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Piano Improv every friday at a lounge in a nice hotel
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| Evolve140 |
So, this was kind of random, but apparently the manager of this hotel is looking for some alternative forms of music (they have DJs, but noted to me that they were too loud for certain times of day and customers wanted softer music) and is interested in piano music. They have a super nice grand piano they wheel into the lounge and I'm going to start playing every Friday.
I do not have any formal training but I'm pretty damn good and play a style similiar to Ludovico Einaudi, but most of it is entirely improvisation. I do have some favorite passages I like to play and some nice melodies I do with certain chord progressions, but the dynamics and overall arrangement and the song is improvised each time.
Any body have any tips for playing piano at a lounge? |
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| Evol` |
Lounge you say?
Well the only possible answer is Richard Cheese, find him and you`ll find Bobby, and Bobby=win. |
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| Looney4Clooney |
| quote: | Originally posted by Evolve140
So, this was kind of random, but apparently the manager of this hotel is looking for some alternative forms of music (they have DJs, but noted to me that they were too loud for certain times of day and customers wanted softer music) and is interested in piano music. They have a super nice grand piano they wheel into the lounge and I'm going to start playing every Friday.
I do not have any formal training but I'm pretty damn good and play a style similiar to Ludovico Einaudi, but most of it is entirely improvisation. I do have some favorite passages I like to play and some nice melodies I do with certain chord progressions, but the dynamics and overall arrangement and the song is improvised each time.
Any body have any tips for playing piano at a lounge? |
know the entire american song book by heart. Be able to play each in any key. Be able to play at least 20 top 40 hits from the last 50 years. Be able to play the classics, About 20 - 30 pieces. Most people they hire for very little can typically do this. If you aren't able to read music, I would forget it about it. Because someone will ask for a tune and if you aren't able to read a lead sheet and play it without practice, you probably will find yourself in a situation that is beyond your skill.
Could you post an example of where you are at ?
As much as they want improvisation. You should have at least 1 hour of repertoire just in case. My sister thinks she improvises while playing 3 chords and notes that sound pretty on top. It gets very old very fast and depending on the caliber of hotel, most of the guest will probably have more training and find it absolutely horrendous. |
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| Evolve140 |
I think it is a 3 or 4 star hotel. I don't think this is a situation where requests will be made. I will be playing before the bar kicks off the DJs, so these patrons will just be eating and lounging and expecting to hear some soft piano music. I stopped reading sheet music years ago and have since focused my time on pure improvisation, and my greatest influence is Ludovico Einaudi.
I will try to record something. I consider myself pretty good. As you know, I already have an excellent grasp of melody so that isn't an issue. If anything my playing is limited by fingering and octave reach, but I still can execute almost all my ideas. I have about 2 hours of material I can play in terms of repertoire. This is the old Hilton they changed it to Hotel Encanto, and the people who visit Las Cruces generally are not that top caliber to begin with and I doubt very many music experts will be coming through, the majority of people will definitely be casual listeners.
Anyhow, I will record about 30 minutes of my improv to get some feedback. Thanks. Oh and it's $100 a night, for probably an hour or 2. |
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| meriter |
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| Trancelover03591 |
| Could be a lot of fun. The pay sounds excellent as well. I suppose there will be other applicants. |
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| Evolve140 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Trancelover03591
Could be a lot of fun. The pay sounds excellent as well. I suppose there will be other applicants. |
Yeah it's not bad! And nope, just me. |
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| Looney4Clooney |
i wouldn't say reading sheet music and improvising are mutually exclusive. Lead sheets just give you the melody and leave the rest to you. Just having a digital fake book can give you access to pretty much every song / piece ever made and if you know enough about harmony and composition, you can improvising in a way that isn't repetitive.
The problem with the style you are referring to is that it is very sentimental in terms of its harmonic language which tends to elicit more emotional commitment than what is appropriate for ambient music. maybe i have your style wrong but i know the composer/pianist you speak of and i don't think this would really go down well at a hotel. |
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| Trancelover03591 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Looney4Clooney
The problem with the style you are referring to is that it is very sentimental in terms of its harmonic language which tends to elicit more emotional commitment than what is appropriate for ambient music. maybe i have your style wrong but i know the composer/pianist you speak of and i don't think this would really go down well at a hotel. |
That seems like a very good point. There is a very upscale shopping 'village' where I am from. They have speakers all through out the streets playing kind of deep house. It is sort of fashion show type music as opposed to something epic and grand. |
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| Looney4Clooney |
that is why jazz tends to work well. The chords don't require resolution and the overall ambiguity makes it great for background playing.
But , you might as well give it a try. You have nothing to lose. The pay isn't great that one would expect a professional. Just have a backup pianist in mind if they don't like what you bring. That way, their last impression will be of someone that makes things happen, not a bad piano player which i'm sure you really don't associate your self as. Like do you wake up and say, i'm a pianist ? So what ever. I was just being realistic. But even if you are unqualified, who cares. Let the boss decide. |
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