How do you do this on piano when playing jazz?

Where can you learn how to play piano in the style of a dueling piano bar if you are already an advanced pianist but don't know how to jazz up popular songs when your playing them?

• Answer:

  Probably the best place to learn this style is in the southern states in America. Jazz was pretty much born down there, so learn at the source. You should also consider learning improvisational style. Many pianists that play cocktail piano style do so by using lead sheet and piano chords - they do not read from sheet music, they improvise and put in lots of runs and fillers. Though a trip would be nice, I don't think it at all nessicary. The improvisation is a good idea. I think to get a feel for the jazz style start by getting into FAST swing. Take anything written in 4/4 and imagine striaght eights. now image them as triplet, but tie the first two together. instead of 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, you have 1 le 2 le 3 le 4 le. Its the lazy way to write in 12/8- or what would be quarter, eighth, quarter eighth. If you are referring to the rock and roll dueling pianos venue that has a circuit of clubs worldwide, this is the right answer: If you are interested in playing the dueling piano style, and actually becoming a performer, there are a couple of ways in which you can do this. Firstly, approach the Entertainment Director of any dueling piano club and ask him/her if they have any openings. Ask for an audition. If you pass the audition, a training session should immediately take place within a few days. Dueling piano players are specially trained to do what they do. Not just any piano player can get up there and do it. There are call downs, beckon and call routines, commands and bits. The delivery of the songs is specific and not always like the recording. Meanwhile, start to learn the "top 40" singalong songs that you hear at a dueling pianos club. Learn them any way you can, and later your ED will correct any mistakes or help you to improve your playing style. Another way is to contact one of the dueling piano players and ask him/her for some pointers. See if you can get their contact info. ( generally they do not like to talk very much on their breaks ). Dueling pianos is a concept that started in 1989 in Dallas, Texas at a club called, " Dallas Alley- Alley Cats." A predecessor to that would have been "Pat O'Briens" in New Orleans. All other dueling piano venues were modeled off the original, Pat O'Briens in New Orleans, although the modern day concept is concentrated in rock and roll and pop music. As far as playing specifics, it's all about chords. Don't approach a song like a classical pianist trying to play the song as a complete note for note perfect piece. Instead, you or your partner's voice carries the melody and you are almost always playing bass with your left hand while chording with the left. Approach a song like a guitarist would, by charting the chords (I use the numbers system but that's a whole other topic) and improvising your own specific notes. This is what you called Jazzing Up. You must be familiar enough with the songs to re-create melodies and themes you hear in the recording on the piano. Everyone does it a little differently and this is why it's GREAT! As for straight up improvising, learn your pentatonic, chromatic, major and minor scales and arpeggios. Hanon is boring, yes but it's like working out. Ya gotta do it. If you want to mix it up try imitating the style of other instruments with your solos. Approach a run with the attack of an electric guitar or use fiddle style double stops, or try banjo like pedal tones. Play stabby sounding chords to imitate horns, the possibilities are endless. The key is to be an eclectic listener and to have the technical ability on your instrument to convey what is in your head out to the audience in real time. It's a direct mental connection to the piano and then once that is made it's all about your own personal style. The other important thing is your partner. If you've ever played in a band you know that you can't step on someone else's part. A good live arrangement has layers and the parts compliment each other. This seems obvious but its important to ease up on your part when your partner is driving the music, and then back him up when it's his turn to step out with a solo or other featured playing/singing.