Practical rock and pop workshop

Due to its popular Microjazz-series, the composer, arranger and didact Christopher Norton has become very well known and probably needs no further introduction. Under the title Rock & Pop Piano Basics is another teaching book that aims to introduce young piano players to the 20 most important current pop styles. Each style (from pop/rock ballad to country ballad and indie hop to funk, blues shuffle or disco, etc.) has its own chapter, with the level of difficulty increasing continuously. The 20 units are carefully structured and provide learners with the necessary tools to express themselves musically. This includes elementary aspects such as chords and their inversions, the most common keys, intervals, different modes, voicings and rhythm patterns.

The theory is always taught with a lot of practical relevance and applied to playing exercises. At the same time, the examples recorded by the composer on the accompanying CD help to form an idea of the sound. Each piece or chapter is accompanied by a groove track that supports the elementary playing and tapping exercises as a rhythm section (guitar, bass, drums). The following play-along and performance tracks allow us to immerse ourselves further in the music and if you want to listen even more, you can use the additional listening suggestions (not on the CD). This piano workshop has a very practical structure and can be a useful guide and companion for anyone who has already achieved a certain level of playing ability but would like to broaden their stylistic and theoretical horizons.

Christopher Norton, Rock & Pop Piano Basics, The Piano Workshop for Blues, Funk, Gospel, Hip-Hop and 16 other popular music styles, BH 12340, with CD, € 19.99, Boosey&Hawkes, London 2011