Dave Frank – The Master Class Archives

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Blessings
and keep swingin!

Master Class #60 - Adding Layers to a Walking Bassline Solo Jazz Piano Performance

Enjoy this recording of a jazz piano master class recorded at Eastern Connecticut University on Oct 16, 2023. The sound isn’t great but jazz piano freaks may find this interesting haha)

Master Class #59 - Playing with Pat Martino

Join Dave Frank for a discussion of filming his evening with Pat Martino masterclass. This video includes Dave and Pat playing a duo version of Alone Together.

Master Class #58 - Relaxation and Orchestration in Improvisation

Join Dave Frank and Joe Vulpis for an advanced Zoom lesson) If you can get past the zoom sound quality haha, topics include playing with a relaxed time feel, how to simulate orchestral instruments on the piano, various LH comping concepts, and more. This class begins with a 3 minute improvisation on the changes of Manhattan, played by Dave Frank. Recorded 1/15/22

Master Class #57 - The Infinite Flow of Music Within: Dave Frank Threeo

This video is an example of tapping the infinite flow of music that exists within yourself. Everyone can learn to do this and it’s a blast) 8 extremely chill improvised performances of Out of Nowhere recorded in real time. Yikes! Dave Frank, piano, Abraham Lincoln, bass, Boris Karloff, drums. Pianistic elements include contrapuntal improv, LH improvisation, LH oom-pah, octave improv, triplet and 1/6th note lines, RH chord solos, LH melody/RH improv, thematic imitation, LH broken octaves, double stop improv, synchronized hands and more.

Master Class #56 - Group Playing in a Linear/Contrapuntal Style: Lennie Tristano Centennial Quartet

Please enjoy this video which includes 2 performances in the linear/contrapuntal group style by the Lennie Tristano Centennial Quartet -Dave Frank, piano, Jimmy Halperin, sax, Rick McGlaughlin, bass and Bob Tamagni, drums. Dave also talks about the historical significance of his teacher Lennie Tristano and the cool school of jazz that Lennie (along with others) founded in the 1940’s and 50’s.

Master Class #55 - Hearing Keith Jarrett Play Live

Please enjoy this master class describing hearing Keith Jarrett create a “Cathedral of Sound” when he played live. It presents Keith’s concept of layering musical elements and functions to create a unique sound palette in live performance. Fun for the whole family)

Master Class #54 - The Jazz Video Guy Interview with Dave Frank - From Ballads to Burners

Join Bret Primack and Dave Frank for an interview first broadcast on the Jazz Video Guy Channel 5/19/20. The interview includes selected videos of Dave playing solo and duo with Pat Martino and Dick Hyman, and discussions about Lennie Tristano, using the internet as a jazz teaching tool, and much more.

Master Class #53 - 19 Blended Elements for the Intermediate Jazz Pianist

Join Berklee piano professor Dave Frank for a master class demonstrating 19 solo elements you can blend together to create a superb jazz (piano) solo! Topics include creating a new melody, triplet and 1/16th note improvised lines, locked and unlocked hands, and many more). Recorded at Dave’s studio in NYC 12/7/19

Master Class #52 - How to Begin Teaching Improvisation for Classical Piano Teachers

Master Class #51 - How to Make Your Improvisations Sound Musical

Join Dave for a core class designed for beginner and intermediate improvisers. Recorded at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary 9/30/19

Master Class #50 - How to Improvise Jazz - Flow Phrase Breathe!

Join Berklee Piano Professor Dave Frank as he presents THE BASIC concept behind jazz improvisation: Flow -Phrase – Breathe! This class is a game-changer)

Master Class #49 - 6 Ways to Get out of Improv RUTS

Join Berklee Piano Professor Dave Frank for this unusual jazz master class. This class is designed for all improvisers as a way to use 6 specific techniques for get out of improv ruts and get your creativity firing again. Starring Alfred E. Nueman.

Master Class #48 - How to Sing with Master Solos

Join Dave for a short master class on the step-by-step process of singing with the jazz solos of the masters. A MUST for aspiring improvers! Features Charlie Parker’s solo on Billie’s Bounce.

Master Class #47 - Ira Gitler: The Best Friend Jazz Ever Had

Enjoy this 30 minute documentary film by Bret Primack with music by Dave Frank. The film explores the life of the great jazz writer/reviewer Ira Gitler, who passed away in early 2019.

Master Class #46 - Call Me Lennie!

Join Dave Frank for an in-depth master class on the walking bassline technique pioneered by Lennie Tristano! Topics include the basic swing 1/8th line, triplets, mantra phrases, 2 hand voicing pattern, and much more. Fun for the whole family)

Master Class #45 - All About Lennie Tristano w/Harvey Diamond

Join Dave and Harvey for a wide-ranging class about the great jazz pianist and teacher Lennie Tristano, whom they both studied with in the 1960’s/1970’s. Topics include Lennie’s pedagogy for teaching jazz and personal reminiscences and stories of their years studying with the master. The class begins with a 7 minute 2 piano performance of Green Dolphin Street by Dave and Harvey.

Master Class #43 - The Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda

Join Dave Frank for a unique master class on the teachings of one of the GREAT spiritual teachers of the 20th century. Topics include: How to feel God’s Presence, how to achieve your life goals, how to meditate, how to develop a spiritual practice, and so much more) Blessings and keep swingin!

Master Class #42 - Flow, Phrase, Breathe! Working with Ming

Designed for jazz students and jazz/music educators, join Dave Frank and singer/pianist Ming Ho for a master class on the essence of linear improvisation – Flow, Phrase, Breathe. You can see the transformation of Ming’s improvising in real time)

Master Class #41 - How to Integrate a Steady Pulse Feeling into Your Playing

Join Dave Frank for a class on how to develop a strong, steady pulse in your playing. Designed for beginning/intermediate players, this class will have you pulsating)

Master Class #40 - Great Moments in Jazz Piano History: Lennie Tristano Plays C Minor Complex

Join Dave for a discussion of Lennie Tristano’s CLASSIC improvisation C Minor Complex from his album The New Tristano, given at the Univ. of Eastern Connecticut. Topics include the walking bassline, building a complete performance, the “little guy in your head”, performance dynamics, and much more.

Master Class #39 - The Music of the Looney Tunes/Carl Stalling

Please join Dave for a hilarious look at the musical world of the Looney Tunes and the American genius composer/arranger Carl Stalling. The class includes a Road Runner cartoon Zoom and Bored, the classic Bugs Bunny cartoon Rhapsody Rabbit, and a crazy cartoon of musical styles Book Revue. The class starts with an animated performance Bugs Bunny Burner. Biggg Fun!!

Master Class #38 - Beyond the Improvised Line - Taking Your Playing Beyond the Ordinary

Join Dave for this advanced jazz improvisation class for pianists and intermediate/advanced jazz players. Included are 26 ways to take your playing beyond the ordinary, including Ghost Note Lines, Abstraction, Piano Falling Down the Stairs, Twirling, Rodeo, and many more.

Master Class #37 - The Mind of the Improviser

Join Dave for this general overview of the process of jazz improvisation, filmed during a residency at Alfred University in upstate NY. Topics include creating a complete improvised arrangement, the source of improvised music, the difference between an implied and direct rhythms, and much more. This is geared for Beginner/intermediate players and the general public.Note: The audio has been processed to remove room echo and reverb.

Master Class #36 - The Genius of Art Tatum

Join Dave Frank for a serious and hilarious in-depth master class on the one and only Art Tatum! Topics include Tatum runs, stride variations, musical textures, Tatum voicings and more. Watch out for 49:00! Fun for the whole family) The video starts out with a solo performance by Dave Frank.

Master Class #35 - Keith Jarrett - The GREATEST Pianist of the Recorded Era

Join Dave Frank for an in-depth class on the playing of the GREAT Keith Jarrett w/Charlie Haden! Includes the concept of musical layering, playing the ring, multiple time feels, and more.The class starts with a 5 min recording of a live concert encore w/Dave.

Master Class #34 - The Music of Paul Desmond, How Sweet it Was

Join Dave Frank for a class on the playing of the great Paul Desmond with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Topics include 4 kinds of musical imitation, the use of quotes, wide interval lines, mantra phrases, and much more. The level for this class in intermediate -advanced. The class starts with Dave Frank playing Shades of Renoir off his solo CD Ballads and Burners.

Master Class #33 - An Evening with Pat Martino

Get up close and personal with the world’s GREATEST jazz guitarist! Pat discusses his early years, practice habits, the sacred geometry of the guitar, the “study of opposites”, his theory of rhythm and much, much more. This video is like hearing a lecture from the Buddha and then the Buddha plays the greatest jazz guitar solos you ever heard) Features 2 new SMOKIN’ duo performances by Dave Frank and Pat Martino, and some gorgeous solo guitar performances. YAY PAT!

Master Class #32 - Beginning Jazz Improvisation Part 4 - Using Chromatics

Join Dave for the final part of his popular Beginning Jazz Improvisation series. Part 4 is a technical class for serious muzos that presents 3 basic ways to begin to incorporate chromatic tones into your improvised lines. You will DIGITT! The beginning Jazz Improvisation Series 1-4 is a complete curriculum for the aspiring jazz improvisers. Blessings and keep Swingin’!

Master Class #31 - Introduction Variations

Enjoy this video of alternate takes of the introduction for Dave’s YT master class Beginning Jazz Improvisation Part Three: Adding Arpeggios and Extensions to Your Lines. Have phun pholks:) Types of introductions include walking bassline, the doorknob technique, ballad style, and burners.

Master Class #30 - Beginning Jazz Improvisation - Part 3: Adding Arpeggios & Extensions

The class is the TITS! Designed for beginning/intermediate improvisers, it clearly explains the BASIC secret of linear improvisation, the rhythmic combination of chord scales, arpeggios and extensions (chromatics coming in part 4). The class is intended to be used in combination with Beginning Jazz Improvisation Parts 1+2 to provide a complete curriculum for the beginning jazz improviser. Blessings and keep swingin!!

Master Class #29 - The Art of Developing a Solo w/Dave Frank: The Music of Lyle Mays with the Pat Metheny Group

This master class outlines the 5 Universal Concepts that are used to develop a solo by analyzing Lyle Mays’ GREAT solo w/the Pat Metheny Group on the tune First Circle. Intended for players of all instrumentalists and all improv styles, this video can help you to create compelling solos that will tell your story! The class begins with two improvised performances by Dave Frank dedicated to Lennie Tristano.

Master Class #28 - Breakthrough to Improv DVD

This video , originally released as a DVD in 1998, is a step-by-step guide to beginning blues/jazz improvisation. It introduces basic improv concepts such as feeling in 4’s, using triplets and 16/th notes in your line, and much more. This is a great way to introduce the universal principles of improvisation to piano teachers and students. Enjoy it now for bupkis haha)

Master Class #27 - Jonathan and Gary #1

Join Dave and two of his advanced students for a Google + Hangout lesson) Topics include jazz phrasing, playing over modal changes, learning to burn, using triplets and 1/16ths in your line, and much more! This is an unusual, cutting edge video that allows you to sit in on a smokin’ lesson with two fine jazz pianists, Jonathan Hooper and Gary Staples. Fun for the whole family)

Master Class #26 - Beginning Jazz Improvisation pt. 2 - Improvising Over Basic Progressions

Designed to be watched in tandem with Part One, Part Two of Beginning J I explains how to improvise over the 4 basic progressions commonly used in jazz, how to improvise over combined progressions, and then how to improvise over a complete jazz standard. FUN!

Master Class #25 - Beginning Jazz Improvisation pt. 1 - Intro to Chord Mapping

This class CAN TEACH YOU to begin jazz improvisation) Part One is intended to be watched in tandem with Part Two. Designed for all instruments and voice, Part One explores the 4 basic chord progressions used in common jazz standards and how to improvise over them.

Master Class #24 - Digging Erroll Garner!

Join celebrated jazz pianist/educator Dave Frank for an in- depth look into the playing of the great Erroll Garner, filmed live at Small’s in NYC in early 2015. The video begins with a new performance of Dave’s “Turning it Loose!”

Master Class #23 - Learn to BURN!

This video is intended for intermediate to advanced players, presenting three specific exercises to help you to take your playing to BURNSVILLE! You will LOVE it, let’s put on our spacesuits and have some REAL fun:)

Master Class #22 - The Science of Touch - 5 Ways to Control Your Piano Sound

Join Dave as he examines the inner mechanism of the piano and presents 5 ways to develop the Art of Touch in your playing! Techniques include playing deeper into the keybed, varying key velocity, and others. You will LUV this! The video starts with a new performance by Dave.

Master Class #21 - Chick Corea

Jazz lovers, please enjoy this in-depth master class on the Jazz Master Pianist Chick Corea! Based on a solo performance of Chick’s in Vienne, France in 2012, topics include cycled chord movements, modal anthems, modal clusters, ten drummers, and MUCH more. There will be NO 2-5-1’s anywhere in this presentation haha!

Master Class #20 - 15 Stylistic Elements for the Advanced Jazz Pianist

Designed for jazz piano lovers, this in-depth master class explores 15 cool concepts to expand one’s improv potential! Includes various LH patterns and concepts, comping concepts, stride-type piano, playing outside, contrapuntal playing, call and response, trading fours, and many more:) Pianofreaks, you will LUV this!

Master Class #19 - Ear Training - Theory and Practice

Explore 3 of the hippest systems for developing your ears! In this class Dave focuses on developing the ability of the inner ear to hear multiple notes, intervals and tonal/chord colors. Any musician in any genre can benefit from the clear practices presented on this unique video. Dave opens the video, the 20th in his online series, with a new performance, “Peace in the Kingdom”.

Master Class #18 - The Use of Dissonance in Modern Music

Join Dave for this unique mini-master class on the dissonance techniques of American composer Charles Ives, from the longer master class ‘The Piano Music of Charles Ives”. Subjects include dissonant intervals, stacked intervals, bi-tonality, constant structures, common tones, and using dissonance in composition and improvisation. You’ll DIGG this WILD class!!

Master Class #16 - Beginning Improvisation using Modal Vamps

his video can help you to BREAK THROUGH THE IMPROV BARRIER!! Designed for beginning improvisers, Dave Frank presents a user friendly, step-by-step approach to improvising over modal vamps. You will LUV this)

Master Class #15 - The Piano Music of Charles Ives

Join NYC piano monster Dave Frank for a thoroughly unique, in-depth introduction to the life and music of America’s greatest composer! The video includes an overview to Ives’ life and work, a mini-clinic on the use of dissonance in modern music composition and improvisation, followed by listening and discussions of 5 of Ives’ compositions for solo piano.

Master Class #14 - Bill Evans

Join Dave for a bar-by-bar analysis of Bill Evans’ solo classic, A Time For Love! This is a video of the complete class that was originally uploading in 2010 in segments. Thanks to Sven van der Klaauw for his work to produce this completed version.

Master Class #13 - Free At Last: Playing Outside the Changes

For those musical nuclear scientists out there, I’m thrilled to present this master class on playing outside of the changes. Enjoy it if you can:)

Master Class #12 - Liberace

Join NYC jazz piano monster Dave Frank for a hilarious and fascinating master class on the life and music of Liberace! Includes video clips of Liberace’s classic performances, and a tour of Liberace’s house. If you like great piano playing and laffing really hard, you’ll DIG this:)

Master Class #11 - Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was one of the prominent figures in jazz piano in the twentieth century. A native Canadian, Oscar’s playing elements included a huge technique, a wide palette of pianistic colors, a strong soulful bluesy flavor, a rich harmonic language and a powerful swing feel. His tremendous speed of execution, combined with a deep lyricism and marvelous command of the piano and the jazz languag, made Oscar a major force in jazz piano from the 1950’s until his death in 2007.

Master Class #10 - The Genius of Lennie Tristano

Master Class #09 - Grateful Dead - Exploring Dark Star

Master Class #08 - An afternoon with Dick Hyman

Join pianist/educator Dave Frank for a unique live master class with jazz legend Dick Hyman! Includes two new great solo performances by Dick, two Dick Hyman/Dave Frank burnin duo piano performances, and loads of interesting, informative and educational information. For anyone interested in jazz piano, this is a historic document granting an in-depth look at into the mind and music of a jazz icon.

Master Class #07 - The Marx Brothers

Join NYC jazz piano giant Dave Frank for a master class on the music of Chico and Harpo Marx. This is a video of the complete class that was originally uploaded in 2010 in segments.

Master Class #06 - Dave McKenna

Join NYC’s solo jazz piano giant, Dave Frank for a slammin master class on the music of jazz piano great Dave McKenna. This class is a complete upload that was originally on YT in segments. Thanks to Sven van der Klaauw.

Master Class #05 - Walking Bassline Clinic in Russian

Playing with a walking bass line is a style of piano playing that is used most often in solo jazz performance. Popularized by piano greats Lennie Tristano and Dave McKenna, among others, the walking LH bass line can effectively subtitute for a rhythm section, if desired, and provides a rhythmic and melodic foundation for RH improvisations.

Master Class #05 - Walking Bassline Clinic

Join Dave for everything you always wanted to know about improvising in the walking bass style but were afraid to ask) This class is a complete upload that was originally on YT in segments. Thanks to Sven van der Klaauw.

Master Class #04 - The Music of Eric Dolphy

Please join Dave for an in-depth look at the music of the great Eric Dolphy, originally recorded in 2010. This man’s playing was for the birds! The class begins with 11 minutes of solo piano. Big fun from the early days of internet broadcasting)

Master Class #03 - The Orchestral Music of Frank Zappa

Join Dave for a look into Frank Zappa’s great orchestral composition “Envelopes”. Concepts include composite sound, phrasing in atonality, orchestral conversation and more. This is an excerpt from Dave’s 90 minute Master Class Frank Zappa! Tonal, Modal and Atonal. Fun for a small part of the family)

Master Class #02 - Bruce Hornsby

oin Dave for an early master class on keyboardist Bruce Hornsby! Includes discussions of way it Is, and other or Bruuuuuuce’s hits) The class starts with about 10 min of Dave music sorry haha)

Master Class #01 - Charlie Parker: Lightning in a Bottle

Join Dave for a new YT upload of a 2010 in-depth class on the GREAT BIRD. Includes rare film clips, funny surprises, and an analysis of Parker’s classic Koko. The video starts with a 4 minute Dave Frank performance Jazz Hands.