Today I am delighted to share a new project that has been taking shape for quite some time: Piano Improv Keys.
This idea emerged naturally through my work as a teacher.
Over the years, I have seen many pianists view improvisation as something distant or unattainable. In reality, it is not about talent, but about understanding and having the right tools. Once you begin to understand how musical language works, improvisation stops being a mystery. It becomes an accessible and deeply rewarding creative practice.
I have also come to realize how strongly musical styles are connected through a shared harmonic foundation. We often separate music into categories — classical, minimalist, pop, or film music — yet many of these styles are built on the same harmonic principles and musical patterns.
Piano Improv Keys was created to provide practical tools for improvising in a variety of musical styles in a natural and intuitive way. Through clear harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic patterns, I will guide you in creating and improvising your own music. Rather than approaching each style as an entirely separate world, we will work from the common harmonic principles that unite them. This will allow you to develop freedom, confidence, and a deeper understanding of musical structure. Once these foundations become clear, improvisation no longer feels intimidating, but instead becomes a genuine creative resource.
How it Will Work
Each month, a new video will be published on YouTube focusing on a specific harmonic concept or progression as a starting point for improvisation.
Every video will be accompanied by a detailed PDF including:
- A clear and organized written version of everything covered in the video
- Additional exercises designed to deepen your understanding
- Material presented in all keys to help you truly internalize the concepts
The PDF will be available as a paid resource for those who wish to take their practice further, and build a more solid and structured approach around each topic.
By purchasing the PDF, you will also be directly supporting the channel and helping me continue creating videos and educational materials in the long term.
You can find the latest posts and PDFs here.
First Topics
To give you an idea of the approach and stylistic variety of the project, these will be some of the first topics:
- Improvisation over the La Folia progression
- Ideas for improvising on Idea 10 by Gibran Alcocer
Later topics will include:
- A progression inspired by Philip Glass
- A progression by Johann Sebastian Bach
- How to create your own waltz in the style of Franz Schubert
As you can see, the goal is to explore a wide range of musical languages — from historical styles to more contemporary approaches — while always focusing on the harmonic connections that unite them.
Below you can watch the presentation short for the La Folia video.
And here you can watch the full Idea 10 video. The examples not featured in the video are exercises available exclusively in the PDF.
Methodology
All videos will follow the methodology developed in my course Piano Patterns in Harmony, which is based on pattern recognition, the understanding of harmonic function, and its practical application at the piano.
Piano Patterns in Harmony received the award for Best Digital Resource of the Year 2025 at the The Art of Piano Education Awards, and the same pedagogical framework forms the foundation of this new project.
Where to find Piano Improv Keys
The project will be available on YouTube under the name Piano Improv Keys; Downloadable sheet music and exercises PDFs will be available on Gumroad; I will also be sharing additional content and updates on Instagram.
If you are interested in improvisation but have never known where to begin, or if you would like to connect different musical styles through a clearer and more practical approach, this project is designed for you.
It is especially intended for piano students and intermediate to advanced pianists who wish to deepen their understanding of harmony and improvisation.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments, and thanks, as always, for reading the blog!
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