Many musicians consider the and find the improvisation chapter "super important". The depth of information is so immense that one reader called it "a master's degree worth of information," acknowledging that the time commitment required is the main challenge. A complete journey through the book can easily keep a dedicated student busy for a year or more.
Training the left and right hands to operate completely independently, which is crucial for synth playing and organ comping.
Beyond his performance career, Novello is a gifted educator. He began teaching in 1983, and his deep understanding of the learning process—identifying and focusing on a student's weak fundamentals to help them develop their own unique voice—became the cornerstone of his teaching philosophy. This hands-on experience is the foundation upon which The Contemporary Keyboardist is built. Novello's commitment to empowering musicians extends beyond the keyboard, as he is also the author of the motivational book The Song That Never Ended: A Jazz Musician's Journey to a Love Beyond Life . the contemporary keyboardist john novello pdf
Novello’s approach is built on the belief that a contemporary keyboardist must be a chameleon. You cannot just be a sight-reader; you must be an improviser, a theoretician, a technician, and a performer. The book systematically dismantles the barriers between theory and execution. Key Sections and What You Will Learn
: Do not rush through the pages. Master one exercise before moving to the next. Many musicians consider the and find the improvisation
Whether you are a bedroom producer triggering MIDI controllers or a classical refugee trying to learn a blues scale, acquire this book in its digital form. Put it on your tablet. Open it every day. Practice for 20 minutes. In one year, you will no longer be a "keyboardist who owns the PDF." You will simply be a .
: Deep dives into music theory, ear training, rhythm, and improvisation. Training the left and right hands to operate
John Novello is an acclaimed American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and author. Best known as the driving force behind the progressive jazz-fusion trio Niacin (alongside legendary bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Dennis Chambers), Novello has decades of experience spanning jazz, rock, pop, and blues.
Because The Contemporary Keyboardist contains an overwhelming amount of information, approaching it without a plan can lead to burnout. Here is a roadmap to getting the most out of Novello's curriculum: Take it Slow
Before you can play complex jazz solos, your hands must be physically capable of executing your ideas. Novello emphasizes: