Richard Michael’s Jazz School

Richard Michael's Jazz School - Online Jazz Lessons

Hello Friends and welcome to my website.

Keep checking back in as we have lots of new and exciting projects on the go.

Next up is the first Ceilidh Time with Richard sessions of 2024

Saturday 27th January I'll be hosting the next Ceilidh workshop for all aspiring Ceilidh players. We had a great couple of sessions in November with fantastic participation and good fun had by all. Hard work, too, of course but thoroughly enjoyable. Book now for these sessions to avoid disappointment. It's a 'first come first served' booking, as I restrict the numbers to make this as engaging and personal as possible.


Ceilidh Time with Richard - No.2

Join me in another Ceilidh Time with Richard session on Saturday 27th January 2024 where over 2 sessions I'll take show you how to: change harmonies on a tune, improvise simple solos using the melodies as a guide, accompany the tunes using just a bass and one (or two) harmony notes and transfer these skills to different genres.

Over the 2 sessions, I will use these classic Scots melodies as exemplars -

  1. My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose
  2. My Love Is But A Lassie Yet
  3. Loch Lomond
  4. Kate Dalrymple

Although chordal instruments such as piano, accordion and guitar will benefit from playing harmonies, single note instruments and voice will learn much about interpretation, decoration and playing harmony parts by ear. All you need is an instrument, a good internet connection and a mind and fingers open to new musical ideas.

Click HERE for more information

Internationally acclaimed pianist, educator and composer Richard Michael BEM will take you on a thrilling harmonic journey.


I hope you are taking advantage of my

Special Winter Deal

For a limited time only!! Access all areas £10 Only!!!!

Here you will find my

  • guide to jazz piano - “Jazz Essentials”
  • guide to playing the Blues - “Beginning the Blues”
  • rhythm games for teachers - “First Steps”

and everything is available to you for just £10!

Click here for Jazz School Sign-up

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Celebrating the publishing of my latest book “Jazz Piano for Kids”, I will be running online sessions which will show how you can play a bass line, guide tone line and a tune at the same time, leading to a lifetime’s discovery in the art of jazz piano. This Course is for all abilities and yes, it would help if you had the book!

Richard’s Jazz Piano for Kids

Jazz Piano for Kids. Easily accessible with loads of video tutorials.

(Published by Hal Leonard and available from MusicRoom via the link below)

https://www.musicroom.com/product/hl00319674/hal-leonard-jazz-piano-for-kids.aspx

In 2019, Hal Leonard commissioned me to write a book with video examples about my experiences in teaching jazz piano. Here is the latest review..

"...The first, undoubtedly most important, thing to understand here is that Jazz Piano for Kids is as much a video lesson package as it is a supporting book......I think that it is easy to summarise this publication simply by hailing it as one of the very best jazz introductions I’ve yet seen."

Quote from Pianodao - March 2021

Thanks to the global piano teachers community "The Curious Piano Teachers" for the wonderful review of 'Jazz Piano for Kids'.

Check out the review here

Enjoy the music, stay safe but in my world of music remember that “Mistakes are Cool”.

Why not join the growing number of players around the world benefitting from my 45 year's worth of studying, playing educating and living jazz. Whether you are an aspiring player looking to expand your jazz knowledge, or a teacher looking for ideas for classroom activities, you have come to the right place. In here you will find many videos and audio files with lessons, hints and tricks to help you master the basics of jazz. Play along, watch the lessons as many times as you need. Download the sheet music, play along and watch.

Jazz School - Access all areas - Just £10

During the current Covid 19 pandemic we have decided to give access to all our resources bundled together for the crazy one-off price of £10.

Yes - Just £10

Click HERE to proceed to Sign Up page

Jazz Essentials

Jazz Essentials is my method for learning to improvise from the basement up! Just as when you build a house you begin with laying the foundations, so in my Jazz Essentials you learn the fundamental building blocks for playing jazz. 

I promise that if you follow these guidelines (and not missing anything out!) you will have at your disposal the tools of the improvisor and the necessary knowledge to play a jazz solo. How well you do this depends on your own musicality and application, but it has been my experience as Musical Director of Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra for over 40 years and as the Honorary Professor of Jazz Piano at St Andrews University, and leading workshops at the Wigmore Hall and Jazz Courses up and down the country that anyone who takes the time to practise these examples will be able to play jazz to some degree.

Each lesson builds on the lesson before and therefore your musical vocabulary will grow with the colours you acquire through understanding each concept before you move on to the next. Please, don’t be in a hurry – playing music is a lifetime’s work , and not something acquired without careful thought. My mantra is “Mistakes are Cool”, and that to play music of any kind you must be prepared to make mistakes and enjoy them – that’s how we learn! (Musicians who are surgeons are exempt)

Jazz Essentials - the essential building blocks to playing jazz piano. We are sure you will enjoy the series and hope you spread the word. Have fun!

Here is a quick taste of the Jazz Essentials Series.

The whole lot for just £10

Click HERE to proceed to Sign Up page

First Steps

This series of audio podcasts is packed with rhythm games, performances and improvisation on simple themes, aural explanations of key musical concepts, and a beginner's guide to harmony.

This series has been designed to allow teachers to play the podcasts to the class and simply encourage them to participate. There is no need for the teacher to make lesson notes or lesson plans - just play the podcasts.

Split in to 4 separate learning sections the First Step series is a fantastic resource for classroom teachers and community group leaders to get kids clapping, stomping and grooving through the basics of rhythm, beats, and grooves.

Here are example podcasts from 'Walkin' a Groove' covering 'displacement'

Walkin' a Groove 13
Walkin' a Groove 14

Yes, all for just £10

Click HERE to proceed to Sign Up page

‘Beginning the Blues’

An introduction to Playing the ‘Blues’ by teaching a simple ‘Blues Head’.
This exciting 5 part series covers the Blues Scale, Minor Pentatonic, Bass Notes, Chord tones, Chord Substitution, Repeating the Head, Myxolydian Scale, BeBop Scale, Dorian Scale, and more…..

Don't panic!! this looks harder than it sounds!

Play as many times as you wish. Play along with the Backing track.
Unlimited access to this Exciting podcast based Training Resource.
Beginning the Blues taster

It's All Music Folks! - coming soon!

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