David Nelson

From Classical to Jazz Piano – a smooth crossing or…?

A lively and entertaining talk with piano accompaniment.

Dave Nelson has been a piano teacher (classical, jazz etc, plus theory, composition musicianship …and guitar) for nearly half a century! He has been a bandleader and composer for numerous ensembles and currently plays in three bands including his jazz trio. Dave’s experience of playing in jazz ensembles, and especially as a solo performer, has given him considerable insight into how to teach jazz piano – including ways to develop the complex creative harmonic and improvisatory skills that are the hallmarks of so much jazz.

His talk starts by asking the question, “What is jazz?” and goes on to suggest ways to develop the various styles of jazz as a solo performer. He also looks at how jazz exams can help, or maybe hinder, this development. Throughout the session Dave will demonstrating at the piano and sharing his own ideas and techniques for teaching students to, inter alia, play by ear, improvise, use lead sheets and improve coordination.