Product Description

This book was written to provide a methodology for improvisation on the piano. Patterns are analyzed in and notated in all keys. Examples are given to illustrate how and where a fill fits. Then, step by step you can learn how to add the left hand accompaniment based on a lead sheet, or improvise with the right hand. While improvising, patterns may be woven into a beautiful tapestry of sound. Just as a kaleidoscope creates beautiful colorful patterns before your eye, the patterns in this book will enable you to create a kaleidoscope of musical sounds for your ears. Most of the book consists of short examples using familiar tunes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #765360 in Books
• Published on: 1996-08-01
• Released on: 1996-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 228 pages

About the Author
Gail Smith was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on January 26, 1943. Gail's father, Carl Erick Johnson, sang tenor in the church choir. Her mother, Ethel, played the piano and had Gail start piano lessons. Smith received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Florida Atlantic University. She has taught piano students from the age of 3 to 96! Her blind student, Ivan, was seen on national TV. Giving musical lecture recitals by portraying the composer's wife has been an effective way to reach audiences with the history of music. Gail has portrayed Marian MacDowell and Anna Magdalena Bach. She gives many workshops and concerts throughout the United States as well as in Germany and Japan. Smith's life has revolved around her family, church and music. She was the pianist of the famed Coral Ridge Presbyterian church for many years. She has been active in many organizations including being national Music Chairman of the National League of American Pen Women and is a former president of the Broward County branch. Ms. Smith is also a member of The Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, National Music Teachers Association, and Federation of Music Clubs. Ms. Smith's works include many piano solos, choral works, a piano trio, a composition for four pianos and numerous vocal solos. She has arranged hundreds of hymns, Indian melodies, and folk tunes from many countries. Her trademark is her piano palindromes, which can be played backwards as well as forwards and sound the same.

Customer Reviews

Not Too Useful
I was looking for a book that had some practical info on how to improvise and was disappointed with what I got. The book you're getting is actually 1/12 of the real size, because the author transcribes any example of a "fill" in all 12 keys. For example, she'll give an interval (let's say C to E) and then she'll give a fill for it (such as C-B-C-D-E) and then she'll give that example in all 12 keys. Oh, and as for chord progressions, the grand finale of the book is the I-ii-V chord progression, written out in all keys. If you're looking to spice up your hymns, maybe this is the book for you, but otherwise, you'd be better off looking elsewhere.

Mel Bay's Complete Book of Improvisation, Fills and Chord Progressions by Gail Smith
The book explains things very well and gives many examples. It is very easy to follow and then impliment the technique into other songs. It doesn't just give you a few songs to change but the application that can be made to any song and without diffculty. I love this book and it has helped me improve already.

Fills - Expecting too much
I wanted to learn how to place fills in the melody by using the cords and/or the notes in the previous bar. Well, Gail expected you to have "Super Fingers". Using eighth notes after eighth notes after eighth notes was too much for me. This is the first book I have ever returned to Amazon.