Chocolate

Hello and welcome back. I'm Joseph Hoffman.
Today we're back for more "Chocolate", and more improvisation.
Do you remember improvising with "Hot Cross Buns" in a jazz style?
Well, today it's going to be rock style. So think rocky road chocolate ice cream.
No, sorry, just having a little chocolate daydream. Gotta focus.
Okay, let's come to get started.

All right, a few tips about playing "Chocolate".
Sometimes I see my students really wanting to rush through the notes:

♫ Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, ♫

but when you're playing with a backing track,
you have to listen and feel the beat of the track, which, in this case, is going: ♫
So if you don't go that speed, you're going to get out of sync.
It's got to be: ♫ Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, ♫
and then when you get to that G on top, make sure you hold it for 2 slow beats.
It goes: TI-TI TI-TI 1 2,  TI-TI TI-TI 1 2.
The top note, and then the last note, both hold for 2 slow beats.

All right, first let's get our right hand in position on the C major pentascale,
and then we're going to listen to the backing track. By the way,
this backing track is available for download as part of the complete materials
for Unit 1 on our website. Alright, let's listen to the backing track now.
As it plays, listen for four clicks. That's your signal to start: 1 2 3 4.
Then we play it again.
Then we improvise.
1 2 3 4.
I have just three rules for your improvisation today.
Rule number one: Play just one note at a time.
Rule number two: Listen as you play.
And number three: Have fun. Think you can handle that?

Good, let's come to the piano and give it a try.
All right, now it's going to be your turn.
Remember, you're going to listen to the backing track, wait for the four clicks,
then play "Chocolate" two times in a row, then improvise,
then listen for four clicks again. Play "Chocolate" two more times, and you're done!
Remember, when you improvise, there's no right or wrong notes.
Just have fun and enjoy listening to the cool sounds that you create.
All right, here goes.
Now improvise.
1 2 3 4
Nice! I loved your creativity on the improvisation.
Now, if you weren't totally happy with it, that's fine. It's your improvisation.
Just rewind and try it again and again until you like it.
But if you were happy with it, let's go on and try it in the left hand now.
We're going to do the exact same thing again, but now,
place your left hand on the C major pentascale. Once again,
we'll listen for the four clicks, play "Chocolate", then you improvise,
and then we'll play "Chocolate" one last time. Here we go.
Now improvise.
1 2 3 4
Nice, I loved your improvisation.

Great job learning to improvise with "Chocolate" today rock and roll style.
I hope you have fun practicing your improvising and making your own great music
by playing along with the "Chocolate" backing track from the practice album,
available on the Hoffman academy website. I don't know about you,
but I'm feeling like I could use some rocky road ice cream.
So, let's wrap this up for today.

Uh, Mr. Hoffman? Are you allowed to eat out of the carton like that?

Chef, this is one of the best parts about being a grown-up.

Uh, Mr. Hoffman?

Oh, uh, hello and welcome back. I'm Joseph, oh, um, kids, um always,
I mean, never eat ice cream out of a carton.
It's very bad piano posture, and unhygienic.
Always eat ice cream properly with a bowl and spoon like this.
Uh, thanks for letting me know the camera's on Chef.
So have lots of fun practicing eating your ice cream properly,
and thanks for watching. See you next time!