Simple Improvisation with Christopher Norton's Connections

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Bluebottle

Connections Preparatory Level

Click here to download the music for Bluebottle.

Learn the piece first. You can hear a composer (solo piano) performance here:

There’s also a backing track for Bluebottle and you will be using it! Listen to it here:

Here are the steps to follow (don’t worry, they’re easy!).

Play these 2 chords (they’re the only chords in the piece):

Now download the backing track (without piano) from here (or click here to download):

Next play the chord progression without the track, then with the track. There are some stops, but they’re easy (and fun!)

Now you’re going to try some chord rhythms. This means you play the same chords, in the same order, but play them in different rhythms. Here are 2 examples to play with the track:

Example 2:

Try some of your own rhythms with the track.

Next, some simple right hand melodies to play with the track. 2 examples:

Melody 1:

Melody 2:

Try some of your own right hand melodies with the track.

Now 2 easy-to-play left hand chords to play with the track:

Finally, put the left hand chords and right hand melodies together. I start you off, then do your own thing in your right hand. You can vary the left hand rhythms as well.