The ability to recognize and play chords without hesitation benefits all pianists. For improvisers, chord fluency enables practical skills such as learning tunes by ear, transforming lead sheets to arrangements, jamming with others, and creating one's own part in bands. For those who prefer to play written music, facility with chords improves learn...

Last time, we explored playing a basic (boom-chick) stride pattern to accompany students when no duet part is provided. Now, we'll consider two ways to enhance and adapt this useful "stock" accompaniment.1. Passing note bassAdd variety and momentum to the steady boom-chick of a basic stride by connecting the roots of chords with passing bass notes....

Accompanying students is an enjoyable way to transfer musicality from veteran to rookie efficiently without so much "teacher talk." For students, it • tightens up their sense of time; • helps them listen while playing; • enables them to feel more like "real musicians"; • prepares them to play in ensembles; • and reduce...