Learn How To Improvise

What you will learn

1. Proven system of how to improvise on the piano in the classical style
2. Patterns and mechanics of improvisation
3. How to reduce (if not remove entirely) stress on-stage due to improvising skills

See full list of all 60 lessons further down this page.

To put it into more piano-technical terms - what you will learn in this course:

Level 1
Basic melody improvisation on the basic scale degrees (I, IV & V) and typical accompaniment forms like the Alberti bass (l.h.), basic melody harmonisation, passing notes, anticipation notes, suspensions, basic cadences (finished, half-finished), minor transposition, syncopation, technique practice

Level 2
Improvisation of A-B-A pieces & rich major & minor melodies using triad inversions on various harmonies and different chord notes l.h. (I, II, IV, V/V7, VI scale degrees), various accompaniment forms, intermediate cadences (plagal, deceptive) & sequences (progression of 5ths), basic harmony notions (the leading note, dissonances, resolving V7 & dissonances), basic modulating notions (the secondary/double dominant), technique practice

Level 3
Improvise complex pieces & polyphonic, virtuoso and rich melodies (r.h.) on lots of harmonies and their inversions (all scale degrees), on various accompaniment forms, inversion of harmonic functionality (melody in the l.h. etc.), advanced cadences (napolitan, German 6 a.o.) & sequences (Fonte & Monte, 7-chords), advanced modulation (major & minor), advanced harmony notions, technique practice

How will we teach you?

1. We will go over every step in the process and help you massively step up your game in piano classical improvisation.
2. You will receive all videos and workbooks where we show you EXACTLY what you should be doing to succeed.
3. You will be added to a member's only community...specifically for this class....for more support (and accountability)

 Ioana Ilie is teaching you by DEMONSTRATION, this is NOT a theory class. 

You're literally going to watch her choose a melody and start improvising on it from scratch.

The first few lessons we'll focus on starting with basic concepts of improvisation so we can all be on the same page before we move on to the more complex and more rewarding improvisation skills. 

Then we'll move into how to start building your improvisation techniques and patterns.  She'll be showing you how to do that step-by-step.

You'll literally see her improvise in various classical forms (such as Variations, Menuett, Trio, Sonata) and giving you all the tools you need  - to do it by yourself too ...looking over her shoulder the entire time. 

She'll show you everything. The patterns, scale modes, inversions, cadences, modulations etc. etc., literally everything.

After this course, you'll have extensive knowledge of how to improvise in the classical style.

BONUS:

1. Chord progressions to improvise on
2. Examples of „fills“ (filling the space within intervals) & turns
3. Additional modulations & inverted harmonies
4. Chords and harmony inversions in narrow and wide ranges
5. How to practice improvisation and improve your technical abilities at the same time
6. How to improvise a cadenza for a classical piano concerto

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE

Learning to play piano takes time and practise.

This is NOT for people who have never played piano before - you must already have at least basic piano playing skills. 

Nobody can do your push-ups for you and therefore I cannot guarantee any results for you. However, I can promise you a great learning experience and a huge palette of tools to work with. 

I have been playing piano all my life and it has never been "fast and easy" - it always needs effort, practice and patience.

Having said that, the skillset she's going to teach you is something you can never UN-LEARN. 

And it is something that every pianist on the planet wants: The ability to improvise on the spot. 

The skills you learn here CANNOT be taken away from you. You will have this knowledge forever. 

Start Date & Schedule

You can get started as soon as you gained access!

Limited To 10 Seats!

Because we offer one-on-one feedback on your video we cannot allow more than 10 seats to be taken per week as we estimate a workload of about 1hr per video response (downloading your video, viewing it, designing an answer that will help you out a lot, recording it, export and upload it, sending it to you). So 10 video feedbacks per week would be about 1.5 days of work and with a full pianistic schedule this is already pushing the limits very hard. 

So whenever you are ready to send in your video - be sure you send it at the right time as you can only send in one video. If you want to have more video feedbacks please contact us and we will see if we can offer you something.

Improvisation by Ioana Ilie
in the style of Beethoven

Note: this is how good you can become if you practice a lot (years rather than months - however - all tools are provided in this class and they will open up this world for you - if you take the time to practice).

What you'll need

1. Internet access, phone, computer.
2. Some sort of piano or keyboard to play and practice on as well as basic to intermediate piano playing skills.
3. COMMITMENT. You've got to be committed to finishing this thing through. If you give up easy, your money would be better spent on junk food and video games.

The Cost

The cost of this extensive training is easy 3 monthly payments of EUR 129,- each.  After these 3 charges you'll never be charged again.

Lifetime access! There is no time limit on accessing this course.

That's a tiny investment for a training that will teach you for a very long time, and taught by someone who has spent most of her pianistic career improvising.

Simply put, you'll learn everything you need to know.  With her help, you'll come up with great ways to improvise, compose on the spot, get rid of any stress on stage because hey - if you play a wrong note you can always improvise your way back again, and ultimately play from your heart.

All of that for only around EUR 6.45 per lesson which would normally cost you at least EUR 120 each. This is an absolute no-brainer especially taking into consideration the workbook and this jam-packed course with so much step-by-step guidance to achieve stunning piano improvisation.

To put this in perspective, the lessons offered in a one-on-one scenario would cost you at least EUR 6'000 and you cannot get these as Ioana Ilie is extremely busy.

You're getting the opportunity to learn whenever you've got time, replay the lessons, ask questions and so much more.

The reason for the low price is simple:  This has been priced to help you win.  Period.  I know that keeping cost down is huge in the beginning, and I want to see you absolutely CRUSH this.  Especially during these crazy times.

Plus, as you'll soon see, the included workbooks for each level are incredible.

And I figured this class is a great way to "put my best foot forward" by helping you win. If you're like most folks, you'll want to work together next time I offer new classes. (So that's my "secret motive" I suppose :-)

Anyway, if you're wondering how to play from your heart, improvise on the spot, be confident about it, and impress not only your audience but yourself, this is the best bang for the buck you'll ever find.  

We all know that the piano is where the soul can be touched by almost any emotion under the sun. 

And now it's your chance to master your inner music. Not only that, but have her hold your hand and guide you through every step of the process.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

To make your purchasing decision easier we are proud to offer a 30 day unconditional money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase simply contact us within 30 days of the purchase to receive a full refund. No questions asked! You even get to keep the workbook.

Try this class risk-free. 

LESSONS LEVEL 1

Level 1 Workbook (32 pages)
20 lessons of condensed knowledge

10 Lessons Without Form 

(meaning without a classical composition form like Sonata or Minuet for example)

1. Improvising with chords on a bass line (I, IV & V scale degrees)
2. The dominant seventh chord, improvising a melody using chord notes
3. Perfect & imperfect cadences
4. Using passing notes in your impro
5. Improvising a melody on chords
6. How to harmonise a melody (and never need to buy scores of arrangements anymore)
7. Using suspensions in your impro
8. Improvise with anticipation notes & scales
9. The subdominant with added sixth chord, using half-tone suspensions
10. Typical classical patterns to spice up your impro (specific rhythms, harmonies, endings, the notion of motives, using unisono)

10 Lessons Improvisation on a Form - Variations

1. Definition & variation types, choosing a theme, improvising a melodic variation
2. Rhythmic variation in the right hand (r.h.)
3. Variating the articulation and piano register, using thirds and “broken” thirds, the off-beat
4. Melodic variation with motives based on passing notes, turns, suspensions
5. „Breaking“ chords (r.h.) into tuplets (triplets) & other rhythmical choices
6. Variating the left hand (l.h.), using different chord notes
7. Creating various accompaniment patterns (l.h.)
8. „Broken” chords (l.h.), the Alberti bass
9. Minor harmonies & variations in both hands, the syncopation
10. Improvising a shiny virtuoso variation and wowing everybody

LESSONS LEVEL 2

Level 2 Workbook (56 pages)
20 lessons of condensed knowledge

10 Lessons on Improvisation Without Form 
(meaning without a classical composition form like Sonata or Minuet for example)

1. Short recap of Level 1, add the VI scale degree to your impros
2. The surprising effect of the deceptive cadence
3. Using the II scale degree in cadences & sequences
4. The progression of falling fifths and other chord progressions based on various intervals
5. Typical beginning & ending harmonies
6. Triad inversions (r.h.), beginnings & cadences with inverted triads
7. More triad inversions (r.h.), the golden rule of harmony
8. „Broken“ chords patterns (r.h.), progression of fifths with inverted chords, inverting the subdominant with added sixth chord
9. The leading note & the silver rule of harmony, inverting the dominant seventh chord
10. Embellishments, improvise based on an opening, a sequence & a cadence

10 Lessons Improvisation on a form - Minuet & Trio

1. Definition & A-B-A form, creating the A section
2. Creating the B section: the pedal point
3. Creating the returning A section
4. Modulating to the dominant: the secondary chord (double dominant)
5. Options in the returning A section: transposition, pedal point opening
6. Creating a Trio in major & minor keys
7. Cadences, sequences and modulations in minor keys
8. Accompaniment patterns & different chord notes in the l.h., suspension endings
9. Cadences & sequences with different chord notes l.h.
10. Extended dominants in sequences & cadences (major & minor keys)

LESSONS LEVEL 3

Level 3 Workbook (74 pages)
20 lessons of condensed knowledge

10 Lessons on Improvisation Without Form 
(meaning without a classical composition form like Sonata or Minuet for example)

1. Short recap of Level 2, inverting & resolving the dominant seventh inverted harmony, suspensions in ending cadences
2. Variating sequences with extended dominants
3. The typical classical syncopated rhythm, inverting & resolving the subdominant with added sixth inverted harmony, sequences with suspensions
4. Creating accompaniment forms based on inverted chords, sequences in the l.h.
5. Improvise using parallel patterns in both hands, broken chords, tremollos, arpeggios
6. Minor scale modes and cadences
7. Improvise sequences with the progression of falling fifths, diatonic & chromatic seventh chords in minor keys
8. Using the German and Napolitan sixth chords in your cadences
9. Examples of open/imperfect cadences in major and minor keys
10. Advanced examples of patternst to improve your technique with

10 Lessons Improvisation on a form - The Sonata

1. Definition & structure, improvising the opening and main theme in the exposition
2. Improvising the second theme and the exposition end
3. Improvising the development (1)
4. Improvising the development (2), augmentation and diminution
5. Other possibilities for returning to the home key in the development
6. Improvising the recapitulation (reexposition) and a Coda
7. Improvising the exposition in minor keys – harmonic possibilities
8. Improvising the development in minor keys  - possible transitions (1)
9. Improvising the development in minor keys – possible transitions (2)
10. Modulating with the full diminished chord