Learn to Improvise in the Style of Chopin (using his Waltz in A Minor)

In this tutorial we're celebrating Chopin again (happy birthday, Frédéric!) by getting inspiration from his Waltz in A Minor, B. 150. Free PDF with sheet music for this improv lesson: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stacyf/e...

First, make sure you know the chords really well, and choose a left hand pattern that works for you. Then choose a few right hand ideas to play around with as you improvise over the chord changes.

There are a lot of options presented in this video, so choose what works well for you right now, and don't feel like you have to do everything.

Stop the video at any point and practice on your own.

chords:
Am Dm G7 C (first part of cycle of 5ths progression)
E7 Am E7 Am (dominant-tonic oscillation)

scales:
RH fingering, A natural minor scale (all white keys):
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 (4 always on G)
RH fingering A harmonic minor scale:
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 (4 always on G#)

Technique tip: Go slowly enough that you can always use the correct fingering.

0:00 Chopin Waltz in A Minor (with bonus fingering tip)
0:49 LH broken chords
1:31 both hands, blocked chords
2:21 A natural minor scale
3:01 A harmonic minor scale, descending
3:25 A natural minor scale, up to highest E
3:58 A harmonic minor
4:14 another LH option: root, 5th, 8ve
5:05 LH eighths: root, 5th, 8ve
5:39 RH ideas, mixing scales and arpeggios
6:25 LH alone, waltz pattern
7:26 skeleton of Chopin's melody
8:04 more RH ideas, lots of sequences
8:49 waltz in the style of Chopin

Use the ideas that work for you, and make up your own waltz!

You can find sheet music for Chopin's Waltz in A Minor, B.150 on IMSLP.

Please let me know how this goes in the comments! Thank you so much for subscribing and for your kind comments. I'm honored that you're on this journey with me. ~Stacy

It may be useful to review these other tutorials that help with learning chords and enhancing improv skills:    • All Piano Tutorials  

Please buy me a coffee to help me continue creating these tutorials: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stacyf

If you would like to share what you've learned from any of these tutorials, tag me on Instagram: @WhimsicallyMacabreMusic

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Sheet music, including the book Polyrhythms for Pianists: https://pianopronto.com/composers-com...
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