Improvisations
This one is more informal and playful. During the Street Piano Project, there would often be people milling around the pianos – waiting to take their turn, just listening, or wanting to join in. I started playing Autumn Leaves, and a guy who was standing behind me started singing along. Then he asked if he could play too, and we had some fun!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
Part of the Boston Street Piano Project. This one explores different realms of sound from my usual palette. I mean, part of what I’m trying to do is be original and try something entirely new every time. But my ears and fingers have patterns they love to revisit. Sometimes I have to really push myself to shake things up, and I think this recording really did that!
Part of the Boston Street Piano Project. This one explores different realms of sound from my usual palette. I mean, part of what I’m trying to do is be original and try something entirely new every time. But my ears and fingers have patterns they love to revisit. Sometimes I have to really push myself to shake things up, and I think this recording really did that!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
Melsen’s Piano Log: Piano Log 2015-2-26 Part 2
This is a longer, meandering one. References to Dream Girls (a little bit!), as well as themes from previous Piano Logs.
This is a longer, meandering one. References to Dream Girls (a little bit!), as well as themes from previous Piano Logs.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
For this improvisation, I found myself touching on a Chopin piece I’ve never actually learned. See if you can tell which one it is!
For this improvisation, I found myself touching on a Chopin piece I’ve never actually learned. See if you can tell which one it is!
And, welcome to March 2015! For the month of March, I’m going to be publishing one podcast episode a day, so please check back regularly!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
I hope you’re ready! For the month of March, my plan is to put up a podcast a day for Melsen’s Piano Log. I have many older recordings to use, but I’m also hoping to do at least two new ones per week!
If you listen to any of these, I would really appreciate your feedback. There are plenty of highly produced recordings of solo piano improvisation in the world, and I’m trying to do something different with these raw takes. I’d love to know what you think!
Sad key! It’s mechanism became unglued. To avoid damaging it, I removed the key. Waiting for the next time I can hire a technician. It’s been weird playing with a missing key.
Part of the Boston Street Piano project. A trumpet student was practing a part from the Ravel G-Major Piano Concerto, so I did this riff on it.
You can view a video of this improvisation here on YouTube.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS