Do you know the incredible benefits that come to you by
learning chording techniques on the piano?

There are many — way more than just 5. But due to space
limitations, I’ll just list 5 out of hundreds:

1. By learning chording techniques, you are at least
quadrupling your chances of creating exciting new sounds
on the piano — sounds that most other piano players have no
idea how to create. That’s because arranging using chord
techniques is open-ended — there’s no end to the styles
and applications you can eventually learn and apply.

2. Learning chording techniques in NO WAY interferes with
your ability to sight-read music. Some ill-informed people
think it does, but not so! Ask any great jazz musician
from Dave Brubeck to Andre Previn to Oscar Peterson to Chuck
Corea to…. They ALL read music prolifically, yet choose
to apply chording techniques to song after song, creating
many of the great classic tunes we all know, like “Take
Five”, etc, etc.

Knowing chords and being able to apply techniques to those
chords actually HELPS YOU TO SIGHT-READ FASTER, because
instead of just seeing groups of random notes on the sheet
music, you can see chord patterns forming and dissolving
into yet another chord, another chord progression!

3. Knowing chords and applying chording techniques allows
you to become a first-rate accompanist for singers and
other musicians, should you want to do that. You will be
able to “wrap the chords” around the singer to support
them, rather than be in competition by playing the melody
from the sheet music. You’ll be able to create fills and
counter-melodies and a host of other devices that can make
you the most desired accompanist in your area.

4. By knowing chords and chording patterns you will
automatically open the door to opportunities to play at
places you never could if you only “play music as
written”. When people hear you play, they will immediately sense
that “this person knows what they are doing”, which can very
well bring invitations to play in fraternal clubs,
churches, community centers, and even weddings and
funerals. I have had students of retirement age who have
fulfilled their lifelong dream to play in public, even if
in a small venue. I recall a CPA in Washington State who
took lessons from me by cassette for a couple years and
got good enough to play at a local restaurant-pub on weekends.
He didn’t need the money, but just LOVED the opportunity
to play for folks and have them sing along.

5. Being able to apply chords to song after song means you
NEVER HAVE TO PLAY A SONG THE SAME WAY TWICE! When people
see me play, they often ask me to play the song again —
but are often surprised when I play it again, since I
create new chord progressions and fills and improvisations
each time — so it never sounds the same.

There’s a classic story about Erroll Garner, the great
pianist and composer of the classic song “Misty”. A lady
came up to him after a concert and raved about how he
played “Misty”, and asked him to play it again the same
way. His reply was “I can’t remember how I played it last
time — but I’ll play it again anyway”, which greatly
surprised the lady.