the piano shed
  • Sheet Music
  • Teaching Blog
  • Private Lessons
  • Video Tutorials
  • About
  • Contact

Jazz, Pop, & Blues Piano Lessons - Available Online and In-Person in the Greater Boston Area

Mulgrew Miller on Comping (Accompanying)

5/30/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday, the jazz world lost a truly great pianist and music educator, Mulgrew Miller.  I was always impressed with the way he could balance the older styles of bebop, swing, and blues with a more modern and modal approach.   "Jazz is part folk art, part progressive art," he once said.  I just love this quote.

If you've never heard of Mulgrew Miller before, I'd recommend reading this article from the New York Times.  While you are at it, check out his solo record from 2010, a true testament to his genius.

Mulgrew Miller spent nearly the last decade of his life mentoring up-and-coming jazz musicians.  We are all fortunate to be left with many of his lessons, many of which were recorded and are available on YouTube for all to benefit from. 

In this clip, Mr. Miller discusses "comping," or accompanying other musicians.  In my opinion, this topic isn't discussed nearly enough when, in fact, it's what pianists spend most of their time doing!

He starts by talking about general comping concepts; don't miss 2:55 when he comps a blues, that's where the REAL LESSON is --  listen to that rhythm! 
Here's a few main points that I would take out of this lesson:

1.  Make the person you are accompanying feel comfortable.
2.  Support, but don't overwhelm, the soloist.
3.  Practice comping by yourself until the rhythm feels good!  It has to dance!

For those of you who really want to get into this, I'd recommend:

1.  Transcribe (and notate) the rhythm of Mr. Miller's comp over the blues
2.  Analyze what you see -- how often does he play upbeats vs. downbeats?  What rhythms does he repeat?  (A common problem I find with a lot of young players comping is that they play too many upbeats without enough downbeats -- remember, the downbeats GROUND the rhythm)
3.  Practice your own voicings using the rhythms that you just transcribed.  Try it a chorus at a time or break it down into smaller two or four bar phrases.  

Thanks to Mulgrew Miller for sharing your time and valuable knowledge to the next generation of jazz players.  You will be missed.







0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Recent Posts


    Categories

    All
    Advanced
    Arrangements
    Beginner
    Comping
    Composition
    Harmony
    Imrpovisation
    Inspiration
    Intermediate
    Jazz
    Pop
    R&b
    Rhythm
    Technique
    Transcription
    Two Cents Tuesdays
    Video Tutorials
    Video Tutorials
    Voicings


    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    April 2017
    March 2017
    May 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013


    RSS Feed




The Piano Shed provides fun and creative music instruction specializing in jazz, pop, & blues piano.  We serve students in Newton, Waltham, Cambridge, and the surrounding areas. Visit our blog for free piano lessons, sheet music and video tutorials! 
Like The Shed on Facebook!  
Subscribe for free lessons on YouTube!
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.