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# Chris Donnelly

Jazz Pianist

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Directional Relationships at the Piano](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/directional-relationships-at-the-piano/) - Full 8400-word article available on (Patreon) At the end of the (previous article) on spatial relationships, I made four observations that I believe are relevant for practicing hand independence and counterpoint. Harmonic relations between notes can be physically expressed in different ways Physical relations between notes can be harmonically expressed in different ways Spatial relationships include the physical
- [Spatial Relationships at the Piano](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/spatial-relationships-at-the-piano/) - Full 2600-word article available on (Patreon) -- In the previous article, I explored active and passive relationships as a starting point for understanding how improvising pianists split attention­ between their hands. Pianists can use larger clusters of notes in BOTH hands to create the illusion of two separate and active voices. With both hands using higher levels
- [Active & Passive Relationships at the Piano](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/active-passive-relationships-at-the-piano/) - I think it’s important to acknowledge some of the relationships that make right- and left-hand independence/counterpoint a complex topic. From this, I’ll be able to design better exercises that give a better foundation for contrapuntal playing, including playing bass lines. I’ve identified at least five areas worthy of exploration. Some of them are more complex than others,
- [Bud Powell Solo Piano Transcriptions](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/bud-powell-solo-piano-transcriptions/) - Five tunes by Bud Powell! Lead sheets and solo piano transcriptions available on (Patreon) and (Gumroad). - The Fruit Parisian Thoroughfare Oblivion Hallucinations Dusk in Sandy - I’m confident these are 99.9% accurate, but undoubtedly, there are typos, and corrections will need to be made. Please let me know!
- [Piano Transcription & Deep Analysis – Sugar Ray by Phineas Newborn Jr.](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/piano-transcription-deep-analysis-sugar-ray-by-phineas-newborn-jr/) - Transcription PDF available on (Patreon). I thought I’d take a break from the grind of writing about hand independence and transcribe something instead. In my own practice, I revisited this tune by Phineas Newborn Jr. called Sugar Ray. I encourage students to learn it because the melody has a very specific piano/band arrangement, it covers a good
- [Thelonious Monk Transcriptions](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/thelonious-monk-transcriptions/) - 80 pages of Thelonious Monk transcriptions available on (Patreon) and (Gumroad) - Ask Me Now Blue Monk Bluehawk Everything Happens to Me Monk’s Point North of the Sunset Pannonica Reflections Round Lights Round Midnight Ruby, My Dear - This has been a long-term goal of mine. I have hundreds of pages of hand written, solo
- [Fred Hersch Solo Piano Transcriptions - Songs Without Words](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/songs-without-words-fred-hersch/) - Six tunes by Fred Hersch. Here's the album on (Spotify). Lead sheets and solo piano transcriptions are available on (Patreon) and (Gumroad)
- [Two-Handed Jazz Voicings: A Practice Guide](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/two-handed-jazz-voicings-a-practice-guide/) - Find the full article on (Patreon) One of the most common difficulties among jazz piano students is playing two-handed voicings. Generally, the problem is twofold: What are the “good” voicings and how do you practice them? There are lots of resources on jazz voicings. With a little bit a research, it’s not difficult to discover a
- [When Jazz Pianists Play Fast – A Collection of Runs, Exercises, & Idiomatic Gestures](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/when-jazz-pianists-play-fast-a-collection-of-runs-exercises-idiomatic-gestures/) - Find the full article and transcriptions on (Patreon) -- One of the major premises of these articles is that pianists make improvisatory decisions based on physical relationships, not just harmonic or auditory relationships. This is especially observed when pianists play fast - finger sequences, note clusters, hand positions, and higher levels of abstraction are required to support
- [Jazz Counterpoint – Improvising Melody & Bass at the Piano](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/jazz-counterpoint-improvising-melodies-bass-lines-at-the-piano/) - The full transcriptions and article can be found on (Patreon). When musicians think about counterpoint, most likely they think about traditional fugues and “Bach” counterpoint. In some cases, they may also think about renaissance counterpoint, species writing and the music of Palestrina. When you listen to improvising pianists like Brad Mehldau, Fred Hersch, and Egberto Gismonti,
- [The Chromatic Scale and Fingering Maps](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/the-chromatic-scale-and-fingering-maps/) - In the last few months, I’ve been writing about how jazz pianists play fast runs. This has encouraged me to revisit and update my article on ‘fingering maps’ and how they relate to idiomatic gestures, economical motion, and playing in different keys. The article below is similar to what I wrote in 2018, but with updated reflections
- [Idiomatic Gestures, the Economy of Motion and Jazz Piano Improvisation (Exercises)](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/idiomatic-gestures-the-economy-of-motion-and-jazz-piano-improvisation-exercises/) - A continuation of the previous post, this will be my dumping ground for more jazz piano exercises. A Scale for Descending Exercises for Changing Direction Exercises for Changing Scales -- A Scale for Descending Dec. 13/18 edit: I’ve updated the article and images in “A Scale for Descending” to include anchor points. It’s also more
- [Idiomatic Gestures, the Economy of Motion and Jazz Piano Improvisation](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/idiomatic-gestures-the-economy-of-motion-and-jazz-piano-improvisation/) - Idiomatic Gestures, the Economy of Motion and Jazz Piano Improvisation The Chromatic Scale and Anchor Points A Scale for Ascending -- Idiomatic Gestures, the Economy of Motion and Jazz Piano Improvisation Before I get into the exercises, I’d like to share a few (incomplete) thoughts and observations that I’ve had over the last few years.

## Pages

- [About](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/) - I’m an official Steinway artist and instructor at the University of Toronto. PDFs, practice guides, transcriptions, exercises, early access, and general support available on (Patreon) Here’s what I’m currently working on: Jazz Piano Video Tutorials Short and concise videos based on a more physical and intuitive approach to playing the piano. Jazz Piano Articles Very
- [Contact](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/contact-simple/) - Your name Your email Subject Your message Δ Websites: chrisdonnellymusic.com Patreon TikTok Twitch Mastodon YouTube Ko-Fi
- [Music](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/music/) - Filters: All Leader Co-Leader Sideman
- [Articles](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/blog/) - The Chromatic Scale and Fingering Maps In the last few months, I’ve been writing about how jazz pianists play fast runs. This has encouraged me to revisit and update my article on ‘fingering maps’ and how they relate to idiomatic gestures, economical motion, and playing in different keys. The article below is... Read More When Jazz Pianists
- [Transcriptions](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/blog/transcriptions/) - Below is a list of my solo piano transcriptions. Full transcriptions are available for download on Gumroad. Transcriptions Bud Powell – Dusk in Sandi (Dusky ‘n Sandi) (Download)Bud Powell – Hallucinations (Budo) (Download)Bud Powell – Oblivion (Download)Bud Powell – Parisian Thoroughfare (Download)Bud Powell – The Fruit (Download)Chris Donnelly – Donna Lee (Variations) (Download)Chris Donnelly –

## Portfolio

- [Nowhere Girl](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/nowhere-girl/)
- [Anne](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/anne/)
- [Spark Bird](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/spark-bird/)
- [Clear Day](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/clear-day/)
- [Abeng](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/abeng/) - Personnel: Rich Brown - electric bass, clavé on track 4 Luis Deniz - alto saxophone Kevin Turcotte - trumpet on tracks 3, 6 Kelly Jefferson - tenor saxophone on track 1 Chris Donnelly - piano on tracks 1, 6, 7, 8 Robi Botos - piano on tracks 2, 3, 4, 5.Larnell Lewis - drums Rosendo Chendy Leon - all percussion on track
- [The Island of Form](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/the-island-of-form/)
- [Tell((chip))](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/tellchip/)
- [Solo](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/solo/)
- [Metamorphosis](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/metamorphosis/)
- [Tell](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/tell/)
- [The Where](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/the-where/)
- [Moons](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/moons/)
- [Vera](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/vera/)
- [Common Ground](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/common-ground/)
- [Bebop Isolation](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio/bebop-isolation/)

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Teaching](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/category/teaching/)
- [The Piano](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/category/the-piano/)

## Tags

- [transcription](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/transcription/)
- [hersch](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/hersch/)
- [fred](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/fred/)
- [songs without words](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/songs-without-words/)
- [aria](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/aria/)
- [tango](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/tango/)
- [ballad](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/ballad/)
- [waltz](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/waltz/)
- [duet](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/tag/duet/)

## Portfolio Categories

- [Leader](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio_category/leader/)
- [Co-Leader](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio_category/co-leader/)
- [Sideman](https://www.chrisdonnellymusic.com/portfolio_category/sideman/)