SR4001: Blues Piano And How To Play It   -- Erwin Helfer

  

In this book, critically acclaimed recording artist and performer, Erwin Helfer shares his experience and knowledge in the art of blues piano playing. Nobody is better qualified than Helfer; he is the last living link to the Yancey family who pioneered this style of music. This book captures Helfer's approach which he honed from over fifty years of teaching. Beginner piano students will learn how to play a complete blues song with help from the early chapters. Advanced piano students will learn deeper aspects of blues piano in the latter chapters.

Please note Figure 8.1 in the book has five different variations. There is a separate recording for each variation.

I have personally taken piano lessons from Erwin since 1972. I have enjoyed every lesson. It is my hope that by publishing this book more people can share some of these same experiences and benefit from his teaching method.

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Press / Music CD Reviews

God bless Erwin Helfer.

Erwin has made fine music 60 years and this small volume gives valuable insight and tips on how to correctly play several styles of blues piano. As he says in the introduction, "This method is designed as a springboard for those who want to improvise but have not yet taken the plunge." He also advises, "The student should have at least intermediary skills in piano performance."

That said, the lessons cover all basic areas, scales, chords, left hand patterns, etc., and show how they can be used in an actual song. The Genius After Hours by Ray Charles serves as a working model for assembling the techniques and using them. That approach is a welcome because many blues piano methods don't teach real songs, or they teach very old and obscure ones that are extremely challenging and not relevant to a modern player. Along with the sheet music, there are audio links to all the examples so you can hear how they should sound.

Erwin's techniques and listening ideas make for a fantastic brush-up course for old players like me. I have had several "Oh, that's how you play it" moments already! Blues Piano and How to Play It is also the perfect book for high school jazz band players who have become too dependent on sheet music at an early age. The licks and runs in this volume will add to anyone's soloing arsenal, and the suggested listening artists cover several different blues styles.

This is a well-done winner all around. Nice job, Erwin.

Celebrating his 86th birthday in January 2022, this book release is the collected wisdom of one of Chicago's Blues and Boogie Woogie icon, Erwin Helfer. He shares insights and information accumulated over 60 years of teaching and performing in nine progressive chapters, aimed for the pianist with intermediate technique and a willingness to take the plunge into blues and boogie improvisation. In his introduction, he mentions:

"It is my hope that this method can enrich at least a few lives. If a student only completes Chapter 3, he or she will be able to play a simple blues. If one feels bogged down by the idea of improvisation and just wants to study the blues form, this book will suffice. So, use this method any way that suits you."

The information and guided exercises, deeply rooted in performance tradition are a treasure trove for the aspiring pianist. Melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic concepts for approaching the Blues form in many creative variations are presented in concise examples and practice suggestions. But most of all, Erwin shares his own blues licks and those of his peers freely, sharing the Chicago blues traditions directly from the practitioners and legacy artists. Words of wisdom from the Master, highly recommended.