, chords, melodic contour - create each style
 

Learn what musical components - rhythm, chords, melodic contour - create each style

Ragtime and early Jazz

Rock

Beginning Jazz

Folk music

Sacred and Gospel

Also:

  Improvisation and arranging for piano

  Playing (Faking) from lead sheets - using melody line and chord symbols

 Therapeutic techniques and exercises for muscle and tendon problems.

Keyboard theory

  Reading:  Learn to read the way the pros do it. 

  Scales:  All 12 Major scales in as little as three lessons

 Circle of 5ths (or 4ths)

 Arpeggios

 Chords and chord symbols:  A method to quickly learn all chords and chord symbols.

 Arranging:  Using good voicing and voice-leading, and appropriate rhythmic styles.